RRUGBYUGBY | Page 4 Aussie teams under pressure to deliver WCup momentum

Thursday, February 14, 2019 CRICKET Jumada II 9, 1440 AH South Africa admit GULF TIMES ‘caught off guard’ by rejuvenated SL SPORT Page 3

FOCUS Focused Halep on course for second Qatar title Romanian top seed brushed aside qualifier Tsurenko to set up a last-eight clash with German ninth seed Goerges Sister Act falls short as Pliskovas depart

By Anil John Doha

ans expecting to see a K. Pliskova in action in the Qatar Total Open got their wish, but it wasF Kristyna, the lesser known of the Czech tennis-playing identical twins, who took the court at the Khalifa Complex yesterday. Some were unaware that former World No. 1 Karolina, the number two seed in Qatar, had withdrawn a few hours earlier, courtesy the eff ects of Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic blamed her exit on the a tiring Fed Cup clash against eff ects of a tiring Fed Cup clash against Romania last Sunday. (AFP) Romania last Sunday. Kristyna had replaced sister the morning without even do- let’s see.” Karolina in the draw with a bye ing anything. So I’m just not She said players had no Romania’s Simona Halep in action during her Qatar Total Open match against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko (not pictured) at Khalifa International into the second round as a lucky able to compete 100 percent choice but to withdraw when Tennis & Squash Complex here yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil loser, despite winning only one today.” they fall ill. match in the qualifi ers. But that She said the intense Fed Cup “I don’t know what else By Sports Reporter was the farthest her extraor- rivalry also takes its toll on the you want to do. If the players Doha dinary fortune could take her players. are sick, what can they do? Of as she fell to Belgium’s Elise “I always said like the Fed course, everybody was here, so Mertens in straight sets. Cup it can help you or it can I guess everybody wanted to port is often a case of Karolina had earlier with- destroy you, because there is a compete. I came here. I didn’t mind over matter, and drawn, saying her “body is not lot of emotions and always like come here only just to see the perhaps there’s none bet- ready” despite two days of rest a lot of tough matches. Espe- tournament or to practice one ter to exemplify this than after a four-hour drive to Vien- cially if you play in your coun- day, but if it’s not possible, it’s SimonaS Halep of Romania. na from Ostrava and then tak- try, then the pressure is huge. not possible. I think you cannot A few hours after Karolina ing a fl ight to Doha. Just right now, I don’t think like do anything against this. Pliskova pulled out of the Qa- “Actually, from the fi rst day it really helped me, although “But I was defending cham- tar Total Open because of fa- when I arrived, already the the matches were great and the pion here last year, so I decided, tigue and fever she blamed on day after Fed Cup, I felt after atmosphere too. I think if there like, this year I’m going to try the Czech Republic’s tiring and I played my match with Si- are maybe lesser days or lesser again because I like this tour- ill-fated Fed Cup quarter-fi nals mona Halep, which was super weeks for us, then it would be nament. Every time I try to against Romania in Ostrava last long and tough, so I just felt better.” come. But it’s a question mark Sunday, Halep, who had actually exhausted,” Karolina told the Karolina raised the issue for the next years.” beaten her, proved that keeping media. of scheduling the Fed Cup to She was also surprised that a positive attitude can help you “Yeah, from the fi rst day I fi nish on Saturday instead of her sister got into the draw be- reap rich dividends. was not feeling great and not Sunday so that players could cause of her. “I believe in staying focused ready. I have never felt actu- get more rest before the next “Yeah, actually as there were and positive. I enjoy the fact that I ally this way. It’s normal that week’s tournament. two more players in front of feel good and I can play good ten- you are tired, of course, when “I know the Davis Cup they her, so I didn’t know they were nis. Today was a good day and I you are travelling and playing did it. I know for sure every- not here, so she was still third feel happy,” the former World No. a lot of matches. But I just feel thing is possible, but I don’t on the list because she lost ac- 1 and top seed in Doha said after somehow my body is not ready. know how many players, like if tually in the second round of her 6-2, 6-3 win over Ukrainian Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands hits a return against Carla Suarez Navarro (not pictured) of Spain during “I had a temperature a few the players are fi ghting for this qualifying, so I think this is not qualifi er Lesia Tsurenko. their match yesterday. days. I don’t have any neck pain or not. I think it would help, but really usual that she gets in. I “Well, I wish I can do that, but or something, but I just feel so far what I know the systems think nobody was expecting it’s never easy. I have so many overall like super tired, and my should be somehow changing that many withdrawals, so a lot matches ahead. I want just to Results (ESP) & Kaitlyn Christian (USA) muscles are just hurting from from next year completely, so of players get in.” think about tomorrow,” Halep Today’s Order of Play Followed by added, when asked if she fancies Singles (2nd Round) 4-Anna-Lena Groenfeld (GER) winning her second title in Doha, 1-Simona Halep (ROU) bt CENTRE COURT (Start & 4-Demi Schuurs (NED) vs The Romanian held off a brief lous hitting to emerge as the supe- it’s just a process. following her triumph in 2014. LL-Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 6-2, 3.30pm) Abigail Spears (USA) & Zhaoxu- challenge from Tsurenko to seal rior match player. Meanwhile, for the second Halep now takes on Germany’s 6-3; 3-Angelique Kerber bt QF: WC-4-Elina Svitolina (UKR) an Yang (CHN) the fi rst set, and later won the last “I think I was striking the ball straight match, Bertens found Julia Goerges in today’s last- Anett Kontaveit (EST) 6-1, 7-6 vs Q-Karolina Muchova (CZE) Followed by fi ve games of the match to seal a really good, and serving much herself down a set at the Qa- eight clash, a match she says (3); 4-Elina Svitolina (UKR) bt Not before 4.30pm Raquel Atawo (USA) & Katarina spot in the last eight, and a return better than I did in the previous tar Total Open. For the second would be tough. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-4, QF: 3-Angelique Kerber (GER) vs Srebotnik (SLO) vs Veronika to World No.2 in the rankings. matches against her,” said Svi- straight match, she rallied to win “It’s really tough to say now 6-4; 5-Kiki Bertens (NED) bt Barbora Strycova (CZE) Kudermetova (RUS) & Jelena Goerges, meanwhile, won a tolina of her performance after- 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 over Navarro. what I have to do. I know that she Carla Suarez-Navarro (ESP) 2-6, Followed by Ostapenko (LAT) marathon match against Ameri- wards. “The ball is fl ying and the The No.5 seed booked her has a big serve, has a big forehand. 6-1, 6-1; 9-Julia Georges (GER) bt QF: 1-Simona Halep (ROU) vs Followed by can lucky loser Alison Riske 6-1, wind is very tricky, so I had to be place in the quarter-fi nals with I will see, and I have to be confi dent LL-Alison Riske (US) 6-1, 7-6 (5), 9-Julia Goerges (GER) 1-Nicole Melichar (US) & Kveta 6-7 (5), 6-4, rallying from 4-2 extremely quick with my feet. In a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Navarro. because I feel good on court. I have 6-4; Elise Mertens (BEL) bt Krys- Not before 8pm Peschke (CZE) or Ons Jabeur down in the fi nal set. the end I was very pleased that I “I think in the fi rst set I was a good mood, so I have my chance. tina Pliskova (CZE) 6-2, 7-6 (3); QF: 5-Kiki Bertens (NED) vs Elise (TUN) & Alison Riske (USA) vs No.4 seed Elina Svitolina also could fi nish in two sets.” rushing a little bit. I wanted to I will fi ght for it.” Q-Karolina Muchova (CZE) bt Mertens (BEL) Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) & made a strong start, beating Je- Not everything has been play too aggressive, and it was Halep is the only player in line Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) 6-2, 6-4; Bar- COURT 1 (Start 3.30pm) Alicja Rosolska (POL) or Darija lena Ostapenko 6-4, 6-4 in one smooth for Svitolina since Mel- not working well. I think Carla for a second Qatar title this week bora Strycova (CZE) bt Q-Anna Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) & Latisha Jurak (CRO) & Maria Jose Mar- hour and 20 minutes. bourne, though. played well. She served well,” after Carla Suarez Navarro, the Blinkova (RUS) 6-0, 3-6, 6-0 Chan (TPE) vs Lara Arrubarena tinez Sanchez (ESP) The WTA Finals champion “I have been struggling since Bertens said after the match. 2016 champion, was ousted by avenged two previous losses to Os- Australian Open with my neck,” “In the second set I was just the Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens, tapenko in which she had failed to she said. “I mean, it’s tough to waiting a little bit more but then the fi fth seed. fi rming her participation. quickly on the scoreboard, as she 10 minutes, Halep came through win a set — in the fourth round of say, because every day is chang- going for my shots like where I Pliskova, the 2017 winner, had With yesterday’s win, Ha- opened up a 5-0 lead to begin the two lengthy battles — fi rst break- 2017 Wimbledon and in last year’s ing. It depends... on the practice, could. I think also in the beginning withdrawn earlier in the day, while lep improved her head-to-head match in the fi rst set, three of the ing Tsurenko for a second time Miami quarter-fi nals. Today, on the match, what I have, so it’s of the third I was a little bit lucky her compatriot and last year’s against the Ukrainian No.2 to a fi rst fi ve games extended past in a marathon nine-deuce game though, playing for the fi rst time tough to tell how I’m going to feel here and there, but I just took it.” champion Petra Kvitova had pulled perfect 6-0, having lost just one deuce or more. to lead 4-0, before saving three since losing to Naomi Osaka in the tomorrow, but every single day I Germany’s Angelique Kerber out a few days before the tourna- set in their meetings. After winning the fi rst three break points in a fi ve-deuce aff air last eight of the Australian Open, try to get a treatment, I try to get also advanced, beating Anett ment started, after initially con- Though the World No.3 started games of the match in just over on her own serve. Svitolina withstood some marvel- some work done, and, you know, Kontaveit of Estonia 6-1, 7-6 (3). Gulf Times 2 Thursday, February 14, 2019 SPORT

FOOTBALL FORMULA 1 Hamilton hungry for QFA celebrates more as new Mercedes National Sport makes track debut ‘The events we have organised show our deep commitment to engage every member Day of the society towards playing sport’

he Qatar Football Asso- ciation (QFA) on Tues- day celebrated the Na- tional Sport Day with Tincredible participation at its special events organised across the country. This year, the events were held in Katara, the Aspire Acad- emy and Othman Bin Aff an and Yarmouk Schools. All the events drew people from diff erent na- tionalities and age groups. Khalid Mubarak al-Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Com- munication, QFA, said that QFA’s Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton (also inset) drives the new Mercedes-AMG F1 car around the Silverstone participation in NSD activities circuit yesterday. (AFP) was aimed at engaging commu- nity activities at all levels. Reuters Al-Kuwari said QFA presi- London dent Sheikh Hamad bin Kha- Red Bull unveil their fi rst lifa bin Ahmed al-Thani led School hosting a tournament the football organisation’s par- on Monday. Football matches ormula One champions Honda-powered car ticipation in the NSD activities between Tamim al-Majd and Mercedes ran their new across the country. Tamim al-Ezz were also played car for the fi rst time at Reuters Frenchman Pierre Gasly. QFA president also featured at on Tuesday. Silverstone yesterday London “What I’m most looking forward a football match with His High- Commenting on the day’s withF title holder Lewis Hamilton to is starting the season and ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin events, Khaled al-Kuwari, Di- saying he felt 2019 could turn out seeing how the whole team is Hamad al-Thani at Aspire Acad- rector of Marketing and Com- even better than last season. ed Bull unveiled their operating together with Honda emy on Tuesday. The Amir was munication, QFA, said on Tues- With some other teams rac- first Honda-powered For- and how the engine is perform- accompanied by His Highness day: “The many events we have ing against time to get their new Rmula One car yesterday ing together with the chassis,” the Personal Representative of organised in Katara, the Aspire cars built and ready for the start with Max Verstappen driving said Verstappen ahead of the the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Ha- Academy and the Qatari schools of pre-season testing in Spain the initial laps at Silverstone. initial limited mileage filming mad al-Thani and FIFA President show our deep commitment on Monday, Mercedes made sure The team published images day. Gianni Infantino. to engage every member of the they were on track in every re- of the RB15 online with what it “Up until Australia you can’t The QFA organised many society towards playing sport. spect. said was a temporary livery for really set goals, it’s a bit blind,” events in order to promote the We would like to thank our sup- Hamilton’s Finnish teammate filming before testing starts in added the 21-year-old, whose concept of healthy living through porters and the young families Valtteri Bottas performed the Spain on Monday. season starts in Melbourne on sports and football in particular. that turned up and our fans for initial shakedown laps as part The former champions finished March 17. The QFA in co-operation with their generous attendance.” of a 100 kilometre fi lming day, third overall last season, win- Honda ended a diff icult part- Qatar Shell in Katara also or- At the MIA Park, Qatar na- with fi ve-times world champion ning four races and well ahead nership with former greats ganised events under the “Koora tional team captain Hassan al- Hamilton due to be in the car of fourth-placed rivals Renault. McLaren at the end of 2017, Time” community responsibility Haydos joined his teammates during the afternoon. Red Bull parted company with with hopes of rekindling former programme, which has won nu- Amloez Ali, Abdul Karim Has- “I completely switched off engine partners Renault at the glories ending in recriminations merous awards at the local and san, Bassam al-Rawi and retired from racing for a while, trying to end of 2018, switching instead over a lack of performance and international levels. players for a friendly match with focus and re-centre myself and to Honda who also provide reliability. This event, as expected, drew billiards, goalkeeping, snorkel- activity called “Football Fam- fans. The event organised by training hard for the new sea- power units for sister team Toro Rosso finished ninth of 10 large crowds in various age ling, aerobics, fi tness, table ten- ily” programme in co-operation QFA in Katara in co-operation son. 2018 was a great year, but I Toro Rosso. teams last year with the Honda brackets. Other sports activities nis, badminton, athletics and with the Higher Committee for with Shell Qatar under social re- feel like 2019 can be even better,” Verstappen, who shared the engine but Red Bull have were launched between 8am much more. Projects and Heritage and the sponsibility programme “Koora Hamilton said. victories with Australian Daniel sounded optimistic about the until 6pm, QFA said. Sports ac- Football matches were also Qatar Stars League. Time” witnessed the participa- “I want to achieve more, I want Ricciardo last season, has a progress made by the Japanese tivities conducted on Tuesday played among various age A special schools activity saw tion of more than 10,000 people to continue to keep pushing. I new team mate for 2019 in manufacturer. also involved competitions in groups. QFA also participated an Othman Bin Aff an Boys Model from all age groups. feel energised and I’m ready to attack.” The Briton won 11 races last year on his way to becoming only Al Shaqab off ers VIP experience for world-class events the third driver to win fi ve titles and with a career tally of 73 wins is now only 18 off Michael Schu- l Shaqab, member of ice for guests in the VIP Boxes. macher’s all-time record of 91. Qatar Foundation, has To help interested parties Hamilton has also won 51 of Aput together an unpar- decide which option to choose, the 100 grands prix in the V6 alleled VIP guest experience the VIP floor plan has been turbo era that started in 2014 and to match the quality of the made accessible and is avail- four of the last fi ve champion- world-class equestrian events able on the Al Shaqab website ships. it is preparing to host. (www.alshaqab.com). For fur- “The buzz really starts at the The opening leg of the Longines ther information, e-mail com- beginning of the year when you Global Champions Tour (LGCT) [email protected] or call 4454 see the car coming together. And 2019 series, a premier 5-star 7361. Regular grandstand and then you get to the shakedown showjumping event which VIP tickets to both events – the and you get into the car — it just involves some of the world’s first leg of LGCT 2019 and CHI never gets old,” he added. most renowned horses and ath- Al Shaqab 2019 – are available Mercedes have also won the letes, is scheduled to take place for purchase on the website. last fi ve constructors’ champi- from February 28-March 2. The Established in 1992, Al onships but team boss Toto Wolff prestigious CHI Al Shaqab 2019, Al Shaqab will host the opening leg of the Global Champions Tour Shaqab’s vision is to build on warned that rule changes could a signature event of Al Shaqab 2019 from February 28-March 2 and CHI Al Shaqab from March 7-9. Qatar’s Arabian horse heritage shake things up. Max Verstappen drives the new Red Bull Racing car at Silverstone and the only competition of its and be a leading global centre “We’re taking nothing for circuit yesterday. (Red Bull Content Pool) kind in the Middle East and Asia, ground floor), and VIP Table Organising Committee (LOC) for equine professionals, while granted and there’s absolutely no will also be a three-day event (back row, ground floor). Tickets has taken steps to provide a providing an engaging experi- feeling of entitlement to be at the taking place the weekend after, to these areas come in attractive truly memorable experience ence for the community. front,” he said. that would be kinder to its tyres ics, suspension and power unit to from March 7-9. packages, with several hospital- for participants and spectators. Today, Al Shaqab’s facilities, “In fact, with the regulation than last year and remain com- bring performance.” In addition to the usual attrac- ity passes being included for a Holders of VIP tickets will enjoy which are distinctively designed change for the new season, every petitive at every track on the Mercedes said changes had tions at the events, Al Shaqab single price depending on the a spectacular view that results in the shape of a horseshoe, team can have a shot at the title calendar. been made to the cooling archi- is off ering exclusive tickets to class of ticket purchased. Corpo- from the close proximity of the cover 980,000sqm. With a and we’re seeing all of them as a “Components that we felt tecture of the power unit, making its purpose-built VIP area, in a rate organisations can treat their VIP area to the showjumping state-of-the-art main arena, potential threat.” were stripped to the bone in 2018 it more effi cient and also bring- setting that is suitable for roy- business partners or important area, while they can also look comprising both an indoor and Mercedes said the new car, have been taken, one by one, ing aerodynamic benefi ts. alty and distinguished guests. customers to an exclusive and forward to several exclusive outdoor venue capable of hold- sporting a similar silver livery and subjected to a further round Some 7,000 drawings were Keeping in mind the promi- unique experience. Special arrangements. The VIP areas ing over 5,000 spectators, Al and branding to last year’s mod- of aggressive analysis to shave turned into components and nence of the upcoming equestri- packages are also available feature attractions such as: Shaqab is part of Qatar’s grow- el, had changed substantially un- further weight from them,” he cumulative testing of the parts an events, the seating within the when the VIP hospitality options private entrance, valet parking, ing reputation on the world der the skin. added. amounted to around 500,000km VIP area has been conveniently are purchased jointly for both complimentary all-day dining, a stage that showcases its abil- Technical director James Al- “Collectively each of these before the car had even left the sectioned as: VIP Boxes (first events. souvenir programme, daily start ity to host major international lison said the team had worked victories add up to a handful of garage for the fi rst time. floor), VIP Table (front row, The CHI Al Shaqab 2019 Local lists and a personal butler serv- sports event at the highest level. hard on the suspension and kilos that have been invested The season starts in Australia aerodynamics to deliver a car back in the car on aerodynam- on March 17.

SPOTLIGHT 11,000 golf swings on NSD at Education City Golf Club By Sports Reporter minute! All of the data is veri- FNAC with activities for children friends soak up the atmosphere Doha fi ed through the TrackMan Range and families throughout the day. and try their hand at golf. It was Technology fully integrated into The continued approach set particularly special to see young the driving range which helps the by Education City Golf Club is to children with their parents trying ducation City Golf Club, golfer track their ball distance grow the game of golf through the golf on National Sport Day.” the newest golf club in Qa- and direction on the range. facilities and continued engage- In the National Sport Day Sta- tar, held multiple activi- Throughout National Sport ment in various segments and de- bleford, in partnership with Fif- ties on National Sport Day Day, not only was the range mographics to build golf in Qatar. ty-One East, fi rst place honours (NSD)E for aspiring and experienced eventful, but golf lessons for Education City Golf Club gen- were taken by Gerald McLough- golfers alike. The new innovative new aspiring golfers were held eral manager Michael Braidwood lin with a score of 39 points, an Range featuring TrackMan Tech- on hourly intervals with families said, “We have only recently incredible score in windy con- nology & PowerTee had 11,000 golf and friends visiting the newly- opened up the golf course but so ditions, while Mark Cooke was balls hit during the day. opened golf course to give golf far the interest has been outstand- the runner-up with a score of To put that in perspective, the a go. The ongoing celebrations ing. National Sport Day was a great 35 Points, ahead of third-placed total average is 18 balls hit every were supported by JoueClub and success which saw families and Sung Jan (33 points). Gulf Times Thursday, February 14, 2019 3 CRICKET

DURBAN TEST THIRD TEST England thrash Windies to claim South Africa admit consolation win

AFP Gros Islet, Saint Lucia

ngland ended a disappointing Test series with the con- ‘caught off guard’ solation of a comprehensive victory over the West Indies on the fourth day of the third and fi nal Test in St Lucia on Tuesday. EThrashed in the fi rst two matches of the series to surrender the Wisden Trophy after ten years in English possession, the tourists gained a measure of consolation in completing a 232-run victory with a day to spare. Set an improbable target of 485 after Joe Root declared his side’s by rejuvenated SL second innings at 361 for fi ve following his dismissal for 122, the home team were eventually dismissed for 252 deep into the fi nal ‘They are two solid bowlers and they will give us trouble throughout the series...’ session when Ben Stokes had Keemo Paul caught and bowled. Paul, hobbled by a leg injury which prevented him from bowling AFP throughout most of the England second innings, only came out to Durban bat as last man to allow Roston Chase to complete a deserved fi fth Test century. Chase was on op-scorer Quinton de Kock ad- 97 when Shannon Scorecard mitted South Africa were “caught Gabriel was ninth ENGLAND 1st innings 277 off guard” when Sri Lanka bowled out, but the young them out for 235 on the fi rst day of all-rounder hung WEST INDIES 1st innings 154 Tthe fi rst Test at Kingsmead yesterday. around long enough ENGLAND 2nd innings (overnight 325-4) Underdogs Sri Lanka, seemingly in dis- for the tall right- R. Burns c Joseph b Paul 10 array going into the match, reached 49 for hander to reach one at the close to fi nish the day in a strong three fi gures, cut- K. Jennings b Joseph 23 position. Left-arm opening bowler Vish- ting Joe Denly to J. Denly c Dowrich b Gabriel 69 wa Fernando and right-arm seamer Kasun the backward-point J. Root c Hetmyer b Gabriel 122 Rajitha, playing in their fourth and fi fth boundary to achieve J. Buttler b Roach 56 Tests respectively, did the major dam- the landmark. age. Fernando took four for 62 and Rajitha He fi nished un- B. Stokes not out 48 claimed three for 68. beaten on 102 off 191 Extras (b-13, lb-9, nb-3, w-8) 33 “We were a bit unaware of the new guys. balls with 12 fours and Total (105.2 overs, 5 wkts declared) 361 I think they caught us off guard,” said De one six embellish- Kock who made 80. ing his innings. James Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Burns), 2-73 (Jen- “We had good game plans against Anderson, who blew nings), 3-147 (Denly), 4-254 (Buttler), (opening bowler) Suranga Lakmal but the away the West Indies 5-361 (Root) two new guys were unseen before. They top order with three Bowlers: K. Roach 18-6-45-1- (1nb, 2w), bowled really well, they didn’t miss their wickets before lunch, S. Gabriel 23.2-1-95-2 (2nb, 1w), K. Paul lengths often and they made us work hard had no more success 5-1-11-1, A. Joseph 16-2-72-1, R. Chase 31-1- for what we got.” with the ball but his 92-0, K. Brathwaite 12-2-24-0. Asked what specifi c problems Fernando devastating early im- WEST INDIES 2nd innings and Rajitha caused, De Kock said: “The pact ensured that it angle of their bowling, the skills they had, was only a matter of K. Brathwaite c Stokes b Anderson 8 their actions, the skiddiness, the bounce. when, not if England J. Campbell c Ali b Anderson 0 They are two solid bowlers and they will would have completed S. Hope c Broad b Wood 14 give us trouble throughout the series, so a massive victory on we will just have to keep our eyes open for the fourth day. D. Bravo c Root b Anderson 0 them.” Moeen Ali also R. Chase not out 102 Fernando got extravagant swing early in claimed three wickets S. Hetmyer run out 19 the day after new captain Dimuth Karu- while Mark Wood, the S. Dowrich c Stokes b Ali 19 naratne won the toss and sent South Afri- tearaway fast bowler ca in, while Lakmal got steep bounce in an who took fi ve wickets K. Roach c c Wood b Ali 29 opening spell of one for six in seven overs. in the fi rst innings, A. Joseph c Anderson b Ali 34 Fernando arguably owed his place in the snared the important S. Gabriel c Bairstow b Stokes 3 team to the fact that three of Sri Lanka’s scalp of Shai Hope leading fast bowlers were missing because as the West Indies K. Paul c and b Stokes 12 of injury. But he produced a superb open- slumped to 35 for four Extras (b-1, lb-5, nb-2, w-4) 12 ing spell, having Dean Elgar caught behind before lunch. Total (69.5 overs, all out) 252 and bowling Aiden Markram with a ball His six wickets and which swung back into the stumps. impact on the game Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Campbell), 2-10 Fernando said he enjoyed bowling in earned him the ‘man (Brathwaite), 3-10 (Bravo), 4-31 (Hope), South African conditions compared to Sri Lanka’s Vishwa Fernando reacts after taking wicket of South Africa batsman Dean Elgar in Durban yesterday. (AFP) of the match’ award. 5-76 (Hetmyer), 6-110 (Dowrich), 7-156 those in Sri Lanka, where he said fast West Indies’ only (Roach), 8-212 (Joseph), 9-236 (Gabriel), bowlers tended to struggle on unhelp- Rajitha for 35. Bavuma looked the most period of relative 10-252 (Paul) ful pitches. “The ball was swinging in the assured of the South African batsmen but Scorecard comfort at the crease Bowling: J. Anderson 11-2-27-3, S. Broad morning,” he said. was run out for 47 off 68 balls, with seven came in the afternoon 14-6-22-0, B. Stokes 8.5-2-30-2 (2nb, 1w), He had Dean Elgar caught behind for fours, when a straight drive by De Kock ri- SOUTH AFRICA first innings 3-17 (Markram), 4-89 (Du Plessis), 5-110 session when Chase M. Wood 12-1-52-1 (3w), M. Ali 21-1-99-3, J. nought with his fourth ball and there was chocheted off bowler Fernando’s boot into A. Markram b V. Fernando 11 (Bavuma), 6-131 (Philander), 7-178 (Maharaj), and Shimron Hetmyer Denly 3-0-16-0. 8-186 (Rabada), 9-219 (Steyn) still no run on the board two balls later the stumps at the bowler’s end. D. Elgar c Dickwella b V. Fernando 0 put on 45 runs for the Result: England won by 232 runs when an appeal for leg before wicket was De Kock, batting at number six because Bowling: Lakmal 14-3-29-1, V. Fernando 17-1- fi fth wicket. They un- turned down by umpire Aleem Dar, al- South Africa picked fi ve specialist bowl- H. Amla c Mendis b Lakmal 3 62-4, Rajitha 14.4-0-68-3 (2nb), Karunaratne did all their good work though replays showed he should have ers, found himself batting with the tail. He T. Bavuma run out (V. Fernando) 47 3-0-9-0, Embuldeniya 10-1-51-1, O. Fernando however when, on the stroke of the mid-session drinks break, been given out. hit 80 off 94 balls before he was last man F. du Plessis c Dickwella b Rajitha 35 1-0-10-0 Hetmyer was run out for 19 coming back for a third run as Denly’s By the time Karunaratne signalled for out. SRI LANKA first innings throw from the cover boundary to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow a review, the players were told they had Sri Lanka lost Lahiru Thirimanne, Q. de Kock c V. Fernandon b Rajitha 80 found the left-hander short of his ground. taken too long – although it was shown caught behind off Dale Steyn for nought, V. Philander c and b Rajitha 4 D. Karunaratne not out 28 Anderson triggered the West Indies slide with just the third afterwards they were three seconds inside but Karunaratne batted confi dently to be K. Maharaj c Dickwella b V. Fernando 29 L. Thirimanne c De Kock b Steyn 0 delivery of the innings when John Campbell, facing his fi rst ball, the permitted 15 seconds for a request. 28 not out at the close, while new cap Os- sliced a booming drive to Ali at gully. Campbell’s opening partner, K. Rabada c O. Fernando b V. Fernando 3 O. Fernando not out 17 The lapse proved inexpensive, however, hada Fernando went on the attack when Kraigg Brathwaite, off ered little resistance himself when he prod- as Amla was caught at second slip off Lak- Du Plessis turned to spin bowling as the D. Steyn b Embuldeniya 15 Extras (b3, lb1) 4 ded indecisively at a full-length delivery and Stokes held the catch mal for three before Fernando produced light faded to fi nish on 17 not out. D. Olivier not out 0 Total (1 wkt, 16 overs) 49 at second slip. Worse was the follow for the West Indies when Bra- the ball of the day to bowl Markram for 11. Sri Lanka have lost six of their most vo, troubled by a fi nger injury which kept him off the fi eld for the Extras (lb6, nb2) 8 Fall of wicket: 1-19 (Thirimanne) South Africa were 17 for three at that recent seven Tests and were disrupted by entire England second innings, followed a delivery from Anderson Bowling: Steyn 5-1-10-1, Philander 4-0-14-0, stage. Temba Bavuma and Faf du Plessis injuries and several changes in personnel, Total (59.4 overs) 235 for Root to complete a comfortable catch at fi rst slip. Rabada 2-1-1-0, Olivier 2-0-2-0, Maharaj 2-0- put on 72 for the fourth wicket before Du including the dropping of regular captain Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Elgar), 2-9 (Amla), England clearly had a swift declaration on their minds at the 13-0, Elgar 1-0-5-0. Plessis was caught down the leg side off Dinesh Chandimal. start of the day’s play with Root and Stokes resuming at 325 for four. They belted 36 runs at a run-a-minute until the skipper mis- cued a low full-toss from Gabriel and Hetmyer held the catch div- ODI ing forward at midwicket to prompt the declaration. Guptill hits form as NZ outclass Bangladesh AFP Scorecard Napier BANGLADESH homme 5-0-19-0, Ferguson 10-1- T. Iqbal c Latham b Boult 5 44-2 (w10), Santner 8-0-45-3 (w1), artin Guptill re- Neesham 7-0-26-0 (w4) turned to form with L. Das b Henry 1 an unbeaten cen- S. Sarkar c and b Henry 30 NEW ZEALAND tury as New Zea- M. Rahim b Boult 5 Mland powered to an eight-wicket M. Guptill not out 117 M. Mithun b Ferguson 62 win over Bangladesh in the fi rst H. Nicholls b Hasan 53 one-day international in Napier Mahmudullah c Taylor b Ferguson yesterday. 13 K. Williamson lbw Mahmudullah 11 Bangladesh set New Zealand S. Rahman st Latham b Santner 13 R. Taylor not out 45 a modest run chase of 233 after M. Hasan c Neesham b Santner 26 Extras (lb3, w4) 7 suff ering an early collapse and Total (for 2 wickets, 44.3 overs) the Black Caps overhauled it in M. Saifuddin c Guptill b Santner 41 233 44.3 overs, fi nishing at 233 for M. Mortaza not out 9 two. It is Bangladesh’s fi fth tour New Zealand’s Martin Guptill celebrates his century in the first ODI Fall of wickets: 1-103 (Nicholls), M. Rahman b Boult 0 to New Zealand and they are yet against Bangladesh in Napier yesterday. (AFP) 2-137 (Williamson), to win a match in any format, Extras (lb5, w16, nb1, pen 5) 27 Bowling: Mortaza 8.3-0-33-0 with their next chance coming in 117 not out. He had been aver- ing 53 before a tame dismissal Total (all out, 48.5 overs) 232 (w1), Saifuddin 7-0-43-0 (w2), M. the second ODI in Christchurch aging less than 10 since his last when the ball hit his pad and Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Iqbal), 2-19 Rahman 8-0-36-0, Hasan 8-1-42-1, on Saturday. international innings of note, a rolled onto the stumps. Veteran (Das), 3-42 (Rahim), 4-42 (Sarkar), S. Rahman 7-0-41-0, Mahmudul- Bangladesh captain Mashrafe big-hitting 138 against Sri Lanka batsman Ross Taylor also con- 5-71 (Mahmudullah), 6-94 (S. Rah- lah 5-0-27-1, Sarkar 1-0-8-0 (w1) Mortaza said his team were ad- in early January. tributed an unbeaten 45. man), 7-131 (Hasan), 8-215 (Saifud- Result: New Zealand win by justing to New Zealand condi- Guptill’s eff ort against Bang- Mohamed Mithun was the din), 2-229 (Mithun), 10-232 (M. eight wickets tions and still hoped of a break- ladesh was more controlled, pick of Bangladesh’s hitters, Rahman) through victory. with the batsman under no pres- grinding out a hard-fought 62 Man of the match: Martin Guptill Guptill and Henry Nicholls sure and content to pick off loose after coming to the crease with Bowling: Henry 9-1-48-2, Boult Series: NZ lead series 1-0 pressed their case to open the deliveries. His 15th ODI century Bangladesh reeling at 42 for four 9.5-0-40-3 (w1, nb1), De Grand- batting at the World Cup as New came off 103 balls and included after a decision to bat fi rst back- with seven balls of their allotted The Black Caps struck early Zealand made light work of the six fours and three sixes. fi red. 50 overs remaining. when Tamim Iqbal departed target. Guptill, returning from Nicholls looked comfortable Mohamed Saifuddin provided Spinner Mitchell Santner and for fi ve in the second over and injury, put a poor run of scores in just his third outing since be- support with a gritty 41 as Bang- paceman Trent Boult took three Liton Das soon followed, leaving West Indies’ captain Jason Holder pose with the Wisden Trophy behind him with a commanding ing promoted up the order, scor- ladesh were bowled out for 232 wickets apiece for New Zealand. Bangladesh at 19 for two. after the third Test against England in St Lucia.(Reuters) Gulf Times 4 Thursday, February 14, 2019 SPORT

GOLF / PRESIDENTS CUP BOXING Stricker, Couples, Johnson to assist Woods Heavyweight champ AFP ters winner Johnson for the De- The Royal Melbourne Golf unbelievable atmosphere for the Joshua to make US Melbourne cember 12-15 event. Club venue is a much-lauded players, so I’m excited to return “Having competed with Ti- classic Sand Belt course that and help this team win.” ger in the Presidents Cup in demands strategic golf but is Stricker brings his own pedi- debut against Miller irst-time US Presi- the past, I’ve always admired often considered too short for gree to the team that will face dents Cup captain Ti- the pride he takes in these team today’s big hitters, and that the Internationals led by South AFP in the UK, not least Wembley ger Woods yesterday events,” said Johnson. could suit the accurate John- Africa’s Ernie Els, and has a London Stadium, but the time has come named the experienced “I’m thrilled he’s chosen to son who is one of the shortest bond with Woods having been to head across the Atlantic and FredF Couples, Steve Stricker trust me with this important role, hitters from the tee on the US his teammate at four previous defend my heavyweight titles in and Zach Johnson as three of and I look forward to doing my PGA Tour. Presidents Cups. nthony Joshua will fi ght the USA,” said Joshua. his assistants for the showdown part to help the team succeed.” Couples welcomed the chance “Stricks was an incredible in the United States for “I am looking forward to tak- against the International team in Johnson played in four previ- to go back to the site of his 2011 leader in 2017 and I took a lot the fi rst time when he ing on another challenge with a Melbourne later this year. ous Presidents Cups, including triumph as captain. away from the way he served as defends his IBF, WBA good boxer and a brilliant talker.” The 14-time major champion 2015 in South Korea when he “To return to one of my fa- captain that I hope to emulate in andA WBO heavyweight titles Matchroom Boxing manag- tapped former captains Cou- delivered a pivotal victory over vourite venues, Royal Mel- Melbourne,” Woods said. against Jarrell Miller at Madison ing director Eddie Hearn, who ples and Stricker, while inject- Australian talisman Jason Day. bourne, is going to be a real “We have always shared a Square Garden on June 1, his pro- has been criticised for the delay ing new blood to the leadership He could be a contender for tomatically qualify in the top treat,” said Couples. high level of trust and mutual moter announced yesterday. in fi nalising Joshua’s latest fi ght, team in the shape of the former one of Wood’s four captain’s eight determined by FedEx Cup “The fans in Australia really respect, which will be important After abandoning plans to said: “AJ has created an incred- Open Championship and Mas- player picks if he does not au- points. know their golf and create an in helping us guide this team.” fi ght again at Wembley on April ible ‘Lion’s Den’ atmosphere in 13, he will instead attempt to the UK and we plan to bring that muscle in on the US market in energy to New York on a card RUGBY which rivals Tyson Fury and De- that will be stacked with British ontay Wilder have become in- v American talent.” creasingly infl uential. Miller, 30, said Joshua was The 29-year-old last fought in making a “huge mistake” in September at Wembley, stopping coming to fi ght in the United Russia’s Alexander Povetkin in States. seven rounds. “He wants to announce him- Miller is not recognised as one self on the American stage but all Aussie teams under of the world’s leading heavy- he’s doing is delivering me those weights but has been in contention belts by hand,” he added. to fi ght Joshua for the past year. “It’s dog eat dog in the ring “It has been an honour and a and this dog has got a bigger bite, blessing to fi ght at some of the he’ll be leaving New York empty- pressure to deliver best venues in the world at home handed.” WCup momentum Wallabies have lost eight of their last nine matches to the All Blacks

Reuters The Dave Wessels-coached Melbourne Melbourne Rebels may be best equipped to challenge the Wara- tahs. They will not be satisfi ed aving set the Walla- with anything less than play- bies up for failure in off s after crumbling in the fi nal recent seasons, Aus- games of last season. tralia’s underperform- Having long lacked a decent In this September 22, 2018, picture, Anthony Joshua (right) in action Hing Super Rugby sides are under fl yhalf, they now have former against Alexander Povetkin during their WBA Super, IBF, WBO & IBO pressure to improve and send Wallaby Quade Cooper re- world heavyweight title bout in London. (Reuters) Michael Cheika’s team to the forming the halves partnership World Cup in Japan with some with Will Genia that delivered momentum. the Reds a maiden title in 2011. SPOTLIGHT Since the Wallabies’ run to the Wallabies inside centre Matt 2015 World Cup fi nal in England, Toomua will also be a handy ad- Australia have been virtual pas- dition late in the season when he sengers in Super Rugby, with fi nishes duties with Leicester. France refuse to ring only the New South Wales War- The Dan McKellar-coached atahs making the semi-fi nals of ACT Brumbies boast a test- the last three campaigns. strength pack and had the con- Six Nations changes Any pretence of a rivalry with ference’s strongest defence last neighbouring New Zealand was year but have driven Canberra Reuters performance against England. obliterated as Australia’s teams fans away with their stodgy play. Paris With the title already well out fl oundered through a 40-match They badly need more crea- of their reach, Les Bleus must losing streak to trans-Tasman tivity and tries to win a play- now avoid defeat against Scot- rivals that lasted two years and off spot, and will hope former rance coach Jacques land at the Stade de France on spanned three seasons. Waikato Chief Toni Pulu and Brunel has given Wesley Feb. 23 if they do not want to play The Sydney-based Waratahs 21-year-old rugby league con- Fofana, Maxime Medard a ‘wooden spoon’ clash in Rome fi nally lifted the curse by beating vert Tom Wright can provide and Uini Atonio a chance against Italy in their last outing. the Otago Highlanders last May more backline inspiration. toF prove their fi tness after the but it was hardly the watershed Neither of the remaining trio were included in the 31-man SQUAD: Forwards: Jeff erson that home fans craved. Australia coach Michael Cheika two sides in the conference training squad for the Six Na- Poirot, Dany Priso, Guilhem The Waratahs were the only criticised local Super Rugby — Queensland and the Tokyo- tions clash against Scotland. Guirado (c), Pierre Bourgarit, one of Australia’s four teams to sides in 2017 for sending players based Sunwolves — are expected All three players started the Camille Chat, Dorian Aldegheri, post a winning record, and while into Wallabies camp in no to challenge. opening game against Wales be- Uini Atonio, Demba Bamba, Felix their tally of nine wins, one draw condition for test rugby. Brad Thorn’s clean-out at fore missing Sunday’s 44-8 de- Lambey, Sebastien Vahaama- and six losses topped the con- the Reds last season has left a feat by England at Twickenham. hina, Paul Willemse, Gregory ference and earned an automatic nents last season. TEAM DISCIPLINE Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kar- young and willing roster but one Prop Atonio, who travelled to Alldritt, Yacouba Camara, Arthur playoff spot, it would have seen Cheika criticised local Super They are still the most likely to michael Hunt, who was frozen that is still considered too raw, London with the team, has been Iturria, Wenceslas Lauret, Louis them fi nish fi fth in the New Zea- Rugby sides in 2017 for send- win the conference, however, out of the Queensland Reds last while the Sunwolves have a seri- struggling with a knee injury, Picamoles, Fabien Sanconnie; land conference. ing players into Wallabies camp as the country’s best-resourced season after a second drug-re- ous lack of depth, despite coach while Fofana had a thigh strain Backs: Antoine Dupont, Morgan Little wonder Australian rug- in no condition for test rugby province. lated off ence. Tony Brown working hard to re- and Medard needed an MRI on a Parra, Baptiste Serin, Anthony by has virtually ground to a halt and has won agreement from They boast the attacking Ashley-Cooper will play cruit New Zealand talent. shoulder problem. Belleau, Camille Lopez, Mathieu at international level. them to rest all players in his weapons to trouble any side alongside utility back Kurtley Now in their fourth season, Brunel has chosen to stick Bastareaud, Geoff rey Doumay- Since losing to New Zealand World Cup plans for at least two but were badly let down by de- Beale, also no stranger to con- the Sunwolves will be under with the same squad that fea- rou, Wesley Fofana, Romain in the 2015 World Cup decider, matches this season. fence last year and need to stop troversy. The pair were stood pressure to improve upon their tured in the fi rst two matches of Ntamack, Gael Fickou, Yoann the Wallabies have lost eight of The Wallabies-laden Wara- shipping tries to have genuine down for the England test record of three wins last season the tournament, despite facing Huget, Maxime Medard, Damian their last nine matches to the All tahs, who former coach Cheika claims. last year after bringing female to drum up local interest in the criticism for a dismal defensive Penaud, Thomas Ramos. Blacks. guided to a maiden title in 2014, Coach Daryl Gibson has also guests, including Ashley-Coop- World Cup while proving to Su- They managed only four wins therefore face a big challenge in gambled with team discipline er’s sister-in-law, back to their per Rugby bosses they should be from 13 tests against all oppo- player management. by bringing in backline veterans room at the team hotel. retained in the competition. European Tour off ers top prize TENNIS for fi nale Golf’s biggest prize will be awarded at the European Tour’s season finale in Dubai as part of changes to the final three Rolex Series events announced yesterday. The winner of the DP World In-form Tsonga seals win with back-to-back aces Tour Championship will now pocket a cheque for $3mn, a jump from the $1.33mn won by Englishman Danny Willett last year. Agencies him, but we will work on it. I’m 13th ace on match point to dis- American Brooks Koepka has scooped the biggest individual Rotterdam, Netherlands playing good tennis and that’s patch rising South African tal- prize for a tournament in the last two years, claiming $2.16mn the most important thing for ent Lloyd Harris 7-6 (2), 6-2 in for each of his back-to-back US Open victories. The overall prize me,” Tsonga said. the fi rst round of the New York fund for the Dubai finale in November remains at $8mn but the o-Wilfried Tsonga laid “I’m happy to win matches Open on Tuesday. field will be cut from 60 to the top 50 on the European Tour’s down back-to back aces and titles — like last week. I The big-serving Quer- money list. There are also significant increases for finishing first yesterday to complete a know my comeback is still under rey proved too strong for the at the other two season-ending Rolex Series events — the Turk- 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Italy’s construction, though.” 21-year-old Harris, who is the ish Airlines Open and South Africa’s Nedbank Challenge. The ThomasJ Fabbiano in the fi rst Russian fi fth seed Daniil second-highest ranked South champion in Turkey will now collect $2mn, up from the $1.16mn round of the Rotterdam Open. Medvedev emerged a winner in African and a rising star who won by Justin Rose in 2018, and the following week at Sun City The powerful Frenchman his opening match of the week, made it through qualifi ers to the winner will collect $2.5mn compared with the $1.25mn won who missed seven months last beating France’s Jeremy Chardy compete in last year’s US Open by Lee Westwood last year. season due to knee surgery and 7-6 (7/2), 6-2. Hungarian Mar- and this year’s Australian Open. rehab, carried over his mo- ton Fucsovics put out 2016 Rot- Harris had no answer for mentum from a weekend title terdam champion Martin Klizan Querrey’s blistering serves and Garcia apologises for tantrum in Montpellier, where he beat 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. punishing groundstrokes un- Former US Masters champion Sergio Garcia has apologised countryman Pierre-Hugues Medvedev, who turned 22 on leashed from the outset on the for his disqualification from the Saudi International earlier this Herbert. Tuesday, came to the Dutch port black hard courts of the Nassau month and said he let his emotions get the better of him. Garcia Tsonga, ranked 140th as he city with a weekend title to hand Veterans Memorial Coliseum. was disqualified when he intentionally damaged the greens at fi ghts back towards the elite, court Wednesday, was pleased in a good way,” after winning his fourth career Querrey will next face either the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in the third round. “I’m spent 66 minutes in dispatching with his showing as he won his Tsonga next plays Dutch wild ATP trophy in Sofi a. Croat Ivo Karlovic or Moldovan sorry to my fans and fellow competitors. What happened is not qualifi er Fabbiano. 10th match from 12 played since card Tallon Griekspoor, who With a 12-2 record so far in Radu Albot. an example I want to set, and it’s not who I truly am,” Garcia said Tsonga, 33, has been stead- the start of the season. knocked out second seed Karen 2019, he is off to a personal- Querrey’s win capped a good on Instagram. “I am an emotional player and while I believe that’s ily lifting his ATP ranking from “I played well in the fi rst set Khachanov on Tuesday. best season start heading into a day for the hometown Ameri- one of my biggest strengths, it’s also one of my biggest flaws. its low point of 210 and is playing and kept my level in the second,” The number 211 outsider will be match with Fernando Verdasco. cans as Louisiana native Ryan I’m focused on working hard to channel that emotion the correct Rotterdam for the fi rst time since he said. “My opponent raised in the subject of intensive YouTube Harrison’s pinpoint serving sent way and to be the best me, learn from it and move forward.” The winning the title two years ago. the second but I held on. viewing sessions from the Tsonga QUERREY DOWNS HARRIS TO Canadian Peter Polansky pack- 39-year-old Spaniard is in the field at the Genesis Open in Los The Frenchman, one of four “I’ve been working hard and team over the next 24 hours. ADVANCE IN NEW YORK ing in a 6-3 6-4 route earlier in Angeles this week. former Rotterdam champions on trying to spend my time on court “I really don’t know about American Sam Querrey fi red his the day. Gulf Times Thursday, February 14, 2019 5 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Too tall for Basketball? South Korea scraps Triple for James lampooned height limit

AFP happiness when they meas- Seoul ured below the two-metre limit, while others were sent to pack their bags. outh Korea’s Basket- But those players were now but Lakers stumble; ball league has scrapped welcome to return, a KBL offi - a controversial height cial told AFP, as the league has limit that kept its tallest decided to lift the controversial foreignS players off the court, less ban to “allow autonomy of the than a year after it was intro- teams”. duced, offi cials said yesterday. “We felt that the ban was The Korean Basketball outdated and there were many League (KBL) was subject to complaints about the league Warriors roll on worldwide mockery last year restricting the freedom of the when it banned foreign play- teams,” the offi cial said. ‘We didn’t have consistent play in all phases of the game, off ensively and defensively’ ers taller than 200 centimetres “In the past, a player (six foot six inches) in a move couldn’t sign a contract if he to protect local, mostly shorter didn’t meet the requirement athletes. but now he can whether he is The regulation enraged tall or short,” he added. many fans as it forced exist- Each team is allowed two ing players out of their teams foreign players, but under the – many of them league favour- previous regulation, one had ites, including top scorer David to be under 1.86 metres and the Simon, a 201cm American. other under two metres. Hundreds signed a peti- The decision to scrap “all tion submitted to the presi- height restrictions” was dential offi ce, protesting the reached at a board meeting rule. South Korea’s Yonhap on Monday that also lifted news agency reported players bans against overseas recruits had tried lifting weights and who played more than 10 NBA jogging before their measure- games in the last three seasons. ments, hoping that dehydra- The revisions will come into tion would make them shrink. eff ect starting the 2019-2020 Some recruits kneeled in season.

James tops NBA rich list: Forbes Lebron James remains the top-earning player in the NBA while an increasing number of stars have boosted their income through off -field activities, a Forbes survey revealed Tuesday. Forbes said that Los Angeles Lakers star James was the highest- paid player in basketball for a fifth straight year, pocketing an estimated $88.7 million in 2018-2019. Around $35.7 million of James’s earnings came from salary and bonuses, while $53 million was generated through endorsements. Golden State Warriors ace Stephen Curry ranked second on the earnings list with $79.5 million, with salary accounting for $37.5 million and endorsements $42 million. Curry’s Golden State teammate Kevin Durant was third with $65 million. Around $30 million of Durant’s earnings are from his salary while endorsements account for $35 million. Durant has earned more than $400 million in his career to date, according to Forbes. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook was fourth on the list with $53.7 million. Most of Westbrook’s earnings comes through his lucrative contract with the Thunder, reportedly worth $207 million over five years. The triple-double king added Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins (left) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports a further $18 million through endorsements. Reigning NBA MVP James Harden rounded out the top five on the list with $47.4 mil- points each for the Hawks, while four oth- win. lion ($30.4 million salary and $17 million endorsements). AFP RESULTS Los Angeles er players made double fi gures. The Lakers “We won the game in the fi rst quarter The Forbes survey noted that that the top 10 earners in the NBA fell to 28-29 with the defeat, which saw Atlanta 117-113 Lakers with our defensive eff ort,” Curry said. will make around $540 million this year, up more than $180 mil- Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram score 19 “We set the tone early. We’ve been having lion from five years ago. The report pointed to several stars who Boston 112-109 Philadelphia eBron James produced a 28-point points each while point guard Reggie Bul- terrible starts recently, and we rectifi ed have looked to diversify their brands into diff erent areas, with triple double but it was not enough lock chipped in with 15 points. San Antonio 108-107 Memphis that.” James, Curry and Durant all setting up their own companies to to prevent the Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers remain outside the playoff Orlando 118-88 New Orleans In Philadelphia, Gordon Hayward de- manage business opportunities in media and marketing. from sliding to defeat against the places in the Western Conference in 10th livered 26 points from the bench to spark Golden State 115-108 Utah Llowly Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. spot, and will need to halt their slide in Boston to a 112-109 victory over the 76ers. JORDAN IMPRESSED BY HARDEN, WESTBROOK RECORDS A stony-faced James marched quickly form if they are to mount a charge for the Hayward, who has made a successful Michael Jordan praised the record-breaking exploits of James off the court at the State Farm Arena fol- playoff s. three-pointers late in the fourth quarter return from a horrifi c leg injury in 2017 Harden and Russell Westbrook on Tuesday before mischievously lowing a fourth defeat in fi ve games for the “We didn’t have consistent play in all to help take the NBA champions into a which sidelined him for the entire sea- remarking that both players’ achievements pale against his own. Lakers, who were pummelled by Philadel- phases of the game, off ensively and de- 103-95 lead. son, drained six three-pointers to give the NBA legend Jordan spoke to reporters in Charlotte ahead of the phia in their previous outing on Sunday. fensively,” James told reporters. Celtics a battling win over their Eastern All-Star Break, less than 24 hours after Harden and Westbrook James’ fi fth triple double of the year in- Asked about a leaky defence which has DEFENSIVE CORNERSTONE Conference rivals. had both reached significant milestones. cluded 28 points, 11 rebounds and 16 as- conceded an average of nearly 33 points Utah had earlier matched the Warriors The Celtics are now level with the Six- Harden notched his 30th straight 30-point game in Houston’s sists. However, the Lakers were undone a quarter in recent games, James added: blow for blow, scrapping their way to 93- ers with 36 wins against 21 defeats and will defeat of the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, becoming only the by a determined Hawks line-up which “The numbers speak for themselves. We’ll 93 with just under eight minutes left. take encouragement from a win achieved second player after Wilt Chamberlain to achieve the feat. spread the scoring through their ranks to have to look at that.” However, Curry’s run of points and a without Kyrie Irving, who was out with a Westbrook meanwhile became the first man to record 10 con- complete a 117-113 win. Elsewhere Tuesday, the Golden State sublime three-pointer from Klay Thomp- strained knee. secutive triple-doubles in Oklahoma City’s defeat of the Portland “At the end of the day we lost the ball Warriors overcame a spirited performance son made the game safe for Golden State, In Irving’s absence it was left to Hay- Trail Blazers. Jordan on Tuesday said both achievements were game, I don’t care what I did individually,” by the Utah Jazz before pulling away in the who lead the Western Conference with 41 ward to lead the Celtics off ense during his worthy of accolades. “They’re both hard,” Jordan said. “It shows James said of his performance. fourth quarter for a 115-108 win. wins against 15 losses. 26 minutes on court. the talent that we have in the league, and it shows progression “I could care less if I’m not winning ball Kevin Durant put up 28 points while Curry said the Warriors fi rst quarter Al Horford had 23 points while Jayson in the league. “I am very proud of how both guys have done be- games. That’s what I’m all about. I can Stephen Curry added 24 to lead the scor- defensive display – when they held Utah Tatum added 20 to help set up the win. cause they are making a mark for the league and I think it really throw that game in the trash.” ing for the Warriors. to only 14 points to help take an 11-point All of Philadelphia’s starters made double helps grow the league.” John Collins and Trae Young had 22 Curry’s tally included back-to-back lead – had been the cornerstone of the fi gures with Joel Embiid adding 23 points.

NHL Kucherov and Lightning light up Flames VAN RIEMSDYK’S TWO GOALS GUIDE Reuters RESULTS Vancouver FLYERS PAST WILD Boston 6-3 Chicago James van Riemsdyk scored twice, including the go-ahead goal on a power play with 4:29 ikita Kucherov, the NHL’s top Buff alo 3-1 Islanders left in the third period, and the Philadelphia point-producer, collected one goal Dallas 3-0 Florida Flyers rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Min- and three assists to lead the host Columbus 3-0 Washington nesota Wild on Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Tampa Bay Lightning to a 6-3 win Minn. Van Riemsdyk, who had a hat trick Carolina 4-1 Ottawa Nover the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. during a 7-4 win over Minnesota last month, Brayden Point collected one goal and two Tampa Bay 6-3 Calgary helped the Flyers bounce back after their assists, and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 St. Louis 8-3 New Jersey 9-0-1 run ended with a 4-1 home loss to the saves for the NHL-leading Lightning, who have Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. Detroit 3-2 Nashville won three straight games and are riding a 5-0-2 Desperate to move into playoff position run. Philadelphia 5-4 Minnesota in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia Yanni Gourde and Steven Stamkos each pro- Winnipeg 4-3 Rangers trailed 3-1 after one period but evened the duced a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay, which Toronto 5-2 Colorado score heading to the second intermission. also got tallies from Cedric Paquette and An- Jared Spurgeon (goal, two assists) gave the thony Cirelli. Arizona 5-2 Las Vegas Wild a 4-3 lead early in the fi nal period be- Sean Monahan scored twice and Mark fore Claude Giroux tied the game and van Giordano had a goal for Calgary. Elias Lindholm from the high slot for his 25th marker. Riemsdyk won it. was credited with three assists while Johnny Calgary did make a game of it briefl y. The loss was another blow for Minnesota, Gaudreau collected two helpers. Giordano scored his 12th goal of the season dur- which is 1-4-2 since the All-Star break. The David Rittich stopped 21 shots for the ing a fi ve-on-three power play at 18:06 of the Wild are among many clubs in the mix for a Flames, who have lost three straight games and fi rst period to put the visitors on the board, and playoff spot in the crowded Western Confer- four of fi ve outings (1-3-1) to drop out of the top then Monahan tallied at 9:13 of the second pe- ence. spot in the Western Conference. riod to make it a 3-2 game. For a fi fth straight contest, Minnesota al- Point kicked off the scoring parade with his However, Cirelli scored less than a minute lowed the fi rst goal. That came courtesy of league-leading 16th power-play goal at 11:54 later, tucking home a backhand shot from the Philadelphia defenseman Ivan Provorov, just of the fi rst period, fi nishing a pretty three-way doorstep, and Gourde defl ected a point shot 2:54 into the game. Minnesota, however, passing play for his 33rd marker of the season. for his 15th of the season with less than four equalized six minutes later as Zach Parise Paquette doubled the lead at 16:06 of the pe- minutes left in the second period to restore the scored on the power play. riod, burying a one-timer while the Lightning three-goal bulge. Luke Kunin then gave the Wild a 2-1 lead used their great transition game to take advan- The clubs traded third-period power-play with 9:15 left in the fi rst and extended the ad- tage of a Flames line change. Paquette snapped goals to round out the scoring. Stamkos notched vantage with another goal at the 13:28 mark. a 21-game goal-scoring drought. his 30th of the season at 5:01, and Monahan Since being recalled from Iowa of the AHL on Kucherov made it a 3-0 count 73 seconds lat- netted his second of the night and 29th of the Feb. 4, Kunin has three goals and seven points Tampa Bay Lightning’s Brayden Point (left), JT Miller (centre) and Nikita Kucherov celebrate their goal er when he fi red a long shot through the screen campaign with 5:49 remaining. in fi ve games. against Calgary Flames. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Thursday, February 14, 2019 FOOTBALL

EUROPA LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Inter strip leading scorer Icardi Chastened Chelsea in of captaincy

Reuters Milan

nter Milan have stripped leading scorer Mauro Icardi need of morale boost of the team captaincy and handed it to goalkeeper ISamir Handanovic, the Serie Unai Emery’s Arsenal are in Belarus to play BATE, while Celtic face stiff test against Valencia A club said yesterday. Inter did not give an explanation for the AFP change, which it announced on Paris its Twitter feed, and said it did not have “any comment for the moment” in reply to e-mailed he Europa League might not be questions about the switch. top of Chelsea’s priorities this It added that coach Luciano season, but in the current cir- Spalletti was likely to address cumstances today’s last 32, fi rst the issue later last night in his Tleg away to Malmo in Sweden takes on pre-match news conference extra importance for Maurizio Sarri’s ahead of the following day’s Eu- side. The Italian’s days in charge at ropa League match away to Rap- Stamford Bridge could be numbered af- id Vienna. Argentine forward ter Sunday’s humiliating 6-0 defeat at Icardi and the club have been in Manchester City, their heaviest loss in protracted negotiations over the 28 years and also their fourth consecu- extension of his contract. tive away defeat. Icardi, valued at 100 million But Sarri is still there for now as the euros ($113 million), has been London club continue a gruelling run of linked with a move away from fi xtures — the two legs of the tie against Italy to Spanish giants Real Ma- Malmo come either side of the FA Cup drid or Chelsea in England. fi fth round clash with Manchester The 25-year-old has been In- United. Another meeting with City in ter’s leading marksman in Serie the League Cup fi nal follows. A for the last four seasons and “It’s diffi cult to accept such a heavy is also top scorer this term with defeat, but we have a lot of matches nine goals, although he has not coming up to lift our heads and give hit the target in their last seven us hope for good results at the end of league outings. this season,” France midfi elder N’Golo Icardi has had a turbulent re- Kante said after Sunday’s game. lationship with the club and its Chelsea breezed through their group fans and often provides fodder despite Sarri regularly leaving out his for the gossip columns, partly leading players, and he is likely to ro- thanks to his marriage to Argen- tate again in Sweden. With this being tine media personality Wanda the close season in Sweden, Malmo — Nara, who was previously mar- coached by the German former Man- ried to Icardi’s former teammate chester City striker Uwe Roesler — have Maxi Lopez. not played a competitive game since the Nara is also Icardi’s agent, end of the group stage in December. and last month the player said For Chelsea and their London rivals she would continue to represent Arsenal, the resurgence of Manchester him for the rest of his career United in recent weeks increases the following a report in Gazzetta need to keep going in the Europa League dello Sport that Inter wanted to — a victory in the fi nal in Baku in May deal with someone else. In 2016, could still be their best hope of making Icardi was jeered and insulted it to next season’s Champions League. by Inter’s “ultra” fans during Unai Emery’s Arsenal are in Belarus a match against Cagliari after to play BATE, another club who have they were angered by a chapter not played competitive football since in his autobiography where he the group stage ended. A club who have described a confrontation with won the last 13 national titles, but lost Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (centre) trains with teammates ahead of the Europa League last 32 match against Malmo in London yesterday. (Reuters) supporters the year before. home and away to Chelsea in the group Last week, Spalletti appeared phase, should not be a match for the Champions League but have lost just to criticise the club for not fi - Premier League side over two legs in a once in nine in La Liga and Celtic man- EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 32 FIRST LEG FIXTURES nalising a deal with Icardi to ex- tie that will see Alexander Hleb come ager Brendan Rodgers says patience will tend his contract, which still has up against his old side. Now 37, Hleb is be key. “That’s the understanding of 1755 GMT kick-off s: Galatasaray (TUR) Rapid Vienna (AUT) v Inter (ITA) (AUT), Viktoria Plzen (CZE) v Dinamo 2-1/2 years to run. back at BATE for another spell. He spent the game. You’re playing against good “This needs to be resolved v Benfica (POR), BATE (BLR) v Arse- 2000 GMT kick-off s: Sporting (POR) v Zagreb (CRO) three years at Arsenal before joining teams. Valencia have only lost four times because when you do things by nal (ENG), Lazio (ITA) v Sevilla (ESP), Villarreal (ESP), Celtic (SCO) v Valencia Played Tuesday: Fenerbahce (TUR) Barcelona in 2008. all season in one of the biggest leagues in Olympiakos (GRE) v Dynamo Kiev half, you leave them open to in- (ESP), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Ein- 1 (Slimani 21) Zenit Saint Petersburg terpretation,” said Spalletti after The most attractive ties of the round Europe,” Rodgers said. Other standout (UKR), Rennes (FRA) v Real Betis (ESP), lie elsewhere, with Celtic facing a stiff ties include Sevilla — Europa winners tracht Frankfurt (GER), Malmo (SWE) v (RUS) 0 the 1-0 win over Parma on Sat- Krasnodar (RUS) v Bayer Leverkusen test against Valencia as the sides meet three years running between 2014 and Chelsea (ENG), FC Zurich (SUI) v Napoli — Second legs to be played urday. “Mauro has been aff ected (GER), Slavia Prague (CZE) v Genk (BEL), in the fi rst leg in Glasgow. Valencia failed 2016 — against Lazio, Rennes against (ITA), Club Brugge (BEL) v RB Salzburg on February 20-21 by certain situations in the last to make it beyond the group stage in the Betis and Galatasaray up against Benfi ca. few weeks.”

UPDATE SERIE A Footballer Sala’s body to be Ramsey must rise to challenge returned to Argentina tomorrow

AFP club Nantes when his plane went was 28, died of “head and trunk aft er hitting Juventus jackpot Buenos Aires missing over the Channel on Jan- injuries,” an inquest in England uary 21. heard on Monday. AFP nal this term, featuring 13 times Muller said Sala’s body would He was travelling in a light air- London as a substitute. Even in his trun- rgentine footballer arrive in the late afternoon and craft that disappeared near the cated time on the pitch, Ramsey Emiliano Sala’s body be taken to the gymnasium next British island of Guernsey. The has given glimpses of the talent is to be returned to Ar- to his youth club’s headquarters, wreckage was found on the sea- aron Ramsey has Juventus have paid so richly to gentina tomorrow, the where a vigil was scheduled. He bed but 59-year-old pilot David joined European foot- acquire. mayorA of his hometown of Pro- said Sala’s “mother, sister and Ibbotson remains missing. Sala’s ball’s monied elite af- His stand-out moment came greso, Julio Muller, said on Tues- brother have already arrived in former team gave him a rous- ter agreeing a lucrative in a rout of Fulham when he day. Sala’s body was recovered Progreso.” ing send off on Sunday, playing a moveA to Juventus, but doubts helped instigate a fl owing move from plane wreckage in the Eng- British authorities formally French league match in a special remain about the Arsenal mid- that ended with his audacious lish Channel last week. identifi ed Sala’s body last week, all black kit for the occasion, with fi elder’s ability to justify his jaw- back-heeled fi nish for one of the He was fl ying to his new team, after which his family said they each player wearing the Argen- dropping salary. Reports in Brit- goals of the season to date. This English Premier League side could “now begin to mourn our tine’s name on the back of their ain claim Ramsey’s four-year rollercoaster campaign has been Cardiff City, from his old French son and our brother.” Sala, who jersey rather than their own. deal will pay him a basic salary of the perfect encapsulation of £400,000 per week ($515,000) Ramsey’s 11-year Arsenal career. once he offi cially joins Juventus Signed from Cardiff in 2008 FOCUS in the close-season. as a precocious 17-year-old who While some in the Italian me- had already become the second dia have questioned whether the youngest player to appear in the contract is really that high, there FA Cup fi nal, Ramsey was her- Former Paraguay president can be no doubt the Wales star is alded as the centre-piece to a now among the best paid play- new era for then Gunners boss ers in the world. The staggering Arsene Wenger. praises Aspire Academy salary was available to Ramsey Ramsey initially looked ca- because his Arsenal deal was pable of living up to that billing, spire Academy hosted due to expire at the end of this but a horrifi c broken leg suff ered the former President of season, making him eligible to in a challenge from Stoke de- Paraguay, Luis Federico sign a pre-contract with any Paratici said that Ramsey can fi - ball you do need to be versa- fender Ryan Shawcross in 2010 Franco Gomez, when he overseas team after January 1 nally unlock his full potential in tile and he is a modern player,” took a heavy toll. It was three andA his wife toured the Academy under the terms of the ‘Bosman Turin. “Ramsey is a player who Toshack said. years before Ramsey was men- yesterday. Gomez was welcomed ruling’ that provides the guide- in my opinion has never found Arsenal had been prepared to tally and physically recovered. by Aspire Academy Deputy Di- lines for free agent transfers. his position, because he has off er Ramsey an improved long- His gruelling rehabilitation rector General, Ali Salem Afi fa, The 28-year-old is a quality never played in a three (in mid- term contract themselves, but was rewarded when he scored who went on to lead the tour. player but few would rank him fi eld), which is his role, capable that deal was suddenly taken off the winner goal in the 2014 and Speaking after his visit, Gomez alongside soon-to-be Juventus as he is of running from deep,” the table following the arrival 2017 FA Cup fi nals and was voted was full of praise for Aspire teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, he said. of new manager Unai Emery in Arsenal’s Player of the Year last Academy and paid compliments Lionel Messi and Neymar, all Ramsey has provided six as- the close-season. “We thought season. Now Ramsey is prepar- to the nation of Qatar for the global icons whose pay packets sists in the Premier League this we were in a position where we ing to follow in the footsteps of way it has gone about developing are now joined by Ramsey as season — more than any Ju- had agreed a deal but that’s no fellow Welshmen John Charles sport in the country. Aspire Academy Deputy Director General Ali Salem Afifa (left) with among the biggest in the sport. ventus midfi elder — and John longer the case,” Ramsey said in and Ian Rush, who also made “Aspire is spectacular, and former President of Paraguay Luis Federico Franco Gomez and his wife. Juventus’s willingness to Toshack, who gave Ramsey his October. While Ramsey is a fan moves to Juventus. Charles is that’s not only the facilities l splash the cash on Ramsey has Wales debut, believes his former favourite for his whole-hearted still revered as a Juventus legend, am talking about, but rather the been planned and executed to pire,” said Gomez. He added that surprised many but, because player is versatile enough to play and knack of scoring cru- while Rush is a footnote after whole concept and approach to the highest level, producing re- he will be back in Qatar for the the Italian club didn’t need to cope in Serie A. “He might do cial goals, he has been reduced one forgettable season. Ramsey’s youth sport development, from sults like the recent victory in 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar give Arsenal a transfer fee, they better in a three-man midfi eld, to bit-part status under Emery. place in Juve’s hall of fame is un- education to pastoral care to Asian Cup. That testifi es to the and hopes to watch Qatar play see the deal as good business. where he has the possibility to Ramsey has made only nine certain, but his bank balance will training. It is evident this has amazing work being done at As- against Paraguay. Juventus sporting director Fabio push forward. In modern foot- Premier League starts for Arse- never be a problem again. Gulf Times Thursday, February 14, 2019 7 FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT PSG power shows PSG coach Tuchel how far Man United have fallen AFP evidence of their struggles since Manchester, United Kingdom they reached a third Champions League fi nal in four years in 2011. comes out a winner In the past eight years, United le Gunnar Solskjaer’s have won just one knockout fi rst two months as match in the Champions League Mbappe followed Tuchel’s instructions and adapted to a central attacking role caretaker manager — at home to Olympiakos dur- have rekindled memo- ing David Moyes’s short-lived riesO of Manchester United’s glo- tenure in 2013. “You can see that AFP Manchester, United Kingdom rious past but the defeat against we’ve not played games at this Paris Saint-Germain shows the level for a while and we’ll have to tough path back to the top of Eu- learn from this experience,” said aris Saint-Germain could have ropean football. Solskjaer. “It’s not going to be feared the worst going into their Barring an incredible come- a season-defi ning one for us. It Champions League trip to Man- back in the French capital in has to be one that we’re going to chester United without both three weeks’ time, United will learn from.” PNeymar and Edinson Cavani, but coach miss out on the Champions By contrast, PSG’s campaigns Thomas Tuchel deserves plaudits for League quarter-fi nals for the are now defi ned by Champi- fi nding the right formula as they came fi fth straight year. Even with the ons League success or other- away with a commanding victory. injury-enforced absences of the wise. Without two-thirds of Second-half goals from Presnel Kim- world’s most expensive player their star-studded forward line, pembe and the devastating Kylian Neymar and the prolifi c Edison Kylian Mbappe alone was still too Mbappe secured a 2-0 away win and PSG Cavani, PSG were simply too good for United’s defence, while now have a comfortable advantage head- good for Solskjaer’s men, with Angel di Maria — on his return to ing into the second leg of their last-16 tie the 2-0 scoreline at Old Traff ord Old Traff ord — and Julian Draxler in three weeks. Winless on their previ- on Tuesday only kept respectable also shone. ous three trips to England, this time PSG by United goalkeeper David de For United’s own French World outclassed Premier League opposition Gea’s eff orts in the second half. Cup winner, it was a very diff er- despite the absences of the world’s most “This is a level up from what ent night as Paul Pogba was sent expensive player as well as the club’s all- we’ve played against with the off late on and will miss the re- time top scorer. games we’ve had,” admitted Sol- turn leg in his homeland. Appointed with a brief to take PSG fur- skjaer. The man who scored the “You can see their strength ther in Europe than they have been before winning goal when United won they have when they put those under their Qatari owners, Tuchel might the Champions League in 1999 players in (Di Maria and Draxler), have felt he had been cursed by an injury had won 10 and drawn one of his but then again, that’s the level jinx with right-back Thomas Meunier fi rst 11 games in charge to lead we want to get to,” said Solskjaer. also sidelined. But instead, full of energy United back into the top four of “We are looking to strengthen on the touchline and with some evidently the Premier League — the pass- the squad then again we have to strong words to his players at half-time, port into next season’s Champi- learn with so many young players he saw his side send out a clear message. ons League. that we have, to make the step up “We are a team with Neymar and Cavani, But as a player under Alex next season.” two international class players, but we are Ferguson, Solskjaer was used to How much of a blow failure to a team without them as well,” said Ger- regularly being in contention to progress is to Solskjaer’s chances man star Julian Draxler. win the competition, not just of being in charge next season on Central to PSG’s victory was the per- taking part. “There is a reason a permanent basis remains to be formance of Mbappe. The 20-year-old for them being one of the favour- seen. But the lack of a response to usually showcases his lightning pace out ites for the Champions League. losing Anthony Martial and Jesse wide but here he followed Tuchel’s in- Then again, that is the level we Lingard in quick succession to structions and adapted to a central at- need to aim for at this club,” the injury towards the end of the fi rst tacking role without Cavani. Norwegian said. “We’ve been half underlined why planning on “He told me it would be diff erent to talking about top four. Top four overhauling the squad needs to what I usually do, that I might touch the is one thing but we want to be at start straight away. ball a lot less often, that I couldn’t drop the top. Man Utd should be at the Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez too deep, because I was the only player top and this is a top, top team we made little impact off the bench, who could get in behind,” said Mbappe. are playing against. Our players with the Chilean’s anonymous “I listened to him, even if it was a bit dif- That meant the absence of Adrien Ra- Manchester United are not Barcelona. same stage to Barcelona and Real Madrid today are disappointed after the display again raising doubts over fi cult because it was new and I am still biot, frozen out over his refusal to sign Neymar and Cavani are both expect- in the last two seasons. But the German game of course, but I also think his future after a return of just learning in this position.” a new contract, was not felt. “Those ed to again be missing for the return on has shown a tactical fl exibility along with they know we need to step up our fi ve goals in more than a year Back at Old Traff ord where he endured two were superb together, incredible, March 6, but PSG have shown they can a strength of personality and it got the level to get to the level we want to since joining from Arsenal. “I a nightmare single season in 2014/15, but we can’t play the whole season with cope without them. “People need to stop best out of his team on Tuesday, leaving get to.” can’t do anything about Alexis Angel di Maria returned to haunt his old just those two in midfi eld,” pointed out being afraid. Of course Neymar is hugely the quarter-fi nals within sight. The reality of where Unit- Sanchez,” Solskjaer said. “When side, setting up both goals. A fl exible Tuchel. It would be dangerous for PSG important and Cavani is fundamental “To win at Old Traff ord, against a team ed stand among the European he plays he needs to fi nd himself line-up featuring a 35-year-old Daniel to get carried away, just two years after to us, but football is played on the pitch who had won 10 out of 11 and were un- elite did not just bite on Tues- because we know there is a qual- Alves on the right wing was held together they destroyed Barcelona 4-0 at the same and we showed that,” Mbappe said after beaten under Solskjaer, deserves a men- day — the defeat was further ity player there.” in central midfi eld by Marquinhos, the stage, only to lose the return leg 6-1 away. the game. The pressure on Tuchel was tion among the best away results for a Brazilian outstanding as he stepped up This time should be diff erent, however — considerable, with his predecessor Unai French side” in Europe, wrote veteran from defence, and Marco Verratti. the second leg will be at home, and this Emery paying the price for defeats at the commentator Vincent Duluc.

FOCUS United charged by UEFA over bottle thrown at Di Maria Reuters Manchester

EFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Manchester United after a bottle was thrown at Paris St Germain winger Angel Di Maria during Tuesday’s Champions League Ulast-16 tie at Old Traff ord. Di Maria was booed from the outset by the United supporters before a bottle was thrown from the crowd towards him in the second half, which he picked up and pretended to take a swig from. The Argentina forward joined United in 2014 for a then club record 59.7mn pounds ($76.88mn) but an under- whelming debut season under then-manager Louis Van Gaal led to his departure to PSG a year later. United were also charged for the blocking of stair- ways, while PSG have been hit with four diff erent counts with the travelling fans alleged to have set off fi reworks, thrown objects and committed acts of damage along with other crowd disturbances. The case will be heard by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body on Feb. 28. Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (centre) French champions PSG won the fi rst leg 2-0 with second applauds the fans as David de Gea (right) and Juan Mata look half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe. A bottle is thrown at Paris St Germain’s Angel Di Maria by Manchester United supporters. (Reuters) dejected after their loss to Paris St Germain on Tuesday. (Reuters)

REPORT Zaniolo bags brace as Roma claim fi rst-leg victory over Porto AFP conceded the goal.” fallen to the Portuguese club in fi rst half with veteran Porto Rome The night belonged to the both their previous meetings, goalkeeper Iker Casillas denying youngster from Tuscany who has most recently the 2016 play-off Aleksandar Kolarov and Lorenzo become a fan favourite since ar- round in qualifying. Before Za- Pellegrini off the rebound. Dze- eenage sensation Nicolo riving from Inter Milan, where he niolo’s heroics, the match had ko looked destined to break the Zaniolo bagged a brace never played a top-fl ight game, been a lacklustre aff air between deadlock on 38 minutes when as Roma beat Porto 2-1 in in exchange for Radja Nainggolan two sides who had both eased he beat the Porto defence only to their Champions League last summer. On Tuesday, he was through the group stage. blast a shot against the post. Tlast 16, fi rst-leg clash at the Sta- given an ovation by an ecstatic There had been tensions how- Roma stepped up the pres- dio Olimpico on Tuesday night. home crowd who see him as the ever between Porto coach Sergio sure after the break, with Za- The 19-year-old got his fi rst heir to club legend Francesco Conceicao, a former Lazio player, niolo setting up Bryan Cristante ever Champions League goal in Totti. The match sparked into and fans from their arch-rivals who wove his way through, again the 70th minute in Rome, add- life midway through the second Roma. A furious row also erupt- forcing a Casillas save. A Danilo ing a second six minutes later half as Zaniolo netted with a ed between Conceicao and Di Pereira header fl ew wide, with to infl ict a fi rst defeat on Porto precise fi nish after Edin Dzeko’s Francesco, a former Roma player, Casillas on hand to parry a low in this year’s top-tier European lay-off . He soon had his second on the touchline. Pellegrini eff ort, before Zaniolo competition. But Adrian Lopez when Dzeko went on the coun- “He got annoyed, so did I, we broke through with his double to pulled a vital goal back for the ter-attack, his shot bouncing off spoke a little too loud,” explained become the youngest Italian to Portuguese club after 79 minutes the post with Zaniolo on hand to Conceicao. “But it was noth- score in the Champions League. to ensure they remain in the hunt tap in the rebound. “Celebrating ing serious, everything is okay. Lopez pulled a goal back for going into their home leg on May under the ‘curva’ is an extraor- As beforehand it’s still 50-50 (to Porto three minutes later as the 6. “It’s an incredible night, I’m dinary feeling,” said Zaniolo. “I qualify). Our goal leaves eve- Roma were caught out by Tiq- speechless and never would have can’t describe it. I hope to score rything open,” said Conceicao. uinho Soares’ miscued volley, be- expected such a thing,” Zaniolo many more.” “I’m convinced we’ll go through fore Hector Herrera curled wide AS Roma’s Italian midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo (left) shoots to score against Porto during the UEFA said. “But we’ve got the second Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma, to the quarter-fi nals.” and Aleksandar Kolarov missed a Champions League round of 16 first leg match in Rome on Tuesday night. (AFP) leg coming up, we shouldn’t have last year’s semi-fi nalists, had The hosts had the best of the chance late for a third for hosts.

Thursday, February 14, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Rayyan and Arabi meet as QNB Stars League resumes By Sports Reporter for next week’s Qatar Clasico against good group of players and we’ll perform tress are eighth and both sides are keen Doha Al Sadd with a victory. The Lions also well,” Bulent added. on fi nishing among the top four. have AFC Champions League engage- Al Arabi, who have a new coach in Salal have a new coach in Spaniard ment coming up. Heimir Hallgrimsson from Iceland, as- Raul Caneda, while Al Gharafa retained he QNB Stars League is back Rayyan, under Turkish coach Bulent pire to storm into the top-four bracket. the services of Frenchman Christian today after a two-month break, Uygun, have not made drastic changes They made their intentions clear by Gourcuff . What makes the game more which saw Qatar win the Asian to the squad during the winter transfer making a host of signings. The Dream gripping is the fact that both teams are Cup in the UAE in style, for the window. Lucca Borges, Gonzalo Vi- Team offl oaded Franco Hurtado and eager to break into the top four in QNB fiT rst time in their history. Umm Salal era and Koh Myong-Jin stayed as their Mailson Farias even as Diego Jardel Stars League standings. and Al Gharafa will open the week’s ac- overseas professionals, while Jonathan stayed. Hallgrimsson said: “We worked It may be recalled that Al had edged tion, which will be followed by the big Menendez was replaced by Gelmin very hard over the past period and Umm Salal in the battle for the fourth clash between Al Rayyan and Al Arabi. Javier Rivas. Uygun declared his team there’ve been some changes to the team position in the fi nal round last season. Despite the long break in the QNB was ready for the match. through contracts and deals, and the Gharafa, who recently retained the QSL Stars League, the matches are sure to “It’s a derby and our team is ready. preparation wasn’t just for Al Rayyan Cup by beating Al Duhail in the fi nal, be cracking as teams are fresh from the (Rodrigo) Tabata is suspended for this but for the rest of the season in general.” may miss the services of players such as preparations and will be going all out in match. Sebastian (Soria) is suff ering “It’s an important match against injured Wesley Sneijder. their bid to gain good positions in the from an injury and we’re trying to pro- Rayyan. It’s true that we’ve reinforced table. The Rayyan and Arabi match at vide a level worthy of Al Rayyan and the side, but we’ve a good group of FIXTURES the Al Sadd Stadium is arguably a con- Qatar football,” he said. young players that we should care about, Today: Umm Salal vs Al Gharafa (17:50) test between the most loyal and tra- “We’ve brought in Rivas. He’s a good and with new players we need patience at Al Gharafa Stadium; Al Rayyan vs Al ditional fan base in Qatar. Rayyan are player and he’ll be a good addition to and time,” added Hallgrimsson. Arabi (20:10) at Al Sadd Stadium currently fourth in the standings with the team in the league and Asian com- Meanwhile, Umm Salal and Al 27 points, while Al Arabi are sixth with petition that awaits our team. We know Gharafa match, to be played at the Al Tomorrow: Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Ahli 21 points. Rayyan and Arabi respective- how to face Al Arabi and we know about Gharafa Stadium, is battle between (16:45) at Al Khor Stadium; Qatar SC vs ly have eight and seven Qatar League the changes that have taken place in the two mid-table teams. Gharafa are Al Shahania (19:10) at Qatar SC Stadium titles to their credit. their ranks. We’ll miss some players, seventh with 18 points, whereas Umm On Saturday: Al Duhail vs Al Sailiya Al Arabi coach Heimir Hallgrimsson (left) and his Al Rayyan counterpart Bulent Rayyan are technically still in the but we know Al Rayyan and his abil- Salal are breathing down their neck (16:45) at Al Duhail Stadium and Al Sadd Uygun address a press conference ahead of their QNB Stars League. title race. They would like to gear up ity to provide strong matches. We’ve a with one point less. The Orange For- vs Al Khor (19:10) at Al Sadd Stadium

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AL KASS INTERNATIONAL CUP Rangers to take on Roma in fi nal PSG hand United lasgow Rangers and AS Kashiwa. The second semi-fi nal Roma will go head-to- also came to life towards the head in the fi nal of the end of the fi rst half when Roma Al Kass International scored twice in the space of three GCup tomorrow after knocking minutes through Nicola Zalwski out Kashiwa Reysol and hosts and Mory Bamba. Aspire Academy respectively in Man of the match Mekki Tom- the semi-fi nals yesterday. bari then produced a two-goal a reality check Rangers stormed into the fi nal burst of his own, earning and with a comprehensive 5-1 victory converting a spot-kick after 68 but Roma required penalties to minutes and then equalising Kimpembe and Mbappe strike in a seven-minute spell as PSG display title credentials end Aspire’s brave bid, the hosts with a spectacular volley three battling back from 2-0 down minutes later to set up the tour- AFP to force a 2-2 draw. Rangers re- nament’s fi rst penalty decider. Manchester, United Kingdom corded the biggest win in Al Kass Roma converted all four of history when they outclassed their kicks while Roma keep- Etoile Sportive Du Sahel 7-0 in er Pietro Boer pulled off two anchester United caretaker the quarter-fi nals, and they con- fi ne saves as the Italians went manager Ole Gunnar Solsk- tinued their free-scoring form through 4-1 on penalties. Fab- jaer admitted his side were after a tight start. Kashiwa are a rizio Piccareta, head coach of shown how much they still diffi cult side to break down and Roma, was elated with his team’s Mhave to improve after being swept aside it took Rangers until the 37th entry into the fi nal. “In the fi rst by an injury-hit Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 minute to open the scoring, and half, we were completely in con- in the fi rst leg of their Champions League it came courtesy of the most bi- trol and we scored two goals. last 16 tie on Tuesday night. zarre goal of the tournament. However, in the second half Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe Keeper Masato Sasaki rolled something changed, probably in struck in a seven-minute spell just before the ball out to Daichi Suga- the approach, and the game be- the hour mark as PSG displayed their cre- ware, but he slipped and Arron came tough. We were no longer dentials to fi nally become champions of Lyall nipped in to score. Nathan in control. I want to say that the Europe for the fi rst time, especially once Young-Coombes’ low shot on second goal we scored was amaz- they get the world’s most expensive play- 43 minutes gave Rangers a 2-0 ing and our team deserves the er Neymar and Edinson Cavani back from goal half-time advantage and best. Now we can start to think injury. After a run of 10 wins and one the Scots continued to impress about the fi nal rather than talk- draw in 11 games since Solskjaer replaced after the break with Kai Kennedy ing about the mistakes we made the sacked Jose Mourinho in December, a (2) and Alexander Lowry add- and we are happy because our fi rst defeat for the Norwegian is a reality ing further goals, with Hidetaka goalkeeper was amazing in the check for United’s revival and they have Maie grabbing a consolation for penalty shoot-out,” he said. a mountain to climb when the sides meet again for the second leg on March 6. The English giants will also have to cope without Paul Pogba in three weeks’ time as he was sent off a minute from time to round off a terrible night for the hosts. “Today we weren’t at the level, this is a level up from what we have played Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (centre) scores past Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea during the Champions against. We have had a great run, we League round of 16 first leg match at Old Traff ord in Manchester on Tuesday night. (Reuters) came into this game in a great frame of mind, great form, but it’s a big step up,” think they know we need to step up our think the guy is very competitive, like all utes. A brilliant team goal then doubled said Solskjaer. level to get to the level we want to get to.” South American guys. If you tease him it United’s trouble soon after when Mbappe For all the positivity of United’s return PSG showed they still retain plenty of does not make him weaker,” said Tuchel. was again too quick for Victor Lindelof to form in the past two months, they re- world class talent despite their big name For all PSG’s injury problems, a double and Eric Bailly to meet Di Maria’s low main 14 points behind Premier League absentees as United struggled to contain blow also rocked United in the seconds cross. “The fi rst goal is always going to be leaders Manchester City and Liverpool the slick passing of Thomas Tuchel’s men before half-time and at the break as Jesse important and the way we concede it is and the big rebuilding job required to in midfi eld and the pace of Mbappe in at- Lingard and Anthony Martial limped off disappointing,” added Solskjaer. make the three-time European champi- tack. Angel di Maria was roundly booed to be replaced by Alexis Sanchez and Juan “The second goal was quality by them. ons contenders again for this competition by the home support on his return to Old Mata. The home side never recovered The ground he (Mbappe) makes up that was laid bare. “We’ve been taking about Traff ord after an unhappy one-season their composure as PSG produced a stun- boy to get in the box, to all the strikers top four (of the Premier League). Top four spell with United after signing for a then ning second-half display to all but book that want to be poachers that’s how to get is one thing but we want to be at the top,” club record £60mn in 2014. their place in the last eight despite David in the box.” added Solskjaer. “Manchester United But the Argentine silenced his detrac- de Gea’s best eff orts in the United goal. And any hope of a United comeback in should be at the top and this is a top team tors by setting up both goals and also Kimpembe was left completely un- Paris suff ered another huge blow when we’ve played against. mocked the throwing of a beer bottle at marked to side-foot home Di Maria’s cor- Pogba was dismissed late on for catching AS Roma players celebrate after their win over Aspire Academy in The players are disappointed but I also him by pretending to drink from it. “I ner from point-blank range on 53 min- Dani Alves with a raised boot. the semi-finals of the Al Kass International Cup yesterday.

Mountaser Laff an, Noor Al Rayyan win gold at 9th Qatar International Arabian Peninsula Horse Show

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) CEO Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi with the winners of the Senior Mares Championship after El Alya Stud’s Noor Al Rayyan won gold in the title round of the 9th Qatar International Arabian Peninsula Horse Show at Souq Waqif on Tuesday. In other championship rounds, Al Rayyan Farm’s Dukhan Al Rayyan Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) chairman Issa al-Mohannadi with the winners of the Senior Stallions Championship won gold among the junior colts, while Al Nasser Stud’s Nadrah Al Nasser won the Junior Fillies Championship. after Jassim Kayed al-Muhannadi’s Mountaser Laff an won gold in the title round of the 9th Qatar International Arabian Al Nasser Stud also picked up gold in Yearling Colts Championship with Shaman Al Nasser. Rayana Al Sraiya of Peninsula Horse Show at Souq Waqif on Tuesday. PICTURES: Juhaim Al Sraiya Stud won the championship among the yearling fillies.