FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 15

India must keep the pressure on Shiotani screamer guides Japan Australia openers, says Dhawan Oman reach Asian Cup last 16 to end Palestine’s qualification hopes Reuters | Melbourne

ndia will continue to Japan beat Itarget Australia’s un - • der-pressure openers Uzbekistan to secure Alex Carey and Aaron top spot in Group F Finch as they seek to add KNOW WHAT a one-day series win to AFP | Al-Ain their first ever test series victory in the third and fi- nal match in Melbourne sukasa Shiotani thumped Japan had smashed a today. home a sizzling sec - total of 12 goals past Carey and Finch’s best Tond-half winner as Japan Uzbekistan in their opening partnership in the changed 10 players but still beat previous two Asian Cup first two matches of the Uzbekistan 2-1 to finish top of encounters series is the 20 runs they their group at the Asian Cup achieved in Adelaide on yesterday. Tuesday. The unfamiliar line-up briefly who will now face defending Carey, the team’s trailed after Eldor Shomurodov champions Australia in the last vice-captain, has scored a scored for the Uzbeks, but New- 16. total of 42 runs while cap- castle United forward Yoshinori Elsewhere, Muhsen Al Ghas- tain Finch has tallied just Muto’s header and Shiotani’s sani and Mohammed Al-Mus- 12 and been bowled by Bhu- thunderbolt gave Japan their allami fired late goals as Oman vneshwar Kumar in both third win in Group F. beat Turkmenistan 3-1 in Abu games of the series, which Japan had smashed a total Dhabi to progress in third place is locked at 1-1. of 12 goals past Uzbekistan in from the same group. Finch was also dropped their previous two Asian Cup The Gulf side took the lead from the test squad after he encounters and with only one after 20 minutes thanks to an struggled in the that series loss in their last 30 games in the Ahmed Al Mahaijri free-kick, and India have concentrat- tournament, excluding penal- of Japan scores his side’s first goal before Altymyrat Annadurdyyev ed on the 32-year-old, who ty shoot-outs, confidence was slammed home the equaliser has 11 one-day international high. Nesterov also tipped over early in the second half resulted flush from outside the area and shortly before half-time. centuries and two in Twen- Only Shimizu S-Pulse striker Kitagawa’s turn and shot be - in a thunderous goal from Shi- the ball was rocketing towards But Al Ghassani pounced from ty20 internationals. survived from fore Shomurodov opened the otani, who plays his club foot- the top corner before the div- close range with six minutes “We respect that Finch the team that beat Oman but scoring with a fine piece of ball with Al Ain and unfurled ing Daniel Schmidt gloved it left and Al-Musallami added a is a great player ... we make the Blue Samurai still looked work, nudging the ball between a rippling strike just before the away. stoppage-time header to give sure our guard is up always,” sharp with Junya Ito swinging two defenders and stabbing hour-mark. However, there was to be no Oman their first points of the Indian opening batsman in dangerous crosses from the home for his fourth goal of the It knocked the stuffing out late equaliser for the Uzbeks, tournament. Shikhar Dhawan told re- right. tournament. of Uzbekistan and when they porters yesterday. As Uzbekistan’s fans drummed But the Uzbek lead lasted only finally started to press forward Asian Cup “The boys must have seen along samba-style, Shomuro- three minutes before defend- again in the final 15 minutes, Japan 2 - 1 Uzbekistan his weakness and they are dov scooped a decent chance er Sei Muroya’s cross from the Japan nearly caught them on implementing their plans over and Japan’s byline was met by a solid header the break when Kitagawa blazed Oman 3 - 1 Turkmenistan quite nicely. They’re not worked veteran goalkeeper Ig- from Newcastle’s Muto, arriving over. Lebanon 4 - 1 North Korea giving him singles that natiy Nesterov with a powerful at the back post. With four minutes to go, Dav- Saudi Arabia 0 - 2 Qatar easily or even boundary volley. A spell of Japanese pressure ronbek Khashimov caught a shot options.

Son Heung-min boosts South Korea’s Chelsea agree Higuain loan from Juventus Asian Cup hopes as Spurs sweat Reuters | London eight goals in 22 appearances this term. AFP | Abu Dhabi started the game in Abu Dhabi, red shirt and play for the na- helsea have agreed a deal Chelsea manager Maurizio but completed 87 minutes -- tional team,” he said. Cto sign striker Gonzalo Sarri is keen to strengthen his purs manager Mauricio long enough for China’s rugged “Not everyone gets the Higuain on loan from Juventus options in attack after dropping SPochettino will be like a defenders to leave their mark chance, and if it’s possible I try until the end of the season, ac- misfiring Spain forward Alvaro nervous parent for the next on South Korea’s talismanic my best on the pitch always.” cording to reports in the British Morata to the bench and be - two weeks as Son Heung-min captain. South Korea, who have failed media. ing forced to deploy playmaker tries to help South Korea end 59 “Of course I didn’t expect to to win the Asian Cup since The Argentina international Eden Hazard as a ‘false nine’ in years of Asian Cup hurt. play for so long,” Son told AFP. 1960, beat the Philippines and joined the Italian champions recent games. The mercurial Tottenham “I’m a bit tired, but that’s nor- Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in their opening in 2016 but was loaned to AC Sarri worked with Higuain forward, who played in the mal. It was my dream to play two matches in the United Arab Milan at the start of the current when he was manager at Napoli London club’s defeat by Man- football when I was a kid and Emirates. season where he has scored and it was under the Italian that chester United three days ear- still it’s my dream. I love to play But the addition of Son has the striker scored 36 goals to lier, had a hand in both goals for my country.” energised the 2015 runners-up, equal Serie A record for most as the Koreans beat China The 26-year-old has just who suddenly look a very dif- goals in a season in 2015-16. 2-0 on Wednesday to come off a punishing run of ferent proposition. Sky Sports reported on reach the last 16 as fixtures with Spurs, playing in It will not have done Pochet- Wednesday that the loan Group C winners. 13 matches since the beginning tino’s blood pressure any good, 8 deal for Higuain could But Pochetti- of December. however, to see some of the in- goals have been scored be extended for anoth- no will be more But there were few signs of dustrial tackles dished out on by Gonzalo Higuain in er 12 months subject concerned that fatigue against China, as Son his Korean star. 22 appearances for AC to certain condi- Son not only won the first-half Son went down clutching his Milan this season tions. Gonzalo penalty converted ankle after a particularly meaty Higuain by Hwang Ui-jo challenge late on, which earned and whipped in tattooed China defender Zhang the corner for Kim Linpeng a yellow card. Min-jae to head Title-chasing Spurs can ill home just after afford another injury blow, ISB storm into school cricket final the break. having just lost England striker “I think we Harry Kane until March with TDT | Manama an unbeaten 29 by all rounder er Gautham Chabar top scored deserved to win ankle ligament damage. Aravind Rajeev. Young Aryan with 36 runs and Limon Raton the game,” said Son. he Indian School beat Pa- Pande gave a very good bowl- gave a good support with a fine “We dominated from the Tkistan Urdu School by 5 ing support to Srivatsav Murali 23runs. Abdullah Rasheed was start to the end. It was my first wickets and stormed in to the with 2 -19 in 4 overs. the outstanding bowler who game this tournament -- clean final of the CBA –BOC Under 16 Chasing the target of 111 for took 2 for 9 in 4 overs. sheet, 2-0, it’s a happy after- I’m a bit tired, but School Cricket Championship victory, Captain Govind Bingly In reply, the Pakistan school noon.” at the National Stadium ground (27) and Anirudh.S.Nair (21) reached the target 119 for the Over the past year, Son has that’s normal. It was on Saturday. gave a very good start for the loss of 4 wkts in the last over. played for his country at the my dream to play Batting first Pakistan Urdu Indian School and added 39 Zulfiqar Hussan top scored World Cup in and the football when I was School were restricted to 110 runs for the opening wicket. with 38 and Yaseer Mehmood Asian Games in Jakarta, where a kid and still it’s my runs for 9 wkts in 20 overs. The Indian School has won all scored a polished 28 runs. he led them to gold, earning dream. I love to play Abdullah Iqbal top scored for the matches in this tournament. The Indian School will face him an exemption from South for my country Urdu School with 30 runs. The Pakistan School upset Rest of Pakistan School in the final of Korea’s military service. highlights of the innings were the School by 6 wkts in the oth- the CBA – BOC Under 16 School Son Heung- SON HEUNG-MIN min a superb bowling performance er semi final. Batting first Rest Cricket championship on Sat- Injury fear by Srivatsav Murali who took of the School could score only urday at the Bahrain National “It’s an honour to wear this a fine hat trick (3 for 22) and 118 for 7 wkts in 20 overs. Open- Stadium ground at 1 pm.