SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2019 SPORT 05 I feel like I played my own way back into the tournament. Tiger Woods FOOTBALL CRICKET I was just very patient today, after scoring a brilliant English Premier League Indian Premier League felt very good to be out there four-under-par 68 second Crystal Palace vs Man City KKR vs Chennai Super Kings round of Masters on Friday. doing what I was doing. ACTION Liverpool vs Chelsea Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals TODAY’S Roaring Tiger grabs Masters spotlight

REUTERS Woods has made huge Major winners Francesco one-shot overnight lead, also AUGUSTA strides since returning from Molinari, Louis deserved applause, staging a back fusion surgery nearly two Oosthuizen, Brooks back nine recovery after a Major winners Francesco years ago, collecting his 80th stumbling start to the second Molinari, Louis Oosthuizen, career PGA Tour title at last Koepka, Jason Day and round. After a flawless opening Brooks Koepka, Jason Day and season’s ending our Adam Scott share top round, Adam Scott shared top spot at Championships. spot at the end of the Koepka had two bogeys the Masters on Friday at the However, nothing less than second round of Masters and a double in his first six end of the second round, but a 15th major victory will quell holes on Friday but the twice it was Tiger Woods who talk of an unfulfilled comeback. On Friday, it was like old US Open champion was able commanded the spotlight once It would also reignite his to regain his composure, again at Augusta National. pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’s times as the 43-year- steadying himself with six Woods brought the roars record haul of 18 majors. old turned up the buzz straight pars from the ninth. back to the famed venue with On Friday, it was like old with each shot, the roars He followed that with a brilliant four-under-par 68, times as the 43-year-old echoing across Augusta birdies at 15 and 18 to salvage putting himself on track for a turned up the buzz with each National when Woods a 71 and join the leaders at fifth Green Jacket. At six- shot, the roars echoing across rolled in a long birdie seven-under 137. under-par 138, the American Augusta National when Woods It also looked like old times is just one shot off the leaders rolled in a long birdie putt at putt at 15 and continued for Australian Scott, the 2013 heading into ‘moving day’. 15 and continued until he until he walked off the champion, who moved up the After an ordinary outward walked off the 18th where his 18th where his birdie leaderboard with a four-under nine featuring three birdies birdie putt clung to the lip putt clung to the lip 68. offset by a pair of bogeys, leaving him a tap-in par. leaving him a tap-in par. British Open winner Oost- Woods embarked on one of his The Woods show over- huizen also joined the party trademark charges, carding shadowed everything else. with a 68, while world number three birdies after the turn to Any other time, a hobbled “Someone that is in a lot of two Dustin Johnson returned shoot up the leaderboard. Day might have been the story pain might feel something a two-under 70 who to join “I feel like I played my own after getting up off the deck to totally different compared to Woods at six-under. way back into the tournament,” shoot five-under 67. me, so it’s hard. There was drama up and Tiger Woods said Woods. “I was just very Barely able to walk after “Every day I feel like I wake down the leaderboard. of the US hits patient today, felt very good throwing out his back bending up with some sort of aches, Patrick Reed kept his Green from a sand to be out there doing what I over to kiss his daughter on the you know, and I think you just Jacket defence alive, making trap on the was doing. practice range on Thursday, kind of learn to live with it and the cut with a two-under 70 8th fairway “This is now three straight the battling Australian you just go along the way.” but Spain’s Sergio Garcia, the during second Majors that I’ve been in the mix somehow turned in a near Italian Molinari carded an 2017 champion, made an early round of play and so it’s good stuff.” flawless scorecard, with six error-free 67 for his best round exit for the second straight at The Masters The stage is now set for an birdies and a single bogey. in eight Masters that put the year after returning a 73. at the Augusta extraordinary weekend as “Pain is a funny thing, it British Open champion in con- World number one Justin National Woods attempts to slip into his goes up and down, and every- tention for a Green Jacket to Rose also headed for the exit Golf Club first Green Jacket since 2005 body’s pain threshold is dif- go along with the Claret Jug after he bogeyed the final two in Augusta, and claim his first major since ferent,” said Day, the 2015 PGA he hoisted last year. holes to miss the cut by one Georgia, USA 2008. Championship winner. Koepka, who had shared a shot. on Friday.

MotoGP retires Riley Nash (right) of the Columbus Blue Commissioner late former Jackets skates past Mikhail Sergachev Silver ponders champion of the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game significant Hayden’s No. 69 Two of the Eastern Conference First changes to NBA AP Round of the 2019 AUSTIN, TEXAS NHL Stanley Cup play- offs at Amalie Arena AP NEW YORK The “Kentucky Kid” is gone but on April 12, 2019 in his No. 69 will have a Tampa, Florida, on permanent place in MotoGP. Friday. Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned shorter The series has retired the games or a shorter season as ways the NBA number of former champion could make its future product better for players Nicky Hayden, who died in and fans. 2017 after a bicycling accident Silver again talked on Friday about the in Italy. possibility of altering the 82-game schedule, Born and raised in either as a way to cut down on players sitting Owensboro, Kentucky, Hayden out games, or to introduce new types of used the number throughout competition. his career from 2003-2016. He “I think a fair point from fans could be if won the MotoGP championship ultimately the science suggests that 82 games with Repsol Honda in 2006 in Blue Jackets shock Lightning is too many games for these players, maybe an epic duel with seven-time you shouldn’t have an 82-game season,” Silver champion Valentino Rossi that said. “I accept that, and that’s something we’ll wasn’t decided until the final again in Stanley Cup play-offs continue to look at.” race. He said the addition of midseason or end- Hayden is also the last AGENCIES tripping, a major penalty for home-ice advantage for the a 2-0 lead in their opening- of-season tournaments could be one option, American rider to win motor- TAMPA, FLORIDA boarding and a game mis- first time since 1988, hold a round Western Conference as could trimming games from 48 minutes to cycle racing’s top champi- conduct for an incident 2-0 series lead for the first play-off series. 40, which is the length of college and inter- onship. MotoGP held a Matt Duchene had a goal and involving Columbus’ Markus time since they swept the With the score tied in the national games. retirement ceremony Friday at three assists as the Columbus Nutivaara with 4:26 Edmonton Oilers in the 1983 third period in a back-and- Silver has focused on player health as com- the Circuit of the Americas, the Blue Jackets defeated the remaining. Stanley Cup. forth affair, O’Reilly raced up missioner, opening the regular season earlier home of this week’s Grand Prix host Tampa Bay Lightning The Lightning star will Among NHL, NBA and the ice and used the to reduce the frequency of back-to-back of the Americas that is the 5-1 on Friday night, taking a have a hearing Saturday with MLB teams, only baseball’s defenseman as a screen games, and lengthening the All-Star break. only race of the season in the stunning 2-0 lead in an the NHL’s department of Montreal Expos/Washington when he shot from the right But players are still sitting out games US. Eastern Conference first- player safety to discuss that Nationals and Pittsburgh face-off dot and hit the mark throughout the season, often for reasons being The Texas track has also round play-off series of hit. Per the NHL, boarding is Pirates have gone longer on the stick side at the 3:46 listed as load management. dedicated an area where Stanley Cup. the grounds on which the without holding a 2-0 series mark of the final frame. Even if 82 games remains the format, Silver fans gather to watch the race Tampa Bay lost each of league is considering addi- lead. Taking a lead for the third is intrigued by ways the scheduled can be as “Hayden Hill” with his the first two games of the tional discipline -- which The Penguins are down time was the charm for the arranged. He has pointed to European soccer, number painted on the best-of-seven series at home could include a suspension. 0-2 in a series for the first Blues. which has tournaments along with its league grassy hillside. after tying the NHL single- Islanders 3, Penguins 1 time since being swept by Knights 5, Sharks 3 games during the season, as something that Nicky Hayden’s champi- season record for wins (62). Jordan Eberle and Josh the Boston Bruins in the 2013 Max Pacioretty had a could bring new interest to the NBA by offering onship motorcycle is also on Nikita Kucherov, who led the Bailey scored fewer than Eastern Conference finals. goal and an assist, and teams more opportunities to win something, display during race weekend. NHL with 128 points this four minutes apart in the Blues 4, Jets 3 William Karlsson and Colin instead of just having one champion. Hayden died after being season, was held pointless third period of Game 2 of the Ryan O’Reilly’s early- Miller each scored short- “That’s why I’m particularly interested in struck by a car while on a and had just three shots on Eastern Conference quarter- third-period goal was the handed goals to lead Vegas looking at different kinds of formats - at mid- training ride on his bicycle. His goal. finals for New York, which game-winner as visiting St. past host San Jose to even season tournaments, for example, play-in tour- number is the sixth to be for- Kucherov’s frustration beat Pittsburgh in Uniondale, Louis beat Winnipeg to claim their first-round Western naments - because even accepting that players mally retired by MotoGP. was apparent, as he was N.Y. both road games in the Conference playoff series at have so many miles on their bodies, there may assessed a minor penalty for The Islanders, who have Manitoba capital and stake 1-1. be better ways to present it,” Silver said. 06 SPORT SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2019

Lomachenko destroys Nadal and Djokovic face major Crolla with fourth round tests as clay season kicks off knockout AFP For 11-time tournament champion Rafael Nadal, it’s all about his troublesome MONTE CARLO renowned event, with the AFP left knee. Nadal is defending a massive haul of more than 4,000 ranking 37-year-old set for a return to LOS ANGELES points from 2018, thanks to titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Paris. clay for the first time since 2016 Rafael Nadal and Novak when he plays next month at Southpaw Vasiliy Lomachenko Djokovic will face key physical Madrid prior to returning to knocked out former title holder and mental tests as the European For Novak Djokovic, the major goal will be to emerge from a minor slump Roland Garros. Anthony Crolla in the fourth clay-court season kicks off today which left the world number one short of the quarter-finals at both the Indian Should he go out early, the round on Friday to retain his at the Monte Carlo Masters. Wells and Miami Masters events last month. Rome Masters a week later is World Boxing Association and For 11-time tournament holding a wildcard for the Swiss World Boxing Organisation champion Nadal, it’s all about his icon. lightweight titles. troublesome left knee. The opening of the clay campaign could mean a fresh start for No.3 Alexander The opening of the clay cam- The 31-year-old For Djokovic, the major goal Zverev, who lost the Acapulco final last month to Nick Kyrgios but has done paign could mean a fresh start Lomachenko delivered a dev- will be to emerge from a minor little else of note in 2019 after winning the ATP Finals in November. for No.3 Alexander Zverev, who astating right hook to the slump which left the world lost the Acapulco final last month temple that sent the Englishman number one short of the quarter- to Nick Kyrgios but has done crashing face first to the canvas finals at both the Indian Wells health-wise, as well, in Indian final practice session before he his semi-final clash against little else of note in 2019 after just 58 seconds into the fourth and Miami Masters events last Wells and Miami. But, hey, look, left his Mallorca home to train at Roger Federer at Indian Wells a winning the ATP Finals in round. month. you learn that’s life.” the Monte Carlo Country Club. month ago. November. The Ukrainian pound-for- The Serb, embroiled in ATP The Nadaldal camp has put a The 17-time17 time Grand Slam The distraught Spaniard flew He crashed out of this week’s pound king had his complete political issues as president of the positive spinn on tthehe conconditiondition ooff winner, anandd ddefendingefending championchampion homehome forfor medicalmedical tests andand cancan Marrakech tournament in the arsenal at his disposal, Player Council,cil, has admitted to Spain’sSpain s king of clay,clay, postingposting on in thethe pprincipality,rincipality, has not com-com- only hope that his chronically second round. including blazing hand speed, recent distractions.actions. socialsocial mmediaedia petedpeted since with-with- bad left knee will hold up in the The German will hope to devastating punching power “I just hadad way too many footagefootage ooff a drawingdrawing fromfrom gruellinggruelling run to RolandRoland rediscover his form in Monte and a superior ring IQ. things off thee court.courtrt. I guessguess that Garros, which beginsbegins May Carlo, where he is now based. His The knockout came just one affected me a littlelittle bitbit on thethe 26. best showing at the event was a round after Lomachenko court,” he saidid after ggoingoing out in Nadal is defendindefendingg 2018 semi-final, which he lost to scored the first knockdown of the last 16 in Miami.Miami. a massivemassive haul of moremore Kei Nishikori. the fight when he landed a Djokovicc has plentyplenty on the thanthan 4,000 rankinrankingg Hoping to again pose a threat barrage of rights and lefts while line at his homeme base in Monaco,Monaco, pointspoints from 2018, on clay will be last year’s Roland the challenger was pinned and with the 31-year-old-year-old llookingooking ththanksanks to titlestitles in Garros finalist Dominic Thiem. defenceless on the ropes. ahead to completingmpleting a possible MonteMonte Carlo,Carlo, Bar-Bar- The Austrian, ranked fifth, Lomachenko, a two time “Djoko Slam”m” withwith a FrencFrenchh ccelona,elona, Rome andand made a breakthrough with his Olympic gold medallist, Open title in two months. Paris.Paris. first Masters 1000 trophy at improved to 13-1 with 10 He collectedected trophiestrophies at But injury aalsolso Indian Wells, but lost days later knockouts as he dominated the Wimbledon andand thethe US Open blightedblighted him last season, in the Miami first round. third and fourth rounds against before defeatingeating NadalNadal lastlast with the Spaniard only Thiem has all but dropped Crolla who was a massive 100-1 January for a seventh title in ableable to comcompetepete on a longtime mentor Gunter underdog. Melbourne. limitedlimited basis.basis. Bresnik, instead working with The crowd of over 10,000 “I grew upup on clay,clay, so I like “It’s tougtoughh to pplaylay ononlyly nine travelling coach Nicolas Massu, at Staples Center Arena came playing on it, thouthoughgh statisticallstatisticallyy events a yearyear and to finish onlyonly the 2004 Athens Olympic gold looking for a knockout and they hard court waswas alwaysalways my most seven,”seven,” he said. medallist. got exactly that. successful surface,”surface,” DjokovicDjokovic “In“In times of injinjuries,uries, I want Thiem has never been past Crolla dropped to 34-7-3 as said after exitingting in Miami. “I dedef-f- to susufferffer less.”less.” the Monte Carlo quarters, losing he landed just a handful of total initely have ttoo pplaylay better.”better.” Federer,Federer, a four-timefour-time to Nadal at that stage a year ago. punches and only survived the While revealingvealing no details, MonteMonte Carlo finalist,finalist, Nishikori is back for his first third round because of the bell. the winner ooff 15 GrandGrand SlamSlam isi s again clay appearance since Paris last Crolla, who was the top titles admitteded that he was not skippingskipping the June while Wimbledon finalist Rafael Nadal ranked mandatory contender, particularly ffitit fforor tthehe American Novak Djokovic Kevin Anderson has withdrawn held the WBA belt from hardcourt swing.wing. to give a healing shoulder injury 2015-2016. “I didn’t’t feelfeel mymy best another week of rest.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in action ‘I was trying to during qualifying of Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, yesterday. be nice’ says Verstappen

AFP Bottas, who leads the world SHANGHAI championship by a point ahead of title-holder Hamilton after two Raging Max races, scorched to a best time of Verstappen (pic- tured) launched a one minute 31.547 seconds. foul-mouthed tirade against his rivals after a testy qualifying session yesterday for the Chinese Grand Prix. Chinese GP: Bottas pips Hamilton The 21-year-old Dutchman will start Formula One’s 1,000 race fifth in his Red Bull, but made clear he felt he could have challenged for third on the grid. for Mercedes lockout in Shanghai At the conclusion of qualifying in Shanghai, Verstappen voiced his anger after at least three cars overtook him, meaning Valtteri Bottas (centre) celebrates pole AFP the first sector so I was experimenting he failed to get one last, flying lap in. SHANGHAI position with second placed Mercedes’ throughout the session,” said the He swore several times over the team Lewis Hamilton (left) and third placed 34-year-old, a five-time winner in radio and was still seething afterwards, with Valtteri Bottas pipped Lewis Hamilton Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel after qualifying. Shanghai. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel one of those to to pole position for today’s milestone Hamilton conceded that “Valtteri’s pass him. Chinese Grand Prix in a dominant Mer- been stellar all weekend”. Vettel qualified third, behind Valtteri cedes front-row lockout. Bottas took a clear victory in the Bottas in pole and Mercedes team-mate Sebastian Vettel was third-fastest season-opening race in Melbourne and Lewis Hamilton in second. for Mercedes’ arch-rivals Ferrari for the grabbed a bonus point for the fastest “On the final run in Q3 (last part of qual- race in Shanghai, the 1,000th Grand Prix lap to take the edge in the early ifying) I followed the Ferrari in front of me in Formula One. standings. as we were all in a queue,” said Verstappen, Bottas, who leads the world cham- A notable casualty in Q2 was former explaining why he was so irate. pionship by a point ahead of title-holder world champion Kimi Raikkonen, the “I was actually trying to be nice and not Hamilton after two races, scorched to a Alfa Romeo veteran who is a crowd overtake, as that’s not what you do in qual- best time of one minute 31.547 seconds. favourite in China. ifying when you’re all trying to prepare for That was just 0.023 secs ahead of Earlier, Toro Rosso’s Alexander the last run. Hamilton, the Briton who has been wres- Albon lost control and smashed at high “This time it caught me out when I was tling with his Mercedes and has voiced speed towards the end of final practice, overtaken at the end of the lap. concern about Ferrari’s superior so did not take part in qualifying. “I am of course not happy with that, or straight-line speed. The German this time got the better year’s victor in China -- and Nico The 23-year-old rookie climbed gin- to be fifth, but we didn’t get the opportunity Mercedes though appear to have of his decade-younger Ferrari team- Hulkenberg. Bottas though is the man gerly out of his wrecked car, but only to do a final lap.” the edge on the corners. mate Charles Leclerc, who is fourth on in form, going fastest in the last two after a huge scare that drew gasps from “The car has been really good this the grid and failed to so far to match practice sessions after Vettel topped the the crowd in Shanghai. weekend and Lewis also improved a lot his performance last time out in Bahrain. times in first practice. The Thai-Briton, who is in his first in qualifying, it was super close,” said Fifth was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Bottas had also gone quickest in Q1, season in F1, careened into a wall as he the flying Finn Bottas, who is beginning and sixth his team-mate Pierre Gasly. but five-time world champion Hamilton entered the straight with less than 10 I was actually trying to be nice to climb out of the shadow of his more The young Dutchman Verstappen was marginally faster in Q2. minutes left of third and final practice. famous team-mate. was infuriated after traffic prevented Hamilton, who snatched victory in His car was badly mangled and and not overtake, as that’s Vettel, the four-time world him from clocking a final, flying lap, and Bahrain after Leclerc’s Ferrari failed, said there was a frantic call from engineers not what you do in qualifying champion who has been in the spotlight made his anger clear in an expletive- that he had been “struggling with the asking if he was okay. when you’re all trying to after a series of unforced errors filled message over his radio. car so I was just battling the thing”, He was later given the all-clear but prepare for the last run: Max stretching back to last season, was Seventh and eighth were the despite joining Bottas on the front row. missed qualifying because his ruined 0.301secs off Bottas. Renault duo of Daniel Ricciardo -- last “Valtteri was particularly quick in car could not be fixed in time. Verstappen SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2019 SPORT 07 Tottenham move up to third place AFP men made it three wins from Wilson and Junior Stanislas. Tottenham’s Lucas Moura LONDON English Premier League English Premier League three at their impressive new Southampton further eased applauds fans after the Results and Fixtures 62,000 capacity home. their relegation fears with a 3-1 English Premier League Tottenham shrugged off the loss Brighton 0 Bournemouth 5 Tottenham move a point win over Wolves to move eight match against Huddersfield of Harry Kane as Lucas Moura’s (Gosling 33, Fraser 55, Brooks clear of Chelsea, who travel to points clear of the drop zone. Town at Tottenham Hotspur hat-trick moved Spurs up to 74, Wilson 82, Stanislas 90+2) title-chasing Liverpool today, Nathan Redmond scored Stadium in London, Britain, third in the Premier League with Burnley 2 (Wood 31, 90+2) while fifth-placed Arsenal are twice either side of Willy Boly’s yesterday. a 4-0 win over Huddersfield, Cardiff 0 four points adrift of their north equaliser in the first-half before while Cardiff slipped closer to Fulham 2 (Cairney 46, Babel London rivals but have a game Shane Long sealed a vital three relegation with a 2-0 loss at in hand at Watford on Monday. points. 69) Everton 0 Burnley yesterday. While the title and fight for Fulham’s relegation to the Southampton 3 (Redmond 2, Kane is expected to miss the top-four places look set to go Championship is already 30, Long 71) Wolves 1 (Boly 28) rest of the season due to ankle down to the wire, the relegation assured, but they secured just a tottenham 4 (Wanyama 24, ligament damage suffered in the battle could be all but over fifth win of the season by beating Lucas Moura 27, 87, 90+3) victory over Manchester City 1-0 should Brighton beat Cardiff on Everton 2-0. Huddersfield 0 in the first leg of a Champions Tuesday. Manchester United needed Manchester United 2 (Pogba League quarter-final in The Welsh side are five two Paul Pogba penalties to stay midweek. 19-pen, 80-pen) West Ham points adrift of safety after a con- in contention for a top-four Dele Alli was also sidelined 1 (Anderson 49) troversial defeat at Turf Moor. Premier League finish by beating by a broken hand, while Mau- Playing Today Chris Wood gave the hosts a West Ham 2-1, ricio Pochettino took the chance Crystal Palace vs Manchester deserved half-time lead, but United had lost four of their to rest some other key personnel, City (1305 GMT), Liverpool vs Cardiff were left furious after previous five games in all com- including Son Heung-min, ahead Chelsea (1530 GMT) referee Mike Dean overruled his petitions and were extremely of the second leg against City on Tomorrow’s Fixtures assistant’s decision to award a fortunate to get back to winning Wednesday. Watford vs Arsenal (1900 GMT) penalty to the visitors after the ways as West Ham had a goal Lucas took his chance to Played on Friday break. ruled out for offside, hit the shine against the already rele- Leicester 0 Newcastle 1 (Perez Brighton remain catchable crossbar and saw David de Gea gated Terriers to show 32) for Neil Warnock’s men as they make a wonder save to deny Pochettino he could be an succumbed to a humiliating 5-0 Michail Antonio giving them a important weapon in Kane’s home defeat to Bournemouth. late lead. absence as Spurs look to tie suffer a Champions League The Cherries had lost 11 of However, a much-needed down a top-four finish. hangover. Lucas made it 2-0 their last 12 games on the road, win moved Ole Gunnar Solsk- Victor Wanyama opened the three minutes later and then but moved up to 12th thanks to jaer’s men up to fifth, at the scoring on 24 minutes to allay struck twice more in the final goals from Dan Gosling, Ryan expense of Arsenal, and to within any fears that Tottenham could three minutes as Pochettino’s Fraser, David Brooks, Callum two points of Chelsea in fourth.

SPAL postpone Juventus title Klopp vows Liverpool won’t celebrations be haunted by Chelsea ghosts AFP MILAN AFP “We want to make the next LIVERPOOL step because it’s not over yet. We Teenager Moise Kean scored his try to encourage them to play ‘big sixth goal in as many league Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will I’m not sure that’s in balls’ football. We will make mis- games but champions Juventus not be haunted by their Premier anyone’s mind. You takes and we have to deal with slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat League title collapse five years can tell all the fans out them.” at lowly SPAL yesterday to put ago when they face Chelsea in For all Klopp’s optimism, Liv- their Serie A title celebrations another seismic showdown there to ignore it. It erpool have not beaten Chelsea on hold. today. has nothing to do with at Anfield in their past eight Massimiliano Allegri’s side Liverpool are chasing their us. It is a completely encounters, a barren run that had needed just a point to claim first English top-flight title since different story: Klopp includes a 2-1 League Cup defeat a 35th Scudetto with a record 1990. A victory over the Blues at this season inspired by Eden Haz- six games to spare and Napoli Anfield would be a big step ard’s superb late winner. a distant second. toward that dream. much at stake for the Reds in their Klopp is well aware of the Kean opened the scoring for But Chelsea stirs some latest meeting with Chelsea. threat posed by Hazard, who is the seven-time reigning cham- extremely unpleasant memories Few Liverpool players remain in fine form after scoring sublime pions when the 19-year-old for everyone connected with the from that game and Klopp is goals against West Ham and stuck his foot out to direct a Premier League leaders. adamant that past failures will be Brighton recently. Joao Cancelo effort home after Back in 2014, Liverpool, then a burden for this generation. “Hazard is in very good half an hour in Ferrara. managed by Brendan Rodgers, “I’m not sure that’s in any- shape. On his day he can be the But Kevin Bonifazi (49) and sat top of the table when they one’s mind. You can tell all the world’s best,” he said. Sergio Floccari (74) responded were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at fans out there to ignore it. It has “In a one-on-one situation with precious goals which Anfield in a match made famous nothing to do with us. It is a com- you can’t defend him. If he plays eased SPAL’s fight for top-flight by a costly slip from Steven pletely different story,” Klopp his best game we have to live with football next season. Gerrard that gifted a goal to said. “It’s all about the game on that. “Making records is very dif- Demba Ba. Sunday. Anyone who wants to “But he has to play against us ficult, it takes energy and there That painful loss came at a talk to any of my players about as well. We have to stop a few is also Europe to concentrate similar stage of the campaign and what happened years ago, don’t passes to him, read the game and on,” said Allegri, who rested key current title rivals Manchester do it. We want to write our own react a bit quicker.” players including Cristiano City went on to lift the trophy by history. By the time Liverpool kick off Ronaldo ahead of next week’s Liverpool midfielder Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring a two points. “I’m not nervous. I feel the today, they will find themselves Champions League decider goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, first leg With Liverpool sitting two intensity of the competition, but knocked down to second place if against Ajax in Turin. match against FC Porto at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, north- points clear of City, who have a we see the positivity of the City win at Crystal Palace a few “If we had put all our reg- west England on Tuesday game in hand, there is just as moment. hours earlier. ulars in it would have been easier to win it, but there is also the goal to obtain on Tuesday.” Juventus have a 20-point advantage on Napoli and can Much-changed Barca held by Huesca still seal the title in record time today if Carlo Ancelotti’s side AFP Champions League semi-finals prioritising success in Europe, fail to win at bottom club MADRID after their 1-0 first-leg win at Old the only issue perhaps for Val- Chievo. Otherwise, they could Trafford in midweek. verde the small matter of main- win their eighth consecutive Lionel Messi was left out and “Obviously we always want taining momentum. Overall, they Scudetto next Saturday at home Gerard Pique watched on tele- to win but it’s true this game were better than Huesca but against Fiorentina. vision with a bowl of prawns as came in slightly different circum- never really got out of second Then they would match the Barcelona saved themselves for stances,” Valverde said. gear. previous best of winning the Manchester United by resting 10 “It is an unusual week Like Pique, Luis Suarez was title with five games to spare players against Huesca because we come from playing also banned while Ivan Rakitic, achieved by Torino in 1947- yesterday. an intense match on Wednesday, Sergio Busquets and Clement 1948, Fiorentina in 1955-1956 Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter when the trip was long, and we Lenglet were among those and Roberto Mancini’s Inter Stegen was the only one to keep have the return on Tuesday. rested. Ousmane Dembele came Milan in 2006-2007. his place for the goalless draw at “Considering the schedule in after recovering from a ham- Allegri experimented with El Alcoraz as coach Ernesto Val- and our advantage in the league, string injury and, after playing an eye towards the quarter- verde prioritised progress to the I thought it was time to make 67 minutes, his chance of a start final, second leg game against changes.” Messi was left out of next week would appear Ajax after a 1-1 draw in the squad completely while the enhanced. Spanish La Liga Amsterdam. Ronaldo was suspended Pique posted a Dembele came closest to a rested after returning from Spanish La Liga results and picture on social media of him goal in the first half after a bril- injury to score in the first leg fixtures watching the game on television, liant reverse pass from the tal- Espanyol 2 (Pedrosa 19, Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo (left) vies against Ajax, with forwards in front of him a large bowl of ented Riqui Puig, one of a Laguardia Cisneros 47-og) with SD Huesca forward David Ferreiro during Federico Bernardeschi and seafood. number of youngsters given a Alaves 1 (Calleri 56) Mario Mandzukic also starting The draw gives Atletico the Spanish League match at the El Alcoraz chance to impress. on the bench. Mattia Perin Huesca 0 Barcelona 0 Madrid the chance to reduce the Stadium in Huesca, yesterday. Another was Jean-Clair replaced Wojciech Szczesny in Today’s Fixtures gap at the top of the table to nine Todibo, who saw a header saved the Juventus goal with Kean Real Valladolid vs Getafe points if they can beat Celta Vigo having played a game more than Messi left Manchester with a while Kevin-Prince Boateng, also getting his second start (1100), Athletic Bilbao vs at home later on Saturday but, those immediately above them. swollen nose and cheek on handed a rare outing after his alongside Paulo Dybala up Rayo Vallecano (1300), Real with six games left after this Their survival bid remains Wednesday after a clattering arrival in January, was unable to front. Sociedad vs Eibar (1515), weekend, the difference is likely unlikely but alive. challenge from Chris Smalling connect with a low Dembele Cuadrado and Andrea Bar- Girona v Villarreal (1730), to prove irrelevant. Malcom came closest to a but there is little concern about cross. Huesca had their moments zagli returned from lengthy Valencia vs Levante (1945) For Huesca, who are bottom winner, his shot hitting the post, the Argentinian being fit for the as Enric Gallego burst through injury lay-offs with young Tommorrow’s Fixtures of the table in their first-ever but Huesca were good value for return game at Camp Nou. but shot wide and then he defender Paolo Gozzi, 17, and Leganes vs Real Madrid season in Spain’s top flight, a the draw and could even have Barca’s huge advantage at wanted a penalty after Ter midfielder Grigoris Kastanos, (2000) hard-earned point means they snatched victory themselves in the top of La Liga has afforded Stegen slid through the back of 21, handed debuts. sit five adrift of safety, albeit the second half. them the luxury now of his legs to claim the ball. SPORT Sunday 14 April 2019 PAGE | 05 PAGE | 06 Roaring Tiger Nadal, Djokovic grabs Masters face major tests spotlight at as clay season Augusta kicks off Al Rayyan seal top-four spot; Al Sadd finish on a high note

THE PENINSULA QNB STARS LEAGUE DOHA Al Sadd score their 100th goal to conclude the ROUND 22 RESULTS 2018-2019 season with a resounding win; Al Arabi Al Duhail Al Rayyan rode on two brilliant Al Kharaitiyat relegated to Second Division 0 - 3 braces from Brazilian Lucca Borges Al Sadd 6 - 1 Umm Salal and Sebastian Soria to defeat Qatar Al Shahania 3 - 1 Al Gharafa SC 4-3 to seal a top-four finish in thumping win at home to Umm Against the odds, Umm Salal Al Ahli 1 - 1 Al Khor the QNB Stars League (QSL) this Salal. were back level only minutes later Al Rayyan 4 - 3 Qatar SC season. Al Sadd’s goals were scored by when Sagbo drove home a pow- Al Sailiya 5 - 2 Al Kharaitiyat At Al Sadd Stadium, Qatar SC Boualem Khoukhi in the 30th erful shot across the face of the took an early lead with Youssef minute, Hassan Al Haydous (41st), keeper. It did not take long for the Farhat scoring in the eighth minute, Hassan Ahmed (57th), Akram Afif champions to get back ahead when First came Hassan with an only to see Brazilian Lucca Borges (63rd and 69th) and Ali Asad (65th). they were awarded a penalty by acrobatic volley from close range, levelling the scores three minutes Al Sadd’s sixth goal yesterday VAR following a foul on Al before Akram was first to react to later. The former Barca star Samuel was also their 100th this season. Haydous. There was no mistake a rebound and slotted home. Eto’o put Qatar SC ahead again in Umm Salal replied through with the penalty and the Al Sadd Moments later, it was the turn of the 31st minute but Luka equalized Yannick Sagbo in the 34th minute. captain earned his side a half-time Asad who latched onto a pass from for the second time in the 65th For much of the early lead. Hamed Ismail and struck his shot minute. exchanges, there was parity What happened next was a past the sprawling arms of the Al Rayyan took the lead for the between the two sides, but this display of championship-winning goalkeeper. first time in the 68th minute when changed in the 30th minute when football from The Wolves as they Akram completed the scoring, Sebastien Syria stuck a beauty, but Khoukhi rose highest to meet a ripped the opposition apart with as he reacted to an Al Haydous cut- Qatar SC, fighting for their place in free-kick from the right to get the blistering attacking menace inside back in the box. The champions the QSL for another year, equalled game’s first goal. a 12-minute spell. were in fine form and completed for a third time through the season in the best way Mohammed Salem Al Rubaie in the possible. 74th minute. QNB STARS LEAGUE: FINAL STANDINGS Al The Al Gharafa Stadium, Al Soria brought a sigh of relief Khraitiyat suffered another big RANK CLUB MATCHES WIN LOSE DRAW GF GA GD POINTS for Al Rayyan when he netted their loss, this time in the hands of Al 1 Al Sadd 22 18 1 3 100 22 78 57 fouth just four minutes later as they Sailiya who prevailed with a 5-2 2 Al Duhail 22 15 2 5 52 17 35 50 secured a top four finish in the final margin. That also confirmed that 3 Al Sailiya 22 12 8 2 38 26 12 38 standings. Al Kharaitiyat dropped to the 4 Al Rayyan 22 10 5 7 34 31 3 37 Al Rayyan finished off with 37 Second Division. 5 Al Ahli 22 10 8 4 32 39 -7 34 points in front of their name as Meanwhile, at Al Arabi Stadium, 6 Al Arabi 22 10 12 0 27 41 -14 30 Al Rayyan’s Lucca Borges Qatar SC’s 16 points placed them former champions Al Duhail 7 Al Shahania 22 7 9 6 26 34 -8 27 celebrates after scoring his in the 11th position. rounded off their QSL campaign 8 Al Gharafa 22 7 10 5 35 39 -4 26 second goal against Qatar Qatar SC will now have to beat with a 3-0 win over the hosts. 9 Umm Salal 22 6 11 5 24 44 -20 23 SC during their final QNB the Second Division runner-up, to Elsewhere, Al Shahania fin- 10 Al Khor 22 5 12 5 22 36 -14 20 Stars League match of stay in the QSL next season. ished their campaign on a high as 11 Qatar SC 22 4 14 4 20 42 -22 16 the season at the Al Sadd Earlier, the newly-crowned they leapfrogged Al Gharafa in final 12 Al Kharaitiyat 22 5 17 0 19 58 -39 15 Stadium, yesterday. QSL champions Al Sadd completed standings, thanks to a 3-0 victory their superlative season with a 6-1 over their rivals. Al Ghazali captures Big Tour glory with Aslan 69 Kohli and De Villiers CHINTHANA WASALA Nasser Al Ghazali guides Aslan THE PENINSULA 69 over an obstacle. guide RCB

Popular rider Nasser Al Ghazali to first win yesterday captured Big Tour glory in the 11th round of Hathab IANS Equestrian Tour, when he MOHALI dazzled the crowds with two flawless rides on Aslan 69. Bottom-placed Royal Chal- Al Ghazali’s eight-year-old lengers Bangalore (RCB) finally gelding, the fastest among 13 ended their winning draught in contenders in the feature event the ongoing season of Indian of the penultimate round of the Premier League (IPL) 2019 as national show jumping compe- skipper Virat Kohli’s scintillating tition, yesterday clocked a time 53-ball 67 followed by AB de of 72.34 secs in the first round. Villiers (59n.o.) and Marcus He finished off with a bril- Stoinis (28 n.o.) fruitful knock liant 40.08-second ride to seal guided them to a thumping the top prize of QR8,750 at the eight-wicket victory over Kings Qatar Equestrian Federation’s XI Punjab (KXIP) at the Punjab Arena. Cricket Association IS Bindra Daydreamer EC, with Saeed Stadium yesterday. Nasser Al Qadi in the saddle, was It was the 85-run stand Qatar Equestrian Federation Secretary-General, Bader Al Darwish the fastest in the first round, but the winning round with a Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, between Kohli and de Villers and Hathab Series Tournament Director, Ali Al Rumaihi pose for a made four errors during his ride flawless routine which lasted for completed the same task in 57.28 before the South African got that lasted for 70.76 secs. 46.02 secs. He finished in the secs with no faults to finish photograph with the podium winners of the Big Tour Competition involved in a match-winning But he made a brilliant fourth spot and won a prize behind Haidan as he got richer in the 11th round of the Hathab Equestrian Tour yesterday. 46-run partnership with Stoinis comeback in the next round, cheque for QR3,500. by QR3,000. which handed Bangalore a completing the task in 42.10 to French star Cyrine Cherif Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, HATHAB EQUESTRIAN TOUR 2018/2019 - ROUND 11 much needed win. book the second spot on the who piloted the Al Shaqab- who guided Guilder’s Empire Of Defending 174, Punjab podium and won QR7,000. owned 13-year-old and her The Sun in similar manner, OPEN CLASS: ONE ROUND AGAINST THE CLOCK, 100/115CM (QR15,000) bowlers not only failed in getting Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi stallion, Gerlin VD Waterkant, clocked a time of 57.79 secs, to Rank, Horse, Rider, Time, Prize money wickets but also leaked runs as guided Cantaro 32, the Qatar clocked 71.27 secs in the first book the remaining spot on the 1: Apple Bee/Mohammed Saeed Haidan, 56.91 secs, QR3,750 the visitors crossed the line with Armed Forces-owned gelding to round. podium. 2: Numero Uno - T/Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, 57.28 secs, QR3,000 four balls to spare. complete the first round in 73.17 She made four errors, but He won QR2,250. Earlier, opener Chris Gayle 3: Guilder's Empire Of The Sun/Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, 57.79 secs, QR2,250 secs without any faults, and went had a decent ride in the winning Bandar Mansoor Al Hoban missed out on his century by just on to win the third place in the round (46.38 secs) to get herself (JK Horsetrucks Winner, 64.96 4: JK Horsetrucks Winner/Bandar Mansoor Al Hoban, 64.96 secs, QR1,500 one run but his valiant effort (99 final event of the two-day event into the top five in the QR35,000 secs) and Khalid Sanad Al 5: Jazz De Semilly K Z (Dupli)/Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi, 66.32 secs, QR1,050 n,o. off 64) helped KXIP post a after clocking a time of 45.56 in event. She won QR2,450 in prize Nuaimi (Jazz De Semilly K Z fighting 173/7. the winning round. He got richer money. (Dupli), 66.32 secs) completed BIG TOUR: WINNING ROUND ART. 276.2, 2.1, 130/145CM (QR35,000) Brief Scores by QR5,250. Earlier, Mohammed Saeed the top five. Rank, Horse, Rider, 1st round, Winning Round, Prize money Kings XI Punjab: 173/4 Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser Al Haidan accounted for the top Qatar Equestrian Federation 1: Aslan 69, Nasser Al Ghazali, 72.34 secs, 40.08 secs, QR8,750 (Chris Gayle 99 not out, K.L. Thani, on Dollar Van De prize in the Open Class following Secretary-General, Bader Al 2: Daydreamer EC, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi, (4)70.76 secs, 42.10 secs, QR7,000 Rahul 18; Yuzvendra Chahal Zuuthoeve, clocked a time of an error-free ride on Apple Bee. Darwish and Hathab Series 2/33) 3: Cantaro 32, Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, 73.17 secs, 45.56 secs QR5,250 73.07secs in the first round Haidan clocked a time of Tournament Director, Ali Al Royal Challengers Ban- which saw him making eight 56.91 secs to finish on top of a Rumaihi were among the offi- 4: Dollar Van De Zuuthoeve, Shk. Abdulla bin Nasser Al Thani, (8)73.07 secs, 46.02 secs, QR3,500 galore: 174-2 in 19.2 overs (Virat errors. 40-strong field to win QR3,750. cials who presented the trophies 5: Gerlin VD Waterkant, Cyrine Cherif, (4)71.27 secs, 46.38 secs, QR2,450 Kohli 67, AB de Villiers 59 not But the duo fought back in Numero Uno – T, ridden by to the podium winners. out; Ravichandran Ashwin 1/30)