Established 1961 15 Sports Monday, January 29, 2018 Batshuayi brace puts Chelsea into fifth round of FA Cup ‘Scoring goals is important for strikers’ confidence’

LONDON: Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Chelsea to be here. It’s not for me to decide, it’s the boss... it’s beat Premier League rivals Newcastle 3-0 to advance best that you ask Conte!” into the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge The Chelsea boss said he had no desire to see yesterday. Batshuayi’s goals in the 31st and 44th min- Batshuayi depart the club. “Scoring goals is important utes and a Marcos Alonso free-kick 18 minutes from for strikers’ confidence. My task is to keep every single time were enough for Premier League champions player happy and with Michy I think we are doing a Chelsea to see off Rafael Benitez’s struggling side. good job,” Conte said. Chelsea are 15 points behind The Belgian’s striker’s first was the result of a neat runaway league leaders Manchester City and, following team move, Pedro’s superb through ball splitting the their League Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal, the FA Cup Newcastle defence and lead- offers Conte’s men their best ing to Eden Hazard slipping a chance of a domestic trophy pass inside to Alonso. this season. “There were Spaniard Alonso toed the some great performances, ball first-time to Batshuayi, especially from this man next who made no mistake with a When I have to me (Batshuayi) with two simple finish from eight yards great goals,” said Chelsea out. The Belgian forward a chance I take captain Gary Cahill. “It (the scored his and Chelsea’s sec- FA Cup) a very important ond goal shortly before half- the chance competition for us this year,” time when Pedro again initi- the defender added. ated an attacking move, his By contrast, Premier pass releasing Hazard to run League survival is the priori- at a struggling defence. ty for a Newcastle side that Batshuayi, up in support, looked set to run across his are currently just one point above the relegation zone. man but instead moved away, creating the space for Newcastle manager Benitez, asked if he would be able Hazard to play him in before his shot took a huge to bring in a new striker before the transfer window deflection off Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles and looped shuts on Wednesday, replied: “I don’t think so but we over goalkeeper Karl Darlow. will see. We will try to do something. Any lingering doubt about the result was settled in “I have to prepare the team for the next game the 72nd minute when Alonso whipped a left-footed against Burnley and then we’ll see if we can do some- free-kick over the defensive wall to make it 3-0. thing before the transfer window closes.” Sunday’s oth- er FA Cup tie sees Manchester City continue their LONDON: Chelsea’s English defender Gary Cahill (up) collides with Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante (R) after winning a ‘TAKE THE CHANCE’ quest for an unprecedented season quadruple of header from Newcastle United’s Enlish midfielder Isaac Hayden (L) during the English FA Cup fourth round football match There have been suggestions that Batshuayi could league, FA Cup, Champions League and League Cup between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in London yesterday.— AFP be on his way out of Stamford Bridge during the clos- titles away to second-tier Cardiff. Liverpool, however, ing days of the January transfer window. But as for his will not be in the last 16 after a 3-2 defeat by top-flight immediate future, Batshuayi said he wanted to impress strugglers West Brom at Anfield on Saturday where Jay video assistant referee system that is being trialled in draw, but only after an equaliser from Harry Kane eight Blues manager Antonio Conte, telling BT Sport: “When Rodriguez’s two goals for the Baggies were overshad- English cup competitions this season. minutes from time saw them to a 1-1 draw away to I have a chance I take the chance and I work every day owed by several controversial incidents involving the Meanwhile Tottenham remain in the fifth-round fourth-tier Newport on Saturday. — AFP

Inter frustrated after draw at SPAL Bailey strikes

MILAN: Inter’s faltering campaign suffered as Leverkusen more frustration with a 1-1 draw at promoted SPAL yesterday, their seventh consecutive league game with- out a win. Alberto Paloschi headed in a last-gasp go second equaliser to grab a precious point for SPAL after Inter had taken the lead on 48 minutes when defender BERLIN: Winger showed why Francesco Vicari turned the ball into his own net. Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly tracking him Inter are now two points behind third-placed Lazio who can pull further ahead when they play AC Milan at with another stunning goal in Bayern San Siro later. Roma are just three points behind Inter Leverkusen’s 2-0 win over Mainz yesterday in in fifth before going to Sampdoria. the . Bailey, 20, gave Leverkusen the “When you concede a goal like that in stoppage lead at the BayArena when he hit the back of the time, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth,” said Inter net from 20 metres with a left-footed strike. coach . “It doesn’t change anything There was nothing on when Bailey looked up though. There is certainly work to be done better. I on the edge of the area, but his shot across goal wouldn’t say I’m worried, even when we were winning I gave Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner no chance didn’t see big improvements. Now the results are three minutes into the second half. After also worse, we’re losing easy balls and at other times we’re scoring last weekend with an audacious back- not fighting.” heel, it was his eighth league goal this season. SPAL goalkeeper Alex Meret was unworried by Leverkusen could ask Chelsea or Arsenal for Spalletti’s side who have not won since December 3 double the 13.5 million euros ($17.8 million) they and were uninspiring in Ferrara despite the presence of FERRARA: Spal’s Italian midfielder Mariano Arini (R) fights for the ball with Inter Milan’s Croatian forward Ivan Perisic during the paid Belgian club Genk for Bailey in January recent arrivals Rafinha and Lisandro Lopez on the Italian Serie A football match Spal vs Inter Milan at the Paolo Mazza stadium in Ferrara yesterday. — AFP 2017. However, the German side have ruled out bench. Despite trailing for most of the second half, selling him in January’s transfer window and the SPAL proved dogged and their pressing paid off when Jamaican is under contract until June 2022. former Milan forward Paloschi turned in a Mirco the final minutes of the game but the Brazilian failed to spot from Juventus who moved ahead after Sami It was the latest eye-catching display from Antenucci cross on the stroke of full-time. Spalletti lift his team against a SPAL side still in the relegation Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain scored for the champions Bailey who scored and created a goal in last introduced on-loan Barcelona midfielder Rafinha for zone. Napoli host Bologna later looking to reclaim top in a 2-0 win at nine-man Chievo on Saturday. — AFP weekend’s 4-1 thrashing of Hoffenheim. Leverkusen made sure of the three points against strugglers Mainz when Brazilian left-back converted a 68th-minute penalty, after Mertens brace Mainz defender Giulio Donati brought down Jaber Int’l striker Lucas Alario. The win sees Leverkusen climb to second, 16 keeps Napoli top points behind runaway league leaders Bayern Stadium ready Munich, who thrashed Hoffenheim 5-2 at home on Saturday. The Bundesliga’s top-scorer Robert MILAN: scored a brace as Napoli bounced to host CP Cup back from a goal down to reclaim top spot in Serie A yester- Lewandowski scored for the 18th time in the day with a 3-1 home win over Bologna. Napoli restored their league this season as Bayern fought back from one-point advantage over champions Juventus who went top two goals down in style. final Tuesday after Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain scored in a 2-0 win VfB sacked coach Hannes Wolf yes- at nine-man Chievo on Saturday. terday, after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by third- placed Schalke saw them slip to 15th in the table. KUWAIT: Public Authority for Youth In Naples, it proved to be a battle with Rodrigo Palacio Leverkusen are above Schalke on goal differ- and Sport (PAYS) Director Hmoud Al- nodding Bologna ahead after 25 seconds before an Ibrahima Flaiteh affirmed yesterday on the Mbaye own goal four minutes later pulled the hosts back at ence, with Eintracht Frankfurt a point behind in readiness of Jaber International their Stadio San Paolo. fourth. Stadium to host His Highness the Mertens edged Napoli ahead on 37 minutes with a penal- Borussia are sixth after needing a Crown Prince Cup next Tuesday. In a ty awarded for a foul on Jose Callejon. The Belgian then 93rd-minute equaliser by left-back Jeremy Toljan statement to KUNA, Al-Flaiteh claimed his 13th goal of the season with a spectacular curl- to salvage a 2-2 draw with Freiburg. Arsenal tar- expressed hopes that events accompa- ing effort on 59 minutes. get Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced a Maurizio Sarri’s side have 57 points from 22 games, one poor display and was whistled on his return after nying the upcoming match between SAN PAOLO: Napoli’s Belgian striker Dries Mertens kicks the ball Qadsiya and Kuwait Sports Club will more than Juventus. Inter Milan missed a chance to move being dropped for the previous two games. third with a frustrating 1-1 draw at promoted SPAL. Inter are during the Italian Serie A football match SSC Napoli vs Bologna Dortmund were whistled by their own fans be checked and ready in all aspects to FC yesterday at the San Paolo Stadium. —AFP suit such occasion. two points behind Lazio who can move further ahead when and Stoeger admitted he was also unimpressed Qadsiya Sports Club qualified for they play AC Milan at San Siro later. Roma are just three with what he saw. “I didn’t whistle, but I wasn’t the final match after defeating Al-Arabi points behind Inter in fifth before playing at Sampdoria. spiring in Ferrara with recent arrivals Rafinha and Lisandro happy,” he quipped. —AFP with a 4-2 penalty shootout, while It was Inter’s seventh consecutive league game without a Lopez on the bench. Despite trailing for most of the second Kuwait Sports Club won their match win. Alberto Paloschi headed in a last-gasp equaliser to grab half, SPAL proved dogged and their pressing paid off when against Al-Nasr 1-0. a precious point for SPAL after Inter had taken the lead on former Milan forward Paloschi turned in a Mirco Antenucci The first competition for His 48 minutes when defender Francesco Vicari turned the ball cross on the stroke of full-time. Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup was into his own net. Spalletti introduced on-loan Barcelona midfielder Rafinha held in 1993-94 and Kuwait Sports “When you concede a goal like that in stoppage time, it for the final minutes of the game but the Brazilian failed to lift Matches on TV Club were crowned the champions. leaves a bitter taste in the mouth,” said Inter coach Luciano his team against a SPAL side still in the relegation zone. Qadsiya Sports Club are the current Spalletti. “It doesn’t change anything though. There is cer- Elsewhere struggling Verona shocked Fiorentina 4-1 in (Local Timings) champion with eight victories, while tainly work to be done better. I wouldn’t say I’m worried, Tuscany to end a run of four consecutive defeats, as Udinese Al-Arabi won seven times, Kuwait even when we were winning I didn’t see big improvements. moved up to eighth with a 1-0 win at Genoa despite Samir’s SPANISH LEAGUE Sports Club won six times, Salmiya Now the results are worse, we’re losing easy balls and at sending off with a second half goal from Valon Behrami seal- Celta de Vigo v Real Betis 23:00 twice and Kazma Sports Club only other times we’re not fighting.” ing the three points. Crotone and Cagliari drew 1-1 in a rele- once. — KUNA SPAL goalkeeper Alex Meret was unworried by an Inter gation battle as Torino thrashed bottom team Benevento 3-0, beIN SPORTS HD 3 side who have not won since December 3 and were unin- with Vid Belec sent off for a kick on M’Baye Niang. —AFP