SPORT

Wednesday 23 August 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Frenchman shocks F1 eyeing two Klopp feels heat as legend Lee; Lin Dan more street Liverpool eye wins to open title bidd races in Asia group phase Al Sailiyah draw Ronaldo’s appeal with Ben Aknoun rejected again in Tunis friendly The Peninsula

Madrid NB Stars League side Al Sailiyah, who are AFP currently on their preseason training camp Q in Tunisia, faced Algerian side ES Ben ristiano Ronaldo's final Aknoun in a friendly on Monday. The match was route of appeal part of the Peregrines preparations for the against his five-match 2017/2018 season. ban for pushing a ref- Sami Trabelsi’s men ended up drawing the eree after being sent game against the Algerian opposition with a final Coff in the Spanish Super Cup was "Impossible to be immune to score of 2-2. Qatari player Mohammed Mudather rejected by 's administra- this situation, 5 games!!" Ron- scored the first goal while Romanian professional tive sports court (TAD) aldo posted to his 108 million Valentin Lazar scored the second for Al Sailiyah yesterday. followers on Instagram after his to get their names on the score sheet and ensure "TAD has rejected the appeal first appeal was dismissed by the both sides were honours even at full time. presented by Real Madrid federation last week. Al Sailiyah are expected to return to on against the five-match ban," a "It seems to me exaggerated the 29th of August after completing their presea- TAD spokesperson confirmed. and ridiculous, this is called son training camp in Tunisia. They will face Al Ronaldo blasted his treat- persecution!" Arabi in their first QNB Stars League match on ment by the Spanish football Ronaldo has already served September 16 at the Al Arabi stadium. Real Madrid’s Cristiano federation as "persecution" after two games of his suspension as Meanwhile, League new comers, Al Markhiya he was controversially shown a Madrid completed a 5-1 aggre- Ronaldo is shown a red announced the signing of three local players as second yellow card for diving gate win over Barcelona in the card by referee Ricardo part of their effort to strengthen their ranks ahead after coming off the bench to Super Cup second leg and as de Burgos Bengoetxea of the new season. Mohammed Salah Al Nili from score as Real won the first leg of Real opened their La Liga cam- after receiving a second Al Rayyan, Saleh Al Yazidi from Al Sadd and the Spanish Super Cup 3-1. paign with a 3-0 win at yellow card for simulation Ahmed Al Askar from Al Sailiya are the players The Portugal was Deportivo la Coruna. during Super Cup First recruited into the side. handed a one-match ban for the Real will also be without Leg against Barcelona in The three Qatari players will look to have a 10th red card of his career and their all-time top scorer for La Barcelona in this file photo. positive season ahead with their new side and will a further four-game suspension Liga matches at home to Valen- TAD yesterday rejected the aim to retain their spot in the Qatari league at the for pushing referee Ricardo de cia and Levante and away at Real appeal presented by very least. In terms of foreign players, the Oryxes Burgos Bengoetxea in protest. Sociedad. Real Madrid against the have already filled up their quota as they have five-match ban. Rebin Sulaka, Alain Traore, Tijan Jaiteh and Kwame Karikari. Yusef Adam’s men are currently on their pre- season training camp in Bulgaria and are expected to return on September 5. Stage set for Men’s Youth Championship Elsewhere, Al Gharafa beat Kuwaiti Premier League side Kuwait SC in a friendly on Monday evening. The Cheetahs ended up winning 1-0 in The Peninsula The Qatari squad will include team yesterday announced their to a wildcard and hosts Al Sadd. a close encounter which took place towards the Hassanain Aziz, Ahmad Mohammad squad for the IHF Super Globe. Al Sadd face Sydney University end of their preseason training camp in Turkey. he Handball Association Al Sulaiti, Jassim Jabor Al Sulaiti, The club’s Algerian head coach on the opening day, which also sees HE Sheikh Jassem Bin Thamer Al Thani, President (QHA) announced the schedule Ahmad Abdullah Al Kharousi, Belal Chouaib Kafi named a 16-man squad Esperance Sportive take on Barce- of Al Gharafa Club was also present during the T of Qatar Men’s Youth Interna- bin Masoud, Talal Mohammad Al for the tournament, which features lona, Macedonian side RK Vardar play friendly match. tional Friendly Handball Darwish, Hamad Mohammad Al the likes of defending champions Iran’s Naft and Gaz, and Fuchse Ber- Al Gharafa’s Qatari player Muayad Hassan Championship to be staged on the Saadi, Saifaldin Nasser Salim, Kha- Fuchse Berlin of , African lin face EC Pinheiros. scored the only goal of the game in the 66th minute sidelines of the 2017 IHF Super Globe lid Saif, Ibrahim Al Hitmi, Nasser runner-ups Esperance Sportive de The semifinals are scheduled for of the match. The game saw positive spells from from August 25 to 28. Mohammad Al Kebaisi, Ali Medhat Tunis, Asian runner-ups Naft and August 26 before the final match two both sides involved and it ended in favour of Jean The championship will feature Abdulhadi, Hassan Basheer Moham- Gaz Gachsaran, Oceania champi- days later. Fernandez’s men courtesy of the solitary goal by the participation of three teams mad, Abdullah Mohammad Al ons Sydney University, Pan Al Sadd are aiming to replicate Hassan. including Oman, Iran and hosts Qatar. Sharqawi, Abdulrahman Maher Has- American Club Championship win- their past form in the tournament, After the end of their camp in Turkey, the final The opening match will be held san, Abdullah Al Dosari and Thenyan ners EC Pinheiros of , which they won in 2002 and came stage of training in Doha is expected to start in the on Friday, in which Iran will clash Khalifa. European champions RK Vardar, second twice in 2010 and 2014, and coming days before the QNB Stars League begins against Oman. Meanwhile, Al Sadd’s handball Barcelona who participate thanks third in 2012. on September 15. SEA Games: Schooling ATP chief hails Nadal’s grabs second gold Kuala Lumpur return to number one AFP “Being No. 1 after all the things that I lympic swimming champion Joseph Schooling Reuters have been going through the last couple grabbed his second gold medal of the Southeast of years is something unbelievable, so (it) OGames yesterday as hosts Malaysia brushed off royal afael Nadal’s (pictured) return ttoo ththee is, forfor me, an amazing achievement to be opposition to reign supreme on the medals table. top of the world rankings is a testa-testa- back to that ppositionosition after three yeyears,”ars,” said Schooling led Singapore to victory in the men’s 4x100m Rment to the Spaniard’s longevityvity in Nadal.Nadal. freestyle relay in a Games-record 3min 17.85sec, as the the game and is as impressive as any of his Nadal has claimed four titles on tour 100m butterfly Olympic gold-medallist pressed his bid for career achievements, men’s tennis chiefchief this season,season, winningwinning 49 matches and los- six titles in Kuala Lumpur. Chris Kermode has said. ing nine in a stellar 2017.2017. “It’s a great feeling. I just tried to do my best for my The 31-year-old Nadal becamee the team, tried to get them ahead,” Schooling said. “I’m glad world number one for the first time sincesince ATP TOUR SINGLES RANKINGSRANKIK NGS we could get a new record and win.” July 2014 after replacing Britain’s AnAndydy 1 (2)(2) Rafa Nadal (Spain) Vietnam’s “Little Mermaid” Nguyen Thi Anh Vien also Murray at the top spot on Monday. 2 (1(1)) AnAndydy MurraMurrayy (Britain)(Britain) set a new Games record of 2:13.64 in the women’s 200m “To regain the No. 1 ranking nine years 3 (3) Roger Federer (Switzerland) backstroke and won the 400m freestyle to reach three gold after having first reached it is unprece-prece- 4 (4) Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) dented,” ATP president Kermode saidid in a medals for the competition. There were further swimming 5 (5) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) successes for Singapore as Roanne Ho clinched the wom- statement. 6 (7) Alexander Zverev (Germany)(Germany) en’s 50m breaststroke in a tournament-record 31.29, and “Rafa has been setting recordscords 7 ((6)6) Marin CCilicilic ((Croatia)Croatia) Quah Zheng Wen won the men’s 200m butterfly in 1:57.95. throughout his remarkable career andnd this But the busiest day of the competition so far, with 45 one is as impressive as any. It shows incred-ncred- 8 (8)(8) Dominic Thiem (Austria)(Austria) titles on offer, belonged to Malaysia, who scored victories ible dedication and longevity, andd we 9 (11) GGrigorrigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) across a swathe of events to build their lead on the med- congratulate him on this amazingazing 1100 (9) Kei Nishikori (Japan) als table. Malaysia won the men’s team time trial cycling, achievement.” 18 minutes ahead of Thailand, and in gymnastics Tan Fu Nadal, a 15-times grand slam winner,inner, Jie and Jeremiah Loo shared men’s pommel horse gold and came back from a series of knee andd wrist Tan Ing Yueh won the women’s vault. injuries to reach the Australian Openn final The hosts also took gold in both men’s and women’s and claimed a record 10th French Open karate, wushu, petanque, mixed doubles and the title this season. women’s 25m pistol. SPORT WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST 2017 21 Flanagan gets Frenchman shocks legend Lee; silver medal from Lin Dan wins to open title bid 2008 Olympics Los Angeles Glasgow AFP Agencies ’s Brice Leverdez in action during his match against Malaysia’s Lee Chong S distance runner Shalane Flanagan was rance’s Brice Lev- Wei during their Badminton World celebrating on Monday after finally being erdez pulled off the Championship match in Glasgow, Britain Uawarded her silver medal from the 2008 first shock of the on Tuesday. Leverdez pulled off the first Olympic Games 10,000 metres following a dop- badminton World shock of the Worlds by defeating men’s ing ban against Turkish second-place finisher Championships by second seed Chong Wei 21-19, 22-24, Elvan Abeylegesse. Fdefeating men’s second seed 21-17 in 75 minutes. The United States Olympic Committee con- Lee Chong Wei in three firmed that Flanagan had been upgraded to silver games in Glasgow after a retest of a sample belonging to Ethiopian- yesterday. born runner Abeylegesse from the 2007 World The 31-year-old claimed Championships found traces of banned drugs. the scalp of his career 21-19, Bronze medallist Flanagan posted a picture 22-24, 21-17 in 75 minutes of herself on Twitter, kissing her newly acquired and perhaps end Lee’s elu- silver medal in celebration. sive search for the world title Flanagan said she had declined an offer from which has seen him take USOC to have her silver awarded at a public three silver medals just as he ceremony. has done in the Olympics. “Receiving my proper medal and having the “I’m really happy,” he record books changed is a dream come true,” Flan- said. agan said. “I managed to stay “I greatly appreciate the USOC’s efforts to host relaxed and played my own a more formal medal ceremony in my honour, game.” but with my coach and my family, I have decided Leverdez had two match to forego that option and instead celebrate in pri- points in the second game -- vate,” she added. 20-21 and 21-22 -- and it “I knew I was in trouble, year suggested he was still a routine win over local Brit- preparation, so I need to “This news, and receiving my medal, are all was only a successful hawk but I never gave up,” said capable of ending his world ish hope Kieran Merrilees . make this mindset last until that I need to feel incredibly fulfilled and happy. eye challenge on the second Leverdez. title drought. Lin won 21-15, 21-10 the end of the I’m honored and proud to officially be the 2008 match point that saved Lee For Lee it was another “I’m very after an 11-1 start. championships.” 10,000-metre silver medallist.” from a straight games exit. chance gone. disappointed.” “Normally the first Next for the seventh- Flanagan, 36, has concentrated on the mar- In the decider, the “I tried my best and he Earlier, on Monday, Lin match is not easy, because I seeded Lin is Emil Holst of athon in the years since her 2008 Olympic 34-year-old Malaysian led got lucky on a few points,” Dan got his quest under way need to get myself in a good Denmark, who beat the Chi- campaign. She finished sixth in the women’s mar- 15-10 -- but the Frenchman said Lee, whose fourth win for a record sixth world bad- mindset,” Lin said. “I did a nese superstar in March at athon at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de wouldn’t give in. in the All- Open this minton championship with lot of practice and the German Open. Janeiro. Baseball: Indians edge Red Sox Cleveland BASEBALL RESULTS The 31-year-old left-hander beat AP his former organization, having spent San Francisco 2 Milwaukee 0 most of the season at the Braves’ Tri- randon Guyer scored when first Texas 5 LA Angels 3 ple-A club. He went 12-3 but never got baseman Brock Holt threw away Minnesota 10 Chicago White Sox 2 a call to the big leagues. BRoberto Perez’s bunt in the ninth Seattle 6 Atlanta 5 Instead, Albers was dealt to the inning, lifting the Cleveland Indians Arizona 3 NY Mets 2 Mariners for cash on Aug. 11. He was over the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in Major Cleveland 5 B o s t o n 4 called up by Seattle to make a start League Baseball on Monday night in LA Dodgers 6 Pittsburgh 5 four days later, working six strong

a match-up of first-place teams. Baltimore 7 Oakland 3 in a 3-1 win over Baltimore. Chicago White Sox 7 Minnesota 6 After Guyer’s leadoff double Now, after going just over four against Brandon Workman (0-1), Holt years between major league victories, fielded the bunted ball and tried to Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam Albers has two wins in less than a throw out Guyer at third. Guyer slid off Gerrit Cole in Los Angeles’ five- week. All Blacks’ into the bag as the throw skipped past seventh, and Luis Avilan (2-1) pitched Mike Foltynewicz (10-9) has lost hooker third baseman Rafael Devers, then got one inning for the win. four of his last five starts for Atlanta. Dane Coles to his feet and raced across home In New York, A.J. Pollock hit a Adam Jones hit a pair of home runs plate. Teammates ran onto the field two-run homer in the 10th inning and Jonathan Schoop added a three- and doused Perez with water and as Arizona snapped a three-game run shot to help Baltimore beat white powder. skid. Oakland. All Blacks’ Coles set to Perez also had a three-run homer J.D. Martinez had an RBI single and Wade Miley (7-10) held the A’s to in the second inning. left fielder David Peralta threw out the two runs, five hits and four walks over Cody Allen (1-6) allowed Christian potential go-ahead run at the plate for six-plus innings to pick up his first win Vazquez’s leadoff single in the ninth, the Diamondbacks, who began the day at Camden Yards since June 17. Miley return against Wallabies but retired the next three hitters. The with a 2 1/2-game lead over Milwau- is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA against Oak- inning ended when shortstop Fran- kee for the second NL wild card. land this season. cisco Lindor ran down Mookie Betts’ Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco walked Jones tied a career high with four Wellington been their inability to close out tests this popup in centre field with his back to to start the 10th. One out later, Pol- hits and is one home run shy of reach- Reuters year. home plate. lock sent a fastball from Eric Goeddel ing 25 for the seventh consecutive One of the strengths of the side since Cleveland relief ace Andrew Miller (0-1) over the centre field fence to put season. Zach Britton got the final out ew Zealand hooker Dane Coles is coach Steve Hansen took over in 2012 left in the seventh inning after aggra- the Diamondbacks back in front after with two runners on for his 11th save expected to make his return to test has been the depth and impact of the vating the patellar tendinitis in his they squandered a 1-0 lead in the this season and his 60th in a row. Nrugby on Saturday against Aus- bench and the team's ability to finish right knee. Miller recently returned seventh. Baltimore beat Chris Smith (0-3) tralia in their Rugby Championship, stronger than the opposition. after over two weeks on the disabled Fernando Rodney gave up a lead- for the second time in 12 days. ending a frustrating five months battling Against the British and Irish Lions list with the knee injury. off homer to Michael Conforto before Jorge Polanco hit his second three- injury. earlier this year, it was the visitors who Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Yasiel getting three outs for his 28th save in run homer of the day as Minnesota Coles missed last weekend's 54-34 finished stronger in each of the three Puig homered in the 12th inning, help- 33 tries. Jimmie Sherfy (1-0) pitched scored six times in the second inning victory over the Wallabies in Sydney as matches. ing Los Angeles top Pittsburgh. a perfect ninth for his first major and routed Chicago to split a a precaution after picking up another Last week in Sydney the Wallabies Puig drove a 1-0 pitch from rookie league win. doubleheader. head knock in a troubled season for the scored four unanswered tries in the final Dovydas Neverauskas (1-1) over the Andrew Albers worked into the Brian Dozier added a three-run Wellington Hurricanes captain. 30 minutes, albeit after the All Blacks had wall in center for his 22nd of the sea- sixth inning for his second straight win drive off Carson Fulmer during the The 30-year-old last played a test blown out to a 54-6 lead and been son. The Pirates put runners on first since coming up from the minors, rally. Byron Buxton and Jason Castro nine months ago and since mid-March "seduced by the scoreboard" according and second with two out in the bot- leading Seattle over Atlanta. each added a solo shot for the Twins, has played just 90 minutes in the Super to Hansen. tom half, but Ross Stripling retired Max Albers (2-0) also had the first hit who have won five of six. They are a Rugby playoffs for the Hurricanes due to Foster said the focus in this week's Moroff on a liner to right for his sec- and RBI of his career — in his first big half-game ahead of the Angels for the lingering concussion symptoms. match was ensuring they closed the game ond save. league at-bat. second AL wild card. He was injured again in the All Blacks' better and continued to get impact from 'Game of Three Halves' warmup match all their players. Cleveland Indians left fielder Brandon against provincial sides Taranaki and "I don't think we've won a last quar- Guyer hits a double in the ninth Counties Manukau and immediately ter for the last two or three tests so from inning against the Boston Red Sox ruled out of last week's game, which dou- that respect it's something we have to do at Progressive Field during their bled as this year's Bledisloe Cup opener. better," Foster said. MLB game on Monday. All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster, "I think we've got to be careful not to however, said Coles had been impres- just label it as the bench. It's the team sive in his return to training and was back that's on the field in the last quarter. in contention for Saturday's clash in "In Sydney we were seeing mistakes, Dunedin. execution mistakes, from some players "He trained really well," Foster said. who had been on the field the whole time. "He had a good week last week "Perhaps we're trying a little bit too actually. hard in that period rather than trusting "He's come through today really what we're doing and getting back to well." doing some simple things. While the squad is finally starting to "We're playing around with it, we get back to full-strength with Coles' want to get it right, and clearly it wasn't probable return, of greater concern has right in Sydney.” 22 SPORT WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST 2017 F1 eyeing two more street races in Asia

Shanghai sors, teams and organisers. AFP The Monaco Grand Prix remains the blue-riband event ormula One is looking and Bratches believes fans want to stage two more to see more such high-octane street races in Asia as street racing. part of a drive to win “We think there is a lot of new fans, one of the vibrancy to having a few more Fsport’s most senior officials said street races to the calendar,” he yesterday. said. F1 is reinventing itself under Meanwhile, a new deal to US-based Liberty Media, who keep the Chinese Grand Prix in completed their takeover of mot- the Formula One calendar has orsport’s most prestigious brand been agreed in principle and will in January in a deal valued at likely be sealed within weeks, a about $8bn, ending the four-dec- senior F1 official said ade reign of Bernie Ecclestone yesterday. as Formula One’s colourful The sport, under ambitious ringmaster. new US-based owners, released Singapore’s night street cir- its 2018 race schedule in June cuit has proved particularly and Shanghai was only listed as popular with fans and drivers provisional, along with since making its debut in 2008 Talks are ongoing about Singapore. and managing director of com- extending Singapore’s contract. That prompted speculation Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari arrives at a media meeting of his mercial operations, Sean Bratches said that in terms that both races might be axed Bratches (pictured), says F1 of sheer fan numbers Asia is For- from the roster. sponsor Santander Bank in Helsinki, Finland yesterday. enthusiasts can expect to see mula One’s biggest market and But Bratches,said in Shang- more street races in future. they are in negotiations for races hai: “We’ve been working hard “I’m spending a lot of time in “entirely new places”. with Juss Event, the promoter, Raikkonen signs new deal reaching out proactively to cit- “We are very focused on and we’ve got an agreement in ies ... and think ultimately we will bringing additional GPs to the principle. realise more street races than we continent here. We’re in talks “My suspicion is that it will Paris the mid-season break. Vettel, 86 behind his teammate, ahead have seen historically,” he said, with a couple of cities to that be executed by the end of next AFP who increased his lead over of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix speaking in Shanghai, a race in end,” he said, declining to give month, fully executed.” Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to 14 at Spa-Francorchamps. the current calendar. further details. Bratches said that F1 chiefs imi Raikkonen has signed points, has yet to confirm his The former McLaren and “We will go to iconic cities The plan is to have a third of released next year’s race sched- a one-year contract plans for 2018. His contract Lotus driver has yet to win a where there are large fan bases, the season each in the Americas, ule earlier than previously as part Kextension with Ferrari expires at the end of the year but race for Ferrari since his return particularly new fan bases that Europe and Asia, said Bratches. of efforts to make Formula One for the 2018 season, the For- the German is expected to keep to the team in 2014, his last suc- we can activate.” Unlike at present, when more fan- and mula One team disclosed his solid with the cess coming at the He added: “From a fan stand- races jump from region to sponsor-friendly. yesterday. Finn intact for 2018. season-opening Australian point the backdrops of these city region, they will take place “Next year the schedule will “Ferrari announces that “I think I have been public Grand Prix in 2013 for Lotus. centres ... can really make com- one continent at a time, he be released and there will be Scuderia Ferrari has renewed on the Sebastian issue, if he His last victory in the iconic pelling television and pictures.” added, benefiting fans, spon- nothing provisional about Shang- its technical and racing agree- wants to stay he is more than red car came back at the 2009 Asked if that meant more hai because we will have a ment with Kimi Raikkonen,” a welcome to stay,” said Ferrari Belgian Grand Prix. Ferrari have street circuits in Asia, he said: Chinese GP long-term deal,” he added, fol- team statement read. president Sergio Marchionne supplied nine of his 20 career “Yes, two.” lowing talks in the city that “The Finnish driver will after . For Raikkonen, GP wins, with another nine In the last five years the A new deal to keep pushed the agreement along. therefore race for the Maranello 37, yesterday’s deal secures his coming at McLaren and two Indian and Korean grands prix the Chinese Grand The current deal for the team in the 2018 Formula One fifth consecutive season with behind the wheel of a Lotus. His have both fallen off the race cal- Prix in the Formula Chinese Grand Prix is due to World Championship.” Raikko- Ferrari after an initial spell at 122 starts for Ferrari place him endar, while Malaysia has One calendar has finish at the end of this year. nen’s signature comes after he Maranello when he captured the third in the team’s all-time driv- announced that this year’s race been agreed in The Shanghai International chased home Sebastian Vettel world title in 2007. ers list behind Michael will be the last due to rising costs principle. Circuit held its first race in in a dominant Ferrari display in He is placed fifth in the 2017 Schumacher (179) and Felipe and low returns. 2004. the Hungarian Grand Prix before drivers’ standings on 116 points, Massa (139). Gayle, Samuels McGregor win would return to Windies be ‘dreadful’ for squad for ODIs boxing, says Horn London Reuters Melbourne Reuters here was some rare good news for West Indies cricket when and ustralia’s Jeff Horn (pic- Twere included in the one-day squad for next tured) has given Conor month’s series against England on Monday. AMcGregor little chance of Batsman Gayle, one of the biggest drawcards in beating Floyd Mayweather in world cricket, has not represented West Indies since Saturday’s super-fight and the 2015 World Cup, while Samuels has been absent hopes the American will “anni- for a year because of a dispute with the board. hilate” the mixed martial arts Neither plays for a test side whose much-mourned fighter for the sake of boxing. The 23-year-old decline in fortunes was much in evidence during the Horn, who became WBO innings and 209-run defeat at the hands of England at Australian left-arm welterweight champion by beat- Edgbaston last week. spinner . ing 38-year-old Manny test the pay-per-view and rev- , and Dwayne and all Pacquiao in Brisbane last month, enue records set by the made themselves unavailable for the five-match ODI said McGregor would struggle Mayweather-Pacquiao bout in series, which begins in on September 19 to even land a punch on the 2015. and concludes in Southampton on Sept. 29. hint at twin spin undefeated American. Mayweather’s defeat of the “The panel welcomes back Chris Gayle and Mar- Mayweather (49-0) has not Filipino generated over $400m lon Samuels, who will both add value to our fought in nearly two years but from 4.6 million and help with the nurturing of the young batsmen in as Agar set for Test recall is a heavy favourite to surpass pay-per-views. the team,” CWI chief selector Courtney Browne said in Rocky Marciano’s record in the After Horn’s own win over a statement. Las Vegas bout, which purists Pacquiao, the Australian imme- “Both Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo have declined only practice match by the Dhaka have dismissed as an diately laid down a challenge to to be considered for ODIs in England. Reuters rain on Monday, which Lehmann exhibition. Mayweather, holding up a walk- “Narine has however confirmed his desire to play said made it even less likely he “I hope Mayweather anni- ing stick to bait the 50-over cricket again but has asked to play in our shton Agar looks set to play his would radically overhaul his team hilates him and I think he will,” 40-year-old. Regional Super 50 before he is considered and Darren first cricket Test in four years from that which finished the tour Horn said in comments pub- Former schoolteacher Horn said he was not available for selection. Aagainst Bangladesh on Sunday of in March. lished by News Ltd media is set for a rematch against Pac- “ said he is still not 100 percent fit, after coach Darren Lehmann sug- “We obviously haven’t played yesterday. quiao in Brisbane later in the but is looking at a possible return to international cricket gested Australia would go with two too much, so we’re fairly settled in “It will be dreadful for the year but said he would “love a next year.” spinners for the series opener in where we want to go,” he told sport of boxing if Mayweather, crack” at Mayweather. Gayle, who turns 38 next month, has scored 9,221 Mirpur. reporters in the Bangladesh one of the greatest fighters of all “He could challenge me for runs in 269 ODIs for the Caribbean islands, while Sam- The 23-year-old left-arm finger capital. time, gets rolled by a guy hav- the world welterweight title. And uels has scored 5,180 in 187. spinner made his test debut as a “That decision will be made ing his first fight but I can’t see if McGregor wanted to fight me The pair share the record for the highest partner- teenager in the 2013 Ashes series, later, once we start to have a look McGregor doing too well even I’d take it right now. I wouldn’t ship in one-day cricket with the 372 they combined for starring more with bat than ball in at the test and the conditions. with all the hype. be worried one bit,” said the against in Canberra during the last World two matches against England that Most likely, I think we’ll play two “Their fight is going to be 29-year-old. Cup. Samuels refused a retainer from the board last remain his only experience of the spinners.” under boxing rules and May- Horn added that he would year and was dropped for deciding to play in the Paki- longest form of the game. Agar toured India with Australia weather will probably not even fight Mayweather like Marcos stan Super League rather than the Caribbean’s Super With Steven O’Keefe having earlier this year but never got a get hit. Maidana, who pushed the Amer- 50 competition. been dropped despite a brilliant tour chance to play as his fellow left-armer “If McGregor’s got any sense ican in two defeats in 2014. SQUAD: , , Miguel of India earlier this year, however, O’Keefe took 19 at an aver- he’ll crash tackle Floyd at the “A few years ago we saw Cummins, Chris Gayle, (captain), Kyle Agar is in the driving seat to get the age of 23.26, including 12 in the first opening bell and put a choke Marcos Maidana from Argentina Hope, , , , Jason nod ahead of uncapped leg-spin- Test at Pune. hold on him, get disqualified and give Floyd the fight of his life but Mohammed (vice captain), , Rovman Pow- ner Mitchell Swepson in a twin spin The first Test starts on Sunday then they’ll have a rematch and Maidana didn’t have the engine ell, Marlon Samuels, , Kesrick attack with . with the second in Chittagong sched- make even more money.” to sustain it for 12 rounds,” the Williams. The tourists were robbed of their uled from September 4-8. Saturday’s fight is tipped to Australian said. WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST 2017 SPORT 23

Rooney joins Wu’s double puts Shanghai the 200 club London AFP

ayne Rooney SIPG on verge of ACL semis labelled his 200th WPremier League goal in Everton’s 1-1 draw Shanghai whistle past Zeng’s far post. with Manchester City a “sweet AFP Scolari spread his arms out moment” and had the British in despair on the sidelines and media purring and suggest- razilian international gestured to his defence to engage ing yesterday he be recalled Hulk scored one and their brains. But they didn’t and to the England squad. made another as after attacking midfielder Wu “Blue Roon” was the Daily Shanghai SIPG all but went over under minimal con- Mirror’s headline while the sealed their spot in the tact in the box, Hulk stepped up Sun went with “Long May He BAFC Champions League semi- to ram home the penalty on 38 Wayne” after Rooney joined finals with a 4-0 first-leg rout of minutes. It was his seventh goal former England and Newcas- Guangzhou Evergrande in the Champions League this tle great Alan Shearer as the yesterday. season. On the brink of half time only players to have reached Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Ever- Villas-Boas’s men made it 2-0, the Premier League grande are on course to retain skipper Wang Shenchao popping landmark. the Chinese Super League (CSL) up at the backpost to bundle the “Plenty of life left in old title but barring a miracle they ball in. dog Roo” said the Sun who are out of this quarter-final all- No doubt Scolari gave his complimented Everton man- Chinese tie even with the home men a half-time grilling and ager Ronald Koeman on his leg to come. Evergrande, two-time Champi- punt in signing the 31-year- Shorn of key midfielder ons League winners, started the old from Manchester United. Paulinho, the Brazilian who last better in the second period. Rooney sparkled against week moved to Barcelona, Sco- But Wu punished them with City showing a hunger, zest lari’s men only woke up very just over an hour on the clock and alertness for the club that briefly after the break but by with a classy solo effort and on nurtured his formidable tal- Shanghai SIPG’s Wang Shenchao (left) scores against Guangzhou Evergrande during the AFC then they were 2-0 down and 64 minutes he scored again after ent as a teenager in stark their dreams of a domestic and Champions League quater-final in Shanghai, yesterday. being played in by the rampag- contrast to his displays under continental double dead. ing Hulk for 4-0 and game over. Jose Mourinho at United last Two second-half goals in as many minutes by Chinese inter- degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) In the formidable form of “Excellent performance, season. national Wu Lei, one fed by Hulk, in the city even as night fell. Hulk, SIPG had a forward who great attitude from the players. “His last season at Old Emphatic win put the tie out of sight. He refused to blame the was a muscular menace We proved our power and ambi- Trafford suggested this was a Scolari, who repeatedly defeat on that but his Evergrande throughout. Twice early on he tion,” said Villas-Boas, whose player well into decline and Hulk helps Shanghai shook his head at Monday’s pre- side did feel the loss of Paulinho, shot weakly at Evergrande goal- SIPG has hit a rocky patch of Everton were making a SIPG to an emphatic match press conference after he said. keeper Zeng Cheng and midway form in the CSL to drop out the romantic gesture that could 4-0 first leg rain played havoc with his train- “SIPG deserved the win through the first half he was domestic title race. backfire,” the Sun said. quarterfinal win over ing plans, revealed after the tonight,” added Scolari, who like snuffed out by the overworked “The referee should have “Two games into the new Guangzhou match that the air conditioning opposite number Andre Villas- Zeng. Next Hulk teed up the sent off two Evergrande players, season he has scored the win- in the away changing room at Boas is a former Chelsea 60-million-euro man Oscar, his but he forgot,” deadpanned the ner in one and last night very Evergrande. The Shanghai Stadium was broken. manager. fellow Brazilian who had a quiet Portuguese, without saying nearly grabbed another... per- Brazilian scored one “We are in a sauna!” the Bra- “Hulk is very strong, he has game, but he too shot straight at which players he was referring haps that dream of bowing and made two in this zilian veteran coach exclaimed pace and he creates a lot of Zeng. to. out next summer in the World all-Chinese affair. to the press in English, with tem- chances. He’s very Then Oscar saw a right- The second leg is on Septem- Cup is not just that,” it added. peratures hovering around 33 threatening.” footed curler from distance ber 12. The Mirror said Rooney, whose 35th-minute goal went through City ‘keeper Eder- son’s legs before Raheem Sterling’s equalised after the EPL: Sterling rescue act break, looked like he could inspire Everton to better things. “This was all about Roon- ey’s renaissance... at 31, spares 10-man Man City Rooney was an eye-catching signing, something of a risk. “But the energy is still Manchester but we lost two points,” City man- team-mate Ronald Koeman in Jan- there. AFP ager Pep Guardiola told . uary’s meeting between the teams “And it will propel Ever- “We are here for the results. At at Goodison Park, there was steel- ton forward.” aheem Sterling came on to the end, we have to try to analyse the iness to his side’s second-half - ‘May burn bright then score an 82nd-minute equal- performance. Ten against 11, a reaction. fade’ - Riser as 10-man Manchester Europa League team. We tried. We For Koeman, who gave a sec- The Daily Telegraph said City rescued a 1-1 draw against Ever- missed some chances at the end. ond-half debut to record £45m Rooney had an England recall ton in their opening Premier League Even though we scored, we could not recruit Gylfi Sigurdsson, this was a “in his sights”. home game on Monday. win.” sign that his side are now genuine The paper says Rooney’s Wayne Rooney put Everton Guardiola refused to answer contenders for a Champions League impeccable first touch and ahead with his 200th Premier questions about Walker’s place. passing master class as well League goal before City home deb- dismissal. “They did not create a lot of open as his positional sense could utant Kyle Walker was City preserved their record of chances,” the Everton manager told serve his talented but incon- contentiously shown a second yel- never having lost their first home BBC Sport. sistent teammate Ross low card following a collision with Premier League game, but the “They had the domination in the Barkley well. Manchester City’s English Dominic Calvert-Lewin. main upshot was that Manches- game and on the counter-attack. We “If the absent Ross Bar- midfielder Raheem Sterling Sterling, a half-time substitute, ter United, Huddersfield Town had some good opportunities.” kley (he is injured) had just an celebrates scoring his team’s first rewarded heavy City pressure by and West Bromwich Albion now Koeman conceded there were ounce of Rooney’s football goal during the English Premier slamming in a late equaliser and boast the only 100 percent records “doubts about both red cards”, but intelligence he would be a League match against Everton at Everton also finished with 10 men in the league. accused City’s players of trying to world beater,” it remarked. the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, after Morgan Schneiderlin, too, was While Guardiola was unable to “influence the referee” following However, on his chances north west England, on Monday. given a debatable second caution. avenge the 4-0 thrashing master- Walker’s dismissal in the 44th of an England recall it said “I am pleased with all of them, minded by his old Barcelona minute. Southgate faced a dilemma. Klopp feels heat as Liverpool eye group phase

London a quick start always,” said Klopp, without Brazilian playmaker reach the Champions League on Saturday, courtesy of a AFP who reached the Champions Philippe Coutinho, the subject of group phase for only the second deflected shot from substitute League final with Borussia Dort- three unsuccessful bids from time since 2010. Andrej Kramaric in the 84th iverpool manager Jurgen mund in 2013. Barcelona, who continues to Their last participation in minute. Klopp (pictured) concedes “You need to be there imme- nurse a back problem. 2014-15 having come to an end “I wouldn’t say no if a few Lhis side are already feeling diately, deliver and all that stuff. But Robertson believes the in the group stage, it is now over deflected goals fly in on Wednes- the pressure this season ahead The difference this year is that fire-power on show against Pal- eight years since Anfield last day,” said head coach of the return leg of their Cham- it’s really hard. ace demonstrated the strength hosted a knockout-phase match Nagelsmann, who led Hoffen- pions League play-off against “We all know a draw (against in depth in Liverpool’s attacking in the competition. heim to a best-ever fourth-place Hoffenheim today. Palace), two points instead of unit. Elimination at the hands of finish in the Bundesliga last Liverpool looked to have four or six, it doesn’t feel good, - ‘3-0 would be nicer’ - European debutants Hoffenheim season. planted one foot in the group but you can sort it. “It’s brilliant when you get would represent a monumental “A 2-0 win is the big plan. A phase after going 2-0 up in last “You can’t do this in a Cham- the ball and you look up and setback for Klopp, who was hired 3-0 would be nicer.” week’s first leg in Germany, only pions League qualifier. This you’ve got Sadio, Roberto partly on the strength of his fine Nagelsmann rested six of the for Mark Uth’s 87th-minute reply intensity is really hard, for both expected to return to the start- (Firmino), Studge (Sturridge) in continental record with team who started against Liver- to bring Hoffenheim right back teams.” ing line-up against Julian the first half and Mo (Salah) came Dortmund. pool last week, including burly into the tie. Klopp made five changes to Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim. on with big Dom (Solanke),” said But Liverpool’s fans will striker Sandro Wagner and Ger- The five-time European his starting XI for the 1-0 victory Young right-back Trent Alex- the former Dundee United draw encouragement from the many winger Serge Gnabry. champions needed a late Sadio over Palace, with debutant Andy ander-Arnold could also return, left-back. fact that in 14 previous European Kramaric, who squandered Mane goal to see off Crystal Pal- Robertson, Ragnar Klavan, Joe having been rested against Pal- “It’s great to have the home games against German an early penalty in the first ace in the Premier League on Gomez, James Milner and Dan- ace after setting Liverpool en options. We’re not fully up to teams, their team have never leg, only came on for the last Saturday and Klopp anticipates iel Sturridge coming into the side. route to victory in Sinsheim with speed yet, but we’re getting been beaten. 25 minutes, but in a potential another knife-edge occasion at Having started on the bench, a memorable 25-yard there and when we are, we’ll Hoffenheim geared up for good omen for today, he man- Anfield in mid-week. Dejan Lovren, Emre Can and star free-kick. be a threat.” the trip to Liverpool with a 1-0 aged to make his presence “We all have pressure and it’s signing Mohamed Salah are all Liverpool are likely to still be Liverpool are bidding to win at home to Werder Bremen count.