Australia take aim UCLA down at England’s Sacramento State bid for17 history WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 18 Maracanazo 1950 repeat is the spur for Uruguay Page 19

KUWAIT: Talal Nayef No. 21 of vies for the ball with Teeratep Winothai No. 14 of during the qualifying match for the 2015 Asian Cup. Yousef Naser hit a brace in the 19 and 71 minutes while Fahad Awad found the net in the 56th minute. Mongkol of Thailand reduced the margin. Kuwait won 3-1 to qualify for AFC Asian Cup — Photo by Yasser Al- Zayyat Kuwait book Asian Cup spot

Iran, , Oman and Uzbekistan qualify, China wait

SINGAPORE: Three-times champions ning an 11th consecutive appearance in the The best third-place side across the five qual- to nine points from five matches, four behind goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat cruised into the 2015 Asian Cup finals after Asian showpiece event, but they could not find ifying groups will also secure a berth, meaning Iran and four clear of . handed Qatar all three points in Kuala Lumpur thrashing Lebanon 4-1 yesterday, but China a way past a stubborn Saudi backline in Xi’an. all might not be lost for the loser, with Iraq cur- Oman struck a 91st-minute winner to beat when he came flying out of his goal as missed the chance to join them and face a “We need to learn how to convert dominance rently holding that position. ‘home side’ 1-0 in a poor quality Group A Sebastian Soria crossed for Abdulkareem Al Ali nerve-jangling final qualifier after being held to into a winning situation. I hope we can make it They are just ahead of Lebanon, whose auto- clash in . “Today you didn’t witness our to steer into an empty net. Uzbekistan had a a goalless draw by . in the last game,” China’s caretaker coach, Fu Bo, matic chances were crushed in a 4-1 loss at best game, but ... I am happy with the result we nervy wait against 10-man Hong Kong before World Cup-bound Iran were one of five told reporters. home to Iran in Group B. Central defender Amir achieved,” Oman coach Paul Le Guen said after they found the breakthrough in the 83rd teams to qualify for the finals from the nine China have eight points from five games in Hossein Sadeghi headed home a corner from Eid Al Farsi was afforded too much space to minute thanks to Vokhid Shodiev, who swept in matches played in the penultimate round yes- the group, two ahead of Iraq, who kept their the left just before halftime, with Ashkan sidefoot home from 12 metres out. a right-foot effort on the turn. Talented midfield- terday, with fellow west Asian sides Qatar, Oman finals hopes alive by easing to a 2-0 win in Dejagah drilling in a second in the 51st minute. Jordan, trying to overturn a 5-0 first-leg er Odil Ahmedov struck a second in the final and Kuwait also securing berths, as well as . Captain slotted a penalty deficit against Uruguay in their World Cup quali- moments for Uzbekistan, who reached the Uzbekistan. Hammadi Ahmed scored with a powerful before continued his fier on Wednesday, were not in action in Group semi-finals four years ago. Twelve teams have now booked a place at downward header and Kerrar Jassim coolly con- strong scoring form to make it 4-0 in a match A but are expected to claim the second berth in “We will do our best in Australia and try and the 16-team finals in Australia, with few big- verted a penalty as the visitors were able to turn that was played without fans following a double the pool when they face Oman and Singapore do better than we did in Qatar,” said coach name casualties apart from in Group C, where their attentions to a home match against China. suicide bombing near the Iranian embassy in early next year. Mirdjalal Kasimov. The UAE made it five wins 2007 winners Iraq or China will battle it out in “The result of China’s game means a lot for earlier yesterday. The situation was less complex in Groups E from five in Group E with a 5-0 thrashing of 10- March to decide who joins Saudi Arabia in us,” Iraq coach Hakeem Shakir told reporters. “It The result in the Lebanese capital helped and D, with Uzbekistan and Qatar securing man Vietnam, while Bahrain eased to a 2-0 suc- escaping the group. benefits us as it puts China under pressure and Kuwait seal a place in Australia after they beat away wins to emulate the cess over Yemen in Group D to remain a point China will feel they should already be plan- it gives us a good chance to qualify.” bottom side Thailand 3-1 at home to move on and Bahrain, who qualified on Friday. clear of Qatar. — Reuters Grizzlies beat Clippers qualify for third successive World Cup LOS ANGELES: Zach Randolph had 26 points and 15 son and then seemed to run out of gas against the points and 19 rebounds. : Ghana yesterday qualified for a third period as the home side continued to pile on rebounds against his former team as the Memphis younger Trail Blazers. Kevin Garnett made all six shots successive World Cup, securing their ticket to the pressure for a first goal. The Pharaohs Grizzlies overcame the first-quarter ejection of shoot- in the 40-point first period, then went 2 for 13 from MAVERICKS 97, 76ERS 94 Brazil with a 7-3 aggregate win over . were rewarded for their endeavor after 25 ing guard Tony Allen to beat the Los Angeles Clippers there to finish with a season-high 16 points. Monta Ellis scored 24 points, including 13 in the The Black Stars, who have featured at the minutes after a piece of poor defending by 106-102 on Monday in a rematch of their first-round third quarter when Dallas took its first lead. Dirk 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals, lost the Ghana. playoff series. BULLS 86, BOBCATS 81 Nowitzki and Shawn Marion had 20 points apiece for African zone play-off return leg in Cairo 2-1 But it was not until the 35th minute that Marc Gasol had 23 points, nine rebounds and Luol Deng scored 21 points as the Bulls overcame the Mavericks, who began a stretch of seven of nine but had already done enough in last month’s Egypt again threatened when Zaki’s dipping eight assists to help put the Grizzlies (6-5) over .500 a rough shooting night to record their fifth straight games in Dallas. Nowitzki had 10 rebounds, and first leg in Kumasi, routing Egypt 6-1. shot from outside the box was tipped over for the first time this season. Mike Conley scored eight win. Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 17 rebounds for Marion chipped in seven. Egypt took the lead yesterday in the 25th the bar by goalkeeper Dauda for a corner. of his 15 points during a 4-minute span of the fourth Chicago, which is on its longest winning streak since Ellis had 19 points in the second half and added a minute through Amr Zaki, who crashed his A penalty appeal in the 41st minute for quarter. taking eight in a row from Feb. 20-March 7, 2012. game-high 10 assists and two of Dallas’ 11 blocked body against a free kick by Mohamed Egypt was overlooked by the Ivorian referee Blake Griffin had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Jimmy Butler had 14 points and Derrick Rose finished shots. Two nights after a 35-point loss in New Orleans, Aboutrika and Ghana goalkeeper Fatau when it looked like had the Clippers. Chris Paul had 18 points and 11 assists with 12. the Sixers held the Mavericks scoreless for the first 5 Dauda misjudged the flight of the ball. been brought down inside the box by Rashid for his 11 straight double-double, the most by any Deng’s 3-pointer with 27.1 seconds remaining minutes and led by 10 in the first half. Substitute Mohamed Gedo doubled the Soumaila. player from the start of a season since Magic Johnson gave the Bulls an 85-81 lead. Gerald Henderson then Even after losing its lead for good late in the third hosts’ advantage when he tucked home In first half stoppage time, in 1990-91. Allen was charged with a flagrant-2 foul missed for the Bobcats, and Rose had a free throw to quarter, Philadelphia stayed close behind Evan Turner, from inside the box in the 83rd minute. tested the Black Stars’ goalkeeper with a low with 1:51 left in the opening quarter after he lifted his help Chicago wrap it up. Tony Wroten and some late 3-pointers from James Kevin-Prince Boateng pulled a goal back shot taken from inside the box after he was left leg in a vain attempt to impede Paul’s drive to the Rose, who hit a career-high six 3-pointers in the Anderson. Turner had 26 points, nine rebounds and for Ghana in the 88th minute, when he con- released by Salah. basket and kicked him in the face. Allen walked over Bulls’ 110-94 win Saturday over Indiana, went 4 for 13 seven assists while Wroten had 19 points and five nected home a low cross from the right In the second half, Ghana tried to attack to Paul at the foul line to apologize while referees Bill from the field. The Bulls shot 27 of 75 (36 percent) steals. delivered by skipper . after they were pegged back in their own Kennedy, Mark Ayotte and John Goble watched the overall. Jeffery Taylor led Charlotte with a career-high For Egypt, it was too little, too late as the half in the first 45 minutes. In the 57th replay at the official scorer’s table to determine the 20 points and Henderson had 16. WARRIORS 98, JAZZ 87 damage had been done in Ghana last minute, Aboutrika, with his back to goal, severity of the foul. Stephen Curry scored 22 points for Golden State, month. This was the last chance for Egypt’s hooked a good chance from inside the box, THUNDER 115, NUGGETS 113 and Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes had 17 ‘Golden Generation’ of Aboutrika, Wael but it narrowly missed the target. TRAIL BLAZERS 108, NETS 98 Kevin Durant scored 38 points and Russell apiece in the Warriors’ victory. Gomaa and Said Moawad to appear at the Muntari’s free-kick in the 61st minute LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points, Wesley Westbrook had 30 points and 12 rebounds as Curry had eight assists and made four 3-pointers World Cup after the Pharaohs’ last featured in from outside the Egypt box was low and Matthews added 24 as Portland earned its seventh Oklahoma City rallied for the win. before leaving in the fourth quarter after Utah’s the tournament in 1990. hard but it lacked accuracy. Ghana goalkeep- straight victory. Damian Lillard finished with 19 points Westbrook also had seven assists in a terrific all- Marvin Williams landed on his head in a scramble for Egypt stayed in the attack for most of the er Fatau had to come off his lines in the 68th and nine assists as the Trail Blazers withstood the Nets’ around game that helped Oklahoma City erase a 14- a loose ball. After a couple of minutes to gain his first half, winning corners but never really minute to thwart Basel forward Salah, who blistering start to win seven in a row in the same sea- point deficit in the second half. Reggie Jackson added bearings, Curry got up and left the court under his threatened their opponents’ goal. Zaki shot tried to use his pace to outrun his marker. son for the first time since a 13-game run in 14 points. own power with a towel draped over his head. at goal inside the first minute, but goalkeep- In the 75th minute, Gedo was denied and December 2007. With the score tied at 105, Serge Ibaka pulled Curry is expected to be ready for today’s home er Dauda held it firmly. moments later, Jerry Akaminko had to clear Portland (9-2) is just a half-game behind San down an offensive rebound and found Durant for a game against Memphis. The Warriors made 12 of 22 In the sixth minute, Spartak Moscow strik- the ball off his line as Egypt continued to Antonio and Indiana for the NBA’s best record. The 3-pointer that put Oklahoma City (7-3) ahead to attempts from 3-point range and led by as many as er Majid Waris threatened the Egyptian goal chase the game. Blazers will try to complete a perfect 4-0 road trip stay. Jeremy Lamb and Derek Fisher each hit a pair 28 points. after he was set up by Sulley Muntari, but his In stoppage time, Mahmoud Wednesday at Milwaukee. of free throws in the final 14 seconds to help the Gordon Hayward scored 18 points and Williams low shot was wide of the post. missed a sitter after he was set up by Salah to Shaun Livingston scored 23 points for the Nets, Thunder hold on. Ty Lawson led Denver (4-6) with had 16 but the Jazz (1-11) dropped their third straight It was Ghana’s best chance of the first sum up the night for Egypt. — AFP who stormed out to their best first quarter of the sea- 29 points and eight assists. J.J. Hickson had 18 after earning their lone win of the season. — AP