SSWIMMINGWIMMING | Page 6 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Ikee claims Badosa stuns clean sweep Barty in but misses Charleston Olympic spot quarters

Sunday, April 11, 2021 CRICKET Sha’aban 29, 1442 AH Rizwan steers GULF TIMES Pakistan to their highest T20 chase SPORT Page 4 Leeds stall City’s title march, Reds end Anfi eld losing streak on the pitchside monitor. ertson’s shot was parried into his Pulisic scores City equalised in the 76th path by Emiliano Martinez. minute when Bernardo Silva Villa winger Trezeguet hit the a brace as fl icked the ball into the path of post in the second half, but Al- Ferran Torres and the Spaniard exander-Arnold won it in added Chelsea thrash clipped his shot past Illan Mes- time when the right-back blasted lier. home from the edge of the area. Palace 4-1 But in the fi rst minute of stop- Chelsea ensured Liverpool’s page time, City were caught by move into the top four was a brief AFP brilliant Leeds counter. one as they surged into a 3-0 lead London, United Kingdom Dallas raced onto a fi ne inside half an hour against Pal- through ball from ace. and guided a cool fi nish past Ed- Kai Havertz netted just his anchester City’s erson. second Premier League goal be- march to the Premier fore Christian Pulisic blasted into League title stalled LIVERPOOL LATE SHOW the roof of the net. yesterday as 10-man Liverpool are desperately trying Kurt Zouma’s header from MLeeds beat the runaway lead- to salvage their troubled cam- Mason Mount’s free-kick round- ers 2-1, while Liverpool ended a paign by qualifying for next sea- ed off a dominant fi rst-half as six-game losing streak at Anfi eld son’s Champions League via a Thomas Tuchel’s men made it 12 when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s top-four fi nish. wins in 16 games since the Ger- late strike sealed a 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s men had not man took charge in January. Aston Villa. won at home since December, “The fi rst half an hour we were Chelsea moved back ahead but the Reds avenged their hu- excellent; very hungry, very ag- of Liverpool in the battle for a miliating 7-2 defeat at Villa in gressive,” said Tuchel. place in next season’s Champi- October when Alexander-Arnold “I came to England for the tar- ons League, though, as the Blues curled home in stoppage time. get to fi nish in the top four. This thrashed Crystal Palace 4-1 at “I can’t remember the last time was the challenge and the chal- Selhurst Park. we did it easy but it’s fi ne in our lenge is still there, there is still a City are counting down to situation after losing six home long way to go.” their third title in four seasons, games,” said a relieved Klopp. pulled a goal but ’ stoppage-time Villa striker Ollie Watkins scored back for Palace after the break, strike leaves them still needing 11 a hat-trick in the October rout and but Pulisic converted Reece points from their last six games he was back on the scoresheet af- James’s defl ected cross at the to clinch the crown. ter 43 minutes with a low shot that back post to round off the scoring Just a fourth league defeat of squirmed under Alisson Becker’s with his second. the season for the leaders came weak attempted save. after Pep Guardiola made seven Leeds United’s Stuart Dallas (right) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Liverpool were denied an equal- RESULTS changes following their midweek in Manchester, England, yesterday. (AFP) iser moments later when Roberto Liverpool 2 (Salah 57, Champions League quarter-fi nal Firmino’s close-range fi nish was Alexander-Arnold 90+1) Aston fi rst-leg win over Borussia Dort- up to ninth in their fi rst season “When they defend in the way off on the edge of the area and hit foul on Gabriel Jesus. chalked off by VAR for an extreme- Villa 1 (Watkins 43) mund. back in the top fl ight after a 16- they were you have to stop them a fi rm low shot that left Ederson Referee Andre Marriner ini- ly tight off side call against Diogo Manchester City 1 (Torres 76) With on the year absence. running and we did not do that.” rooted to the spot as it rebounded tially booked Cooper after he Jota in the build-up. Leeds 2 (Dallas 42, 90+1) bench at the Etihad, City were “We did not create enough Leeds took the lead three min- in off the post. caught the Brazilian on the knee, But Mohamed Salah levelled Crystal Palace 1 (Benteke 63) below their best and made to pay for the forwards. It is part of the utes before half-time when Dal- Moments later, Leeds defender but changed his decision to a red in the 57th minute with a close- Chelsea 4 (Havertz 8, Pulisic 10, by a lively Leeds side that move game,” Guardiola said. las took ’s lay- was dismissed for a card after reviewing the incident range header after Andrew Rob- 78, Zouma 30)

QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Gharafa beat Umm Salal to clinch top four spot

By Sports Reporter Doha Standings Club M W L D GD Pts l Gharafa secured a top four spot in 1. Al Sadd 22 19 0 3 63 60 the QNB Stars League after thrashing 2. Al Duhail 22 15 5 2 28 47 Umm Salal 5-1 at the Suhaim Bin Ha- mad Stadium yesterday. 3. Al Rayyan 22 10 7 5 9 35 AGharafa were in sixth place going into the fi nal 4. Al Gharafa 22 10 9 3 7 33 round of the league, but with Al Ahli and Qatar Sports Club suff ering losses on Friday, Slavisa 5. Al Ahli 22 10 9 3 -10 33 Jokanovic’s men needed to win against Umm 6. Qatar SC 22 9 8 5 6 32 Salal yesterday. Gharafa fi nished with 33 points, the same as 7. Al Arabi 22 8 9 5 -4 29 Al Ahli but snatched the fourth place as they had 8. Al Wakrah 22 7 10 5 -10 26 a better goal diff erence. Qatar SC, who had lost to Al Sadd on Friday, ended their campaign in 9. Al Sailiya 22 7 10 5 -14 26 sixth place with 32 points. 10. Umm Salal 22 5 11 6 -18 21 Yesterday, Gharafa made full use of the golden opportunity but not without early scare. Umm 11. Al Khor 22 3 11 8 -25 17 Salal took the lead through Kayke Rodrigues in 12. Al Kharaitiyat 22 4 18 49 -32 12 the 15th minute but Gharafa equalised through Koo Ja-Cheol in the 26th minute. Jokanovic’s men came back with much bet- punched away nicely by Amine soon after the ter purpose in the second half as Gharafa went start of second session. ahead just two minutes after the resumption Al Arabi were in good control keeping Al through Othman Alawi. In the 59th minute, Sailiya under constant pressure with repeated Ahmed Mohamed Al Ganehi doubled the attacks. A fabulous display inside the box by lead before goals from Jonathan Kodjia (62nd substitute Mohamed Salah was also denied by minute) and A Guedioura (90th minute) put the The Peregrines after the hour mark. victory behind doubt. Al Gharafa’s Othman al-Yahri (right) and Umm Salal’s Ismail Mahmoud Mardanli in action during the QNB Stars League match at Suhaim Bin Hamad Al Sailiya got a chance to equalise following a In another match, Al Wakrah beat Al Khar- Stadium yesterday. long cross by Belhadj, picked well by Mohanad itiyat 2-0 with Abdulrahman Fahmi Moustafa Ali in the area, but Al Arabi goalkeeper Mah- and Muneer Abdulghani Mazeed scoring a goal (45+2) pulled one back for Al Sailiya. The Dream Team took the lead after winning But Al Arabi doubled the lead, with Mehrdad moud Abunada blocked his attempt from close each. Kharitiyat were already relegated before Al Arabi fi nished seventh with 29 points after a penalty, with Serigne Mbodji being penalised doing the damage again with a stunning left- range. the match, while Wakrah fi nished eighth with their eighth victory while Al Sailiya concluded for a foul on Sebastian Soria inside the box. Me- footed hit on the right from outside the box, Gunnarsson was carted off after suff ering an 26 points. their campaign on 26 points. hrdad took the spot kick, fi ring the ball in centre leaving no chance for a diving Amine. ankle injury 15 minutes from time. In the fi rst match yesterday, Al Arabi defeated Al Arabi’s Abdulaziz al-Ansari took fi rst shot with Al Sailiya goalkeeper Claude Amine unable Al Sailiya cut the lead just before half-time as Mehrdad completed his hat-trick with an- Al Sailiya 3-1. on target in the fi rst minute as the match gener- to read his strike. Ramin headed in a long cross from Nadir Belh- other impressive goal as he raced into the goal Mehrdad Mohammadi scored a hat-trick ated a lot of pace shortly after kick-off . Al Ansa- Mbodji’s header from a free-kick in the 17th adj. with an attack from the left, beating Amine and (ninth-minute penalty, 26th minute and 81st ri created another chance, but Yousef Msakni’s minute just sailed over crossbar as Al Sailiya A brilliant header by Al Arabi substitute Fa- two defenders to chip the ball in for his third minute) for Al Arabi, while Ramin Rezaeian drive fl ew over the crossbar. looked for an equaliser. had Khalfan from Aron Gunnarsson’s cross was goal, sealing a commanding win for Al Arabi. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, April 11, 2021 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA SPOTLIGHT Flick, Salihamidzic can no longer work Injury-hit Bayern together at Bayern, says Matthaeus

AFP Munich held ahead Munich, Germany

he relationship between Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick and sports director Hasan Saliha- Tmidzic has broken down to such an extent that one may be forced of key PSG clash to leave, according to club leg- ends Lothar Matthaeus and Ste- ‘This is very annoying. We played well over long stretches and deserved the victory’ fan Eff enberg. Holders Bayern face a Cham- AFP pions League exit in the quar- Berlin ter-fi nals, needing to overturn a 3-2 home defeat to Paris Saint Germain in Tuesday’s return leg, epleted Bayern Munich were but pressure is also building off held to a 1-1 draw at home by the pitch. Friction between Sa- opinion over Jerome Boateng. Union Berlin in the Bundes- lihamidzic and Flick, which has Salihamidzic has confi rmed liga yesterday, three days before brewed all season, has boiled over the 32-year-old will not be of- theirD Champions League return leg at in the last few days. Flick refused fered a new deal when his con- Paris Saint-Germain. to answer any questions about tract expires at the end of the Teenager Jamal Musiala beat three the situation before yesterday’s season, but Flick has made it defenders to give Bayern the lead mid- home league game against Union clear he wants to keep the 2014 way through the second half at the Al- Berlin and former West Germany World Cup winner. lianz Arena only for Marcus Ingvartsen Matthaeus says the situ- “One of them has to go,” to equalise for Union four minutes from ation is untenable. former Bayern captain Eff enberg time. “This is very annoying,” Bayern “They have diff erent opinions, told the t-online website. “The goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said. “We especially about the squad, and club is pushing Flick out,” he played well over long stretches and would I don’t think that’s fi xable any- added, even though the 56-year- have deserved the victory.” more, their positions are too far old is “the best coach at Bayern” In Paris on Tuesday, European cham- apart,” said Matthaus, who made who won all six titles available in pions Bayern need to overturn a 3-2 410 appearances for Bayern, in the last 12 months. fi rst-leg defeat in the quarter-fi nals and his column for daily Bild. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz started reserve team players Tiago Dan- On Friday, Flick, who is under Rummenigge has stepped into tas, on a season-long loan from Benfi ca, contract until 2023, criticised the feud and demanded the pair and Josip Stanisic against Union. some of Salihamidzic’s recruit- bury the hatchet. “We all have to The club world champions have nine ment decisions, saying the squad stick together and work together players sidelined, including injured top- were “stronger” last season harmoniously, fairly and pro- scorer Robert Lewandowski and winger when they lifted the Champions fessionally,” said Rummenigge. Serge Gnabry, who was quarantined af- League. In the last week the pair “That’s what I’m clearly asking ter testing positive for Covid-19. Musiala have had a clear diff erence of of the sports management.” showed great footwork to pick his way through the Union defence for the open- ing goal, only for Ingvartsen to beat Sta- nisic to the ball and grab the visitors’ late Parker insists Fulham still have equaliser. Off the fi eld, tensions are brewing be- ‘fi ghting chance’ to beat drop tween sporting director Hasan Saliha- midzic and coach Hansi Flick, who has London: Adama Traore since December 2019. “I am so Neuer’s backing. “I think Hansi Flick is grabbed a stoppage-time win- happy. We needed the points, it the right coach for us,” said Neuer. ner as Wolves beat Fulham 1-0 has been tough for us,” said the The draw trims Bayern’s lead at the at on Friday Spaniard. “I have been working top of the Bundesliga table to fi ve points to send the Londoners closer hard through the weeks, trying ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, who to relegation from the Premier to in behind and mix the romped to a 4-1 win at Werder Bremen. League. In added time, Traore games up. If I can help the team Leipzig dominated throughout and raced FC Union Berlin’s Marcus Ingvartsen (left) celebrates after scoring against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga yesterday. (Reuters) ran down the right before firing the best I can I will. I trust in my into a 3-0 lead as Dani Olmo gave them home to secure his side’s first quality.” the lead before Alexander Sorloth net- placed Borussia Dortmund, later earned a two assists. The visitors were 1-0 down BUNDESLIGA RESULTS victory since mid-February. Wolves striker Willian Jose ted twice. Although Milot Rashica pulled dramatic 3-2 win at Stuttgart. Dortmund at half-time, but after Jude Bellingham Hertha Berlin 2 (Ascacibar 23, Cordoba However, Fulham boss Scott had earlier been denied his a goal back for Bremen, Marcel Sabitzer need to overturn a 2-1 fi rst leg defeat at equalised, Haaland left the ball for Marco 49) Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 (Plea Parker insists his team can first goal for the club when his made it 4-1 midway through the second home to Manchester City on Wednesday Reus to put Dortmund 2-1 up. 27, Stindl 38-pen); Eintracht Frankfurt 4 still beat the drop. “We find header in first-half injury time half. The sides meet again in Bremen on in the Champions League. Daniel Didavi fi red Stuttgart level be- (Kamada 8, Jovic 27, Silva 54, Durm 61) ourselves in this position where was ruled out for an off side by April 30 in the German Cup semi-fi nals. Substitute striker Ansgar Knauff came fore Knauff hit the winner 10 minutes we are, but we’ve got a fighting Daniel Podence following a VAR VfL Wolfsburg 3 (Baku 6, Weghorst 46, Eintracht Frankfurt took another key off the bench to score Dortmund’s winner from time as Dortmund avenged their 5-1 chance because of what you review. Fulham have lost their Philipp 85); Bayern Munich 1 (Musiala 68) step towards reaching the Champions on only his third league appearance. The thrashing at home by Stuttgart last De- see at the end of the game, a last four league games with League for the fi rst time since 1960 with 19-year-old, who made his Champions cember. Union Berlin 1 (Ingvartsen 86); Werder team and a group of players their most recent win a stun- a thrilling 4-3 home win over Wolfsburg. League debut in the defeat at City after Borussia Moenchengladbach earned a Bremen 1 (Rashica 61-pen) RB Leipzig 4 that are desperate,” he said. ning victory over champions Daichi Kamada, Luka Jovic, Andre Silva being promoted from the reserves, drib- 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin despite playing (Olmo 23, Sorloth 32, 41, Sabitzer 63); VfB “We will continue, painful, hurt Liverpool at on March 7. and Erik Durm all netted for Frankfurt. bled clear following Erling Braut Haa- 77 minutes a man down after goalkeeper Stuttgart 2 (Kalajdzic 17, Didavi 78) Borus- but as always you get your They remain third from Third-placed Wolfsburg pulled goals land’s pass to score his fi rst Bundesliga Yann Sommer was shown an early red sia Dortmund 3 (Bellingham 47, Reus 52, guard up and you come out bottom, three points behind back through Ridle Baku and Wout Weg- goal. “It’s been an unbelievable week with card for fouling Jhon Cordoba. Goals by Knauff 80) swinging, and that’s what we’ll Newcastle who have played horst before Frankfurt’s Brazilian defend- my Champions League debut and fi rst forwards Alassane Plea and Lars Stindl Playing today (times GMT): Schalke v do.” two games fewer. Wolves are er Tuta turned the ball into his own net Bundesliga goal,” said Knauff . “I hope had put Gladbach in control after San- Augsburg (1330), Cologne v Mainz (1600) For Traore, it was an evening 12th and seemingly safe in the for an own goal fi ve minutes from time. things keep going so well.” tiago Ascacibar gave Hertha the lead with to remember as it was his first Premier League for another The result leaves Frankfurt with a This was Haaland’s sixth game without a superb strike, before Cordoba equalised Tomorrow: Hoff enheim v Leverkusen goal in the Premier League season. seven-point cushion in fourth after fi fth- a goal for club or country, but he claimed just after the break. (1830)

CHAMPIONSHIP PREMIER LEAGUE Norwich on the brink Solskjaer warns players not to be ‘conned’ by Spurs

Reuters reality. If Solskjaer is going to use that of promotion to London result I don’t know. If it was my team losing 6-1 to them I would just say to my guys that it happened once and it’s not Premier League anchester United manager going to happen twice.” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer A huge factor behind United’s resur- AFP had the Bees in control before the has told his players to keep gence has been their form on the road London break, while Ivan Toney, Sergi Ca- cool heads when they play — they have not lost away in the Pre- nos and Emiliano Marcondes all MTottenham Hotspur today as they look mier League since January last year. But scored in the fi nal 15 minutes. to avenge a 6-1 thrashing at the hands Mourinho said that record would not orwich are on the brink of Swansea, having gone four of Jose Mourinho’s side in the reverse intimidate his team, who are desperate promotion to the Premier games without a goal, won 3-0 at fi xture. France international Anthony to break into the top four after an incon- League after the Cham- Millwall, with Jamal Lowe scoring Martial was sent off in the 28th minute sistent season. pionship leaders beat a second-half brace after Andre in the humiliating October defeat at Old “I am not going to comment on the NDerby 1-0 yesterday. Daniel Farke’s Ayew ended their scoring drought Traff ord after retaliating to an elbow record other than to say congratula- side were denied the chance to go just before the break. Fifth-placed from Erik Lamela with a push in the Ar- tions for the record,” said the Spurs boss. up yesterday as promotion rivals Barnsley are a further three points gentine’s face. “We are going to try and win the match. Brentford and Swansea both won. behind the Swans, having played a Solskjaer says Martial was “conned” It is the only thing that I can say. “It is But the Canaries are still fi rmly game more, after and into reacting and he does not want to see very diffi cult for many reasons but that on course for an immediate return Daryl Dike scored in a 2-0 win over a repeat in London as they look to put record is not going to stop us to think we to the top fl ight after last season’s Middlesbrough at Oakwell. their club record-equalling defeat in the can win and it is not going to stop us to relegation. They are 17 points Bournemouth capitalised on Premier League era fi rmly behind them. fi ght to win.” ahead of third-placed Brentford Reading’s defeat as they climbed “We didn’t look anything like (them) Meanwhile, Mourinho said Totten- and need just two points from their into the fi nal play-off place with and we got conned into a red card and ham want to make an impact on the fi ght remaining fi ve games to confi rm a 4-1 win over struggling Coven- that’s something we have to be aware of,” against online racist abuse after de- automatic promotion. try. Birmingham moved another Solskjaer told a news conference. “We fender Davinson Sanchez was targeted Kieran Dowell’s free-kick was step closer to safety as Lukas Jut- can’t react, because in games, there’ll last week, and may join other teams in a the diff erence at Pride Park, but kiewicz’s double secured a 2-0 win be situations you’ll be wound up, we’ve boycott of social media. Norwich had to hang on in the sec- over Stoke. learnt from that. I think the players will Scottish champions Rangers and ond half, with Tim Krul making key Victory lifted Blues nine points remember that game with a lot of pain English second-tier side Swansea City saves before almost gifting Graeme clear of the bottom three and above and their pride has been hurt. Pre-sea- seen the heights and we know what this he does not believe Solskjaer will be us- said on Tuesday they will boycott social Shinnie a stoppage-time equaliser. Huddersfi eld who were held to a son was short... but we were so poor and club is capable of. It’s taken time for us ing Manchester United’s 6-1 humbling media for a week after several players Norwich hold an eight-point goalless draw at home to Rother- I’m sure we’ll see some players wanting to be in this position and, hopefully, we by Spurs as motivation. Former United from both teams were racially abused. advantage over second-placed ham. Second-bottom Sheffi eld to prove we’re better than that.” can be better next season because this is manager Mourinho, now in charge of Sanchez was also targeted on Instagram Watford, who beat Reading 2-0 on Wednesday are deep in trouble United have made huge strides since below our ambitions.” Tottenham, believes the match early in following their 2-2 draw at Newcastle Friday. The Hornets have a nine- after a 4-1 loss at QPR left them the loss in October, moving up to second Solskjaer also said forward Edinson the season produced a freak result. United on Sunday. point cushion in the race for the seven points adrift of safety with in the Premier League. They also have Cavani, who arrived on a one-year deal “I believe that 6-1 doesn’t refl ect “The club is thinking, analysing every second automatic promotion spot six matches remaining. one foot in the semi-fi nals of the Europa in October, is still undecided over his the reality,” he said. “I go much more detail and the club of course wants to after poor recent runs for both Bottom-of-the-table Wycombe League following Thursday’s 2-0 quar- Manchester United future. “It’s not been in the direction of the other two previ- make an impact,” Mourinho said. “The Brentford and Swansea. lost 3-1 to Luton. Blackburn and ter-fi nal fi rst-leg victory at Granada. an easy year, either for him or the rest of ous matches between us and United. We decision that the club will make will be Brentford got back on track with Cardiff drew 2-2, while Bristol City But Solskjaer said there was plenty the world this season, so he still wants lost 2-1 at Old Traff ord, with the penalty, a decision that we will accept and sup- a 5-0 rout of Preston at Deepdale. shared a goalless stalemate with of room for improvement. “We’ll never time to make his mind up,” he said. and we draw 1-1 at home last season, also port. It is an internal discussion about a Bryan Mbuemo and Marcus Forss Nottingham Forest. settle for second,” he said. “We have Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho said that with a penalty. I think this is more the sad situation.” Gulf Times Sunday, April 11, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 FOCUS Celtic hit Livingston Mbappe strikes as PSG for six

AFP Glasgow

eltic warmed up for next keep pressure on Lille week’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers with their biggest win of the The defending champions close the gap on Lille, who had triumphed 2-0 at Metz on Friday seasonC by thrashing Livingston 6-0 at Celtic Park. AFP First-half goals from winger Paris James Forrest and midfi elder David Turnbull had the home side comfortably ahead at the in- ylian Mbappe’s goal set Paris terval, but they really turned on Saint-Germain on their way to the style after the break. A Jack a 4-1 win at Strasbourg yester- Fitzwater own goal was followed day as Mauricio Pochettino’s by a terrifi c Mohamed Elyou- Kside moved back to within three points noussi double and a late strike by of leaders Lille in the title race. substitute Ryan Christie. Pablo Sarabia and also Forrest, recently recovered scored in the fi rst half while Leandro from ankle surgery, was taken off Paredes netted the fourth from a free- just before the hour mark with kick as PSG made short work of a trip to a back problem, which may be a Alsace that fell in between the two legs cause for concern ahead of the of their Champions League quarter- last-16 cup clash at Ibrox next fi nal tie against Bayern Munich. weekend. Youngster Moise Sahi pulled a goal But otherwise it was an en- back for Strasbourg but the defending couraging performance for in- champions bounced back from los- terim boss John Kennedy. “I’m ing at home to Lille last weekend and just focusing on the team and closed the gap on the leaders who had how we can improve week on triumphed 2-0 at Metz on Friday. week. I think we’re seeing that “It’s an important victory for us be- in the performances now,” said cause the three points put us in the race Kennedy. “Confi dence is huge for the title, but it’s not about pressure in football and the players have or being anxious,” former Tottenham had a tough time this year. We’ve Hotspur boss Pochettino said. “Today tried to rebuild that.” we showed real fi ght all together. We Aberdeen closed to within want to be more consistent but we are four points of third-placed Hibs fi ghting in three massive competitions. with a 1-0 win at St Johnstone. The team showed massive faith and be- In the battle to beat the drop, lief and today was a very good game for Hamilton remain bottom after us.” Mark McNulty’s sixth minute Mbappe had netted twice in PSG’s goal earned a 1-0 win for Dundee stunning 3-2 win away to Bayern on United. Wednesday which gave them the upper Kilmarnock are now two hand before the return leg in Paris this points ahead of the Accies but coming Tuesday. Pochettino made sev- are still in the relegation playoff en changes to his team from the match place after twice blowing the in Germany, with Neymar one of the lead to draw 2-2 against Ross players to drop out as he began a two- County. game domestic ban following his red Motherwell further eased card against Lille. their fears of the drop with a 1-0 Captain Marquinhos also missed out win over St Mirren to move nine after coming off injured in midweek, points clear of Kilmarnock with but Mbappe kept his place and played four games of the season to go. 88 minutes. “The best way for Kylian to be ready is to play. If he feels something Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (right) in action with Strasbourg’s Frederic Guilbert during the Ligue 1 match at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, France. (Reuters) SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP is wrong he will be the fi rst one to stop,” RESULTS said Pochettino, dismissing suggestions minute, collecting a Paredes pass and on the stroke of half-time, fi ring home given for a foul on Mbappe. wrong footing the Metz ‘keeper and Celtic 6 (Forrest 30, Turnbull 38, he might have rested the World Cup- cutting into the box from the left be- fi rst-time from Mbappe’s pass for his Lille’s win at Metz was secured shooting hard and low inside the near winning forward. fore placing his shot through the legs of 18th goal since signing on loan from thanks to second-half goals by Turkish post to score. And as they dug deep Ce- Fitzwater 50-og, Elyounoussi “We would not take a risk with any goalkeeper Matz Sels from a tight angle. Everton. Malian youngster Sahi pulled duo Burak Yilmaz and Zeki Celik after lik scrambled home a corner on 89 min- 54, 66, Christie 87) Livingston player. We are all professional and we It was Mbappe’s 21st Ligue 1 goal of one back for Strasbourg within mo- goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved an early utes to provide a harsh scoreline for the 0; Hamilton 0 Dundee United 1 always want to take the best decision the season and his 33rd in all competi- ments of coming on for just his second penalty by Aaron Leya Iseka. hosts. (McNulty 6); Kilmarnock 2 (Burke for the team. That is football. We can’t tions in 39 games. Sarabia was handed a Ligue 1 appearance shortly after the “We had a very sluggish start to the Maignan saved a 17th-minute penal- 3, Pinnock 16) Ross County 2 (Gar- make everyone happy but Kylian is a rare start and the Spaniard took advan- hour mark. match,” admitted Lille coach Christo- ty, diving low to turn Aaron Leya Iseka’s dyne 5, Iacovitti 54); Motherwell player who is happy when he is on the tage to make it 2-0 before the half-hour His near-post fi nish beat Sergio Rico phe Galtier. “We struggled to get the spot-kick round the post. This came 1 (Cole 62) St Mirren 0; St John- pitch.” mark, controlling Danilo Pereira’s pass who was a half-time replacement in ball out. The desire to do well made us after John Boye’s volley for Metz was stone 0 Aberdeen 1 (Hayes 52) After crashed an on the edge of the box and slotting low goal for Keylor Navas. However, Argen- rush and we were wasteful. Mike kept goal-bound but stopped on the line by Playing today: Rangers v early shot off the post for Strasbourg, into the corner. tina midfi elder Paredes secured PSG’s us in the game by stopping the penalty.” defender Jose Fonte, who raised an arm Hibernian (1400 GMT) Mbappe opened the scoring in the 16th Italian striker Kean added another victory from a 79th-minute free-kick Yilmaz showed great experience, to protect his face.

SPOTLIGHT Pirlo calls on Juve to fi nd top Ibrahimovic sees red but Milan beat

AFP form against smaller teams Milan

Reuters , Italy latan Ibrahimovic set up two fi rst-half goals be- fore being sent off after uventus coach Andrea Pirlo said his side an hour as 10-man AC need to show the same attitude and spirit ZMilan beat Parma 3-1 yesterday against all teams and not just perform in to boost their Champions League the big matches ahead of the champions’ hopes. SerieJ A clash with today. The 39-year-old Swede was Juventus have fallen 12 points behind leaders given a straight red card for ar- Inter Milan having dropped points against lowly guing with the referee at the Torino and Benevento in recent matches and it Stadio Ennio Tardini when his looks increasingly unlikely they can make it 10 team were two goals ahead. Ric- successive league titles this season. cardo Gagliolo pulled one back Juve overcame in-form Napoli in a tough mid- for relegation-threatened Par- week clash, and Pirlo wants his side to put on the ma minutes after Ibrahimovic’s same kind of showing today against another team sending off , but Milan held on they are expected to beat, 13th-placed Genoa. “It despite some late scares, with is much easier to fi nd energy for the big matches,” Rafael Leao scoring a third in in- Pirlo told a news conference. jury time. “Instead we must have the same attitude and Second-placed Milan closed spirit against the other teams like tomorrow the gap to leaders Inter, who host against Genoa. The attitude and the will from the ball at . The Nerazzurri’s 30% possession Cagliari today, to eight points. other night (against Napoli) must be equally done rate was their lowest in a league match since Opta Stefano Pioli’s Milan are push- tomorrow.” began recording data in 2004/05, but Conte was ing for a return to the Champions AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (second right) reacts after receiving a red card during the Italian Serie A Argentine striker Paulo Dybala was on target unapologetic about his tactics. League for the fi rst time since the match against Parma at the Ennio-Tardini stadium in Parma yesterday. (AFP) for the fi rst time since early January in the mid- “We played well against Real Madrid in the 2013-2014 season. week win over Napoli. The 27-year-old has en- Champions League and had some great games, Struggling defending cham- to the referee over a midfi eld into title contenders again since Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Don- dured a frustrating season with injuries and has but the fi nal result was that we went out of the pions Juventus are four points incident in which he wasn’t in- his return to the club in January narumma are less advanced. “It not always been fi rst choice, leading to Dybala competition while playing well, which did not behind Milan in third before volved. Gagliolo gave Parma a last year. “For Ibrahimovic there takes two to make a deal,” Maldi- being linked with a move away from Turin in the interest anyone,” he said. “Today we did not dis- hosting Genoa today, when lifeline, beating Donnarumma, are only small details missing, we ni added concerning the 22-year- Italian media. regard aesthetics, but we adapted to the situation fourth-placed Atalanta, who are who made some crucial late saves are very close to renewal,” Maldi- old Italy international. However, Pirlo insisted the player is still very because our objective is so important that aes- a further point adrift, play at before Leao added a third. Milan ni said. much in his thoughts. “I’ve always said Dybala is thetics come second.” Fiorentina. Luigi Sepe had denied are set to be without Ibrahimovic Ibrahimovic, who helped Mi- SERIE A RESULTS Inter are eight points ahead of second-placed Franck Kessie early on before Ib- for their next two games at home lan to their last Scudetto in 2011, an important player and unfortunately I haven’t Spezia 3 (Verde 63, Maggiore 89, had him at my disposal very much this season,” AC Milan and 12 ahead of Juve, who have been the rahimovic sent the ball through against Genoa and Sassuolo as is the club’s top scorer with 15 Erlic 90+2) Crotone 2 (Djidji 40, Pirlo added. “Let’s look at the present, because dominant force in Italian football for the last nine for Rebic, who spun and blasted Pioli’s men bid for a fi rst win at goals in 17 league games this term Simy 78); Parma 1 (Gagliolo 66) that is more important than the future. He still years. Conte led the Turin club to the fi rst three in the ninth-minute opener. Ib- the San Siro in over two months. despite struggling with injury has a year left on his contract, so we will have him titles of their nine-year run, before taking over rahimovic then combined with Ibrahimovic will return for the and illness. The former Man- AC Milan 3 (Rebic 8, Kessie 44, here next season. Dybala is a player who makes the Inter job in 2019 with the aim of shifting the Theo Hernandez and teed up trip to top-four rivals Lazio on chester United, Paris Saint-Ger- Rafael Leao 90+4) the diff erence. I do hope to be able to use Cris- balance of power back to Milan. Kessie to drill in the second just April 26. main and Barcelona forward’s Playing today (times GMT): tiano Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata and Dybala togeth- “To think that in two years we have made up so before the break. Before the match, club direc- current deal runs until the end Inter Milan v Cagliari (1030), er at some point.” many points on the dominant force of the league Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi tor had confi rmed of the season with discussions Hellas Verona v Lazio, Juventus Meanwhile, Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte for the last nine years, I could not have imagined Donnarumma did well to save that Ibrahimovic was close to re- about an extension June 2022. v Genoa, Sampdoria v Napoli (all says he will happily sacrifi ce aesthetics to guide it in my wildest dreams,” he said. “It does not an Andrea Conti header and newing his contract for another The Swede returned to the na- 1300), Roma v Bologna (1600), his side to the Serie A title after they went 11 points mean we are better than Juve, who have a very Graziano Pelle’s follow-up fi ve season with Milan. tional team last month, more Fiorentina v Atalanta (1845) clear with a 2-1 win over Sassuolo on Wednesday. strong team. We rolled up our sleeves and started minutes into the second half. The Swedish international, than fi ve years after calling time The style of the victory surprised some, as In- to work in an important way towards an objective, But Ibrahimovic was given his who turns 40 in October, has on his international career. Tomorrow: Benevento v Sas- ter defended deep and allowed the visitors the to be credible." marching orders for a comment been credited with turning Milan Meanwhile, contract talks with suolo (1845) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, April 11, 2021 GULFCRICKET

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Kohli says Patel has ended Bangalore’s Rizwan steers death-overs woes

Reuters clear in what he wanted to do.” Chennai Patel, who troubled batsmen with his clever mix of yorkers and slower deliveries, said being told Pakistan to their oyal Challengers Banga- early about his role helped his lore captain Virat Kohli preparation. “When we gathered believes Harshal Patel for the fi rst camp there was a has solved the team’s very clear instruction to me that death-oversR woes in the Indian I’m going to bowl at least two Premier League (IPL) following overs at the death,” the 30-year- the seamer’s master- old told reporters after collecting highest T20 chase class in Friday’s victory against the man-of-the-match award. champions . “That gave me a lot of clarity Patel claimed three in and confi dence to work on my ‘Fakhar’s innings was on my mind today, the way he played on this surface’ four balls in the dramatic 20th skills and develop plans against over and conceded only one run the batters I’m going to face in to help restrict a star-studded the death overs in various teams.” Mumbai to a modest 159-9. His Despite losing the match, 5-27 was also the fi rst fi ve-wick- Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit et haul any bowler has managed Sharma praised his team’s eff ort against fi ve-time champions for fi ghting till the end but said Mumbai, the most successful that they made some mistakes team in the league’s while batting and were 20 runs history. short. “I thought it was a great “The last six overs for us, eff ort. Great fi ght till the end. I probably the best we’ve ever thought we were 20 runs short had,” Kohli said after Patel scored with the kind of start we got. the winning run to secure their We made some mistakes in the narrow victory in Chennai. “I fi rst game, bound to happen,” think his spell was the diff erence said Sharma after the match and in containing those 20-25 runs at added that it is important to win the end. He is going to be (Banga- tournaments and not the fi rst lore’s designated death bowler), game. and he’s relishing the responsi- “In hindsight you can say it bility.” takes time to get intensity. But Among Patel’s victims were there are fresh faces. Lot of play- , ers were playing international and who form the cricket and we have not had time league’s most destructive mid- to get to know each other very dle order. “The wickets that he well,” he added. got weren’t fl uke wickets,” Kohli On playing at neutral venues, said. “He actually wanted the Sharma said, “It can be diffi cult guys to hit where they ended up for teams who have great home getting caught. That was the record but that’s the challenge of hallmark of his game, he was very the sport.”

Pakistan’s Hasan Ali (left) and Mohamed Rizwan celebrate after winning the first against South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday. (AFP)

AFP scored an astonishing 193 in the two sixes. had three new caps and only four players Johannesburg second one-day international on the The match swung in the last four overs with more than ten appearances. same ground six days earlier. Fakhar made of the two innings. South Africa could The inexperience showed in the clos- 27 off 19 balls before he was caught on the score only 29 in their last four overs, while ing overs as bowlers missed their lengths. ohamed Rizwan took inspira- boundary off left-arm spinner Tabraiz Pakistan thrashed 52 off the last 3.5 overs. Beuran Hendricks picked up three wick- tion from teammate Fakhar Shamsi, who took two for 29. South Africa captain Heinrich Klaasen ets but was hit for 4,6,4 off successive Zaman and steered Pakistan But Rizwan said he modelled his in- rued the poor fi nish to his side’s innings. full tosses in the 18th over, which cost 16 to their highest winning run nings on the way Fakhar played in the The slide started when he was caught runs. Two catches went down in a frantic Mchase as they beat South Africa by four one-day game. “Fakhar’s innings was on at short leg off Hasan Ali off the second last over before Pakistan scored the win- wickets in the fi rst Twenty20 interna- my mind today, the way he played on this ball of the 17th over after he had raced to ning run off an overthrow. The next T20 tional at the Wanderers Stadium in Jo- surface,” said Rizwan. “I was taking my 50 off 28 balls. “We were ten to 15 runs match will be held tomorrow. hannesburg yesterday. time knowing I could score later on.” short,” said Klaasen. South Africa went Rizwan made an unbeaten 74 as Paki- With a succession of power hitters in into the match with a second-string BRIEF SCORES stan chased down a target of 189 with one the side, Rizwan said he got a message team. Five players were missing because South Africa 188 for 6 in 20 overs (J. ball to spare. Their previous highest T20 from his team’s dug-out that he must of Indian Premier League commitments Malan 24, A. Markram 51, H. Klaasen 50, chase was 188 against Australia in Harare keep batting until the end. Rizwan, who and Klaasen was a stand-in captain after in 2018. Rizwan said the pitch was tricky scored only 42 runs in three innings in Temba Bavuma was one of three players P. van Biljon 34; Mohamed Nawaz 2-21, at the start of the chase but he and cap- Pakistan’s 2-1 one-day series win, was to miss out because of injuries. Hasan Ali 2-28) lost to Pakistan 189 for 6 tain Babar Azam got the side off to a quick back in the form which earned him man Opening batsman , in 19.5 overs (Mohamed Rizwan not out start before Babar was out with the total of the series awards in both Test and T20 who made 51, was a late inclusion after 74, Fakhar Zaman 27, Faheem Ashraf 30; Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Harshal Patel (right) celebrates with on 41 in the fi fth over. series against South Africa in Pakistan regular T20 opener Reeza Hendricks took B Hendricks 3-32, T Shamsi 2-29) by four Mohamed Siraj after taking the of Kieron Pollard of Mumbai He was then joined by Fakhar, who earlier in the year. He hit nine fours and paternity leave and South Africa’s team wickets Indians during the Indian Premier League. (Sportzpics for IPL)

DEVELOPMENT IPL South Africa cricket Dhawan, Shaw lead Delhi to victory against Chennai

AFP crisis nears end Mumbai Shikhar Dhawan of Delhi Capitals plays a shot during the Indian Premier League match against AFP chairperson and a majority of in- Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium Johannesburg dependent board members. aptain Rishabh Pant won the in Mumbai yesterday. (Sportzpics for IPL) Mthethwa said it was now battle of wicketkeepers as Delhi up to the interim board and the Capitals trumped the Mahendra outh African cricket’s members’ council to fi nalise the Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super extended administrative details of the agreement. CSA CKings in the Indian Premier League yes- crisis appeared near at usually holds its annual general terday. Delhi rode on a 138-run opening an end yesterday when meeting in September but it did stand between Shikhar Dhawan (85) and CricketS South Africa’s interim not take place in 2020 because of Prithvi Shaw (72) to chase down their board hailed an agreement on the problems in the organisation. target of 189 with eight balls and seven a new governance structure in “I take this opportunity to wickets to spare in Mumbai. which independent directors will congratulate CSA through the The 14th edition of the most popular be in the majority. CSA Acting President and In- Twenty20 tournament is being played Interim board chairman Sta- terim Board Chair for this posi- behind closed doors with the country vros Nicolaou said a formal tive act of putting cricket fi rst,” witnessing a surge in the Covid pandem- memorandum of incorporation Mthethwa said. “As has been my ic. The 23-year-old Pant, who was once would be adopted at an annual position since the appointment an understudy to Dhoni and has now ce- general meeting, at a date to be of the Interim Board, I regard mented his role as India’s premier wick- announced. The interim board this breakthrough as the end of etkeeper, hit the winning runs in his fi rst was appointed last October after my involvement in the current outing as T20 captain. “It was good, once the previous board resigned. process. As the two points of dif- you win the match everything is good,” Their resignation followed ference were the main obstacles Pant said after the win. “In the middle, the fi ring of former chief execu- threatening the April 2021 AGM, I was under pressure, but good job from tive Thabang Moroe, a damning I have no doubt that the requi- Avesh (Khan) and the bowlers.” forensic report into maladmin- site numbers needed to adopt Returning Chennai batsman Suresh istration at CSA and pressure the MOI by the AGM will be Raina, who left the team due to personal from sponsors and the players’ achieved. The ball is now in the reasons ahead of last year’s edition in the association. But the members’ hands of the two parties.” United Arab Emirates, top-scored with 54 council, consisting of provincial The details of the MOI will now as Chennai posted 188-7 after being put presidents, refused to accept the be outlined and a report prepared into bat fi rst. principle of a majority of direc- for CSA’s AGM, at which point Dhoni was bowled for a second-ball tors, prompting an ultimatum by the interim board’s tenure will duck but England players Moeen Ali (36) catches, fi nally fell to Dwayne Bravo af- it well. I was playing the ball quite close wasn’t nice. But the bowlers will have sports minister Nathi Mthethwa. end. As things stand, their work and Sam Curran (34) contributed with ter hitting nine fours and three sixes in to my body because the wicket was sticky learned and they will apply that in the fu- He threatened to become di- is due to be complete by April 15, the bat for three-time champions Chen- his 38-ball blitz. Dhawan departed after and the ball was stopping. It was tremen- ture games,” he added. rectly involved, which could but that may be extended. nai. Fast bowlers Chris Woakes and Avesh smashing 10 boundaries and two over the dous to watch Prithvi in his fl ow. He plays Today, Sunrisers Hyderabad clash with have jeopardised South Africa’s Interim Board Chair, Dr Sta- Khan claimed two wickets each. fence hits in his 54-ball knock. those shots eff ortlessly, he worked hard the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai. standing with the Internation- vros Nicolaou, said: “This is a The 21-year-old Shaw, likened to In- Pant, who was named captain after before this IPL. Happy that his hard work al Cricket Council. Mthethwa landmark moment for South Af- dian batting great , ex- regular skipper Shreyas Iyer was ruled out is playing off .” Brief scores twice extended a deadline for rican cricket administration. It ploded for last year’s runners-up Delhi to of this IPL season with a shoulder injury, Meanwhile, Dhoni decried his bowlers, Chennai Super Kings 188 for 7 in 20 the members’ council before lays a solid foundation for trans- extend his red hot form. Shaw, who made hit an unbeaten 15. “He kept his calm and saying that they had conceded too many overs (S Raina 54, M Ali 36, S Curran 34, R announcing yesterday that the parent and sound governance 72, recently topped the batting chart in will only get better with time,” man of the boundary deliveries to allow DC open- “two main sticking points have in the future. It is a step in the India’s 50-over domestic competition match Dhawan said of his young captain. ers get 138 for the fi rst wicket. “We could Jadeja 26 not out, C Woakes 2/18, A Khan now been successfully resolved”, direction of transparent, innova- with 827 runs in 8 matches for winners On his knock, Dhawan said: “I really have done better [in bowling]. The batters 2/23) lost to Delhi Capitals 190 for 3 in with the council agreeing to tive and best practice governance Mumbai. enjoyed my batting and the way I was were hitting over the top, there were some 18.4 overs (S Dhawan 85, P Shaw 72, S the principle of an independent for cricket.” Shaw, who survived two dropped hitting the ball. Even Prithvi was hitting boundary deliveries, where the execution Thakur 2/53) by seven wickets Gulf Times Sunday, April 11, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA MLB Musgrove stymies Rangers for fi rst Young carries no-hitter in Padres history

Reuters all over it. I was just riding the Arlington high, going with adrenaline.” Hawks past Bulls, Musgrove had never thrown more than 108 pitches in a game oe Musgrove, a San Diego before. The no-hitter was also his County native who grew fi rst career complete game in his up a Padres fan, threw the 110th outing (85th start). fi rst no-hitter in franchise The closest the Rangers came to historyJ Friday night, beating the a hit was a line drive to right by Nate Texas Rangers 3-0 in Arlington, Lowe in the fourth (immediately Zion fl ies high Texas. following the Gallo hit-by-pitch), a Musgrove came within one hit sharp Jose Trevino grounder to the batter of a , as he right of shortstop Kim to end the ‘He played the game the way you’re supposed to play the game’ plunked Joey Gallo on the right fi fth and Trevino’s line drive to Wil hip with two outs in the fourth. Myers in right to end the eighth. AFP Musgrove (2-0) struck out 10 and The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the Los Angeles retired Isiah Kiner-Falefa on a second and added a run in the third grounder to shortstop Ha-Seong against Texas right-handed starter Kim to end the game. Kohei Arihara (0-1). rae Young bounced back from a Musgrove, a 28-year-old Eric Hosmer drew a walk to subpar outing to score 42 points right-hander, threw 112 pitches in open the second and scored on as the Atlanta Hawks overcame his second start of the season. He Myers’ double to left-center, Zach LaVine’s 50-point per- has allowed only three hits Tformance with a 120-108 win over the in 15 scoreless innings this RESULTS Chicago Bulls on Friday in Atlanta. season with 18 The second meeting of the season be- and no walks. Going back Padres 3-0 Rangers tween the two teams played out similar to to last season, Musgrove Dodgers 1-0 Nationals their fi rst game in December when Hawks has worked 31 consecutive top scorer Young and Bulls all-star La- scoreless innings. Braves 8-1 Phillies Vine carried their respective off ences in Padres manager Jayce Giants 3-1 Rockies Atlanta’s 124-104 win. Tingler said, “The perfect A’s 6-2 Astros Young, who was coming off a poor story has been written.” shooting night on Wednesday against The Padres had gone Rays 10-5 Yankees Memphis when he shot just six-of-12 8,205 games without a no- Indians 4-1 Tigers from the fl oor, ratcheted up the intensity hitter since becoming a Angels 7-1 Blue Jays against the Bulls, who were gunning for National League expansion Reds 6-5 D’backs their fourth straight win but playing on team in 1969. short rest. They were the lone ma- Young shot 15-of-25 and fi nished with jor league team without a no-hit- just beating the tag by catcher eight rebounds and nine assists as the ter and have had 30 one-hitters in Trevino. wrapped up a four game homestand with their history. Myers scored on an error by the win. Young leads Atlanta, averaging The Padres acquired Musgrove center fi elder Leody Taveras, who over 25 points per game to go along with from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a caught Tommy Pham’s drive to almost 10 rebounds a game. three-team January deal that also deep right-center then dropped involved the New York Mets. the ball as he was transferring it “I never dreamed of throwing from his glove. Myers raced home RESULTS a no-hitter,” Musgrove said after as the ball rolled 20 feet away MCharlotte 127-119 Milwaukee the game. “I had never thrown a from Taveras. no-hitter anywhere in my life. Atlanta 120-108 Chicago Trent Grisham, who came off “I have to give a lot of the credit the injured list earlier Friday, Boston 145-136 Minnesota here to Vic (Caratini, his catcher). doubled with one out in the third New York 133-129 Memphis He seemed to know when they and scored on Manny Machado’s Washington 110-107 GoldenState were taking the fi rst pitch and two-out double to the wall in when they were swinging. He was left-center. Clippers 126-109 Houston Denver 121-119 San Antonio New Orleans 101-94 Philadelphia Indiana 111-106 Orlando Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young shoots past Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen in the third quarter at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (USA TODAY Sports) Clint Capela contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 10-for- “My threes started falling and then I can superstar Shaquille O’Neal. “He played Brandon Ingram returned from a fi ve- 12 from the fi eld for the Hawks. Danilo get to the mid-range and get to the hoop. the game the way you’re supposed to play game injury absence on Friday to score Gallinari came off the bench to score 20 I was trying to get to the free-throw line the game. He was just tremendous,” said 17 points and Willy Hernangomez had points for Atlanta, which earned its fi fth late in the second quarter because I was Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy. 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jaxson Hayes win in the past six games. so damn tired. Trying to get a little bit of Williamson also shot 15-of-28 from the chipped in with 12 points. “It gives everybody a lot of confi - a break.” fl oor for the Pelicans, who have won two Tobias Harris led the Sixers with 23 dence,” said Gallinari. “You win games Atlanta outscored the Bulls 67-42 in of their last six games. points, Joel Embiid had 14 on fi ve-of-16 like this and the next time you’re going the second half to come from behind for “My teammates were giving me confi - shooting, Furkan Korkmaz scored 12 and to approach it the same when you’re in a the win. dence and saying we trust you and every Ben Simmons 10. tight fourth quarter when you know what Elsewhere, Zion Williamson fi nished move you make,” Williamson said. “All Also, Jayson Tatum became the young- you want to do, and the shots you want to with 37 points, a career high 15 rebounds that stuff plays a part.” est player in Boston history to score at take.” and eight assists as the New Orleans Peli- The Pelicans win also comes one game least 50 points in a game as the Celtics LaVine scored a career-high 50 points, cans responded to a challenge from their after Van Gundy lashed out publicly at needed overtime to beat the last-place making 18 of 31 shots from the fi eld, seven coach to beat the 101- his team after their defence collapsed in Minnesota Timberwolves 145-136. of 12 threes, and missing just one of eight 94 in New Orleans. back-to-back losses at Atlanta (123-107) Tatum, at 23 years and 37 days, scored free throws. He scored 39 points in the Williamson’s career night came just on Tuesday and at Brooklyn (139-111) on 35 of his career-high 53 points in the sec- fi rst half, which tied for the best scor- one game after his record streak of 25 Wednesday. ond half. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points ing production since Phoenix Suns Jamal consecutive games with at least 20 points Van Gundy said the Pelicans “got to- and Marcus Smart 24 points and eight as- Crawford had 39 points in the second half on 50 percent or better shooting ended tally dominated at both ends of the fl oor” sists. Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points, Joe Musgrove of the San Diego Padres celebrates with his team after in April 9, 2019. in a loss at Brooklyn. He now shares that and called their defence against the Nets 12 rebounds and seven assists to lead the pitching a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in “I just got in a rhythm,” LaVine said. record with former Los Angeles Lakers “absurd.” Timberwolves. Arlington, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP)

NHL O’Reilly hat-trick highlights Blues’ 9-1 rout of Wild Reuters Marchessault, William Carrier, Keegan Kole- St. Louis RESULTS sar and Smith all scored in a 5:41 span in the opening period. William Karlsson added two Golden Knights 7-4 Coyotes assists for Vegas, which remained four points yan O’Reilly posted his second career Capitals 4-3 Sabres behind the fi rst-place Colorado Avalanche in hat trick and Jaden Schwartz added Penguins 6-4 Devils the West Division. Robin Lehner made 22 saves a pair of goals as the St Louis Blues for the Golden Knights to improve to 8-0-2 in routed the visiting Minnesota Wild 9-1 Avalanche 2-0 Ducks his past 10 home starts. FridayR night. Sharks 5-2 Kings Nick Schmaltz had a goal and an assist and Justin Faulk (goal, two assists), Sammy Blais Rangers 4-1 Islanders Clayton Keller, Dryden Hunt and Michael (goal, two assists), Torey Krug (two assists), Bunting also scored for Arizona. Phil Kessel, Robert Thomas (two assists) and Tyler Bozak playing in his 885th consecutive game to break a (two assists) also had multi-point games for the Blais scored 90 seconds later after Faulk raced tie with Steve Larmer for the fi fth-longest iron- Blues. Zach Sanford and Ivan Barbashev also to negate an icing call, then centred the puck man streak in NHL history, had three assists. scored as the Blues won consecutive games for from behind the net. O’Reilly made it 5-1 just 69 Adin Hill stopped 27 of 32 shots before be- the fi rst time since March 19-20. seconds into the second period. He buried a slap ing replaced by Ivan Prosvetov at the start of Jordan Binnington made 24 saves in the vic- shot driving through the slot. the third period. Prosvetov fi nished with three tory. The rout was on. O’Reilly burst down ice for a saves. Vegas, which fi red 51 shots on goal in a 3-1 This game was a slump-buster for the Blues. shorthanded goal 3 1/2 minutes later. Faulk later loss at St. Louis on Wednesday, got off to a hot Schwartz scored his fi rst goal since Jan. 26 (a made it 7-1 during a delayed penalty on the Wild start Friday. span of 17 games), Faulk scored his fi rst since at the 8:19 mark. Marchessault started the scoring with a Feb. 12 after 25 consecutive games without a O’Reilly notched his hat trick when he scored power-play goal at the 3:03 mark, and Carrier goal, and Sanford scored his fi rst in 12 games. from the blue line through traffi c midway followed with a rebound goal 98 seconds later, Zach Parise scored for the Wild and Kaapo through the third period and Barbashev made it forcing Arizona coach Rick Tocchet to call a Kahkonen made 29 saves. 9-1 with a power-play defl ection with 2:21 re- timeout to try to regroup his team. It didn’t work The Blues outshot the Wild 18-12 in the fi rst maining. as Kolesar made it 3-0 two minutes later and period while racing to a 4-1 lead. Smith followed with a short-handed goal at the They scored off the rush 92 seconds into the KNIGHTS SCORE SEASON-BEST 7 8:44 mark. Stephenson extended the Vegas lead game. Thomas led the breakout, worked a give- GOALS, TOP COYOTES to 5-0 early in the second period with a breaka- and-go with Bozak, then set up Sanford fl ying in Reilly Smith scored two goals, Jonathan way goal. Schmaltz got the Coyotes on the board from the left wing. Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and Max just before the end of the middle period with a Schwartz made it 2-0 while cutting through Pacioretty each had a goal and an assist and the power-play. the right circle at the 6:59 mark. Just 34 seconds Vegas Golden Knights built a fi ve-goal lead be- Arizona cut it to 5-3 early in the third period later, Parise cut the lead to 2-1 with a rebound fore holding on for a 7-4 victory over the Ari- when Hunt and Keller scored 58 seconds apart. conversion for his fi rst goal since Feb. 24. zona Coyotes on Friday in Las Vegas. Smith upped the lead to 6-3 midway through But Schwartz restored the two-goal margin Vegas led 4-0 after the fi rst period and 5-0 the period for the 19th two-goal game of his ca- by coming down the middle to convert Brayden at the game’s midpoint before the Coyotes ral- reer, but Bunting answered just 15 seconds later. Schenn’s left-wing pass nearly eight minutes lied. The seven goals were a season high for the Pacioretty ended the scoring with an empty- St Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly scores a short handed goal against the Minnesota Wild in the later. Golden Knights. net goal with 54.3 seconds left. second period at Enterprise Center in St Louis. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times 6 Sunday, April 11, 2021 SPORT

SWIMMING FOCUS Blackmore becomes fi rst woman jockey to Japan’s Ikee claims win Grand National

AFP nance of Cheltenham as the fi rst Aintree, United Kingdom fi ve were all trained in Ireland. Any Second Now, carrying the same colours of winning owner achael Blackmore be- JP McManus, was third, having clean sweep but came the fi rst female been badly hampered by Double jockey to win the Grand Shuffl e when he fell on the fi rst National yesterday, com- circuit. ingR home clear on Minella Times. Favourite backers had hopes The 31-year-old added National for a while with Cloth Cap glory to her history-making ex- prominent, but a mistake at the ploits at Cheltenham last month 26th fence saw him pulled up with an inch-perfect ride. before the next. misses Olympic spot For trainer Henry de Brom- Other fancied runners such as head it also completed an in- Mister Malarky and Anibale Fly credible run, having become the never got into the race and were ‘I WASN’T SURE WHAT THE RESULT WAS GOING TO BE RIGHT UP UNTIL THE fi rst trainer to win the Champion pulled up a long way from home. Hurdle, Champion Chase and Two others, the top weight RACE, BUT AS SOON AS I CAME OUT TO THE POOL, I WAS DETERMINED TO WIN’ Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Bristol de Mai and Potters Cor- Blackmore went into the lead ner - co-owned by Welsh rugby AFP two from home but was under great Jonathan Davies - called Tokyo pressure from Balko des Flos. it a day before Bechers Brook on However, Minella Times was the second circuit. not stopping and passed the The fi eld had been led a merry eukaemia survivor Ri- winning post with Blackmore dance by outsider Jett and many kako Ikee completed standing up in the saddle and had called it a day by the time a clean sweep of four yelling. “I don’t feel I am either a they turned for home and the fi - wins at Japan’s Olympic female, a male or even a human nal two fences. Lswimming trials yesterday - at the moment,” said Blackmore. McManus also saw the down- but missed out on an individual “It is unbelievable. side of the sport as one of his place at the Tokyo Games. “I don’t know what Henry seven runners The Long Mile Ikee, who only resumed train- does with the horses. He gave me had to be put down. ing in March last year after being such a spin out there.” While Blackmore was being diagnosed with cancer in Febru- De Bromhead, a self-con- feted and planting a kiss on the ary 2019, won both the 50m but- fessed pessimist, also emulated trophy, top British female jockey terfl y and 50m freestyle to add his one-two in the Gold Cup Bryony Frost was going to hospi- to the two victories she claimed with a one-two in the National as tal to undergo tests. Blackmore’s earlier this week in Tokyo. Balka des Flos fi nished second. feat was summed up by fl at rac- She had already secured her “It feels amazing, it is something ing rider Hayley Turner. place in Japan’s medley and you dream of,” he said. “For all the girls who watched 4x100m freestyle relay teams for “Rachael was brilliant, she National Velvet (fi lm in which the coronavirus-delayed Tokyo kept him on the inside the whole Elizabeth Taylor won the race) Games going into the fi nal day way round. She is special.” Thak you @rachaelblackmor of the trials, which doubled as The Irish repeated their domi- we’re so lucky to have you!” Japan’s national championships. But her time of 24.84sec in the 50m freestyle - her only qualifi er of the day as the 50m butterfl y is not an Olympic event - was not enough to earn her an individual berth at the Games. “I wanted a better time, but the most important thing was that I won my fourth title, so I’m very happy,” said Ikee, who had insisted before the trials that she was focusing on the Paris Games in 2024. “I wasn’t sure what the result was going to be right up until the race, but as soon as I came out to the pool, I was determined to win,” she added. Ikee was named MVP of the Japan’s Rikako Ikee reacts after winning the women’s 50m freestyle final during the Japan National Swimming Championships, which doubles 2018 Asian Games after claim- as a qualifier event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. (AFP) ing six golds and two silvers, and was expected to be one of the gust last year. She won the 50m 100m butterfl y and booking her the 50m events after suff ering knew I had to do it properly,” she stars of the Tokyo Games. butterfl y at the Tokyo Open in spot on Japan’s medley relay fatigue. Now she is determined said. But she was hospitalised for February to claim her fi rst vic- team. She went on to win the to “make a contribution to the “I’ve got a few months to go around 10 months after being tory since her comeback. 100m freestyle to claim a place relay team” when the Games be- before the Olympics, and I think diagnosed with leukaemia, and And she capped it off at this in the 4x100m relay team, but gin this summer. I can build up some strength be- only resumed competing in Au- week’s trials by winning the thought about dropping out of “Once I decided to compete, I fore then.”

Marathon swim qualifi er moved to Portugal, diving confi rmed Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Grand National riding A 2020 Olympics diving qualifier and then marking them as “cancelled” on its Games organisers, government and the be made “in the days to come”. Minella Times at the Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, yesterday. (Reuters) test event will go ahead in Tokyo in May website calendar. The BBC had reported International Olympic Committee. The marathon swim qualifier sched- but a marathon swimming qualifier FINA was concerned organisers of the “This decision follows confirmation of uled for the southern Japanese city of scheduled for Fukuoka has been moved Diving World Cup had not done enough the detailed procedures for entry and Fukuoka on May 29-30 will now be held LOSS to Portugal, world body FINA said on to protect athletes from Covid-19. local hosting arrangements in place for in Setubal on June 19-20. Friday. A decision was yet to be taken on The diving event was scheduled to begin the event in Japan during the month of The Portuguese location was also used artistic swimming qualifiers also sched- on April 18 but FINA said in a statement it May for all delegations taking part in the for an Olympic qualifier in 2012 and 2016. uled for Japan. FINA had said last week will now be held from May 1-6 following event,” it added. The artistic swimming The Tokyo Games, which were post- Hungarian skeet it was reviewing the status of the events, “a very fruitful consultation process” qualification tournament, set for May 1-4, poned by a year due to the pandemic, without specifying a reason, before with the Japanese Swimming Federation, was still under review and a decision will are set to run from July 23 to August 8. champion Igaly dies

SPOTLIGHT of coronavirus at 56

Reuters Dressel wins twice in Pro Swim series Budapest ungarian skeet shooter AFP matter what time of day it is,” Diana Igaly, an Olym- Los Angeles Dressel said. That was appar- pic champion in Ath- ent in freestyle superstar Katie ens in 2004, has died Ledecky’s 200m free victory in a atH age 56 from complications aeleb Dressel came 2021 world-leading 1:54.40. related to the coronavirus, the away with two wins and She was faster than the Hungarian Shooting Association plenty of fi ne-tuning to 1:54.70 posted by China’s Yang said. do on day two of the Pro Junxuan last month, notching Hungary is currently grap- SwimC Series in Mission Viejo, the second-fastest time of her pling with the world’s deadliest California, on Friday with the career after a 1:53.73 to win gold surge of the Covid-19 pandemic Tokyo Olympics on the horizon. in Rio. - the highest weekly number of Dressel, who has added 13 “I’m very happy with that deaths per capita for nearly three world titles to his resume since time and feel good about what weeks, according to Johns Hop- winning two Olympic relay I’ve been doing in training,” kins University data. Hungarian skeet shooter Diana golds at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Ledecky said. “It’s nice to see it Igaly, who also won four Igaly empties shell casings from is gearing up for a multi-event starting to pay off .” World Championships and six her gun during a practice session campaign at the pandemic-de- Olympic gold medallist Lilly European championships and in Budaors near Budapest on layed Tokyo Games. King didn’t let the “kind of amassed 32 international medals April 30, 2008. (Reuters) The world record-holder weird” morning fi nals hinder in total, had been hospitalised on and two-time defending world her in a 100m breaststroke vic- Tuesday. training after her father’s death champion in the 100m butter- tory in 1:05.70. “She was a legend of the in 1997 - and won her fi rst major fl y, Dressel snatched a victory King, who owns the world sport,” the central European international title at age 25. in the 100m fl y in 51.61sec, edg- record of 1:04.13, was 38-hun- country’s shooting association She participated in the 1992 ing Guatemala’s Luis Martinez dredths of a second slower than said in a statement. Barcelona Olympics, when (51.77) to add the victory to the Caleb Dressel competes in the men’s 100m butterfly final on Day Two of the TYR Pro Swim Series at she was in Thursday night’s She was born into a shooting women competed in a single 200m freestyle win he posted Mission Viejo at Marguerite Aquatics Center in Mission Viejo,California. (Getty Images/AFP) heats, but said it was “defi nitely family. Her father was left off the fi eld against men, then took earlier. While Dressel charac- the fastest I’ve ever been not in a Olympic shooting team in 1976 home bronze from the fi rst Ol- terized his 100 fl y as “not very it hurt worse and gone faster.” Khader Baqlah was third in down and you’re in fi nals mode, night fi nals swim.” for political reasons, when Hun- ympics where men and women good,” he was confi dent there The double, however, made it a 1:47.93. Dressel said he had no getting that mindset ready that Like Dressel, King thought gary was under Communist rule. competed separately, the 2000 was plenty of room for improve- solid day, Dressel said. “It’s just trouble getting revved up for the you’re 100% eff ort, you’re go- she was right on track for trials He subsequently became her Sydney Games. In Athens, Igaly ment before the US Olympic tri- about racing right now. That’s fi nals raced in the morning ses- ing to sacrifi ce your body,” he and Tokyo. coach and developed a shooting missed just three of 100 shots, als in Omaha in June. the most important thing, not sion, to mimic the schedule in said, but added that the switch “I’ve never been this fast in- style that made Igaly one of the hitting all 25 of her targets in the “I thought I held technique to- going for a time,” he said after Tokyo where the format will be “wasn’t as diff erent or as weird season as consistently as I have fastest in the fi eld. semi-fi nal and fi nal rounds, en gether pretty well,” Dressel said. winning the 200m free in 1min fl ipped from the usual morning as I thought it was going to be this year,” she said. “Under Igaly competed in interna- route to becoming the fi rst Hun- “It didn’t hurt that bad, which 47.57sec. Andrew Seliskar was heats and evening fi nals. mentally and physically. 1:05.9 three times in the last two tional events teaming up with garian woman to win an Olympic is a sign that I should have made second in 1:47.69 and Jordan’s “You get used to the sun going “Finals is fi nals and it doesn’t weeks - I’m pretty excited for it.” her mother - who took over her shooting gold. Gulf Times Sunday, April 11, 2021 7 SPORT

HORSE RACING MOTOGP Sheikh Abdullah’s See you in Pearl Tree sheds Portimao, says maiden tag returning Marquez Agencies Ridden by Julien Guillo- Nantes, France chon yesterday, the Henri-Alex AFP “They have been 9 diffi cult Pantall-trained Pearl Tree im- Paris, France months, with moments of un- mediately charged into the lead certainties and ups and downs, earl Tree proved an before drawing clear in mid- and now, fi nally, I will be able to easy winner of the Prix stretch. On reaching the line, ix-time MotoGP world enjoy my passion again! See you de la Duchesse Anne, a the winner had pulled three- champion Marc Mar- next week in Portimao!!” maiden for 3-year-olds and-a-half lengths clear of the quez says he has fi nally His Honda team confi rmed Pover 2,400m in Nantes, France, Deutsches Derby entry Siamak. recovered from the inju- their star rider was at last ready yesterday. It marked the fi rst Nisry fi nished two lengths fur- riesS that wiped out all of last sea- to ride. victory in a three-outing career ther in third. son and will return at the Portu- “Marquez can resume com- for the representative of His Bred by the Haras de Victot, guese Grand Prix next week. petition, taking into account the Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin the three-year-old Pearl Tree is “See you in Portimao next reasonable risk associated with Khalifa al-Thani. The bay colt a son of Joshua Tree and Prairie week,” the Spaniard, who rides this sporting activity,” Honda was coming off a third at Royan Pearl. The latter won three of her for Honda, posted on Instagram said. Julien Guillochon rides Pearl Tree to Prix de la Duchesse Anne victory in Nantes. (Jean Charles Briens) less than a fortnight ago. eight career starts. yesterday. The 28-year-old has down- Marquez fractured his right played his chances of adding a arm when he fell in the fi rst seventh world title this year. TENNIS Grand Prix of last season, an in- “My goal is to enjoy being on jury that required three bouts of the bike again and little by little surgery, the last in December. to get back to being as fast as I He returned to training at the was,” he said at Honda’s seasonal beginning of February but was launch in February. unable to line up for the fi rst two “What you have to understand races of the new campaign in Qa- is that you cannot expect after tar. 10 months away from the bike to “I’M VERY HAPPY!” the re- arrive at the fi rst race and be the Badosa stuns Barty turning MotoGP king posted on same Marc. social media alongside a photo of “It’s the fi rst time that I have him grinning from ear to ear. been so long without being on ‘I’m quite happy with “Yesterday I visited the doc- the bike and I don’t know what tors and they gave me the green that fi rst lap will be like but I my match, the way I light to return to competition. know it will not be 100 %.” in Charleston managed my nerves’

FOCUS Teenager Alcaraz

Paula Badosa of Spain returns a shot to Ashleigh Barty (right) of Australia during the Volvo Car Open quarter-final in Charleston, South Carolina, United States, on Friday. (AFP) eyes Nadal’s 17-year

AFP straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Miami, United States Tunisia’s Jabeur reaches semis Badosa, a former French Open mark in Marbella junior champion, is the lowest- unisian Ons Jabeur, the ranked player to beat Barty since AFP orld number one highest remaining seed September 2019. Marbella, Spain Ashleigh Barty Tat the 2021 Charleston Barty had made her fi rst over- crashed out of the Open, put up a dominant seas appearance since the WTA’s Charleston WTA showing on quarter-finals day pandemic shutdown last year panish 17-year-old Car- Wquarter-fi nals on Friday, beaten to take out American Coco with a run to the title in Miami los Alcaraz reached the in straight sets by 71st-ranked Gauff in straight sets. last week — where she was the Andalucia Open semi- Spaniard Paula Badosa. Jabeur outclassed Gauff in defending champion thanks to fi nals on Friday and will Badosa fi red seven aces — straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in just her 2019 triumph after the tour- nowS attempt to become the three more than Barty — and over an hour to advance to her nament was cancelled in 2020. ATP’s youngest fi nalist since Ra- saved 12 of 14 break points she first semifinal of the year. World No 38 Kudermetova fael Nadal in 2004. faced on the way to a 6-4, 6-3 The world number 28 was in has not dropped a set in four Alcaraz, ranked 133 in the victory. imperious form hitting four matches this week, and more world, brushed aside Norwegian It’s the biggest win of Bado- aces, converting six out of than tripled Stephens’ total of third seed Casper Ruud 6-2, 6-4 sa’s career, the Spaniard having nine break points and only winners in the one hour and 33 and was scheduled to face com- notched her fi rst top-20 victory committing one double fault, minute match. patriot Jaume Munar yesterday when she beat fi fth-seeded Be- compared to Gauff ’s 13. of the threat posed by Kovinic Grand Slam champion Petra “I really like to play on the clay for a place in the fi nal. linda Bencic in the 2nd round. Despite being the match who reached the semifinals Kvitova and 11th seed Yulia because I think I have a lot of Nadal was also 17 when he was “I’m still a little bit shocked,” favourite, Jabeur will be wary by dispatching two-time Putintseva. time to do what I want,” Kuder- runner-up in Auckland in 2004. Badosa admitted, adding that metova said. “It’s the fi rst time I Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt was Vinolas. when Barty’s fi nal forehand beat a player who’s won a Grand just 16 when he claimed the 1998 That means a semi-fi nal line- reeled out of court “I was, like, tant because sometimes these ing it with an overhead winner. the fi nal four games of the match. Slam and I think that’s really Adelaide title. up featuring four players from ‘What just happened?’ matches are tough to close.” They traded breaks in the fi rst In the semi-finals Badosa important for me. I tried to play Saturday’s other semi-fi nal on the same country for the fi rst “But I’m quite happy with my Serving for the opening set, Ba- two games of the second set, Ba- will face Russian Veronika aggressive and not give her time, the clay courts of Marbella will time since Valencia 17 years ago match, the way that I managed dosa was down 0-40 but won fi ve dosa gaining the advantage again Kudermetova, who defeated and I think that was the key for feature top seed Pablo Carreno- when once again Spain monopo- my nerves. It was quite impor- straight points on the way to seal- with a break for 4-3 as she won American Sloane Stephens in this match.” Busta against Albert Ramos lised the places.

SPOTLIGHT Roglic overturns defi cit to win Tour of Basque country

Sonego to meet champion Djere in Cagliari fi nal Primoz Roglic won his first and benefited from the duo’s stage race of the season when work to increase his advan- AFP breaks for 5-0 in third, holding fi rm after he overcame a 23-second tage. Milan, Italy a loss of serve to seal a berth in the fi nal on deficit on the final day of the Carthy dropped out in the his second match point. Tour of the Basque country middle of the ascent when “Compared to the fi rst ATP fi nal in An- yesterday. Gaudu attacked, closely fol- taly’s Lorenzo Sonego staved off talya I’ve gained great experiences around The Slovenian, who had lost lowed by Roglic. a fi ghtback from second-seeded the world,” said Sonego who reached the the overall lead in the Paris- The Jumbo-Visma rider was American Taylor Fritz and will meet last-16 in Miami last month. Nice race on the final ride last happy to stay on Gaudu’s defending champion Laslo Djere of “I’ve been training with stronger play- month after a crash, was on wheel and both exchanged ISerbia in the fi nal of the ATP tournament ers trying to steal the best things from the attack far from the line on a quick fist bump, meaning in Cagliari yesterday. them, I have also grown mentally. a descent during the 111.9km Roglic would not contest the Sonego was a set and 3-0 up in the “Now I try to relax a bit,” added Son- mountain trek from Ondarroa final sprint having virtually semi-fi nal clay-court clash before ego, who will also compete in the doubles to Arrate. wrapped up the overall victory 23-year-old Fritz rallied but the third- fi nal in Cagliari. Overnight leader Brandon with the Frenchman’s help. seeded Italian dug deep in the third set “In any case, I’ll enjoy these matches. McNulty did not follow Roglic Gaudu crossed the line first for to pull through 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 in two hours This tournament is played at home, a and never managed to get his maiden win in 2021 with and 39 minutes. situation that is not so frequent, and I’m back into contention despite Roglic also raising his arms in Sonego will bid to become the fi rst Ital- happy to have gone all the way.” the help of his UAE Emirates celebration in the background. ian to capture an ATP Tour title on home It will be a third ATP fi nal for both. ranked Fritz levelled for 4-4, in the fourth Sonego and Djere are 1-1 in previous team mate and Tour de France Overall, he beat his team mate soil since Filippo Volandri at Palermo in Djere won his fi rst two on clay in Rio in meeting between the pair. meetings with the Italian winning on champion Tadej Pogacar, who Jonas Vingegaard by 52 sec- October 2006. 2019 and Cagliari last year. The 34th-ranked Italian reeled off clay in Marrakech in 2019 and the Serb on in the process relinquished his onds and compatriot Pogacar The 23-year-old from Turin takes on Sonego captured his fi rst crown on fi ve straight games before the Ameri- hard-court in Doha last year. own title chances. by 1:07 as Briton Adam Yates clay-specialist Djere who kept his title grass at the 2019 Antalya Open, but lost can reacted taking the second set after a Djere, ranked 57, has achieved 51 of his Roglic was in front with Briton took fourth place 1:26 off the defence on track by sweeping past fourth on a hard court in Vienna last October. 64 minute battle when Sonego netted a 61 ATP wins on clay, beating Italian Mar- Hugh Carthy and Frenchman pace, one second ahead of seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-2, In Saturday’s semi-fi nal, Sonego made backhand. co Cecchinato in the fi nal on the Mediter- David Gaudu on the last climb Gaudu. 6-0. the break in the fi fth game but 32nd- But Sonego regained control with ranean island last year.

Sunday, April 11, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS DeChambeau says he might never solve Augusta National AFP long too many times today. I was Augusta, United States proud of that. If I can keep myself in a positive mindset and towards making a lot of birdies, you never ryson DeChambeau, know.” the long-driving sci- entifi c golfer, might ‘JUST DIDN’T EXECUTE’ just have met his match DeChambeau struggled to man- inB Augusta National, where he ufacture the same sorts of shots made a back-nine charge on Fri- that brought him success at day to make the cut at the 85th Winged Foot last September for Masters. his fi rst major title in the crucible The reigning US Open cham- of Augusta National. pion has trouble sorting out “For me it was just execution,” Augusta National and admits it said DeChambeau. “There were might defy his techniques. times I didn’t execute again. “I don’t think you can ever “For some reason every year I fi gure this place out. There are golf course at other venues with get here, I’m playing pretty well so many things going on around greens books and the calibration coming in and I don’t execute the here,” DeChambeau said. tools that I usually use, it’s defi - way I want to. Today was nice to “The wind makes it diabolical. nitely a test. be able to get it back and shoot It’s fl ying around through these “I’m willing to stand up to and 5-under, get myself somewhat in trees and bouncing off the trees try and face the challenge and try contention. and making it feel into the wind and conquer it. It’s an interesting “Just being more comfortable when it should be downwind, challenge for me, and I love it.” at this golf course and being able and vice versa. DeChambeau birdied four of to execute better, I think that’s “I don’t think you’ll ever be the last six holes to jump from what matters most to me.” able to fi gure it out, but I’ve just the cut line to shoot fi ve-under DeChambeau still fi nds him- got to be more comfortable.” par 67 and stand on one-under self trying to make Augusta Na- DeChambeau is known for 143 after 36 holes. tional play to his style, a notori- his ultra-long drives and us- DeChambeau says he feels like ously bad idea. ing greens books and calibration he’s solving some of the prob- “Sometimes I’m trying to force tools to help him putt, but Au- lems Augusta presents. things in certain areas, and as gusta National rules and course “Especially on the putting time went on a got a little more layout take the aids out of his green. I fi nally felt like I was see- comfortable saying, hey, over hands and limit how useful his ing lines out there for the fi rst here is fi ne,” he said. biggest club can be. time in fi ve years it feels like,” he “I feel like as time goes on, “It’s my biggest match for said. “That excites me for sure.” I’ll continue to learn those little sure,” DeChambeau said of Au- “If I could just ball strike it a things and make sure that I’m not gusta National. “Not having the little bit better. Felt like my iron making the simple mistakes that help that sometimes I have on the play was great. We didn’t hit it cost me having a chance.”

GOLF / AUGUSTA MASTERS MOTORSPORT Vergne wins behind the Formula E safety Rose stretches lead car in Rome

Reuters “It was a pretty diffi cult race Rome, Italy with the conditions being as they were with a lot of rain, at the be- ginning very slippery. More than S Techeetah’s Jean- once I almost hit the wall,” said as Spieth surges Eric Vergne won the Vergne, who had started fi fth. fi rst of a Formula E “But I was able to survive in Ddouble-header in this chaos.” Thomas will overtake Johnson, who missed cut, to become No 1 if he wins Masters Rome yesterday after a late crash Mercedes driver Stoff el Van- on a slippery track took out both doorne had started on pole posi- AFP the Mercedes cars and left the tion as the race was led away by Augusta, United States fi eld following the safety car to the safety car after light rain on the chequered fl ag. the streets of Rome’s EUR dis- The Frenchman, a two-times trict. ustin Rose stretched champion in the all-electric se- A failed lunge for the lead by his lead to three strokes ries and now winner of 10 For- Porsche’s Andre Lotterer ended early in yesterday’s third mula E races, fi nished ahead of in a collision with Belgian Van- round of the Masters with Jaguar’s Sam Bird and the Brit- doorne dropping to 13th while three-timeJ major winner Jordan on’s New Zealander team mate Oliver Rowland briefl y took the Spieth on his heels and Canada’s Mitch Evans. lead for Nissan e.dams before a Corey Conners leaping into con- Evans, like Bird a previous drive-through penalty for using tention with an ace. winner in Rome, gained a bonus too much power. Rose, who started the week- point for fastest lap. Audi’s Brazilian Lucas di end with a one-stroke lead on Bird leads the champion- Grassi took over at the front but seven-under 137, began with ship with 43 points after three he suddenly slowed with less back-to-back birdies, sinking a rounds, nine clear of Envision than fi ve minutes to go, trigger- clutch 12-foot putt on the open- Virgin Racing’s Dutch driver ing mayhem behind. ing hole at Augusta National. Robin Frijns. Jaguar lead the Vandoorne, who had made a The 40-year-old Englishman teams standings with 74 points good recovery, swerved to avoid rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at to Techeetah’s 40. the Brazilian and spun across the the par-5 second to reach 9-un- Both Jaguar drivers wore track, smashing into the barri- der. black armbands following ers as team mate Nyck de Vries Spieth birdied the second to the death on Friday of Brit- joined him in a shower of debris. join a pack in second on 6-under. ain’s Prince Philip and neither The same track hosts another The electrifying moment be- sprayed champagne on the po- race today, again without spec- longed to Conners, who aced dium on what was the team’s tators due to the Covid-19 pan- the 180-yard par-3 sixth. He first double podium. demic. watched the shot bounce twice and roll into the cup. Conners had started his SPOTLIGHT charge with birdies at the par-5 second and par-4 third and an- swered a bogey at the par-4 fi fth with the ace. the 33rd in Masters Jordan Spieth of the US chips onto the second green during the third round at the Masters in Augusta, United States, yesterday. (Reuters) Olazabal dedicates history and just the sixth at the sixth hole. nine of what has been a light- Floyd (1976) and Spieth (2015). hander Phil Mickelson in 2006 After plunking his second shot The world number 43 fol- ning-fast layout. Augusta National announced after a triumph in Atlanta and into Rae’s Creek in front of the Masters cut to late lowed with a birdie at the sev- Rose, twice a Masters runner- prize money fi gures yesterday Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, who won green, the American removed enth to join Spieth in a second- up, won his only major title at with the same totals as the past at Greensboro the week before his shoes and walked barefoot place pack at 6-under. the 2013 US Open. The world two years, the winner taking taking the 1988 Masters. down a greenside slope, then Ballesteros It was the second ace of this number 41 has led or shared the home $2.07mn (1.7mn euros) Zalatoris could become the slipped and fell on his rear. year’s Masters. England’s Tom- Masters lead after seven career from a total purse of $11.5mn. fi rst player to win the Masters in Horschel rose, brushed the Reuters my Fleetwood aced the par-3 rounds, the most of any player Thomas, the 2017 PGA Cham- his debut since Fuzzy Zoeller in grass off his white pants and Augusta, United States 16th on Monday for the fi rst. never to win a green jacket. pionship winner, will overtake 1979. stepped into the water, then It’s the seventh time in Mas- “Day three plays pretty diffi - Dustin Johnson to become world “If I’m stupid enough to think punched his third shot onto the ters history there have been two cult here at Augusta National,” number one if he wins the green I can play here, then I’m stupid green on the way to a par. ose-Maria Olazabal or more aces in the event year, Rose said. “You just have to keep jacket after 2020 Masters cham- enough to think I can win it,” Za- South Korean Kim Si-woo, turned back the clock to with the record of three coming hitting the shots.” pion Johnson missed the cut. latoris said. who broke his putter on the 15th make the cut at the Mas- in 2004 and 2016. Rose is trying to become the Spieth snapped a four-year win hole Friday and used a 3-wood ters at the age of 55 on Fri- Swirling winds were expect- sixth wire-to-wire Masters drought last week in San Antonio. HORSCHEL FALLS ON REAR to putt on four closing pars, has day,J dedicating his wardrobe to ed to grow more brisk ahead of champion after Americans Craig Only twice since 1960 has a player Early Saturday starter Billy a replacement putter — one that fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros late-afternoon storms when the Wood (1941), Arnold Palmer won the Masters the week after a Horschel had a tough time at the helped American Pat Perez win on what would have been the fi nal groups will be on the back (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Ray US PGA Tour victory — US left- par-5 13th hole. at Mayakoba in 2016. late, great’s 64th birthday. Olazabal, the 1994 and 1999 champion at Augusta National, used his guile and renowned I miss not having him here for a short game to card a second- big hug. I’m a little emotional. I Canada’s Conners aces par-3 sixth in Masters charge round 71 for a two-over-par 146 have to say wholeheartedly that halfway total. making the cut has been a pri- AFP as leader Justin Rose teed off . “I am wearing navy blue and mary goal in recent years. When Augusta, United States Conners had started his charge with white, which are the colors of you see the years going by and birdies at the par-5 second and par-4 Seve and today would be his you don’t get it, it gets tough.” third and answered a bogey at the par-4 birthday,” said Olazabal. Ballesteros, winner of fi ve ma- anadian Corey Conners aced the fifth with the ace. the 33rd in Masters his- “I know that making the cut jor championships including two 180-yard par-3 sixth hole at Au- tory and just the sixth at the sixth hole. is not such an extraordinary Masters, died of a brain tumour Cgusta National in yesterday’s third England’s Tommy Fleetwood aced the thing, but I want to dedicate in 2011. round of the 85th Masters, the second par-3 16th on Monday for the first hole- this accomplishment to him and He and fellow Spaniard Olaza- hole-in-one of the tournament. in-one at this year’s Masters. all those people who have left bal were the most successful duo World number 43 Conners watched It’s the seventh time in Masters history us over the last year,” Olazabal in Ryder Cup history, bonding to the shot bounce twice and roll into the there have been two or more aces in the continued, also mentioning his form an almost unbeatable duo cup and lift him to 5-under par for the event year, with the record of three com- former manager Sergio Gomez for Europe. tournament, into a share of third place ing in 2004 and 2016. who died last year. They played together a record “I think Seve would be happy. 15 times and won 12 points.