12 Sunday, March 1, 2020 Sports Liverpool unbeaten run ends; Chelsea stumble “We had a bad 10-minute The runaway EPL Watford players celebrate scoring their third goal during the English Premier League match against spell where they scored and TSG Hoffenheim chief financial backer Dietmar Hopp (Centre-left) and Liverpool at Vicarage Road Stadiumon Saturday. Watford stunned Liverpool to hand the Reds their that I don’t like. I’m pleased Bayern Munich’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge shake hands on the leaders fall to a first loss in 44 games.( AFP) with the character to get a draw pitch during the German Bundesliga match on Saturday. Fans had shock 3-0 loss but we should win the game,” unveiled a banner in protest of Hopp’s investment in the club. (AFP) said Lampard. to Watford “People talk about the de- fence but if you are 1-0 up and Bayern game interrupted AFP leave teams in the game than London one set piece can change the game. We should score more twice by anti-Hopp banner Liverpool’s 44-game run goals and then we don’t have without defeat in the Premier that problem.” DPA circle with some fans unsure if League came to a crashing end A point keeps Bourne- Sinsheim, Germany the game had restarted or not. as relegation-threatened Wat- mouth two points above the In fact it was part of the game ford thrashed the European drop zone, but they fall behind Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga and the last few minutes were champions 3-0 on Saturday. West Ham on goal difference game at Hoffenheim was twice a deliberate non-event - appar- Ismaila Sarr’s double and after they moved out of the bot- interrupted on Saturday after ently a stand against the ban- Troy Deeney’s strike 18 min- tom three with a first league away fans unfurled an offensive ner. utes from time ended Liver- win since New Year’s Day. banner aimed at Hoffenheim The poster had appeared to pool’s hopes of romping to a David Moyes handed Jar- investor Dietmar Hopp. have been taken down from the first league title in 30 years rod Bowen his first start since a Bayern won 6-0 in their big- Bayern end and then all Hof- with an unbeaten season as £20 million move from Hull on gest win of the season but the fi- fenheim fans and both sets of they lost in the league for the deadline day in January and he nal 13 minutes of the game were players broke out into a round first time since January 2019. made a huge impact with a fine one of the most bizarre ever of applause. Jurgen Klopp’s men still finish to open the scoring. seen in the Bundesliga. The players wandered enjoy a 22-point lead at the top “I think that’s the way it Angry Bayern coach Hansi round the pitch one more time of the table, but their sluggish went in my dreams last night!” Flick angrily remonstrated with and eventually the referee blew return from a two-week winter to muster even a single effort Frank Lampard was hoping for hit the bar gave Chelsea a half- Bowen said. “We held on and Bayern fans alongside most of the final whistle. break earlier this month was fi- on goal in the first 45 minutes. a response after what he called time lead. got the three points which is re- his players when the banner Borussia Moenchenglad- nally punished. Chelsea needed a double a “reality check” for the Blues. Two goals in three minutes ally important.” first appeared midway through bach’s home game with Hof- After single-goal victo- from Marcos Alonso to sal- Instead, Bournemouth from Jefferson Lerma and Josh The hosts’ lead did not the second half. fenheim was also held up earlier ries over struggling Norwich vage a 2-2 draw at struggling were minutes away from secur- King turned the game around last long as Michael Obafemi Bayern chief-executive Karl- this month after two banners and West Ham either side of Bournemouth as West Ham ing just their third league win and inflicted another blow to quickly levelled for South- Heinz Rummenigge put his arm were unveiled. Gladbach con- a Champions League defeat boosted their chances of sur- since they also beat Chelsea at Chelsea’s chances of holding ampton. around Hopp in the stands to demned their fans’ actions. at Atletico Madrid, Liverpool vival with a 3-1 win over South- Stamford Bridge in December. onto their place in the top four. But the Hammers respond- apologize and then went on the The German football federa- were comprehensively beaten ampton. Philip Billing missed two Alonso’s predatory header ed well to that blow as Sebast- pitch to argue with fans when it tion said this month that Borus- at Vicarage Road. After a 3-0 thrashing on big early chances for the Cher- after Aaron Ramsdale parried ien Haller restored their lead happened again. sia Dortmund fans are set to be A 55-point gap separated home soil by Bayern Munich in ries and Eddie Howe’s men Pedro Rodriguez’s shot at least five minutes before half-time Following the second inter- barred from Hoffenheim’s sta- the sides before kick-off, but the first leg of their Champions were punished as Alonso’s ensured the visitors left the Vi- and Michail Antonio added a ruption, both sets of players dium for the next three seasons the out-of-sorts visitors failed League last-16 tie on Tuesday, calm finish after Olivier Giroud tality Stadium with a point. third early in the second half. played keepy-uppy in the centre for repeated abuse of Hopp.

QNB Stars League: Al Khor beat AFC postpones matches QSC but relegation fear linger due to COVID-19 outbreak Tribune News Network QSL Standings AFC/TNN ily and fans is paramount and The AFC has already post- Doha Kuala Lumpur that is the clear message from poned matches in the AFC Club MP W D L GF GA GD Pts the AFC. As the AFC Medical Champions League and AFC Two late Tiago Bezerra goals 1. Al Duhail 16 12 3 1 31 13 18 39 The Asian Football Confed- Committee said yesterday in Cup – in both the West and sealed a much-needed win as 2. Al Rayyan 16 10 5 1 33 14 19 35 eration has postpones both Colombo, Sri Lanka, personal East Zones - as well as Wom- Al Khor beat Qatar Sports Club matches and events of the hygiene is crucial as following en’s Olympic Qualifying Play- 3. Al Sadd 16 10 2 4 45 26 19 32 2-0 on Saturday to further ex- body due to the coronavirus World Health Organisation off games. The AFC Congress, tend the gap between them and 4. Al Gharafa 16 7 4 5 27 23 4 25 outbreak, it said in a state- (WHO) advice.” scheduled for Kuala Lumpur relegation battle. 5. Al Sailiya 16 7 2 7 18 20 -2 23 ment. Shaikh Salman added: on April 16 has also been post- The win moves Al Khor 6. Al Arabi 16 5 5 5 26 24 2 21 The AFC had earlier “The AFC will not put anyone poned to a later date. to 14 points, two behind QSC 7. Al Wakrah 16 5 4 7 23 25 -2 19 moved games in the East zone at risk during these times of On Monday, the AFC will and one ahead of 11th placed 8. Al Ahli 16 5 3 8 20 27 -7 18 but with the spread of the vi- heightened health concerns also hold its second emergen- Umm Salal. Bezerra scored in rus, matches in the West zone and so we have taken some cy meeting in Kuala Lumpur 9. Qatar SC 16 4 4 8 14 20 -6 16 the 86th minute from the spot, will aslo be postponed. sensible decisions to postpone to discuss National and Club before sealing the tie deep in 10. Al Khor 16 3 5 8 19 26 -7 14 With more than half the both matches and events. Competitions matches, and added time. 11. Umm Salal 16 3 4 9 13 31 -18 13 AFC’s Member Association’s “The AFC hopes that a West Zone meeting will be Al Khor got off to a good 12. Al Shahania 16 1 6 9 15 35 -20 9 being located where the virus there is a quick and safe end held in Dubai on March 7. start and they were nearly re- has been detected, the AFC to this current situation and Qatar’s Al Duhail were warded in the opening minutes points were confirmed when Al President, Shaikh Salman that we can return to normal- due to host UAE’s Sharjah, when Ibrahim Amada’s sweet, Hail had strayed out of goal to bin Ebrahim al Khalifa said, ity where football can play while Al Sadd were scheduled left-footed volley flew margin- help his side and was dispos- “These are unprecedented a role in bringing some joy to play Al Ain in the UAE. ally off target. Al Khor striker Tiago Bezerra celebrates after scoring against Qatar sessed before Tiago was sent and challenging times for eve- and entertainment to peo- Al Sadd confirmed the Much of the rest of the half Sports Club during their QNB Stars League match at the Al Khor clear to finish into an open goal. ryone in these societies. My ple’s lives. In the meantime, postponment via its twitter was dominated by Qatar SC, Stadium on Saturday. On Friday, Umm Salal’s heartfelt sympathies and my I have instructed the AFC handle in a brief statement. with Abdenasser El Khayati see- resurgence led them to a 2-1 total support are extended Administration to continue “The Asian Football Con- ing his goal-bound shot blocked saves in quick succession. penalty area and, after a VAR win over Al Wakrah. The Or- to them- not just in Asia but monitoring the spread of the federation decided to post- on the line, before Ahmed Moe- The turning point of the review, his side was awarded a ange Fortress have won two worldwide. virus and to take the appro- pone the match between Al in flashed his shot just wide. match came with five minutes penalty. Tiago stepped up, sent and drawn two of their last “In these circumstances, priate and immediate action Ain and Al Sadd in the third They maintained the pres- of normal time remaining. Mo- the goalkeeper the wrong way four matches as they seek to we will ensure that the health needed to protect the football round of the 2020 ACL due sure into the second period, hamed Salem brought down and grabbed his side a vital lead. turn around a miserable sea- and safety of the football fam- family and fans.” to the virus.” with Baba Djibril forcing two Ahmed Hammoudan in the Deep into injury time, the son so far.

Cricket round-up New Zealand salvage win; India stay Five-wicket haul for Jamieson as Kiwis roll

Kyle Jamieson continued his eye-catching introduction to Test crick- unbeaten at women’s T20 World Cup et with a five-wicket haul Saturday as New Zealand took the hon- ours on day one of the second Test against India in Christchurch. afp what we wanted to post today, force the pace. Priest soon fol- ing first with Smriti Mandhana New Zealand, who won the crucial toss with an inviting green pitch Melbourne but Bangladesh were fantastic, lowed, lbw for 25, to leave them (17) then Harmanpreet Kaur on offer, were 63 without loss at stumps after rolling India for 242. they put us under pressure on a at 40 for two in the ninth over. (15) to rattle off 86 of the runs in Tom Blundell was on 29 with Tom Latham on 27. New Zealand salvaged an really difficult wicket,” said New Experienced campaigner the first 10 overs. Jamieson, who has his sights on becoming established as an unlikely victory against Bang- Zealand captain Sophie Devine. Suzie Bates’ departure for 15 She was run out for 47, but all-rounder, grabbed the headlines on debut with four wickets and ladesh on Saturday to set up a “We learned from what sparked a collapse, with the rest had set up India for another win a sparking 44 runs in New Zealand’s 10-wicket first Test victory crunch clash against Australia Bangladesh did, bowling of the wickets falling for just 25 and they raced to their target in Wellington. Brief Scores: New Zealand 63 for 0 trail India 242 for a place in the Women’s straight and making the bat- runs. with 32 balls to spare. (Vihari 55, Shaw 54, Pujara 54, Jamieson 5-45) by 179 runs (AFP) T20 World Cup semi-finals, ters make mistakes and then “Our bowling and field- “It’s really important to as impressive India kept their we know what our spinners can ing was good but the batting continue the momentum when unbeaten record intact. do.” wasn’t up to the mark,” admit- you’re winning games,” said In- India, Pakistan to Klaasen’s ton sparks Coming off a narrow loss to India had already qualified ted Bangladesh skipper Khatun. dian skipper Kaur. clash at neutral Asia S/Africa to crush India, the White Ferns won the for the semi-finals and a deci- In the later game, Sri Lan- “You really work hard, so Cup venue Aussies in first ODI toss and opted to bat on a slow sive seven wicket win over Sri ka won the toss and chose to you can’t afford to lose that Junction Oval pitch in Mel- Lanka in Melbourne ensured bat, losing an early wicket be- momentum. You can’t bowl the The next Asia Cup will be held A maiden international century bourne. they completed their Group A fore captain Chamari Atapattu same pace and lengths on these in Dubai so that arch-rivals India by Heinrich Klaasen set up a But after reaching 66 for games unbeaten. steadied the ship with an en- wickets, so you need to keep ro- and Pakistan can both take 74-run win for South Africa in two they collapsed to 91 all out, New Zealand and defend- tertaining 33 before holing out tating the bowlers.” part, Indian cricket chief Sourav the first one-day international as Ritu Moni grabbed a tourna- ing champions Australia both to square leg, a ball after hitting Ganguly said. The tournament against Australia at Boland Park ment-best 4-18 with back-up have two wins from three, mak- Radha Yadav for six. Brief scores had been scheduled for Pakistan on Saturday. Klaasen hit 123 not from fine fielding. ing their Monday clash in Mel- Kavisha Dilhari chipped in India 116 for 3 (Verma 47, in September but India had re- out in a South African total of A first World Cup victory bourne a quarter-final. Bangla- India’s Shafali Verma attacks the with a breezy unbeaten 25 in Prabodhani 1-13) beat Sri Lanka fused to take part unless it was 291 for seven. Australia were on for Bangladesh since 2014 was desh are eliminated after losing Sri Lankan bowling during their their 113 for nine, but India’s 113 for 9 (Atapattu 33, Dilhari held on neutral territory because target midway through their reply within reach, but they blew three from three. Twenty20 women’s World Cup in spinners were the stars of the 25*, Radha 4-23, Gayakwad of tensions between the two but lost their last seven wickets the chance with sloppy batting Good line and length from Melbourne on Saturday. (AFP) show, led by Yadav who took a 2-18) by 7 wickets countries. “The Asia Cup will be for 43 runs to be bowled out for held in Dubai and both India and 217. Steve Smith and Marnus and poor running between the Bangladesh’s bowlers restrict- career-best 4-23. New Zealand 91 (Moni 4-18) wicket seeing them bundled out ed openers Devine and Rachel The runs started flowing Teenage sensation Shafali Pakistan will play,” Ganguly said Labuschagne put on 84 for Aus- for 74. Priest to just 23 from the first but Devine fell to spinner Salma Verma was again the standout beat Bangladesh 74 (Jensen late on Friday. (AFP) tralia’s third wicket. (AFP) “Obviously nowhere near five overs. Khatun on 12 while trying to batswoman for India, partner- 3-11) by 17 runs