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Monday, December 5, 2016 GOLF Rabia I 6, 1438 AH Tiger ‘not quite GULF TIMES there’ but still eyes major record SPORT Page 5 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool stunned, Baines Jurgen Klopp’s men miss out on a chance to go second in the table after conceding three goals in the denies United last 14 minutes to go down against Bournemouth

Everton’s Leighton Baines scored a last-gasp penalty to earn a draw against Manchester United at Goodison Park. (Reuters)

fi nd a crucial second goal and the Unit- While City spluttered, Arsenal ed manager was punished for sending stepped up their title challenge with a on Marouane Fellaini in the closing ruthless performance that kept them stages when the former Everton mid- within three points of Chelsea. fi elder carelessly conceded an 89th Sunderland climbed off the bottom Bournemouth’s Dutch defender Nathan Ake (second from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League match minute penalty with a clumsy challenge with a 2-1 win over spluttering cham- against Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England, yesterday. (AFP) on Idrissa Gueye. pions Leicester. Everton left-back Baines stepped up Harry Kane’s double and a brilliant AFP Goals from Sadio Mane and Divock sive point,” Klopp said. scoring every time we attacked. For this to slot the spot-kick past David de Gea strike from Son Heung-Min inspired London Origi had Liverpool ahead at the break “We opened the door and they ran club and everyone involved it’s make to leave sixth placed United 13 points Tottenham as they got back on track and the points still seemed to be head- through and scored some wonderful for a very special day. behind Chelsea after a third succes- with a 5-0 demolition of Swansea. ing back to Anfi eld when Emre Can’s goals. So that’s the deserved result. “These days are huge for us. We’d sive draw left them with only one win in Crystal Palace striker Christian Ben- iverpool’s title challenge suf- strike restored their two-goal advan- “Even when we are in the lead at 2-0 never been in the Premier League until their last eight league games. teke eased the pressure on boss Alan fered a stunning setback as they tage following Callum Wilson’s pen- it’s how we try to play football then we last season so we’re making history for On Saturday, Chelsea had cemented Pardew with a brace in a 3-0 win over conceded three goals in the alty. were static. We gave the game away be- the club.” pole position with a 3-1 victory at title Southampton at Selhurst Park. last 14 minutes of an astonish- But Ryan Fraser, who had come off the cause we didn’t play football any more.” rivals Manchester City, while Alexis Stoke eased to a 2-0 win against ingL 4-3 defeat against Bournemouth, bench to win the spot-kick, then bur- Bournemouth are in just their second Sanchez’s hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing Burnley, while West Bromwich Albion PUNISHED while Everton’s Leighton Baines scored ied his maiden Premier League goal be- season in the top-fl ight and this was ar- At Goodison Park, United took the lead of West Ham took Arsenal into second beat Watford 3-1. a last-gasp penalty to earn a 1-1 draw fore crossing for Steve Cook to superbly guably the tiny south coast club’s fi nest in the 42nd minute when Everton goal- place. against Manchester United yesterday. equalise, with Nathan Ake bundling hour. keeper Maarten Stekelenburg made an City’s frustration boiled over in YESTERDAY’S RESULTS Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool missed out home a last-gasp winner as Loris Karius “It would have been easy for our ill-advised decision to come for An- stoppage time with red cards for Sergio Bournemouth 4 (Wilson 56-pen, on a chance to go second in the Premier failed to hold another Cook eff ort. players to give up and see out time, but thony Martial’s cross and Zlatan Ibra- Aguero and Fernandinho, the former Fraser 76, Cook 79, Ake 90) Liverpool 3 League and instead remain four points “First of all I have to say a deserved our group knows not to give up,” Cher- himovic lofted his shot into the net for for an ugly lunge on David Luiz, the lat- (Mane 20, Origi 22, Can 64) behind leaders Chelsea after their in- win for Bournemouth. A big fi ght from ries boss Eddie Howe said. his fourth goal in his last three games. ter for pushing Cesc Fabregas over an Everton 1 (Baines 89-pen) Manches- credible meltdown at Dean Court. them. We gave the game away at a deci- “In the second half we looked like But Jose Mourinho’s side couldn’t advertising board. ter United 1 (Ibrahimovic 42)

QATAR STARS LEAGUE Laudrup relishing prospect of his fi rst Qatar Clasico with Rayyan

By Sports Reporter ing enjoyed a glittering playing career, The defending QSL champions are the QSL standings. “Of course Al Sadd Doha which included time with bitter rivals currently fi fth in the table following have some key players, fi rstly Xavi who Real Madrid and Barcelona. “I have their fi rst defeat of the season against is a great player. As is Hassan Haydoos, been lucky enough to play and manage Al Gharafa, and will be aiming to he has had some issues this season with l Rayyan head coach Michael in some huge derbies like El Clasico, Ju- bounce back against Al Sadd. injuries but he can change a game for Laudrup is targeting a big ventus against Torino, the Copenhagen “Normally these are top games, with them. In attack I think the new signing Qatar Clasico win for his side derby and Ajax against Feyenoord. You often more at stake than just the result. (Jugurtha Hamroun) has settled well when they take on bitter rivals feel them as a coach and a player, and In this case, Al Sadd are ahead of us in and on the left they have Abdulkarim AAl Sadd in the QSL match of the week you want to do something special for the league and we need to beat them to Hassan who is always lively. It’s going for round ten. This will be Laudrup’s the fans.” cut down the lead of El Jaish at the top.” to be a tough challenge for Al Rayyan.” fi rst taste of one of the biggest games in The game will also see two of the QSL’s Talking about Al Sadd, Laudrup ad- Ending the conversation, Laudrup Qatari football and the former Danish most passionate fans come together in mitted his confusion that the Wolves stressed that his side must look at the midfi elder was excited about the game, what promises to be a lively encounter. have failed to lift the QSL falcon shield bigger picture heading into a packed which is scheduled for Wednesday Looking at the game, Laudrup noted more regularly in recent history. “Al December, which will see the QSL evening at Al Sadd Stadium. that the Clasico will be all about the fans. Sadd is a great side but they have only champions play three times in ten days. First up, Al Rayyan boss stressed the “Generally, you know the opponent and won the league once in eight years. It’s “As a coach and players you cannot just importance of the game for the fans. the players going into the game. So that is strange to see that they have won once focus on one game. The match against “Derbies or games against rivals are not a concern for the players and coaches in that time because they are a huge Al Sadd is part of a very busy sched- always important for the clubs and the heading into a derby game. It’s all about club in Qatar yet they are still fi ghting ule for the club and it’s about getting fans. That, of course, means they are the build up with the fans beginning to for the league.” a good result from all of the games we important for the players and coaches.” talk and getting excited weeks ahead, Laudrup also was eager to single out play. Our aim is to win every game we Laudrup is no stranger to some of the looking forward to the game that will add members of the Al Sadd squad, who are play at Al Rayyan and that will be the biggest games in world football hav- to this match.” currently riding high in third place in aim against Al Sadd on Wednesday.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, December 5, 2016 FOOTBALL

TOP OF THE LINE TERMS & CONDITIONS Wenger sees Sanchez making striking impression Balotelli on 1mn pound

AFP mant that only regaining last season’s London intensity will pull West Ham away from the relegation zone. They cur- good behaviour rently sit just a single point above it. rsenal manager Arsene “We had some good spells in the Wenger foresees Alexis game like we’ve had some good spells bonus at Liverpool Sanchez staying in the this season but we have to be honest striking role that brought and say we don’t do it every game for himA a hat-trick in the 5-1 victory over the whole game,” he admitted. West Ham as long as the Chilean is “Yes, we were still in the game with scoring goals. 20 minutes to go but I cannot say that Pushed further forward this season, Arsenal didn’t deserve to win. Sanchez has now scored seven goals in “Arsenal are very lethal and they his last fi ve Premier League games. His like to play on a big pitch. But I’m very hat-trick against West Ham was the disappointed, frustrated and humili- second of his Arsenal career. lift and he has a killer instinct. our chances in the fi rst half,” said the ated. I want to say sorry to the fans “Yes, I think he prefers playing as a “It shows that the South Americans Frenchman. and the club and everyone connected striker. He likes the position. People are the leading strikers in world foot- “That plays on your mind and you with West Ham United because it was like to play as a striker. If it doesn’t ball at the moment. You have to ac- could pay for that, but we maintained very bad.” work, they prefer their fi rst position. If knowledge that.” the pressure on West Ham and fi n- He added: “Of course we are in a it comes off , they want to stay there,” Wenger was delighted with the per- ished strongly. We were always dan- relegation fi ght. Of course the players said Wenger. formance of his team at the London gerous. know that. We spoke about it and it’s “Alexis has the qualities to play Stadium which maintained their un- “We are scoring more goals away not that they don’t care. there. All the ingredients to be beaten record away from home this from home than at home. Is that be- “We are together, including me. We a top class striker and he shows season. cause we play with a bit more free- didn’t play how we know today. It is that. He has good movement, he is “Overall it was a very strong team dom? Away from home, we have been time to realise what position we’re in, sharp, he is quick to close down, performance for 90 minutes today. very convincing.” what’s our situation and what we have he can dribble, has a short back- Our only regret is that we didn’t take West Ham coach Slaven Bilic is ada- to do to get out of that zone.”

FOCUS Sex abuse claims

AFP abusive language and/or gestures and/ London or for dissent by word or action... then at 55 English clubs, on the 30th June at the end of each sea- son he shall receive a bonus payment of iery Italian striker Mario Ba- £1m,” read the clause in his contract re- lotelli had a mn pound (1.2mn vealed by Football Leaks website. euros, $1.3mn) good behaviour Rodgers and Liverpool showered clause written into his contract Balotelli with bonus off ers includ- whenF he moved to Liverpool in 2014, ing £50,000 a goal once he passed fi ve says news report the Sunday Times revealed. in the Premier League or Champions The 26-year-old — whose move to League in a season... a sweetener that Liverpool raised questions about then came to nothing as he scored just once Former Charlton Athletic youth goalkeeper Russell Davy says FA did not manager Brendan Rodgers’ judgement in 16 appearances for them. and proved a disaster — would lose the Liverpool aren’t the only Premier reply to his letter in 1986 warning them of abuse by scout Eddie Heath good behaviour bonus if he were sent League side off ering substantial car- off three or more times in a season. rots to their already well-paid play- AFP tion of a gagging order. “We can confi rm that 55 clubs in professional ranks falling victim to a So the player who was well-known ers — Balotelli was on £85,000 a week London Johnson has since gone public and total have been referenced,” a source serious cocaine habit and served a six for erratic behaviour at previous clubs regardless of his behaviour or scoring the club — whose payment according at the National Police Chiefs Council month sentence for assault in 1983, could aff ord two red cards say for spit- feats. to the Sunday Telegraph was author- — which is in charge of organising the says he has no idea what happened to ting at opponents but would lose out Tottenham Hotspur pay French in- ifty-fi ve league and non league ised by owner Roman Abramovich’s Hydrant Operation which looks into his letter to the FA which he wrote in fi nancially if he saw red a third time. ternational goalkeeper Hugo Lloris a clubs have been referred to senior adviser Marina Granovskaia cases of long ago sex abuse — told The 1986. Balotteli didn’t last very long at match bonus of £3,500 even if they lose police in the child sex abuse and two other board members — is- Observer. “Counsellors (for his drink and Liverpool once Jurgen Klopp replaced or draw. scandal that has shattered sued a profuse apology to him on Sat- The National Society for the Pre- drugs addictions) told me it’s like Rodgers last season and is now in the “Should Tottenham Hotspur draw or EnglishF football’s image a source told urday. vention of Cruelty to Children when you’re grieving over your dead less glamorous French Ligue 1 with lose a competitive match and the player The Observer newspaper yesterday. The size and scale of the fast-de- (NSPCC) also told The Observer that parents, you need to put a letter on leaders Nice where he moved to on a makes an appearance in the starting 11 In other developments English veloping scandal, though, has been youth players may still be in danger their grave to get closure,” he told the free transfer last August. then the player will be paid £3,500,” football’s embattled governing body laid bare in The Observer with already judging by the calls to their football journal. “If during each season of the term reads the clause in Lloris’s contract the Football Association (FA) have a third of British police forces holding abuse hotline. “So I did actually write a letter to the of this contract the player is not dis- when he signed in 2012. been accused in The Sunday Mirror by their own investigations which has so “We have had a few bits of informa- FA telling them what had happened to missed from the fi eld of play on three However, a Spurs spokesman told The Russell Davy, a former Charlton Ath- far seen only former Crewe Alexan- tion, allegations where children might me, naming Eddie Heath as the person or more occasions for violent conduct, Sunday Times it is:”An appearance fee letic youth goalkeeper, of not replying dra youth scout Barry Bennell, already be at risk now,” John Cameron, the who had done it and naming Charlton spitting at an opponent or any other which doubled if we won the game. He to his letter in 1986 warning them of jailed three times for child abuse, head of the NSPCC helpline told the Athletic. person, for using off ensive, insulting or does... receive double the fee if he wins.” abuse by scout Eddie Heath. charged last Tuesday. newspaper. “I begged them to investigate so it Heath had moved onto Charlton Heath and another former scout Davy, now a father of two and a fl oor wouldn’t happen to any youngsters after being dismissed by Chelsea — Frank Roper — who has been accused layer living on the Canary Island of coming through the ranks. SPOTLIGHT not for child abuse but for ‘spend- by former England international Paul Lanzarote, broke his 30 year silence to “But I never got any reply back or ing a lot of his time in his office, Stewart of abusing him and in the tell The Sunday Mirror Heath preyed any response. I don;t know if it was decorating and cooking meals for Sunday Mirror by ex-Leeds United upon him for two months when he thrown in the bin but I did write it. the schoolboy players’ — who made striker Jamie Forrester of introducing was 15 beguiling him and his family he “It makes me angry. I was aban- Forgiving Luiz praises a controversial payment in 2015 to him to another paedophile — are be- could become England’s number one doned then and I still feel like nobody Gary Johnson, a player abused by yond the reach of the law as they are goalkeeper. cares. him in the 1970’s, but under condi- both dead. Davy, who never made it into the “I just want answers.” aggressor Aguero

BOTTOMLINE Stick with England, Southgate urges Zaha AFP London

ngland manager Gareth Southgate hopes to persuade Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha not to switch allegiance toE the Ivory Coast, he revealed this week. Zaha, capped twice by England, has asked world governing body FIFA to allow him to play for the Ivory Coast, which is the country of his birth. The 24-year-old has been pictured holding an Ivory Coast shirt with his name on alongside Ivorian Football Federation president Augustin Sidy Diallo and national coach Michel Dus- Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero is shown a red card for a high tackle on Chelsea’s suyer. David Luiz during their EPL match on Saturday. (Reuters) “We’re still hopeful that we can speak to Wilf,” Southgate said of Zaha, AFP “I don’t like to publicise things. who can change allegiance because London This is not part of the beautiful foot- both of his England caps came in ball,” said Luiz. “Aguero is an amazing friendlies. player, he scores a lot, he wins a lot. It “I saw him at Everton, where he helsea star David Luiz is better when you talk about Aguero to played OK. I saw him at Burnley, where shrugged off the brutal foul on talk about good things rather than bad in the second half he was excellent. him which saw Sergio Aguero things. “He’s certainly somebody that I sent off late in the 3-1 win over “It is quite normal frustration when think has talent, is in a good moment CManchester City preferring to see the you don’t win the game and I don’t like with his club and ideally I’d like to talk good side of the Argentinian striker. to speak about negative things. It is to him before he makes that decision. Luiz — who was re-signed by Chel- normal in football — when you win you “I would like to speak with him be- Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (left) in action with Southampton’s Oriol Romeu during their English Premier League match sea and since starred in the three cen- be happy, when you lose you be sad.” fore we make a decision on whether we at Selhurst Park on Saturday. (Reuters) treback defence adopted by manager Regardless of devout Christian Luiz’ are happy to let that happen.” Antonio Conte — said talking about generous words Aguero faces a four Zaha made his England debut in Ben Woodburn, who became Liver- Ramsey. the really young ones about how soon bad things did nothing for the beauti- match ban — on account of already a 4-2 friendly defeat by Sweden in pool’s youngest scorer this week by “Ben’s a player we’ve known about we start to run camps because ethi- ful game. serving one suspension this season — Stockholm in November 2012 and also netting against Leeds United in the for a long time,” Southgate told re- cally we don’t want to get boys in too Aguero’s frustrations boiled over whilst Fernandinho could face further played in a 3-2 win over Scotland at League Cup at the age of 17 years and porters at Wembley. young, but other countries are going and he was given a straight red card for measures from the Football Associa- Wembley in August 2013. 45 days. “He got into Wales’s system very, younger and younger. the high tackle on Luiz in time added. tion (FA) for shoving Cesc Fabregas into The former Manchester United Woodburn was born in England, but very young. This is a challenge for us “Ben is a player whose quality we The incident sparked confrontations the crowd. player has been capped 13 times by plays for Wales at youth level and has now in terms of the number of dual- have certainly recognised over the last which led to City being reduced to nine Chelsea’s victory sent them four England at under-21 level. said he wants to “replicate” the feats nationality boys we have. couple of years, before he’s come on men as referee Anthony Taylor sent points clear of fourth-placed City after Southgate is also keeping tabs on of Wales stars Gareth Bale and Aaron “There’s also an ethical debate with the fi rst-team radar this week.” Fernandinho to the dressing room. 14 matches. Gulf Times Monday, December 5, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA BARCELONA NEED RETURN TO HOME Late fi ghtbacks part of COMFORTS: ENRIQUE Barcelona: Barcelona boss to lead Los Blancos to a 10th Luis Enrique believes the Span- European Cup in 2014. ish champions need a dramatic Barca looked to have improvement in their home breathed new life into their title form if they are to prevent Real defence and the title race with Madrid running away with a a much improved second-half Madrid’s DNA: Ramos first La Liga title in five years. display following a tense first Sergio Ramos’s stoppage 45 minutes with few chances time equaliser salvaged a at either end. Barca have already dropped nine points at home this season, winning three games point for Real in a 1-1 draw Luis Suarez headed the in El Clasico on Saturday to hosts in front from Neymar’s maintain a six-point lead at the fine free-kick eight minutes top of the table. Barca have after the break. already dropped nine points at However, the normally lethal home this season in winning Neymar and Lionel Messi both just three of their seven league fired off target with just Real fixtures at the Camp Nou. ‘keeper Keylor Navas to beat “Right now there is a solid and the Catalans were left to leader that have gone many pay a heavy price. games without slipping up,” “The second-half was said Enrique. “They have the completely diff erent,” added resources and variety in their Enrique. “We closed the space play to keep picking up points. between the lines, went ahead The only chance we have to from a set-piece, we had the turn the situation around is to ball, tried to score the second win every game we have left and almost didn’t even give and to put pressure on them. away a chance against an op- We need to improve, above all, ponent of that quality. our numbers at home.” “We had two huge chances Ramos once again rode to to kill the game with Leo and Real’s rescue with a key goal Ney, but that is football. It is a when they needed it most. The huge blow for all of us but we Spanish international headed have only played 14 games in home a Luka Modric corner in the league and there is a long eerily similar circumstances way to go.”

Sergio Ramos’s stoppage time equaliser salvaged a point for Real Madrid in a 1-1 draw at Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday. (AFP)

AFP Indeed, the Champions League fi nalists since the start of the season, but we can’t give Barca the lead. However, the hosts Barcelona were thankful to goalkeeper Jan Oblak go crazy,” added Ramos. “Six points is were left to rue huge missed chances from for even a point as he made brilliant saves just two games. There is a long way to go Neymar and Lionel Messi before Ramos’s from Gerard Moreno and Leo Baptistao. and Barca and the other teams below will late leveller snatched a point. never say die approach is part of Third-placed Sevilla also slipped to make things very diffi cult. We prefer to One piece of positive news for Barce- Real Madrid’s DNA said captain defeat as Granada moved off the bot- rely on ourselves, but neither should we lona, though, was the return of captain Sergio Ramos after his stoppage tom with their fi rst win of the season 2-1 be singing from the rooftops.” Andres Iniesta from injury as the Spanish time equaliser maintained a six- at Nuevo Los Carmenes. “The team has Despite Ramos’s heroics, Madrid’s international put on a virtuoso display pointA La Liga lead over Barcelona with a again showed that we came here to win standout performer was Luka Modric as as a second-half substitute. “The feeling 1-1 draw in El Clasico. Ramos strode for- the game, it wasn’t to be but we got a the Croatian ran the midfi eld in the open- could be that we’ve dropped two points, ward from defence to net another impor- point,” said Ramos. “At the end of the day ing 45 minutes before Barca markedly im- but there is no time to feel sorry for our- tant goal after Luis Suarez’s 53rd minute the DNA of Real Madrid obliges you to proved after the break. selves,” said Iniesta. “The games come opener looked set to end Madrid’s 32- fi ght until the end, to always have hope.” “We played like a team,” said Modric. thick and fast and we have to win and game unbeaten run. Ramos’s header was a hammer blow “If we leave it all out on the fi eld, it is very hope Madrid slip up. Madrid are a dan- A fi ne night for Real was rounded off as for Barca, who have now dropped more diffi cult to beat us. We have to do this in gerous team but we played well. Normally Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique (right) and his Real Madrid Atletico Madrid remain nine points back points at home already this campaign every game, not just in the Clasico.” you are left with what comes last and that counterpart Zinedine Zidane gesture from the sideline during in fourth after being held to a 0-0 draw than they did in the whole of last season. Suarez awoke from an off colour dis- was Madrid’s equaliser. It was a shame the El Clasico at the Camp Nou stadium on Saturday. (AFP) at home by Espanyol on Saturday night. “It shows that we have done things well play to head home Neymar’s free-kick to not to have taken our chances at 1-0.”

BUNDESLIGA ROUND-UP Leipzig knock Bayern off top, extend record Preston pair sent AFP Berlin POINTS TABLE off for (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, B Leipzig again knocked Bay- goals against, points): ern Munich from top spot in fi ghting the Bundesliga table on Sat- RB Leipzig 13 10 3 0 29 11 33 urday night as their 2-1 win Bayern Munich 13 9 3 1 29 9 30 atR home to Schalke 04 left them three London: Ten-man Sheffi eld Hertha Berlin 13 8 3 2 22 13 27 points clear. Hoff enheim 13 6 7 0 25 14 25 Wednesday fought hard for their Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern had regained B Dortmund 13 7 3 3 31 15 24 2-1 victory over a wasteful Pres- the lead with a 3-1 win at Mainz on Fri- E Frankfurt 12 7 3 2 18 10 24 ton side in a bad-tempered clash day night, but Leipzig replaced them Cologne 13 6 4 3 18 12 22 that ended with the visitors less than 24 hours later. Bayern and Schalke 04 13 5 2 6 18 15 17 having Jermaine Beckford and Leipzig are set to meet at Munich’s Al- B Leverkusen 13 5 2 6 20 21 17 Eoin Doyle sent off for a clash in lianz Arena on December 21 in a mouth- Mainz 05 13 5 2 6 23 25 17 the fi nal minutes in the English watering pre-Christmas showdown. Freiburg 13 5 1 7 17 25 16 Championship. A second-half own-goal from Schal- Augsburg 12 3 4 5 10 14 13 Trailing to a goal from Fern- ke’s Bosnia international Sead Ko- M’gladbach 13 3 4 6 13 22 13 ando Forestieri, who was him- lasinac sealed Leipzig’s win, their 10th W Bremen 13 3 2 8 17 32 11 self later dismissed, and Ste- league victory, extending their record VfL Wolfsburg 13 2 4 7 12 18 10 ven Fletcher’s penalty, Preston unbeaten run to 13 matches in their fi rst Darmstadt 98 13 2 2 9 11 26 8 pulled a goal back through Doy- Bundesliga season. Hamburg 13 1 4 8 10 27 7 le. But any chance of securing a Leipzig took an early lead in contro- Ingolstadt 04 13 1 3 9 10 24 6 late draw was snuff ed out when versial fashion as Schalke goalkeeper Beckford and Doyle were both Ralf Faehrmann conceded a penalty shown red cards after an angry with just 19 seconds gone when the ref- sprinted clear, then slipped the ball to exchange between the team- eree judged he had made contact with Matthias Ostrzolek, who blasted home mates off the ball. RB’s top scorer Timo Werner. on his left foot from the edge of the area Their manager, Simon Gray- Replays showed the Leipzig forward on 90 minutes for his fi rst Bundesliga son, later labelled the pair “em- dived, but Werner, 20, drilled in his goal. The result leaves Hamburg 17th, barrassing” and confi rmed eighth league goal of the season. one place below Darmstadt, with both that the club would take ac- Faehrmann was booked to add insult teams in the relegation places. tion against them. The incident to injury for Schalke. Werner insisted This was only Hamburg’s third win brought back memories of New- he told referee Bastian Dankert — who of the season in all competitions after castle teammates Lee Bowyer later admitted he made the wrong deci- winning both of their German Cup ties and Kieron Dyer being sent off sion after watching replays — that there against low-league opposition. The for fi ghting each other during was no contact from Faehrmann, but RB Leipzig’s coach Ralph Hasenhuettl (left) celebrates with his players after winning the Bundesliga match against FC Schalke result tales some pressure off coach the 2005 defeat to Aston Villa at went to ground from a push by Schalke at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, on Saturday night. (Reuters) Markus Gisdol. Hamburg are the only St James’ Park. “I’ve been in the defender Naldo. “I’m sorry that it looks team currently in Germany’s top fl ight game for 30 years and I’ve never like a dive, that wasn’t my intention, card,” said the goalkeeper. minutes from the end. With time run- At the other end of the table, Ingol- to have never been previously relegated been involved with anything like but there was a push from Naldo,” in- Schalke regained their composure ning out, Schalke’s Brazil centre-back stadt, who lost 2-1 at Bremen on Satur- since the Bundesliga started in 1963. that,” Grayson said. “I spoke to sisted Werner after watching replays. and drew level when Bosnia winger Ko- Naldo cleared off the line from Fors- day, are now bottom after Hamburg’s They have stayed up in two of the last them in the dressing room and “I told the referee there was no contact lasinac drilled home a cross on 32 min- berg. This was Schalke’s fi rst defeat in Michael Gregoritsch scored his third three years by winning a relegation play they were apologetic, but that from Faehrmann, but he didn’t listen to utes. But the 23-year-old, who has been 13 games, dating back to the end of Sep- goal in two games to give his side a fi rst- off , in 2013/14 and 2014/15. Last sea- doesn’t wash with me, some- me in the heat of the moment.” linked to Liverpool, turned the ball into tember, to leave them eighth. half lead at Darmstadt. son, they fi nished tenth. On Saturday, thing like that should never hap- Long after the fi nal whistle, Faehr- his own net two minutes into the second Yesterday, Hamburg moved off the When Serbia winger Filip Kostic Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored pen in the professional game.” mann was still fuming about the inci- half following a free-kick from Leipzig’s bottom of the Bundesliga table after se- whipped in a cross with half an hour twice as Borussia Dortmund prepared Grayson said duo would be rep- dent. “It’s enough to make you sick. Emil Forsberg. Faehrmann tipped the curing their fi rst league win of the sea- gone, striker Gregoritsch produced a for their Champions League clash at rimanded by the club, on top of Werner told him (Dankert) that there ball onto the bar to deny a header from son with a 2-0 victory at fellow-strug- superb diving header. In the dying stag- Real Madrid with a 4-1 rout of Borussia any suspension handed to them was no contact and I still got a yellow Leipzig defender Marcel Halstenberg 20 glers Darmstadt. es, Japan international Gotoku Sakai Moenchengladbach. by the Football Association. Gulf Times 4 Monday, December 5, 2016 FOOTBALL

SERIE A Roma retain derby bragging rights with Lazio victory Roma are now unbeaten in eight editions of the derby stretching back to 2012 and it was their 10th win of the season

AFP Milan

econd-half goals from Kevin Stroot- man and Radja Nainggolan kept the local bragging rights with Roma for the fourth year in succession thanks to an 2-0 der- byS win at Lazio yesterday. With only one point separating the sides, the biggest ‘Derby della Capitale’ in years was played out in a half-empty stadium as Roma’s hardline ultras continued to protest strict secu- rity measures introduced by the club last year. But after a contentious fi rst half produced lit- tle of note from either side, Roma made light of their relative lack of support with an improved second-half performance that saw Strootman then Nainggolan strike within 13 minutes of each other. Roma are now unbeaten in eight editions of the derby stretching back to 2012 and their 10th win of the season moved Luciano Spalletti’s men up to second at four points behind leaders Juventus. AC Milan sit third, also at four points adrift, after Gianluca Lapadula struck late to give the Rossoneri a last-gasp 2-1 win against Crotone at the San Siro. After Napoli’s 3-0 romp over Inter Milan on Friday kept the Azzurri’s early season hopes alive, Milan’s win earlier Sunday heaped the pressure on Roma to follow suit. Yet the absence of lively Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, ruled out with injury for the rest of the year, was per- haps most felt in a lacklustre fi rst half that saw Lazio threaten through Italy forward Ciro Im- mobile. But Immobile fi red two eff orts off target and Senad Lulic’s eff ort was the only one on target in a half more noted for a confusing penalty kick episode. Referee Luca Banti awarded a free kick to Roma on the outside edge of the box for a Lu- cas Biglia trip on Bruno Peres, but caused con- POINTS TABLE (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Juventus 15 12 0 3 32 13 36 Lazio and AS Roma players get involved in a scuff le during the Italian Serie A match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) Roma 15 10 2 3 35 16 32 AC Milan 15 10 2 3 27 19 32 fusion when he pointed to the penalty spot, only for his eff orts and Strootman was cautioned. with a win at home to Palermo. whose side host Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday Napoli 15 8 4 3 27 15 28 to change his mind when players protested. Some lacklustre Lazio defending handed Injury-depleted Juventus had beaten in-form in the last of the Champions League group phase Lazio 15 8 4 3 27 16 28 Looking to take the sole lead of the Serie A Roma the chance to double their lead 13 minutes Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday night with the defend- games. Juventus, beaten fi nalists two years ago, Atalanta 15 9 1 5 24 17 28 scoring charts ahead of Inter Milan striker Mau- later, Nainggolan holding off his marker on the ing champions four points clear atop Serie A. need a win to remain clear of Sevilla, who they Torino 15 7 4 4 31 19 25 ro Icardi, Edin Dzeko twice spurned chances af- counter to scuff a bouncing shot inside Mar- The visitors came into the game off the back of lead by a point in Group H. Sampdoria 15 6 4 5 19 20 22 ter the restart, Marchetti notably diving to parry chetti’s near post on 77 minutes. six wins and had been unbeaten in nine games, Inter Milan 15 6 3 6 22 21 21 his far-post header from Nainggolan’s cross on Elsewhere, England ’keeper Joe Hart con- while Juventus had lost 3-1 at Genoa last week. Fiorentina 13 5 5 3 20 15 20 the hour. ceded twice as Torino’s purple patch was halted The fi rst goal was a neat left-footed shot RESULTS Cagliari 15 6 2 7 23 32 20 Roma found the breakthrough moments later, in a 2-0 defeat at Sampdoria. Sassuolo won an- from Alex Sandro on 15 minutes, and the Brazil- AC Milan 2 (Pasalic 41, Lapadula 86) Crotone 1 Genoa 13 5 4 4 17 15 19 though it came thanks to a Wallace blunder for other mid-table battle in a 3-0 home romp over ian player then revealed a t-shirt in memory of (Falcinelli 26) Chievo 14 5 3 6 14 16 18 Lazio on the edge of the area. He lost control Empoli thanks to two fi rst-half penalties from the Chapecoense team who perished in a plane Lazio 0 Roma 2 (Strootman 64, Nainggolan 77) Sassuolo 15 5 2 8 20 26 17 of a bouncing ball, and after stealing in to nick Lorenzo Pellegrini and Federico Ricci, and An- crash in Colombia earlier this week. Daniele Pescara 1 (Caprari 90+2) Cagliari 1 (Borriello 24) Bologna 14 4 4 6 14 21 16 possession Strootman ran through to send a de- tonio Ragusa’s second-half strike. Rugani’s powerful header made it 2-0 just four Sampdoria 2 (Barreto 51, Schick 90+5) Torino 0 Udinese 14 4 3 7 18 23 15 lightful chip past the onrushing Marchetti. Pescara grabbed a last-gasp share of the spoils minutes later. Sassuolo 3 (Pellegrini 22-pen, Ricci 36-pen, Ragusa Empoli 15 2 4 9 7 24 10 A touchline altercation between Roma players when Gianluca Caprari’s 92nd minute strike In the second half, veteran Croat striker Mario 53) Empoli 0 Pescara 15 1 5 9 12 27 8 and Lazio coaching staff ensued after Stroot- cancelled out Marco Boriello’s 24th minute Mandzukic headed home just after the hour to On Saturday: Juventus 3 (Sandro 15, Rugani 19, Palermo 14 1 3 10 10 27 6 man, in his celebrations, squirted water into opener for Cagliari. seal the three points, while Remo Freuler replied Mandzukic 64) Atalanta 1 (Freuler 82) Crotone 15 1 3 11 12 29 6 the face of Lazio substitute Danilo Cataldi. He In yesterday’s late game, Fiorentina can move for Atalanta eight minutes from time. The result On Friday: Napoli 3 (Zielinski 2, Hamsik 6, Insigne 51) grabbed the Dutchman from behind, got sent off two points ahead of Inter and into ninth place came as a relief to coach Massimiliano Allegri, Inter Milan 0

LIGUE 1 MP calls for inquiry into Monaco top, Lyon keeper hit by fi recrackers Mourinho tax evasion AFP they try to seal top spot in Group A be- Paris fore taking on Nice next weekend, but allegations they were blindsided by a Montpellier outfi t that had won just three times in 15 London: The chair of an olombian striker Radamel Fal- matches this season. influential committee of cao scored twice as Monaco The visitors were without midfi eld MPs has called on the UK thrashed Bastia 5-0 to move trio Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot and tax authorities to investi- top of Ligue 1 on Saturday Thiago Motta as 19-year-old Christo- gate the financial aff airs of night,C after French champions Paris pher Nkunku was drafted in by Emery Manchester United manager Saint-Germain crashed to a shock 3-0 for his fi rst league appearance this term. José Mourinho, after it was defeat at Montpellier. The teenager should have put PSG in claimed millions of pounds However, the day’s action in France front from Angel Di Maria’s left-wing were moved off shore to was scarred when the game between cross with just six minutes gone, but avoid tax. Metz and Lyon was abandoned after his close-range header was turned away An investigation, based Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes well by Laurent Pionnier. on a leak of more than was hit by a fi recracker, prompting fears Montpellier, whose last win over PSG 18mn documents, claims that the Lyon star may have lost his in the league came in May 2010, grabbed that Mourinho’s advisers hearing. the lead three minutes before the inter- may have helped him avoid Yesterday though, Lopes said he suf- val as Lasne latched onto a long ball out paying tax on earnings from fered ‘acoustic trauma’ but no lasting of defence and lobbed an advancing Al- the use of his image rights damage. The Ligue 1 clash was called off phonse Areola. for product endorsement – in the 31st minute after home fans threw Skhiri doubled Montpellier’s advan- something which has been projectiles towards Lopes, having just tage three minutes into the second half strongly denied. seen Gauthier Hein head Metz in front as Morgan Sanson chased down a loose The investigation by the at their Stade Saint-Symphorien. ball before laying it back to edge of the European Investigative The Portugal international was sub- area for the former to curl home superb- Collaborations consortium – sequently taken to hospital to undergo ly. A mix-up between Vitorino Hilton which worked alongside sev- tests but confi rmed via his Instagram and Daniel Congre presented Di Maria eral newspapers including account yesterday he hadn’t sustained with a chance to halve the defi cit, but Germany’s Der Spiegel and any long-term injuries. The 26-year- Lyon’s Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes reacts after a firecracker exploded beside him during the French Ligue 1 match the Argentine fi red straight at Pionnier the Sunday Times – claims old added he would receive treatment against Metz at Saint Symphorien stadium in Longeville-Les-Metz, eastern France, on Saturday night. (AFP) on 53 minutes. to have found evidence sug- for the next two weeks, with his status The Montpellier keeper then blocked gesting tax off icials in Britain for Wednesday’s crucial Champions At the Stade Louis II, Kylian Mbappe PSG’s fi ve-match winning run in the “Montpellier were very effi cient with with his legs to deny Lucas with Blaise and Spain had been misled League game at home to Sevilla uncer- struck a 10th-minute opener before league was ended in stunning fashion by the chances they had, while we were Matuidi subsequently blazing over from by Mourinho’s advisers. tain. Monaco dismantled Bastia with four Montpellier as the 2011-12 champions not,” PSG defender Marquinhos said. Layvin Kurzawa’s cutback. Real Madrid player Cris- Metz, leading 1-0 when play was second-half goals in 11 minutes — Tho- struck just before half-time through “It was a diffi cult match, Montpellier Algeria international Boudebouz ex- tiano Ronaldo is also cited in halted, face the risk of heavy sanc- mas Lemar and Guido Carrillo netting Paul Lasne with Ellyes Skhiri adding a were good as a unit in defence. After tinguished any prospect of a late PSG the reports as having alleg- tions which could include forfeiting the either side of Falcao’s brace. second shortly after the break. they scored the fi rst goal, it was very revival as he ran from inside his own edly moved money to a tax match and Lyon being awarded the win. Leonardo Jardim’s side rebounded Ryad Boudebouz capped a remark- diffi cult. We can’t commit the same er- half before arrowing a low strike beyond haven in the British A dazed Lopes was seen lying on the from the disappointment of Tuesday’s able afternoon at the Stade de la Mos- rors in our upcoming games if we want Areola for Montpellier’s third. Virgin Islands in what the ground after a fi recracker was launched 1-1 draw at Dijon to provisionally over- son with a terrifi c individual goal 10 to be champions. We have to get back to Guingamp climbed into fourth after newspaper described as in his direction, with a second projectile take Nice on goal diff erence, with the minutes from time as Unai Emery’s PSG work straight away.” a 2-0 win over second-bottom Nantes, “highly aggressive tax avoid- then exploding underneath the prone erstwhile leaders at home to Toulouse remained a point behind both Monaco PSG face Ludogorets of Bulgaria in who are without a manager after the ance”. Portugal international. on Sunday. and Nice. the Champions League on Tuesday as dismissal of Rene Girard this week. Gulf Times Monday, December 5, 2016 5 GOLF

SPOTLIGHT CRUISE Stone strolls to win as Schwartzel fades Tiger ‘not quite AFP strokes behind Stone. Malelane South African Richard Sterne came second on 273 after fi nish- ing with a 67 and Belgian Thomas randon Stone cruised Detry fi red a 68 to come third two to a seven-shot victory strokes further back. yesterday in the Alfred Thomas Aiken (69) of South Dunhill Champion- Africa, Benjamin Hebert (72) of there’ but still eyes Bship as fellow South African France, Scott Jamieson (69) of and defending champion Charl Scotland, Carlos Pigem (69) of Schwartzel faded dramatically Spain and Graeme Storm (68) of on the back nine. England shared fourth place with Leading by three strokes go- Schwartzel. ing into the fi nal round at Leopard It was the second Europe- Creek Country Club in north- an Tour triumph for Stone, a eastern South Africa, Stone carded 23-year-old born in north-west- major record a fi nal-round 67, fi ve under par. ern mining town Rustenburg, He fi nished on 266 after earlier after winning the South African rounds of 67, 66 and 66 over the Open last January. ‘I’m not as fresh as I would like to be. No matter how much you work out it’s very 6,663-metre (7,287-yard) course “I felt relaxed and calm carved out of bush and bordering throughout the fi nal round and diff erent than being in playing shape. There are all these things you can’t simulate...’ the Kruger Park game reserve. knew Charl was having problems Pre-tournament favourite ahead of me on the back nine,” he AFP Schwartzel, seeking a fi fth Dun- told reporters after receiving a Nassau, Bahamas hill title, trailed Stone by only huge trophy. two shots halfway through a fi nal “My front nine was solid, bar round staged in scorching 37-de- one slip, and my second nine much iger Woods sees daily progress in gree celsius (99 fahrenheit) heat.. better. I won convincingly in the his return from a 16-month back But a bogey six at 13 — his fa- end, but it was not that easy. injury layoff and hinted Saturday vourite golf hole — triggered a “I have been working hard on he is still chasing the record 18 collapse and the former US Mas- my driving and putting and some Tmajors won by Jack Nicklaus. ters champion carded a two-over tips I took on board paid off this Woods, a 14-time major champion, 74 for a share of fourth, nine week.” sizzled early for the third consecutive round but fi zzled late in fi ring a two- under-par 70 at his comeback event, DELIGHT the Hero World Challenge hosted by his charity foundation. “I’m just not quite there, but it’s coming. The great thing is I’m building and each day American Varner’s I’ve gotten a little bit stronger,” said Woods, who admits tiring on late holes. “I’m defi nitely not as fresh as I would breakthrough win in like to be. No matter how much you work out it’s very diff erent than being in play- ing shape. There are all these diff erent Australian PGA things you can’t simulate at home.” Woods, who has not won a major since AFP Nathan Holman a year ago. the 2008 US Open, was asked after his Gold Coast, Australia “I just wanted to fi nd a way to round about trying to catch Nicklaus birdie every hole,” Varner said. even though no player has won four ma- “After last year it feels good back jors after turning 41, which Woods will merican Harold Var- to come back and fi nish it off .” do later this month. ner III claimed his fi rst Varner, ranked 184 in the “I wouldn’t be here doing this if I didn’t professional victory world, posted four top-10 fi n- feel like I could play at the highest level,” at the Australian PGA ishes last season with more than Woods said. “I have too much pride.” ChampionshipA yesterday on the $1.3 million in prize money. Only four players have won multiple Gold Coast by two strokes. But he said none of that com- majors after turning 41 — Old Tom Mor- Varner, 26, who lost in a pared to his breakthrough Aus- ris with three 1860s British Opens and three-way play-off in last year’s tralian victory. Harry Vardon, Julius Boros and Woods event, fi red rounds of 65, 72, 67 “Obviously top-10s you get pal Mark O’Meara with two each. and 65 for 19-under 269. money but it’s just hard to win. Woods stood on eight-under 208, 11 He prevailed in the fi nal round I don’t care where you tee it up... strokes behind leader Hideki Matsuyama with nine birdies in a seven- this is pretty special,” he said. of Japan after 54 holes at the 18-man in- under 65 to beat Australian The Aus$250,000 ($186,500) vitational. overnight leader Andrew Dodt winner’s cheque from the Aus- “For three straight days, I’ve gotten to win the European Tour co- tralian PGA triumph also gave off to great starts. For two of those days, Tiger Woods of the United States waves after putting on the 11th hole during round three of the Hero World Challenge. sanctioned tournament at the him entry to the WGC’s Brige- I haven’t been able to keep it going,” Royal Pines Resort. stone Invitational next year in Woods said. “I would like to get another Woods took a bogey at the par-5 sixth TRUMP CHEERS ON TIGER a bogey-free 65. Dodt, who led for three his hometown of Akron, Ohio, as solid round.” but answered with birdies at seven and Woods again fl ashed moments of his It was his lowest round relative to par rounds, fi nished with a three- well a two-year exemption onto Woods birdied four of the fi rst fi ve the par-5 11th but stumbled with bogeys fi nest shotmaking to excite those seek- since the 2013 World Golf Champion- under par 69 to take outright the European Tour. holes but it was no day at the beach for at 13 and 14. ing signs he can recapture the form that ships Bridgestone Invitational, the most second at 17-under 271. Varner, starting two shots be- the former world number one, who spent A 30-foot birdie putt at the fairway- made him a dominating superstar. recent of his 79 career victories. World number seven and hind overnight leader Dodt, hit considerable time in Bahamas sand waste less par-3 17th provided a boost but he “Great to have you back Tiger - Spe- Woods, three shy of Sam Snead’s all- 2013 Augusta Masters cham- the front on the eighth, but then areas after missing the last fi ve fairways found sand and water at 18 for a closing cial!” US President-elect Donald Trump time PGA Tour win mark, plays Sunday’s pion Adam Scott carded his best bogeyed the 14th to go back into at Albany Golf Club, a 7,302-yard Ernie double bogey. tweeted before the round began. fi nal round alongside South African Lou- round of the week, a fi ve-under a tie for the lead. Els-designed layout. “I didn’t hit the ball that poorly today Until this week, Woods had not played is Oosthuizen. 67, to fi nish in third place with However, birdies on the 15th “Probably couldn’t get off to a better but hit bad putts in the middle part of the competitively since August 2015, when Strong tee shots and irons set up short 15-under 273. and 17th edged him clear despite start than I did,” Woods said. “Gener- round,” Woods said. he shared 10th at the Wyndham Cham- birdie putts on the fi rst three holes for Varner came closest to win- Dodt going bogey-free and three ally when I come back from layoff s, that’s Woods said he no expectations for the pionship. Woods, who sank a tense six-foot par ning his fi rst top-level pro event under in the fi nal round. Aus- the most concerning part of the game, week because, “I didn’t know what I was Woods closed with double bogeys on putt at four after missing the green with when runner-up after a three- tralian Ashley Hall was fourth on but I’ve been able to build a signifi cant going to feel like after each round,” but two of the last three holes Thursday to his approach, then blasted out of a bun- way playoff with Dylan Frit- 14-under with compatriot Brett amount of positive shots and go under added, “I’ve fi nally been able to switch shoot 73 in ending his career-longest ker at the par-3 fi fth and watched the ball telli and eventual 2015 champion Rumford fi fth on 10-under. par early.” into a competitive mode again.” 466-day layoff but recovered Friday with roll into the cup for birdie.

RECORD BOTTOMLINE India’s Kumar Matsuyama soars to big lead clinches Panasonic

AFP Key scores Open India title Nassau, Bahamas Scores after the third round AFP of the Hero World Challenge, New Delhi ideki Matsuyama, seek- an invitational event at par-72 ing his fourth title in the Albany Golf Club (USA unless past two months, fi red a noted): ndia’s Mukesh Kumar fi red seven-under par 65 Sat- a crucial birdie on the 15th urdayH to seize a seven-stroke lead hole to set up his fi rst Asian 197 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) after the third round of the Hero 65-67-65 Tour victory at the Panason- World Challenge. Iic Open India golf tournament in 204 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) The 24-year-old Japanese 67-71-66, Dustin Johnson New Delhi yesterday. standout eagled the par-4 sev- 66-66-72 Kumar, 51, who became the old- enth, his blast from the fairway 205 - Brandt Snedeker 72-64- est player to win an Asian Tour taking a single bounce before 69, Matt Kuchar 67-67-71 title, carded 67, 69 and 70 for a to- dropping into the cup, and add- 206 - Rickie Fowler 68-70-68 tal of 10-under 206 in the fog-hit for me. I knew I had a good chance ed seven birdies against two bo- 207 - Jordan Spieth 68-69-70, tournament, which was reduced after sinking that putt. I told my- geys in the round. J.B. Holmes 64-73-70, Louis to three rounds and 54 holes. self I just need to par the last three “The eagle at seven was huge,” Oosthuizen (RSA) 67-67-73 Kumar, who started the day holes,” Kumar told reporters. Matsuyama said. “I played well. 208 - Tiger Woods 73-65-70 with an overnight lead of two “Even though I know Jyoti Glad to get the score in I did. I 210 - Jimmy Walker 70-74-66, shots at eight-under, shot three was just one shot back and he feel kind of lucky up until now.” Bubba Watson 72-63-75 birdies against a lone bogey on has a good chance on 18 being Matusyama stood on 19-un- 211 - Zach Johnson 72-69-70 the fi nal day to outshine compa- a long-hitter, I didn’t think too der par 197 after 54 holes at the triots Jyoti Randhawa and Rashid much about that. I just focused 18-player invitational event host- Khan, who fi nished tied second. on what I need to do,” he added. ed by Tiger Woods, who is making Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during round three. 3-iron layup off the tee. “I am very proud of myself. I Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera, at his comeback this week after a He followed with a bogey but have waited 32 years (since turning 8-under 208, fi nished fourth. 16-month back injury layoff . “It’s going to pay off .” keep grinding and do the best I my best tomorrow.” birdied the par-5 11th and added professional) for this. It is diff erent The other top 10 places on the “Hideki is just playing un- Matsuyama hopes it pays off can.” But Matsuyama, a career-best birdies at the 14th and par-5 from the 123 wins that I have had fi nal leaderboard belonged to In- believable golf,” Woods said. with another triumph at the elite That respect includes concern sixth in the rankings, dreams of 15th, then answered a bogey at on the domestic Tour earlier,” said dian players. The 2015 champion “Hideki is just putting it on us. Bahamas event after victories that Woods could make up an claiming the world number one 16 with a birdie at the par-3 17th. Kumar, who secured an Asian Tour Chirag Kumar of India fi nished He’s at 19 now so he has built a in October at the Japan Open 11-stroke defi cit even in only his spot once held by Woods. “I’m not putting my best, but card for the next two years. tied 15th in the 73-player fi eld in nice cushion.” and World Golf Champion- fourth comeback round. “It’s not that I haven’t thought there are a lot of 18-, 20-footers Kumar, who led each of the the fi nal round. Woods, a 14-time major ships HSBC Champions and last “Only Tiger could take a year about it, but it’s going to take a fi nding the hole and that has re- three rounds, was tied with champion, recalled fi rst play- month at the Taiheiyo Masters in and a half off and put up the lot of wins,” he said. “Hopefully ally helped,” Matsuyama said. Randhawa twice in the day be- ing alongside Matsuyama at the Japan. numbers he’s putting up this tomorrow will be one of them.” Matsuyama gave some credit fore taking the lead at the 15th SELECTED SCORES 2013 British Open at Muirfi eld. “I can’t really think about week,” Matsuyama said. “I don’t Matsuyama opened with a for his hot streak to a putting hole and scoring pars in the fi nal 206 - Mukesh Kumar (IND) 67- “Was very impressed,” Woods the lead because everyone in care how many strokes I’m lead- birdie and added others at the tip from Japanese rival Hiroshi three to pocket a winning purse 69-70 said. “This kid can really move the fi eld can shoot eight or nine ing over him, I still worry about par-5 third and sixth holes be- Iwata, saying, “Since then it has of $72,000. 207 - Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 67- the golf ball and thinks his way under,” Matsuyama said. “So I him, fear him. fore his eagle, hit with a 60-de- kind of fallen into place and im- “The 20-footer that I made for 72-68 around the golf course. just have to keep my head down, “I’m just going to have to try gree wedge from 80 yards after a proving each week.” birdie on 15 was the decisive putt 207 - Rashid Khan (IND) 67-72-68 Gulf Times 6 Monday, December 5, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT INJURY Nowitzki frustrated, but hoping to be Hobbled Lakers pain-free once his fall short against Achilles heals inspired Grizzlies ‘They made the little plays. I told our guys I was real proud of the way we fought tonight. The amount of travel on our road trip for being a West Coast team’

File picture of Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (R).

MCT ing how it reacts. It’s frustrating Dallas for me...it never happened be- fore in my career. “It’s tough, but once I’m out hese are obviously some there I don’t want the same thing very frustrating times to happen again just like next for Dirk Nowitzki. week, so I want to make sure now T As of now, Nowitzki’s that it’s good to go.’’ body isn’t doing what he wants Nowitzki is 38 years old and in it to do, which means the Dal- his 19th season, and has ramped las Mavericks’ all-time leading up his rehabilitation day-to-day, scorer has to sit on the sidelines including some treadmill work in street clothes, which is some- and additional small work on the thing he doesn’t like to do. court. “Sometimes it’s tough be- Thus, after too many times cause I know the one thing I can of going back and forth and be- still semi-do is score the ball and ing forced to sit out more games spread the fl oor,’’ Nowitzki said. than he cares to remember, the “At this stage of my career I don’t Mavs announced Saturday that move well any ways, so if I’m out Nowitzki will be out indefi nitely there at 80-90 percent I don’t with a strained right Achilles. It’s think I’m a big help. basically the same injury Nowit- “So I want to make sure my zki has been trying to shake since body responds the right way and training camp. we’ll go from there.” In discussing the latest devel- Nowitzki signed a two-year, opment with his injury, Nowitzki $50 million contract with the said he “had a little setback,’’ but Mavs this past summer with high he hopes this is not something he hopes of honouring that con- has to deal with for the remain- tract. What has happened to his der of his career. body lately hasn’t changed his “I’m hoping that it heals pret- stance. ty soon here and I can play the “I want to get back on the rest of the season pretty pain- court as soon as I can – that’s free,’’ Nowitzki said after Satur- really all I’m worried about for day’s 107-82 win over the Chi- now for this year,’’ Nowitzki said. cago Bulls. “Achilles injuries are “I think we can re-evaluate this tough, they just limit your move- summer, I’ll talk to obviously the ment a lot. trainer (owner mark) Cuban and “If it limits my movement 10 my family and kind of just make a years ago I’d still be able to play decision there. eff ectively out there. But if it “But for now I’m all-in and I limits my movement now, I’m want to play. This obviously not already a step slow -- that makes a career-ending injury, it’s just Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Troy Daniels (30) compete for the ball during the second half. me three steps slow and it just something that keeps lingering makes so sense to be out there.’’ unfortunately. MCT “They made the little plays,” Lakers Results nearly unstoppable in the fi rst half, Nowitzki has played in only fi ve ‘Hopefully sometimes soon Memphis Coach Luke Walton said. “I told our guys missed a 23-foot fadeaway that would of the Mavs’ 19 games and is aver- I’ll be out there and then stay out I was real proud of the way we fought to- Results from the NBA games on Satur- have tied the score with about 20.8 sec- aging 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds there. I don’t want to jump in and night. The amount of travel on our road day (home team in CAPS) onds left. Still, the Lakers got one more in 26.2 minutes per contest. out of the lineup with soreness. I he Los Angeles Lakers closed out trip for being a West Coast team. Four in GOLDEN STATE 138 Phoenix 109; ORT- chance. Deng stole Allen’s inbounds “Just seeing it day-by-day, want to be healthy and stay out a bruising road trip with a dra- fi ve (days). LAND 99 Miami 92; UTAH 105 Denver pass, but Randle couldn’t convert the pushing it a little more and see- there.’’ matic loss to the Memphis Griz- “Having the injuries we had. It 98; DALLAS 107 Chicago 82; MEMPHIS free throws after the foul. zlies, 103-100. would’ve been easy to just give in tonight. 103 LA Lakers 100; TORONTO 128 The Lakers led by as many as 11 points TAfter a Memphis turnover in the wan- Our guys really competed and played during the game, but their dwindling Atlanta 84; Boston 107 PHILADELPHIA DEPENDANCE ing seconds of the game, Julius Randle was hard. Down the stretch they got to a cou- 106; Minnesota 125 CHARLOTTE 120 group of healthy players couldn’t hang fouled shooting a three-pointer with the ple loose balls that turned into big plays. (OT); MILWAUKEE 112 Brooklyn 103 on to the lead. Lakers down by three and 5.9 seconds left. We had our chances. On the road in the With three guards injured, the Lakers Randle missed all three free throws. He NBA, that’s really all you can ask for is to turned to Williams, Clarkson and Marce- Sixers, without rebounded the third miss, and gave the have a chance to win the game.” _ a Tony Allen layup attempt with 35.6 lo Huertas to fi ll the void. Williams did so ball to Jordan Clarkson for one last heave, Marc Gasol gave Memphis a six-point seconds to go. Allen got the rebound, in a big way early. but Clarkson’s attempt fell short. lead with a hook shot with 1:15 left in the but JaMychal Green’s shot missed. Lak- “The disappointment’s in losing, Embiid, lose sixth It capped a frantic fi nal minute dur- game. The Lakers cut the Grizzlies’ lead ers rookie Brandon Ingram tossed the sucks,” Walton said. “You don’t want to ing which the Grizzlies had a little bit to three with a trademark “Lou Williams ball off Grizzlies forward Tony Allen to lose. We’re a young team with injuries. more juice. The Lakers fell to 1-3 on a and one” off ering _ a driving oater,fl a return possession to the Lakers with 29.8 It’s more important that we focus on the game in a row four-game trip that lasted fi ve days. They drawn foul and a made free throw. seconds left. “Just try to make a play, try fact that the fourth game in fi ve nights played without two starters for most of For the next 51.8 seconds, the score to be aggressive,” Ingram said. “Knew we our guys competed their tails off . MCT every game on the trip. Los Angeles re- didn’t change, but so much else did. The had to rebound the basketball we had to “Instead of focusing on the disappoint- Philadelphia turns home 10-12, while the Grizzlies Grizzlies had three diff erent chances to make a big play.” ment of the loss, I’m gonna focus on the improved to 13-8. extend their lead. Luol Deng blocked one At the other end, Williams, who was positives of the way we got after it tonight.” t was a typical night for the 76ers. They had an 11-point BOTTOMLINE cushion late in the second quarter only to blow it af- Iter intermission and didn’t make enough plays down the stretch. All of that led to a 107-106 victory by the Boston Celtics on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Warriors rout Suns 138-109 The loss dropped the Sixers File picture of Joel Embiid. MCT ance in Golden State’s double their 14 threes. to 4-16 and extended their los- Oakland, California overtime loss to the Houston Meanwhile, the frontcourt ing streak to six games. It also tionable for Monday. Rockets Thursday – in which he handled the distribution. Gold- marked their ninth straight de- They were not missed as Saric fouled out in overtime – Curry en State fi nished the night with feat to the Celtics (12-8). scored on an underhand fi nger ric Bledsoe, stalky and delivered one of his most lethal- 37 assists, their 14th game this Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bra- roll to knot the score at 100 with powerful for a point ly effi cient performances of the season with at least 30 assists. dley led the visitors. Thomas fi n- 34.6 seconds left. Thomas put guard, contorted his season. And he did the majority No other NBA team has more ished with 37 points and seven the Celtics up two with a layup Ebody like a shield, bar- of his damage, as he often does, than three. assists. Bradley added 20 points four seconds later. relling into a contesting Kevin in the third quarter. Of those 37, 21 came from the and nine rebounds. The Sixers had a chance to knot Durant to push him back and Curry fi nished the night with starting forwards. Draymond Dario Saric paced the Sixers the score. Hollis Thompson drove create ample room for a fastbreak 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Green had a season-high 13, in- with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the lane and missed a shot. Boston layup. But Durant absorbed the Twenty of those points came in cluding that fastbreak dime to a reserve role. grabbed the rebound. Bradley was hit, kept those Inspector Gadg- the third quarter, giving him 206 Curry and several other slick The Sixers were without Joel fouled and made the second foul et arms straight up and easily third quarter points this season, passes, both on the interior and Embiid, who had a scheduled off shot to put the Celtics up three spiked Bledsoe’s reverse straight more than everyone in the league to the perimeter. Kevin Durant day as part of his recovery from with 16.3 seconds remaining. down into the court. besides Toronto’s DeMar DeRo- fi nished with eight assists, in- two foot surgeries. Following the Saric misfi red on a 3-pointer Durant’s block, like they of- zan (218). cluding a highlight worthy slip team’s plan of not playing him in on the ensuing possession. Mar- ten do, sent the Warriors zip- But Curry had plenty of help pass to Zaza Pachulia on a pick- back-to-back games, Embiid sat cus Smart was fouled after grab- ping down court on a fastbreak. from his other three co-stars. and-roll, fi nished off by Pachulia after scoring 25 points on Friday bing the defensive rebound. He He gathered the loose ball and Klay Thompson, who also with a whirling, surprisingly ac- night against Orlando. made a pair of foul shots with pushed it up to Draymond struggled in the Rockets loss, robatic fi nish through contact. As of Saturday night, the 8.6 seconds left to give the Celt- Green, who rumbled into the fi nishing 4-of-20 from the fi eld, A play before Durant’s memo- team hadn’t decided if Em- ics a fi ve-point advantage. Ersan paint, forced the Suns to retreat File picture of Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (L). rebounded against the Suns. He rable fastbreak block, he beauti- biid would play Monday night Ilyasova closed the gap to two and then pinpointed a pass out started out hot, nailing his fi rst fully laid off a pass to Thompson against the Denver Nuggets at points (105-103) with a 3-pointer to a wide open Stephen Curry on another double-digit Warriors did enough to keep the lead three 3s and periodically dropped on the fastbreak, who deposited home or Tuesday night at the with 2.8 left. the wing. Splash. victory: 138-109 over a young comfortable and push the War- in lead-padding jumpers the rest in the fi fth of his six 3s. When Memphis Grizzlies. Al Horford answered with a Similar to a sequence against Phoenix team on Saturday night riors to an NBA-best 17-3 on the of the night. Thompson fi nished Curry nailed his fi fth 3 moments Robert Covington (sprained left pair of foul shots with 1.7 seconds this same Suns team a few weeks in Oracle. season. with 26 points on 10-of-17 shoot- later, the Warriors led by 24 a knee) and Jerryd Bayless (left wrist left to put the Celtics up, 107-103. back, the Durant block to Curry The off ense, again, was un- On this night, Curry was the ing. Together with Curry, the third win over the Suns this sea- soreness) were also sidelined Sat- Ilyasova then hit a 3-pointer to served as the biggest highlight of stoppable. The defence, again, star. Following a poor perform- backcourt combined to make 11 of son was all but sealed. urday. They’re both listed as ques- make it a one-point game. Gulf Times Monday, December 5, 2016 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT NHL Blues’ win streak ends Oilers edge Ducks, with 3-2 loss to Jets 3-2, in overtime Draisaitl scored 3:16 into the extra session Saturday night to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 victory at Rogers Place, snapping the Ducks’ three-game win streak.

MCT the game. Edmonton’s 19-year- File picture of Columbus Blue Jackets players. Edmonton, Alberta old superstar was again held off the scoresheet with the Ducks’ MCT The Blues scored three power- Ryan Kesler as his omnipresent St. Louis play goals on Thursday and had orking overtime shadow, but the center’s quick two chances in the fi rst period, continues to be a little move to get by defense- but managed to lose ground. worthless exercise man Josh Manson drew a hook- he Blues came into this With Alexander Burmistrov for the Anaheim ing penalty. game with Winnipeg off for tripping Ryan Reaves, WDucks. It got cashed in as Cag- having the second most Tarasenko whiff ed on a shot, and Leon Draisaitl scored 3:16 giula became the benefi ciary. points in the league at the Jets turned that into a short- into the extra session Saturday Just eight games into his NHL Thome and with a six-game win handed three-on-one. Blake night to give the Edmonton career, the undrafted college streak at Scottrade Center, but Wheeler skated the puck up ice Oilers a 3-2 victory at Rog- signee out of NCAA power none of the games in that run and fed Chris Thorburn for an ers Place, snapping the Ducks’ North Dakota got a cross-ice were easy. Four were by one goal, easy tap-in and a 1-0 Jets lead. three-game win streak. pass from former Ducks winger and most were still up for grabs It was the third short-handed In snapping a fi ve-game los- Patrick Maroon and sent a one- in the fi nal minute. goal the Blues had allowed this ing streak to the Ducks, the time shot past Gibson. This game was another for the season. Oilers (14-10-2) grabbed sole The Ducks answered that list as the Blues continued to give That was the only goal in the possession of second place in with their own conversion on their fans their money’s worth. fi rst, though Hutton gets some the Pacifi c Division behind San the man advantage. Seconds For the third time in four games of the credit for that. About 3{ Jose. Drake Caggiula scored after Edmonton’s Adam Lars- on this homestand, the Blues minutes before the goal, he made his fi rst NHL goal while Jordan son took a seat for hooking, went to overtime. a quick pad save on a shot by Ben Eberte had three assists. Getzlaf found Kesler down The Blues took a 2-1 lead in the Chiarot and then blocked a shot The Ducks (12-8-5) managed around the net and a success- second period on goals by Alex- on the rebound by Burmistrov to get to overtime on Rickard ful curl move around Talbot ander Steen and Dmitrij Jaskin with his arm. Rakell’s team-leading 10th of evened the score. but gave up a goal to Bryan Little The Blues tied the game on the season midway through Kesler got his ninth of the on a two-on-one 17 seconds into Steen’s 200th career goal and third period. Rakell got a good season to momentarily tie overtime for a 3-2 loss at Scot- 150th with the Blues. He took the bounce when Ryan Getzlaf’s Rakell, with six of those coming trade Center. The Blues came puck down the left side and shot attempted shot struck a skate on the power play. The Ducks into the game with a three-game from just inside the circle, beat- in front and caromed right to have gotten good production win streak overall and extended ing Michael Hutchinson to the his linemate. from him as well as Rakell, their streak of getting points at top right corner. It was the third And they kept pushing to Fowler and Jakob Silfverberg. home to 12 games, going back to time Steen had scored No. 200 win it in regulation. Edmonton The problem is they’re not Oct. 25. but the fi rst one that stuck. He goalie Cam Talbot had to work getting it from Getlzaf or Perry. Jaskin was called for tripping lost one on a replay review and in the third as the Ducks’ fore- The two have racked up their Jacob Trouba in the Blues’ of- another was ruled to have been check kept creating possession share of assists but Perry’s 17 fensive zone with 5:45 to go in tipped by Jaden Schwartz. There and opportunities. Ondrej Kase games without a goal is his the third, which the Blues killed. was no disputing this one. Steen was turned away on a pad save longest streak without one The Blues then got a power play and his father, Thomas, join a with 5:39 left. Cam Fowler had since going 20 games in his of their own with 2:22 to play select group of father-son com- a backhand denied as the fi nal rookie season. Getzlaf’s goal when Josh Morrissey was all over binations each with 200 NHL seconds ticked off . last week at San Jose snapped a Vladimir Tarasenko’s back on goals. The others are the Hulls Overtime has been a prob- 15-game drought. a breakaway and was called for (Bobby and Brett) and the Parises lem area. The Ducks have lost Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has holding, but couldn’t score ei- (J.P. and Zach). Steen’s father all fi ve of their games that have been below average for the Oil- ther. played his entire NHL career gone beyond regulation, four of ers but the second-line center In overtime, Winnipeg won with the previous incarnation of them in the extra fi ve-minute gave them a 2-1 edge with a the faceoff , regrouped in its own the Winnipeg Jets and had 264 session. They’ve struggled in wrist shot for his fourth goal. It end, and Patrik Laine fed an open goals. (Though Swedish, Alexan- the 3-on-3 format, but it didn’t came just as Manson’s second Little on a two-on-one. der Steen was born in Winnipeg.) even come to that in this one. hooking minor of the period Failure on a 74-second 4-on- had ended. 3 power play carried into over- AGAINST time hurt the Ducks. And with RESULTS four skaters aside and no whis- Panthers 0 Senators 2 tle yet to revert back to 3-on-3, Jets 3 (OT) Blues 2 Edmonton took advantage as Red Wings 3 Penguins 5 Green criticises the Andrej Sekera found Draisaitl in Capitals 1 (SO) Lightning 2 front for a one-time shot past Maple Leafs 2 (SO) Canucks 3 Ducks goalie John Gibson. Blue Jackets 3 (SO) Coyotes 2 NBA for its handling Connor McDavid didn’t need Stars 3 Avalanche 0 to score to leave his footprint on Ducks 2 (OT) Oilers 3 Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates his winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks. of ‘unnatural acts’ BASEBALL As usual, Yankees’ priority is to improve their pitching staff

Erik Boland, MCT see what develops over time.” New York Using the word “certainty” File picture of Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (L) tangling was appropriate, and it’s not just with Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James. because of the unproven young ealing Brian McCann to arms. Tanaka was among the MCT posed to go). I don’t understand the Astros last month best in the American League last Oakland that. That’s like me going in there put the Yankees in the season – he went 14-4 with a and saying, ‘Hey, you did some- Dmarket for a bat. 3.07 ERA – but he is followed by thing on your paperwork wrong.’ I A player quite familiar to question marks. Pineda (6-12, raymond Green was don’t know what your paperwork them, and in whom they had 4.82) was wildly inconsistent, tagged with a fl agrant looks like. But it is what it is. They some interest, came off that and although Sabathia made it foul late Thursday made the rule. Make your rule. I market Saturday afternoon through the season healthy and Dnight. While exagger- don’t care. But if you’re going to when Carlos Beltran agreed to had a strong second half to fi n- ating contact on a put-back at- say it’s an unnatural thing, an un- a one-year deal with the Astros ish 9-12 with a 3.91 ERA, the tempt, his fl ailing leg connected natural act, no off ence to James for $16 million, according to lefthander nonetheless has a re- with James Harden’s head. Harden, but I’ve never seen no- various reports. cent track record of injuries and The referees reviewed the play body up until James started do- The Yankees never reached will turn 37 in July. and levied the ruling, something ing it that shoots a layup like this the point of off ering a contract Cashman has been creative in the NBA sanctioned against this under your arm (sweeps arms in a to Beltran, whom they dealt to the past in securing pitching – past off season after Green’s kicks demonstration). That’s really not the Rangers before last season’s he packaged David Phelps and became a major storyline in the a natural act either. That’s not a trade deadline, but they were not Martin Prado in a deal for hard- postseason. natural basketball play either. But, against a reunion. throwing Nathan Eovaldi (who Green expressed displeasure hey, if you’re going to make a rule, Their pursuit of a hitter will was released Monday) two off - postgame in the ruling and went make a rule. But if you’re going to very much be on the table dur- seasons ago – and probably will even further at Saturday’s shoota- take unnatural acts out the game, ing the annual winter meetings, have to be that again. round, criticising the league offi ce then let’s lock in on all these un- which begin today at the Gaylord File picture of New York Yankees’ Brian McCann. The free-agent market is ex- for believing they can tell him how natural acts and take them out the National Resort and Convention tremely weak – the Yankees are his body is supposed to react to game. I don’t know. Let them keep Center in National Harbor, Md. remains their top free-agent But even with Cashman say- Green and Luis Severino. interested in left-hander Rich diff erent situations on the court. telling people how their body react Free agents Edwin Encarnacion target. The left-hander’s price ing during November’s general Those fi ve have shown various Hill, who heads the list – but the “I just laugh at it,” Green said. I guess. They need to go take a few and Mike Napoli are options, – which could reach the $100 managers’ meetings that Dellin degrees of promise, but they’re trade route is more realistic. “It’s funny how you can tell me more kinesiology classes, though. though the former’s age (33) and million plateau, given that he Betances and Tyler Clippard are far from big league-proven. Cashman seems ready to deal how I get hit and how my body is Maybe they can take a taping class price tag could prove prohibi- has drawn interest from several the only ones with guaranteed “We certainly would like to now that there’s a new collective- supposed to react. I didn’t know or functional movement classes. tive. teams – might cause the Yankees bullpen spots, bolstering the ro- add to it or certainly would like bargaining agreement, though he the league offi ce was that smart Let me know how the body works Still, that isn’t the Yankees’ to look elsewhere, though. tation is paramount. to be in a position to feel that has told other GMs and agents to when it came to body movements. because clearly mine don’t work priority. Cashman, who does have Cashman has said that only you can put some more certainty give him a few more days to digest I’m not sure if they took kinesiol- the right way.” As general manager Brian some money to work with this three pitchers – Masahiro Tan- in there or more competition all of the details. ogy for their positions to tell you After the game, Green took to Cashman says just about every off season with the salaries of aka, Michael Pineda and CC in there,” Cashman said. “It’s “I said, ‘Listen, give me at how your body is going to react his Twitter feed to unload what off season, it’s “pitching, pitch- McCann and the retired Mark Sabathia – are “locked” into probably a thin starting pitch- least 24, 48 more hours to see when you get hit in a certain po- seemed to be some veiled mes- ing, pitching,” something espe- Teixeira off the books, made their spots. ing market. There’s a number what sort of information we can sition. Or you go up and you have sages toward the league. After cially germane this time around contact early this off season “Then you’ve got a whole of diff erent relievers in the mar- get from baseball,’” Cashman guys who jump to the ceiling. A lot tweeting “Marked...,” Green sent as questions pockmark the staff . with the agents for Chapman bunch of young guys that are go- ket. Certainly more relievers in said Friday morning at an event of these guys that make the rules out three pictures _ one of the Closer Aroldis Chapman, and top-tier free-agent closers ing to compete,” Cashman said, this free agency than there are in Stamford, Conn. “So hopeful- can’t touch the rim, yet they tell poster for the movie Bad Boys whom the Yankees traded to the Kenley Jansen and Mark Melan- mentioning Adam Warren, Bry- starters of quality. And the trade ly, we’ll be able to hit the ground you how you’re way up there in the and two of the Bad Boys Detroit Cubs before the trade deadline, con. an Mitchell, Luis Cessa, Chad route’s obviously an area we’ll running Monday at the latest.” air which way you’re body (is sup- Pistons. Gulf Times 8 Monday, December 5, 2016 RUGBY

SPOTLIGHT REPLY Saints defend action over Cheika predicts gain North incident

AFP London

orthampton’s director of rugby Jim from Wallaby pain Mallinder felt obliged to defend him- self and the club over accusations they sent Wales wing George North ‘I feel I have a responsibility to develop talent and give them opportunities’ Nback on in the game with Leicester after he had been knocked out. AFP The 24-year-old star — who went on an Twickenham, United Kingdom enforced fi ve month break from the game af- ter suff ering four head blows in vefi months between November 2014 and March 2015 — ustralia coach Michael looked to be unconscious when he lay prone Cheika is confi dent there with his head pressed into the turf after a tackle will be a long-term benefi t by Leicester’s Adam Thompstone on Saturday. to the Wallabies from a dif- Thompstone earned a spell in the sin bin for fiA cult 2016 that ended with a 37-21 the 17th minute tackle whilst North — who lay defeat by England. head pressed into the turf and seemingly ob- Australia were overpowered in the livious to the world — underwent a long spell second half on Saturday as England of medical attention on the pitch before being recorded their fourth win over the taken off for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA). Wallabies this year and a 14th in a He returned to action minutes later and row against all opponents. played through to the end but was unable to The result meant Australia had prevent the Tigers defeating the Saints 19-11. lost nine of their 15 Tests in 2016, Former England and British and Irish Lions leaving Cheika with a win percent- back Ugo Monye, now a television pundit, said age for the year almost as bad as the North should not have returned to the fray. one that saw England coach Eddie “I don’t think George North should be on the Jones dismissed as Wallaby boss pitch it’s a simple as that,” said the 33-year- over a decade ago. old. “If there is any suspicion that someone The 40% win rate was Australia’s has lost consciousness you should be taken off worst since the Wallabies managed the pitch. You should not take any further part just 38.5 % in 2005 — a return that in the game. got Jones the sack. “Health is paramount and considering his But after taking Australia to last history he should not be taking part in the sec- year’s World Cup fi nal, there is no ond half.” suggestion that Cheika is in immi- Mallinder said it was up to the club doctor nent danger of suff ering a similar whether a player is passed fi t to continue or fate. not. And having introduced 13 debu- “I don’t make those decisions and our doc- tants this year, Cheika was confi dent tors and medical staff are really clear that if his investment in new talent would anyone gets knocked unconscious or has had yield a dividend at the 2019 World a knock where they look like they are uncon- Cup in Japan. scious, they need to come straight off ,” he said. “This year has been about teach- “It’s as simple as that. You don’t go to be as- ing ourselves a few things,” said sessed — you are off straight away. George has Cheika after Australia, 10-0 up early had some previous issues so he took it steady. on, were eventually outscored four “The doctor was very, very happy even as he tries to two by England at Twicken- walked off that he was just going to go for an ham. assessment and thankfully he could come back “We’ve played the top two teams on. (New Zealand and England) seven “Our doctor makes those decisions but there times this year with a whole bunch are protocols that go on with people looking at of new players and that’s going to be the incident.” good even if the outcomes haven’t North for his part tweeted that he was fi ne. been good.” “Thanks for all the messages. I am OK,” said North. “I landed on my neck and was worried ‘Develop talent’ about it. Thanks to the medics for checking He added: “I know we’ll be criti- me out properly. I can’t help but feel I won’t be cised for losing but you have to wear looking left or right for a few days.” that sometimes. “When you don’t take those deci- sions, it’s like I have to keep my job at all costs. “But I don’t think like that. I feel I have a responsibility to develop tal- ent and give them opportunities.” Among those who’ve made their Wallaby bow this year are Sefa Na- ivalu, a try-scorer on Saturday, as well as Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Australia head coach Michael Cheika. (Reuters) Hodge, Samu Kerevi and powerful No 8 Lopeti Timani. The build-up to Saturday’s match for a drink he hoped would suit Aus- of the day one team wins and you re- and when you lose you pay respect “We’ve made decisions around had featured plenty of verbal spar- tralian tastes. spect that and everyone goes on with and that’s the way she rolls.” this season as opposed to starting ring between Cheika and Jones, once “We’ve got cold beers actually not their business.” As for the so called ‘war of words’ next season when the calendar isn’t team-mates at Sydney club Rand- warm beers,” said Jones. Meanwhile Cheika insisted he still between the coaches, Cheika said: perhaps as packed,” said Cheika. wick. Cheika said Jones risked tar- Cheika confi rmed the off er had had a huge regard for Jones’s coach- “We were at the referee’s conference “I still believe it’s the right deci- nishing his legacy in Australia and been taken up, saying: “They invited ing ability. and there were no dramas. sion and you have to take the pain had a chip on his shoulder. us into the dressing room and the “We go hard at each other some- “It’s all been pumped up and has when it comes. But I still think we’ve But Jones, speaking after the lads are in there now having a beer. times and sometimes we don’t. But no relevance at the end of the day gained a lot on what we’ve done this match, said the Wallabies had been “Everyone is playing hard off the there is respect there always. because it’s about the 23 best players year around the new players.” invited into England’s dressing room fi eld and on the fi eld. “But at the end “When you win you stay humble and in this instance it was England.”

FOCUS ‘Weirdo’ Pocock heading back to Africa for year off

Reuters would probably be time to move on,” Pocock Sydney said. “I don’t know why I thought that, but having the two years out with injury, get- ustralia coach Michael Cheika will ting back into it last year and really enjoying be looking for improvement from being part of this Wallaby setup, I’m really the Wallabies next year after losing keen to get to the next World Cup. nine of 15 tests in 2016 but they will “I fi gured having some time off next year haveA to fi nd it without David Pocock as the was, in my mind, probably the way to do standout loose forward embarks on a sab- it, to freshen up physically and mentally batical. and then back myself to get back into some The year off was agreed by an Australian form.” Rugby Union desperate to keep the world’s One of Pocock’s last acts in the green and best poacher out of the clutches of wealthy gold was to throw a pass that Jamie Joseph European clubs, and the three-year deal that intercepted for England’s fi nal try in the 37- included it means he will be back in Wallaby 21 Twickenham defeat. gold for the 2019 World Cup. It was anomalous to his usually reliable Pocock has always countered the rugby contribution, and his standing as a player player stereotype with his environmental and a leader means it would be no great sur- and social justice activism and he admits the prise if a 31-year-old Pocock ended up cap- desire for a year out of the game to pursue taining his adopted nation in Japan at the other interests is consistent with that “oth- World Cup in three year’s time. erness”. Pocock is off to Japan to see out the season “I’m a bit of a weirdo so I’m happy with with the Panasonic Wild Knights, where he that, that’s okay,” he told reporters in Lon- reunites with former Wallabies coach Rob- don this week. bie Deans, before heading back to his native “Rugby is certainly something that I really Zimbabwe to participate in conservation enjoy but I think like everyone I’m interested projects. in other things and I feel pretty lucky to be He is also planning to visit his grandfa- able to take some time off to be able to pur- ther, who has prevailed in a 15-year legal sue them and then get back into rugby.” battle to keep hold of the family farm - a Losing one of your best players for a year struggle that might provide an small insight is far from ideal but it could have been worse into where Pocock gets his own uncompro- for Australia as Pocock said he had originally mising attitude to life and rugby. intended to retire by the time he reached 28, “He’s got a real love of the land and he’s his current age. not going anywhere,” Pocock said. “In my head, 10 years was always a pret- “That’s kind of what he’s doing with his Australia’s flanker David Pocock (R) knocks-on as he attempts to score a try during the international rugby union test against England at Twickenham stadium ty good chunk of time and then I fi gured it life at the moment - trying to hold on.” in south-west London on Saturday. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, December 5, 2016 9 SPORT

CYCLING FOCUS Armaan wins Kenny praises Sutton, Lamborghini but says cannot Super Series condone behaviour ‘Shane never said anything wrong to me personally, he never was out of line’

IANS Valencia

ndias racing sensation Armaan Ebrahim and his team- mate Dilantha Malagamuwa of Sri Lanka concluded their 2016 racing season in style, winning the Pro Am cham- pionship in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series here Iyesterday. The talented duo also took the third position in the Pro cat- egory, thanks to their consistent performances through the year. In the sixth round here yesterday, Armaan and Dilantha fi nished third in the morning race and fourth in the afternoon one to garner enough points to clinch the title. They began the morning on a high note with Armaan start- ing at pole for Race 1, his second pole position during the year, and Dimantha qualifying at fi fth for Race 2. In the fi rst leg for the Pros, Armaan held on to the pole po- sition comfortably till he pitted to set his team up for a grand fi nish. But in the second leg for amateurs, Dilantha could not hold on to the lead and dropped two places to give the duo an overall fi nish of third place. In Race 2, Dilantha started the amateur leg at fi fth and seemed to be doing well till the penultimate lap. But just as he was coming into the pits, he took a big hit from behind and damaged his suspension quite badly. Despite that, Armaan piloted the car bravely in the Pro leg and used all his experi- ence and skill to clinch a podium fi nish to give them overall fourth position. The points in Race 1 and Race 2 were good enough for Armaan and Dilantha to win the Pro Am Champi- onship and take the third place in Pro category. “It was a year full of ups and downs. My pace was strong through the year and I had two pole positions in the 6 rounds. In most of the races I was ahead of the Pro drivers during my stints,” Armaan said after the victory celebrations. “We could not fi nish two races earlier which cost us a number of points. Otherwise, we would have taken the Pro title too,” he added.

Toulouse dominate Brive Toulouse: Toulouse scored five tries on Saturday on their way to an emphatic win in their Top 14 mid-table clash against Brive. Up 17-5 at half-time thanks to three tries within 11 minutes, Toulouse went on to score two more for a 30-12 victory over an opposition line-up who rarely posed a threat. A file picture of four-times Olympic champion Laura Kenny (R) with former British cycling technical director Shane Sutton. At the outset, however, it was Brive who went on the off ensive and put five points on the board after just four Reuters making sexist and derogatory re- want to see other people treated impact on British cycling, which World Cup they pretty much won minutes with a touchdown from a break by backrow man London marks. like that.” has won 14 Olympic golds in the every event they were in. Said Hireche that went unconverted. A British cycling inquiry up- Varnish said Sutton had told her last two Games, and pointed to “That just shows that the sys- It took Toulouse a while to regain their composure but held the allegations in October to “go and have a baby” after she the success of a new brigade. tem is working.” their reward for pressure came in the 19th minute when our-times Olympic after an internal investigation was dropped from the track team. “It wasn’t like we had daily Kenny also welcomed fi ve- Francois Cros opened the scoring with their first try of the champion Laura Kenny into his conduct. Sutton was also accused of mak- contact with Shane,” she said. times Olympic champion and game to bring the scores level. said she will always be “Shane never said anything ing derogatory remarks to para “Obviously Shane and Dave B former Tour de France champion That was followed up with another just three minutes later grateful to former British wrong to me personally, he never cyclists. He continues to deny the put the system in place and that Bradley Wiggins’ decision not to from Semi Kunatani after a sweeping crossfield move. cyclingF technical director Shane was out of line,” Kenny, who re- accusations and is reported to be a is a lot of the reason behind our retire. Sebastien Bezy converted French international centre Sutton but could not condone the peated her London 2012 feat by target for cycling Australia. success. The 36-year-old was surpris- Gael Fickou wrong-footed the defence on the half hour for behaviour that forced him to quit winning team pursuit and om- “He would go out of his way to “But it proved that the system ingly named on Britain’s podium a third try to give the home side a comfortable half-time 100 days before the Rio Games. nium gold in Rio, told Reuters at help me and treated me very well is in place because when he did programme for next year. cushion. Sutton, who along with Dave the Revolution Series event in but I can’t condone what the in- leave we went and won six golds “The 18 months with him on After the break Fickou went over again for his second try Brailsford helped put the struc- London. vestigation proved,” Kenny, for- in Rio. the team actually took the pres- on 47 minutes after Bezy slotted home a penalty. Four ture in place for Britain to be- “But to know that it went on in merly Trott before marrying track “Now we know that the girls sure off because everyone was fo- minutes from time Arthur Bonneval added the fifth try in come a cycling superpower, stood my workplace upsets me because sprinter Jason Kenny in Septem- and guys are coming through the cused on Brad and I could just get reply to a touchdown from Brive’s Sevanaia Galala, which down in April after Kenny’s team I wouldn’t have wanted to have ber, said. She said Sutton’s de- academy. They proved they are on with my day to day business,” Gaetan Germain converted. mate Jess Varnish accused him of been treated like that and I don’t parture had not had any negative ready to step up. At the Glasgow she said.

SPOTLIGHT QECC unveils jerseys for GEPL inaugural season

By Sports Reporter Doha

atar Expat Cricket Com- munity (QECC) unveiled new jerseys for the teams for the inaugural season of GulfQ Expat Premier League (GEPL) 2016-2017 on Wednesday. As part of QECC’s social com- mitment and in a view to promote the traffi c awareness in Qatar and amongst players and spectators the jerseys carry a social message slo- gan ‘Be Your Family’s Hero….Always Follow Traffi c Rules’. The event was witnessed by the GEPL team captains and guests from Qatar cricket fraternity. The GEPL offi cials and senior players have dis- tributed the new jerseys to all the team captains. QECC committee members Pretheesh and Rajesh Me- non said they are excited to unveil new jerseys with the social message. QECC is currently running T20 premier leagues - Pearl Premier League (PPL), Doha Premier League (DPL) and winter premier league (WPL). The top three fi nishers from each of these leagues will directly qualify for the QECC Champions League (QECL) the dates of which will be announced later. GEPL team captains and owners pose in their new jerseys. Gulf Times 10 Monday, December 5, 2016 SPORT

CHESS Magnus Carlsen’s dramatic fi ghtback from ‘certain’ defeat cements his legend He believed defeat was ‘certain’ after a series of self-inflicted wounds, but Magnus Carlsen overcame self-doubt and a stubborn opponent to show the greatest champions find the path to victory when they’re not at their best

By Bryan Armen Graham in New York theguardian.com

agnus Carlsen looked spent. It was Thursday morning in New York, less Mthan a full day after he had survived the sternest test of his career to successfully defend the world chess championship on his 26th birthday. He had celebrated into the night with dinner and a champagne shower at the BLT Prime steakhouse in Gramercy sur- rounded by family, sponsors and hang- ers-on. It was a catharsis hard-won. Now the task was accomplished, and he could fi nally off er a sober assess- ment of the three-week psychodrama which had nearly cost him everything. He spoke deliberately from a brown leather wraparound couch at the Ritz- Carlton in Battery Park, where sleep had come so sparingly during those interminable nights last week when the Norwegian champion, bruised by self-doubt after falling behind his Rus- sian challenger Sergey Karjakin in the best-of-12-games match, accepted the reality that the title which represented his life’s work had “certainly” slipped from his grasp. “I did not have a positive state of mind,” he recalled. “I felt that even though I still thought I was the strong- est player that it would be very diffi cult to prove since after all I had only a cou- ple of chances left to win games. At that point, part of me still believed in it.” His voice trailed off . “But it was very, very diffi cult.” The greatest champions are defi ned not by winning when all the tumblers are aligned in their favor, but by how they persist and problem-solve and pull it from the bag when they’re not at their best. Serena Williams scratching out points at the net when her thunderbolt serve has betrayed her; a fl u-stricken Michael Jordan, dehydrated and barely upright, willing the Chicago Bulls to victory in the NBA fi nals. The great ones don’t merely fi nd a path to vic- tory, they invent it. By that measure, Carlsen’s fi ghtback from the brink will be remembered long after the chess it- self has been forgotten. The queen sacrifi ce has been de- scribed as the beauty of chess incar- nate, a tactical fl ourish that highlights the aesthetic potential of a game that’s increasingly — and never more than in the generation since Deep Blue v Kasparov, 1997 — become informed by the machinelike objectivity of the su- percomputer. Sixty years ago, a gawky 13-year- old in blue jeans named Robert James Fischer used the willful concession of his strongest piece to defeat the lead- ing American master Donald Byrne in the Rosenwald memorial tournament at the Marshall chess club in Greenwich Then Carlsen off ered to surrender his more focused on that in my preparation, I was thinking how am I going to win rankings, but he defeated a series of years ago, Carlsen, then 22, was already Village. That game sparked a meteoric strongest piece to ensnare Karjakin’s to train for the fi fth and sixth, even sev- this rather than trying to make the best higher-ranked opponents in the Candi- regarded as the world’s best player. The ascent that culminated with the Brook- queen in a mating net, a coup de grace enth hours of play,” Carlsen refl ected. move, which is not a very good strategy.” dates Tournament to earn the title shot. match was cast as a passing of the torch lyn prodigy’s epochal world champion- all the more breathtaking given the “Because I felt that it was very clear that Karjakin played out his strategy in He came to New York ranked No. 9 in from Anand, who was 43, a relic of the ship win in 1972. faster time control of rapid play. I was better than him in the second and the ninth game, which ended in another the world and departs at No. 6. pre-computer era when elite players Yet, it was Fischer’s extraordinary vic- “It was the kind of move every chess third hours of play. A lot better. But then lengthy draw, this one after 74 moves. Karjakin off ers Carlsen a fascinat- came of age studying from books and tory over Byrne that’s come to be known player dreams about getting a chance to he started to defend and became diffi cult.” Then came the fateful 10th on ing foil. He was born in Crimea, where notecards almost exclusively. as the game of the century. Style matters. make,” commentator Maurice Ashley The diffi culty redoubled in the eighth Thanksgiving Day, when Karjakin he ascended to the title of grandmaster Karjakin was born in 1990, the same For nearly three weeks, the freewheel- told NRK, the Norwegian public broad- game when Carlsen’s gamble for a win missed an early chance to force a draw when he was 12, which is still a world as Carlsen. Which means this year’s ing adaptability that has been Carlsen’s casting network which had aired the with the white pieces backfi red. Time by perpetual check that would have record. He felt his development was championship marked the fi rst ever be- calling card—the daring abandon of match in primetime. “That move will became a factor for both players and af- moved him one step closer to the prize. stunted in Ukraine and relocated to tween players brought up entirely in the memorised opening lines in favor of be remembered forever.” ter more than fi ve hours and 52 moves, Carlsen then dug in for a six-and-a- Russia in 2008, where he was granted age of computer chess. chess-playing—had been stifl ed by a The triumph capped a stunning re- Carlsen resigned. half-hour grind, ultimately prevailing citizenship by presidential decree. The once-clunky machines that spit stubborn Russian challenger hellbent on versal of fortune for the champion, who He declined television interviews in to set the stage for Wednesday’s white- Perhaps not coincidentally, he’s voiced out nonsensical moves developed at an transforming this year’s world champi- nine days earlier had found himself on the immediate aftermath and then, frus- knuckle fi nale. outspoken support of Vladimir Putin exponential rate. Now there are chess onship match into attritional war. the brink of a humiliation practically trated by a delay before the mandatory Carlsen said on Thursday his focus and the invasion of Crimea, ridiculing programs that could fi t on an iPhone They had drawn all but two of the unthinkable at the outset of the three- post-match press conference, stormed moving forward will be on controlling western sanctions against Russia. that could beat just about any human in 12 games in regulation, forcing a four- week match. from the stage. The incident made head- the emotions that nearly did him in. When the US supreme court ruled the world. game rapid tie-breaker on Wednesday Carlsen had arrived in New York an lines from Pravda to Deadspin. (“I was The Norwegian, who has famously de- on gay marriage, Karjakin didn’t mince These machines engender a sort of afternoon in the sound-proof studio overwhelming favorite against Karja- just devastated, I couldn’t sit there,” he clined to work with a sports psycholo- his words: “On this ‘landmark’ day for objectivity that will make Karjakin a on the third fl oor of the Fulton Market kin, a relatively unheralded opponent said. “It’s not my proudest moment.”) gist, confi rmed he plans on enlisting America, I rejoiced for the fi rst time in more diffi cult opponent for Carlsen Building at the South Street Seaport. who had earned his place at the board This was the tactical equivalent of an one moving forward. my life that I’ve never been there.” than Anand, a former world champion. They’d drawn the fi rst two with by winning the eight-man Candidates outmatched side playing 11 men behind “When everything is under con- Political overtones have long stoked Carlsen will now hold the title for Carlsen missing a win in the second, Tournament in March, which he en- the ball with the hopes of sneaking one trol it’s very, very diffi cult to beat me,” mainstream interest in chess, never two years before he’s required to defend but the Norwegian used his time bet- tered as a 15-1 longshot. on the counter for a smash-and-grab he said. “But obviously my playing more than the cold war proxy battle it. Karjakin, as he alluded in Wednes- ter in both, and was never in danger of Straw polls among grandmasters victory. And it was working. Karjakin strength drops quite a bit when every- between Fischer and Spassky. An un- day’s aftermath, will be there waiting. losing. Then in the third as Karjakin unilaterally tipped Carlsen, who has needed only hold for draws in fi ve more thing is not going according to plan. I dercurrent of paranoia surfaced in the But he will rue how close he came here once again ran short on time, a blunder been known as the ‘Mozart of chess’ games to complete a stunning upset. think I’ll have to work on that more se- build-up to this year’s match when it in Manhattan, while Carlsen can take on the 37th move handed the Carlsen since before he was a teenager, citing Mozart found himself at the tip of Sa- riously in the future. It’s very easy when was reported that Carlsen had enlisted heart in his taste for the fi ght. the crucial victory. Now the champion his rating and match experience. lieri’s blade. things are going my way. I’m going from Microsoft as a cybersecurity consult- “It’s good to know that I can win even needed only a draw with the white piec- The fi rst seven games had been draws, Everything Carlsen had worked for— victory in one tournament to another ant, fearing Karjakin’s team was out to if things don’t go my way, since what es in the fi nale to win the title. with Karjakin managing breathtak- the title he’s held for three years, the and the confi dence is there. When it’s hack into their preparations or Skype happened up until the 10th game ba- But Carlsen, who is also the world’s ing escapes in the third and fourth that image of invincibility that he’s traded on not there, things fall apart a bit.” conversations with his seconds. sically was the worst-case scenario,” top-ranked rapid player, had no inter- evoked comparisons to Soviet prede- for millions in endorsements and mod- Twelve months ago it would have But even more alluring is the idea he said. “It’s been a fi ght throughout. est in backing into the championship. cessors Botvinnik, Spassky and Karpov. eling side gigs—hung in the balance. strained credulity to imagine Karja- that a sport’s peerless champion may It hasn’t been particularly pretty. Of He took control of the centre and forced On the other side, Carlsen’s frustrations “In those moments the important kin even playing for the title, let alone have found a contemporary rival for course the fi nish was pretty, at least from Karjakin backward, tightening his grip became increasingly evident. thing is to focus on the process instead pushing Carlsen to the limit in New years to come. Even before he unseated my point of view, but it’s most of all been on the position and choking off all “When he managed to hold those po- of the results, but it’s very, very hard,” York. He was coming off a bad year that Viswanathan Anand for the world ti- a fi ght. For me that’s what chess is about points of escape. sitions early, maybe I should have been he said. “Even a bit during the game, saw him from the top 10 in the world tle with clinical ease in Chennai three and what these matches should be.” Gulf Times Monday, December 5, 2016 11 SPORT

FOCUS England selectors have some juggling to do

By Vic Marks in Mumbai would operate for a Sunday paper, So a bit more juggling is re- The Guardian so neatly has his workload as an quired. Root’s return to the squad international cricketer evolved. means the selectors would have He seems to play so infrequently to choose two out of Sam Billings, or the management, at that there is an additional pressure Ben Duckett and Jonny Bairstow least, the rest between Tests on him to succeed when he does. (all of whom could provide cover has been interrupted. A However, he has overseen a major for Jos Buttler behind the stumps). one-day squad for the three improvement in England’s ODI This is a tricky choice especially ODIsF and three T20s against India cricket. So he remains in credit since there is an eagerness to begin in January will be announced today. and, like Hales, he should at least Duckett’s rehabilitation process So there have been some confer- be fresh. as soon as possible after his tor- ence calls in between the R and R. Therefore a minimum of two ment in the Tests against the off - As ever there are a jumble of pri- players from the ODI squad will spinners. orities; the importance of white-ball have to give way. One to miss out is It may be that they decide cricket has been properly empha- James Vince, who throughout his Bairstow, not necessarily an ODI sised by this regime, yet there re- brief England career has fl ickered regular in recent times, might mains the issue of when to rest Eng- but never caught fi re. Another to usefully recharge after his record- land’s key, three-format players. stay at home might be Moeen Ali, breaking year in Test cricket with So selection remains a precari- for diff erent reasons. the bat and the gloves. If not, ous balancing act. Moeen, like Ben Stokes, Joe Root Duckett misses out. In the New Year there is a bit of and, increasingly, Chris Woakes, There is inevitably concern respite from international cricket generally plays in the best side about Ben Stokes’ workload — after the return to India with just whatever the format. Unlike Root, even though he always gives the a brief trip to the Caribbean for Moeen played in the ODIs in Bang- impression that he wants to play. three ODIs in early March, which ladesh; in the past few weeks in In- And, of course, England want might be quite an attractive prop- dia there have been signs that the to win which is more likely when osition for the players. spark has diminished. their charismatic all-rounder is in Next summer there is the The most amenable of cricket- the side. So Stokes — and perhaps Champions Trophy in England, ers, who must always be asking Woakes — might be required for a piece of silverware that has “what number would you like me the 50-over games only but then been targeted by Andrew Strauss to bat today, skip?” Moeen might given a break for the ensuing T20 downwards. benefi t from a break. matches. For the games in India there Since Root was absent at the Moreover, it is highly likely that Eoin Morgan will be back will be a return to the squad for start of this expedition he should England will want to continue the to lead England in the the captain Eoin Morgan and Alex come back to India in the New experiment of having Tymal Mills upcoming ODI and T20 Hales, both of whom opted out of Year, though he will become a fa- as a T20 specialist, who bowls fast. series against India. the ODIs in Bangladesh. If Mor- ther for the fi rst time around the Expect a list of names that con- gan were an old-style journalist he fi rst week in January. tains a few asterisks. CRICKET/ WOMEN’S ASIA CUP Asif planning to ask ICC if it has directed India women beat PCB not to pick him Pakistan to lift title India win by 17 runs for their sixth title triumph in the competition

IANS Bangkok IANS season. So I definitely intend Hyderabad, Pakistan to ask the ICC if they have any ndia defeated Pakistan by 17 runs reservations about me,” he to retain the Asian Cricket Council added. “Others are not bowling (ACC) Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup rustrated at being ignored from a canon... I at least bowl title at the Asian Institute of Tech- for selection, former like them too.” Inology Ground in the Thailand capital Fpacer and convicted “It is fine if PCB chairman yesterday. spot-fixer Mohamed Asif is Shaharyar Khan has left it to The Bangkok win was Indian women’s contemplating asking the Inter- the selectors to decide when to sixth Asia Cup victory in as many meets. national Cricket Council (ICC) if induct Salman Butt and me, but India last won the title at Guangzhou, in the world body has instructed the selectors have to be fair and China, in 2012. the Pakistan Cricket Board should pick those who have been Opting to bat fi rst, India scored 121/5 (PCB) not to consider him for performing well. We should have with veteran Mithali Raj scoring a brilliant the national team. been invited to the camp to show unbeaten 73. Apart from her, lower-order Asif was convicted of spot- our performance but we have batswoman Jhulan Goswami (17) was the fixing in 2011 and was banned been continuously ignored.” other notable contributor for India. for seven years by the ICC, On the current Pakistan pace For Pakistan, Anam Amin scalped two along with teammates Salman attack, Asif said he is not very wickets while Sana Mir and Sadia Yousuf Butt and Mohamed Amir. Asif impressed: “We talk about took one wicket each. began a one-year prison sen- talent... but this is all the talent In reply, Pakistan started off the run tence for his role in the scandal that we have. I don’t think there chase on a good note as openers Ayesha on November 3. The ICC then is anything special about our Zafar (15) and Javeria Khan (22) scored 24 allowed Asif to play in 2015. pacers. It is an average sort of runs in four overs. But since then he hasn’t been attack,” he said. Middle order batswoman Bismah Ma- selected by Pakistan. “To develop something spe- roof also played a crucial role by scor- “Some information to this cial, you must work hard. And ing a breezy 25. But apart from them no eff ect recently reached me that of course some have abilities other player contributed much as they the PCB has been asked by which are God-gifted. I have could manage only 104/6 in the allotted the ICC not to consider me for played a full season now but I 20 overs. (national team) selection,” Asif didn’t see anything special, be For India, Ekta Bisht scalped two wick- told Pakistan daily Dawn. it Rahat (Ali) or Imran Khan or ets while Anuja Patil, Jhulan, Shikha Pan- Asif is curretly representing Sohail Khan.” dey and Preeti Bose took a wicket each. Wapda team in the super eight Asif felt Pakistan should shift India refused to play a bilateral series BCCI congratulates team their emphatic win. This is the sixth ti- proud by stretching India’s unbeaten run match of the Quaid-i-Azam Tro- their home venue from the against Pakistan between August 1 and Octo- tle win in Asia Cup and also proves our in the Asia Cup to 32 matches and taking phy against Sui Southern Gas United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ber 31 in the sixth round of the International The Board of Control for Cricket in In- dominance in the region as the leading the Asia Cup title count to six,” BCCI sec- Company (SSGC) being played South Africa or Sri Lanka where Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s Champi- dia (BCCI) congratulated the team. “On women’s team,” BCCI president Anurag retary Ajay Shirke added in the statement. at the Niaz Stadium. the pitches are better and con- onship calendar recently. The ICC docked six behalf of the BCCI, I would like to con- Thakur said in a statement. “I congratulate the entire team for this “I don’t know how authentic is ditions more competitive. “Even points from India as a punishment. gratulate the Indian women’s team for “The Indian team has done everyone outstanding achievement.” the info. On my part, I am play- Sri Lanka has better pitches ing regularly in the (domestic) compared to the UAE,” he said.

National Showjumping Competition

Hamad Ali al-Attiyah (Cassandra) of Qatar Armed Forces won the main event in the National Showjumping competition at the Qatar Equestrian Federation recently. Nasser Jassim al-Ghazali (Quel Homme) came second followed by Qatar Armed Forces’ Sheikh Khalifa al-Thani (Sidoline Van de Centaur) in third. On extreme right are the top three finishers of the Future Rides Competition. PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi Monday, December 5, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

CRICKET Smith's record century leads Aussies to ODI win Man of the match Smith struck 14 fours and four sixes in his seventh ODI century after winning the toss

AFP SYDNEY SCORECARD Sydney Australia innings J. Neesham c Hazlewood b Starc...... 34 D. Warner b Ferguson ...... 24 B.J. Watling c Smith b Marsh ...... 6 teve Smith hit a record-breaking century and took two A. Finch b Henry...... 0 C. Munro c Bailey b Cummins ...... 49 superb catches as Australia beat New Zealand by 68 S. Smith c Munro b Boult ...... 164 M. Santner c Warner b Zampa ...... 0 runs in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series G. Bailey c Watling b Neesham ...... 17 de Grandhomme lbw b Hazlewood ...6 opener in Sydney yesterday. M. Marsh run out (Neesham) ...... 1 M. Henry c Bailey b Cummins ...... 27 SThe Australia skipper smashed 164 off 157 balls, the highest T. Head c and b Boult ...... 52 L. Ferguson b Marsh...... 0 one-day international score at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to M. Wade b Henry ...... 38 T. Boult not out ...... 1 lead Australia to 324 for eight. P. Cummins not out ...... 0 Extras (lb4, w4) ...... 8 Man of the match Smith struck 14 fours and four sixes in his M. Starc c Watling b Neesham...... 11 Total (all out; 44.2 overs) ...... 256 seventh ODI century after winning the toss to give the Black A. Zampa not out...... 2 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Latham), Caps a tough target to chase down. Extras (lb1, w9, nb5) ...... 15 2-34 (Williamson), 3-126 (Neesham), Smith then took two great catches and paceman Josh Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) ...... 324 4-140 (Watling), 5-185 (Guptill), 6-187 Hazlewood claimed three wickets to dismiss the Kiwis for 256 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Finch), 2-47 (Santner), 7-203 (de Grandhomme), in 44.2 overs. (Warner), 3-89 (Bailey), 4-92 (Marsh), 8-253 (Henry), 9-255 (Munro), 10-256 Smith’s knock, the seventh highest by an Australian, sur- 5-219 (Head), 6-302 (Smith), 7-311 (Ferguson) passed South Africa’s AB de Villiers’ 162 at the same ground (Wade), 8-322 (Starc) Bowling: Starc 7-1-37-1, Hazlewood 10- in last year’s World Cup. Did not bat: J. Hazlewood 0-49-3 (2w), Marsh 8.2-1-38-2 (1w), Cum- It was also the joint-highest by an Australia captain. Ricky Bowling: Henry 10-0-74-2 (1nb, 1w), mins 9-0-62-2 (1w), Zampa 10-0-66-2 Ponting also made 164 against South Africa in Johannesburg Boult 10-1-51-2 (2w), Ferguson 9-0-73-1 Result: Australia won by 68 runs in 2006. (4nb, 2w), De Grandhomme 6-0-27-0, Man of the match: Steve Smith He then underlined his man-of-the-match qualities with Santner 9-0-40-0, Neesham 6-0-58-2 (AUS) two decisive catches in the Black Caps’ innings. (4w) Toss: Australia It was his throat-high catch at slip that got a big break- New Zealand innings Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) through to dismiss skipper Kane Williamson for just nine. M. Guptill c Maxwell (sub) b Zampa 114 and Mick Martell (AUS) Smith later latched onto a fl ying one-handed screamer to T. Latham b Hazlewood ...... 2 Third umpire: Paul Wilson (AUS) dismiss BJ Watling for six off Mitchell Marsh, hurling himself K. Williamson c Smith b Hazlewood ...9 Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS) to his left in the gully for a stunning catch. “I got a bit of luck. I was probably out lbw at one point,” Smith said. “It’s nice to get my highest score at my home ground and post a huge total. “We were able to get over the line, which was the most pleasing thing. I am sure New Zealand will hit back hard.” Opener Martin Guptill raised his 11th ODI century with a mighty six off Marsh over long-on off 93 balls and was his side’s major hope of reeling in Australia’s huge target. But leg-spinner Adam Zampa coaxed Guptill into a false shot to fi nd fi elding substitute Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket and he was on his way for 114 off 102 balls in the 33rd over. “Guptill’s was fantastic hundred — one of his better hun- dreds — and gave us a chance,” Williamson said. “If we refl ect back, we bowled poorly in the middle stage. I think we were good in patches, and not so good in some, which left us a tall total to chase.” Jimmy Neesham put on 92 runs for the third stand with Guptill before he holed out to Hazlewood off Mitchell Starc in the 22nd over. Smith’s top-ranked team suff ered a 5-0 ODI series drub- bing in South Africa in October and earlier looked shaky again when reduced to 92 for four in the 21st over. But Smith, who could have been out three times, fl ailed the Black Caps’ bowlers and put his side in the ascendancy. Smith was fi nally out three overs from the end when he skied Trent Boult to Colin Munro at midwicket. Smith was supported by 52 from newcomer Travis Head, who was dropped by Matt Henry on nine, while wicketkeeper Matt Wade clobbered three sixes off a Jimmy Neesham over on his way to 38 off 22 balls. Smith gave New Zealand two chances in Boult’s third over. BJ Watling missed a leg-side catch on 13 and one run later Boult’s leg before wicket appeal was turned down by the um- pire. New Zealand inexplicably did not call for a review, which showed the Australian captain would have been out. Smith had a third “life” on 152 when Munro dropped him at square leg. David Warner attacked debutant paceman Lockie Fergu- son, smashing two boundaries off the youngster’s rstfi over before he inside-edged on to his stumps for 24 off 29 balls. Head put on 127 for the fi fth wicket with Smith, before he was caught and bowled low down by Boult. New Zealand’s batsman Colin Munro (R) carries pieces of his broken The second match in the series takes place at Canberra’s Australia’s captain Steven Smith acknowledges applause as he walks back to the dressing room after scoring 164 bat during the first game of the One Day International Cricket series Manuka Oval tomorrow. against New Zealand in the first One Day International in Sydney yesterday. between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney yesterday.

BASKETBALL El Jaish and Al Gharafa record big victories By Sports Reporter In a one-sided match at the Al Ghara- ing four three-pointers to help El Jaish Doha fa Club, El Jaish made a fast start to lead maintain their stranglehold on the op- 2-16 at the end of the fi rst quarter and position. never looked back. Dominic Davon was not too far be- eon Macklin scored 30 points Macklin accumulated 28 points from hind with 18 points, while none of the and Fadi Hani chipped in with fi eld goals as the Al Arabi defence failed other El Jaish players got into double 20 as El Jaish romped to an 85- to contain him in the 37 minutes he was digits. L62 win over Al Arabi in the Qa- on the court. For Al Arabi, Osaro Adako excelled tar Basketball League yesterday. Hadi also excelled up front, scor- with 20 points while Adamu Saaka and

Gueye Talla had 18 and 10, respectively. At no stage did Al Khor managed to Young with 28 and 25 respectively. In another match, Michael Taylor lead their rivals even by a single point. Al Gharafa had 16 second chance virtually singled-handedly demolished Al Gharafa, on the other hand, were points, while Al Khor only had 11. The the opposition as Al Gharafa thrashed ahead all the time and at one point held Al Gharafa bench also made an impact Al Khor 90-68. a whopping 81-57 advantage. with 16 points, while Al Khor only had 2. Taylor scored a game-high 41 points, Sammy Monroe (12) and Saleem Ab- Tomorrow Al Wakrah play Al Shamal 15 of which came from three-pointers, dalla (11) also made useful contributions at 5pm followed by a match between as Al Gharafa made a complete mockery for the winners, while Al Khor were Qatar Sports Club and Al Rayyan at of the Al Khor defence. served well by Gary Darris and Ricky 7.15pm.