Tyrrell Hatton, three others share lead at PGA Heritage PAGE 14 MONDAY, JULY 22, 2020 Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi succumbs to COVID-19 man but returned to Iraq in Qatari clubs mourn the passing 2007 for a career in politics, replacing a member of par- away of former Al Wakrah star liament who defected to join the bloody insurgency rag- AFP/TNN Wakrah, whom the football ing across the country. BAGHDAD star represented in the QSL, He was an unsuccessful mourned his death. Radhi candidate in the 2014 and IRAQI football legend was the top-scorer for Al 2018 elections with the Na- Ahmed Radhi died Sunday Wakrah in the QSL during tional Alliance, a coalition of from complications linked to 1993-94 season scoring 16 Sunni and Shiite figures. COVID-19, the health min- goals. When news of his death istry said, just hours before In a video reportedly broke, football fans in Iraq he was to be flown for treat- from his hospital bed on Sat- exploded in grief. ment in Jordan. urday, Radhi could be seen in “With great sadness and Radhi, 56, scored what a green jersey struggling to sorrow, we mourn our life- remains Iraq’s only World breathe as medics in full pro- long companion, our fans’ Cup finals goal in 1986 tective gear try to treat him. ardent star, the unrivalled against Belgium. “Sometimes it’s hard to Former Iraqi footballer Ahmed athlete and son of Iraq, He had been hospitalised breathe but that’s normal,” Radhi during his swearing in Ahmed Radhi,” said Iraq’s last week in Baghdad after he could be heard telling ceremony as a new member of new sports minister Adnan testing positive for coronavi- the medical team, his voice the parliament Darjal, himself a former rus but had checked out on strained. AHMED RADHI FACTFILE in Baghdad in 2007. (AFP) football champion. Thursday after his condition “Ahmed Radhi passed “Farewell, Abu Faisal, improved. away wearing the green jer- In the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, he scored against Belgium which is curate, they’d say, “This is goodbye to my brother He relapsed a few hours sey, which he loved so much Iraq’s only goal in World Cup finals till date. as spot-on as Ahmed Radhi’s Ahmed Radhi,” wrote former later and was readmitted, that we loved him in it,” He led Iraq to victory in the Gulf Cups of 1984 and 1988, when he was voted header.” star and Iraqi League Presi- but passed away early Sun- wrote Iraqi premier Mustafa Asian footballer of the year. dent Hussein Saeed. day. Al Kadhemi. ‘UnrivALLED Athlete’ The director of Jordan’s FIFA and the Arab Gulf Radhi, a striker, led Iraq Radhi was the top-scorer for Al Wakrah in the QSL during 1993-94 season Radhi fled Iraq in 2006 Football Association Ali Al- Cup Football Federation to victory in the Gulf Cups of scoring 16 goals. after its Olympic Committee Hussein said the world had condoled his passing away. 1984 and 1988, when he was head was kidnapped during lost “a sports star whom we He was exceptionally famous for his spot-on headers. In Doha, the Supreme voted Asian footballer of the the height of the sectarian cherish and are proud of”. Committee for Delivery & year. violence that followed the Iraq has registered near- Legacy, Qatar Football As- In the 1986 World Cup lose the match 2-1 and exited Radhi was such a house- header. US-led invasion of 2003. ly 30,000 cases of the coro- sociation and Qatar Stars in Mexico, he scored against the tournament in the group hold name that even popular If an Iraqi wanted to in- He moved with his family navirus and deaths topped League clubs including Al Belgium but Iraq went on to stage without a point. sayings evoked his famous sist that something was ac- to the Jordanian capital Am- 1,000 earlier this week. Sarri sure Ronaldo will Liverpool’s title march held rediscover best form AFP back by Everton stalemate MILAN JUVENTUS coach Maurizio Sarri has told Cristiano Ron- aldo not to worry about his slow resumption to the season, insisting on Sunday the Portu- guese star will return to being “the most incredible player of all time”. They will play their first Serie A match in over three months against Bologna on Monday, four days after losing the Italian Cup final to Napoli. The Serie A leaders failed to score in their two Cup matches since the Italian season re- sumed following the corona- virus lockdown, with goalless draws against AC Milan in the semi-finals, where Ron- aldo missed a penalty, and with Napoli in the final before a 4-2 defeat on penalties. “I spoke to Cristiano again yesterday. He must not worry about trust,” Sarri said. “He must not lose confi- dence, as soon as he regains his brilliance he will return to being the most incredible player of all time. “At the moment, physically he cannot give the maximum.” Everton’s English midfielder Tom Davies (centre) sees his shot go narrowly wide as Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Liverpool’s English defender Joe Gomez look on during their English Premier Ronaldo, 35, has scored 25 League match at Goodison Park in Liverpool on Sunday. (AFP) goals for Juventus in all compe- titions this season. Liverpool are now 23 points But it was Everton who pearance since January after from Allan Saint-Maximin and He spent the coronavirus Chelsea sink ahead of second-placed Man- came closest to a winner on an abductor muscle injury Matt Ritchie. lockdown in his native Portugal. chester City. the break when Dominic PREMIER and Lampard feels the United It was a welcome boost for “We must not forget that we Aston Villa If City drop points at home Calvert-Lewin’s effort was States winger is ready to make Joelinton, who has struggled have arrived after being inac- to Burnley on Monday, then saved by Alisson Becker and LEAGUE an impact again. since his move from Hoffenhe- tive for 60 days and the physical AFP Liverpool can clinch the title Tom Davies fired the rebound RESULTS “He will start games for im last year and missed a glori- brilliance cannot be at the high- LONDON against Crystal Palace at An- against the post. Newcastle United 3 (Allan Saint- us, of course, and I think he’s ous opportunity in the first half est levels,” said Sarri. field on Wednesday. Frank Lampard believes going to be a big player for us, at St James’ Park. Ronaldo also failed to find LIVERPOOL’S march towards A City victory would delay Christian Pulisic can be Chel- Maximin 55’, Matt Richie 69’, not just in this run-in but going Joelinton was also at the the net in Juventus’ last two the Premier League title was Liverpool’s coronation until sea’s trump card in the race Joelinton 78’) Sheffield United 0 forward,” Lampard said. centre of the game’s significant matches before the lockdown, delayed as the leaders re- at least their clash with Pep to qualify for the Champions Aston Villa 1 (Kortney Hause 43’) “He was hungry. I know that moment when he raced away having scored in nine straight turned to action with a goalless Guardiola’s team at the Etihad League after his decisive cam- Chelsea 2 (Christian Pulisic 60’, and I felt for him, as I felt for the from John Egan in the second matches before that. draw against Merseyside rivals Stadium on July 2. eo at Villa Park. Olivier Giroud 62’) players with long-term injuries. half and was hauled back, trig- Everton, while Chelsea fought Liverpool have won just Lampard’s side were “The ability he’s got to ar- gering a red card for the Blades back for a 2-1 win at Aston Vil- two of their last seven games in rocked when Kortney Hause Everton 0 Liverpool 0 rive in the box, it’s a big thing, defender that sparked the visi- la on Sunday. all competitions. put Villa ahead against the run I’ve spoken about it with him tors’ collapse. Jurgen Klopp’s side picked Reds star Mohamed Salah of play in the first half. they fight to qualify for next all season.” “He personally has suf- up following the top-flight was left on the bench due to fit- But Pulisic came off season’s Champions League. Steve Bruce hopes Joelin- fered in the lockdown more resumption on Wednesday ness concerns, while Andrew the bench to equalise af- ton is finally ready to deliver than anybody. He’s had no needing two wins to secure Robertson was also sidelined ter the break before Olivier WELCOME BOOST after the Brazilian ended a family here, no friends, holed their first English title for 30 and they were not at their best Giroud bagged his fourth club A first away league win Premier League goal drought up in an apartment some- years. But Liverpool looked as a result. goal of the season two min- of 2020 was the ideal way for stretching back to August in where,” Bruce said. rusty in their first game in Liverpool improved after utes later. Chelsea to return to action in Newcastle’s 3-0 win over 10- “He’s a really genuinely 106 days following the coro- the break and Naby Keita fired Chelsea’s quick-fire blitz their first match since the Pre- man Sheffield United. good lad and he gives his all for navirus lockdown.