Sports 28-9-2017.Qxp Layout 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Hamilton, loving Muguruza life, seeks last advances hurrah in Malaysia to quarter-finals 12 at Wuhan14 Open THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 Knights ready to battle as latest expansion team Page 13 MOSCOW: CSKA Moscow’s defender from Russia Sergey Ignashevich (L) and Manchester United’s midfielder from Spain Ander Herrera vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group A football match between PFC CSKA Moscow and Manchester United FC in Moscow yesterday. — AFP Lukaku, Martial lead Man Utd in CSKA rout MOSCOW: Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial put channel released Martial on the left and he checked CSKA Moscow to the sword as Manchester United took inside before crossing to the back post, where Lukaku control of Champions League Group A with a ruthless 4-1 leapt to direct a strong header past Igor Akinfeev. win yesterday. Lukaku scored twice at Moscow’s VEB After Akinfeev thwarted Mkhitaryan with his legs, Cavani, Neymar on target Arena, taking his United tally to 10 goals in nine games, Martial made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 18th with Martial setting him up twice and netting a penalty minute following a foul on Mkhitaryan by Georgi before Henrikh Mkhitaryan completed victory. Schennikov. Nine minutes later it was 3-0 as Vasili as PSG outclass Bayern It was United’s first away win in the competition since Berezutksi made a hash of clearing Martial’s low cross and November 2013 and with Basel thrashing Benfica in the Lukaku turned the ball home. PARIS: Edinson Cavani and Neymar both scored as Paris Mbappe and those two combined for the second goal in other group game, it left Jose Mourinho’s side three The frustration for CSKA coach Viktor Goncharenko Saint-Germain claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over a dis- the 31st minute, Mbappe again teeing up Cavani for a points clear at the top of the pool. was that his side manged to procure several sights of goal appointing Bayern Munich in their heavyweight Champions superb first-time finish high into the net and his 10th After grinding out a 1-0 win at Southampton on at the other end, only to find David de Gea an imperme- League clash in the French capital yesterday. PSG got off to goal this season. Saturday, United were back to their fluid best in the able barrier. The United goalkeeper produced an excel- a dream start as their other Brazilian summer signing Bayern were stunned, and a combination of the ‘MCN’ Russian capital, the pace and movement of new strike lent one-handed save to thwart Alan Dzagoev at 1-0 and Dani Alves gave them the lead inside 90 seconds at the then almost brought a third, with Neymar laying off partners Lukaku and Martial causing CSKA headaches all tipped a powerful shot from Fedor Chalov over the ball at Parc des Princes and they never looked back. Mbappe’s pass for Cavani, whose effort was saved. night. Having beaten Benfica in their opening game, 2-0, as well as fielding attempts from Vitinho and Cavani’s sweeping first-time strike just after the half- Things did get worse for the visitors in the second CSKA were brought back to earth with a bump, although Dzagoev. hour mark made it 2-0 before Neymar completed the half and they conceded again in the 63rd minute, with substitute Konstantin Kuchaev gave their fans something Akinfeev denied Lukaku his hat-trick early in the sec- scoring in the second half as Bayern went down to their Neymar poking home from inside the six-yard box as to cheer with a 90th-minute consolation goal. While the ond half before more slipshod defending gifted United heaviest defeat since losing to Barcelona by the same Martinez failed to clear following good play by hosts had their moments, the encounter rather made a their fourth. Veteran centre-back Sergei Ignashevich gift- score in the semi-finals of this competition in May 2015. Mbappe. That was Neymar’s sixth goal for PSG and the mockery of United manager Mourinho’s eve-of-match ed the ball straight to Ander Herrera, whose through ball The result leaves the French club top of Group B with the 18th in total from the ‘MCN’, with the promise of many claim that this was the strongest CSKA team he had ever released Martial. maximum six points from two games, eight goals scored more to come. — AFP encountered. Missing Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and The Frenchman’s effort was parried by Akinfeev, but and none conceded. They are on course to win the sec- Michael Carrick through injury, Mourinho set United out Mkhitaryan followed in to slot the rebound into the tion-Bayern are level on three points with Celtic, who in an unfamiliar 3-4-1-2 system, but the visitors took no net. Akinfeev has now gone 45 games without a clean won at Anderlecht. time to find their mark. sheet in the competition proper, although his saves For PSG this was a chance to measure themselves Paired in a new-look front two, Lukaku and Martial from substitutes Jesse Lingard and Matteo Darmian, against one of the continent’s traditional powers in their clicked instantly, combining to put United ahead in the allied to Kuchaev’s late effort, spared CSKA further biggest European match since their humiliating exit in fourth minute. Lukaku’s fine pass down the inside-left embarrassment. — AFP Barcelona last season. In that regard the evening was a resounding success for Unai Emery’s team, although the German club were some way short of their usual standards. The match also Batshuayi hands Chelsea saw Cavani and Neymar feature together for the first time since their disagreement over who should take a penalty in a league game against Lyon 10 days previously. deserved win at Atletico This time there were no such disputes, and both men could celebrate contributing to the final outcome. Bayern MADRID: Michy Batshuayi struck a dramatic winner attention after he completed his prolonged return to have been among the critics of PSG’s spending policy with the last kick of the game as Chelsea inflicted Atletico from Chelsea on Tuesday. after a summer which saw them notably spend a world- Atletico Madrid’s first defeat at their new Wanda Despite the Brazilian-born striker’s refusal to train record 222 million euros ($264 million) to sign Neymar Metropolitano home yesterday with a hugely impres- with the Premier League champions this season it was from Barcelona. sive 2-1 victory. all smiles as he greeted plenty of his former teammates The Brazilian is reportedly being paid more than three Substitute Batshuayi’s late intervention was just in the tunnel before kick-off. However, Chelsea haven’t million euros a month in Paris, and Bayern supporters rewards for a dominant Chelsea display despite falling missed Costa so far this season as his replacement had that in mind as they unfurled a pointed banner prior behind to Antoine Griezmann’s penalty five minutes Morata has now scored seven goals in as many games. to kick-off. Complaining about match tickets costing 75 before half-time. Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, though, hadn’t scored in six previous appear- euros, it read: “We are not Neymar. Ticket prices must be reasonable.” Morata came back to haunt Atletico on his return to the ances against Atletico for Juventus and Real and passed Spanish capital by nodding home Eden Hazard’s tempt- up a series of early chances as Chelsea dominated. ALVES WITH OPENER ing cross on the hour mark. Twice the Spanish international pulled shots wide after It would have been easier to swallow paying that And Batshuayi finished off a patient team move excellent build-up play from the outstanding Hazard. price if their team had won, but they fell behind in the deep into stoppage time by turning home Marcos Hazard was starting for only the second time this second minute and never recovered. Neymar was Alonso’s cross at the near post. Victory ensured season after breaking his ankle in June, but showed no allowed to cut in from the left before picking out Alves, Chelsea take a commanding lead at the top of Group C signs of rust early on as he smacked a shot from outside who arrived unmarked in the area to take a touch and with six points from their opening two games ahead of the box off the post. Morata then finally forced Jan finish past Sven Ulreich, standing in for the injured Roma, who moved onto four with a 2-1 win at Oblak into a save as the Slovenian tipped his looping Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal. Azerbaijani Champions League newcomers Qarabag header over for a corner. Javi Martinez came closest to equalising for Carlo earlier in the day. Chelsea’s control forced Atletico boss Diego Simeone Ancelotti’s side with a half-volley from the edge of the PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Atletico, by contrast, are in trouble after taking just into a tactical reshuffle as he switched from his favoured area that was tipped over by Alphonse Areola, but the Neymar runs with the ball during the UEFA one point from their opening two games. The presence 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and was rewarded as the hosts stemmed hosts were able to soak up the pressure and hit on the Champions League football match between Paris of Diego Costa dominated much of the pre-match the Chelsea tide.