SPORT Sunday 13 May 2018 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Hamilton ends Belmadi eyes Amir Vettel’s pole run in Cup glory after Barcelona Al Sadd win Tabata shines as Al Rayyan storm into Amir Cup final

CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Former champions Al Rayyan rode on a brilliant double by star and Rodrigo Tabata (2 and 88) and a second-half strike by South Korean import Koh Myong-Jin (47) to crush Al Gharafa 3-0 to reach the Amir Cup final yesterday. In the final to be played on May 19 at the Khalifa Interna- tional Stadium, Al Rayyan will take on unbeaten QSL Cham- pions Al Duhail in what will be the final football match this season. Tabata, the former Qatar national team player, was declared the Man-of-the-Match for his two goals. At the Al Sadd Stadium yes- terday, captain Tabata inter- Rayyan - coached by Michael completed his brace in thee 88th88th poweredpowered hhomeome by a brilliantbrilliant cepted an excellent cross by Laudrup - retained their 1-0 minute. goalgoal byby AAlmoezlmoez AAlili against veteran striker Sebastian Soria cushion when the referee blew Al Gharafa were tryingg hhardard 10-man10-man AAll Sadd. and powered it past goalkeeper the whistle for the half-time to open scoring but theirtheir CoachCoach DjamelDjamel Qasem Burhan to score his 18th break. popular stars Wesley Sneijdereijder Belmadi’sBelmadi’s mmenen goal of the season just two Al Rayyan made it 2-0 in and Ahmed Alaaeldin missedmissed areare eyeingeyeing minutes after the kick-off. the 47th minute when mid- the net on multiple occasions.sions. theirtheir ththirdird Midfielder Daniel Goumou fielder Myong-Jin cleverly The two failed to live up to titletitle almost doubled Al Rayyan’s directed the ball into the net expectations as Laudrup’ss memenn afterafter lead two minutes later when he over the goalkeeper’s head marched into the final withwith a shot from just outside the from outside of the box after 3-0 win. penalty arc after avoiding two receiving a long pass from Soria Al Rayyan, who lostt last Al Gharafa players, but Bhuran who was at the other end of the year’s Amir Cup final to Al SaddSadd,, succeeded this time as he pitch. will now take on Al Duhailhail in in managed to push the ball over The Tabata-Soria combi- next Saturday’s title clash but enjoying the silverware in the cross bar. nation reaped big benefits to Al yesterday’s game was the end the QNB Stars League as well Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata celebrates Bhuran went on to prevent Rayyan again when the two of of the road for the season for Al as Qatar Cup, while Al Rayyan after scoring their first goal against Al several other attempts over the them dribbled and exchanged Gharafa. will seek their seventh Amir Gharafa during the Amir Cup semi-final course of the first half as Al passes before the 37-year old On Friday, Al Duhail were Cup trophy. yesterday. INSET: Tabata vies for the ball during yesterday’s Semi-final.

IPL: Kohli, De Faheem, Shadab put Pakistan back on track Villiers take after early stutter in rain-hit Test in RCB to victory AFP IANS dug out a Pakistan’s SCOREBOARD Murtagh and Shadab Khan DUBLIN: Shadab Khan and called for a quick legside plays a shot to PAKISTAN 1st Innings NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and debutant Faheem Ashraf both single. reach his half Azhar Ali c Porterfield b Rankin ...... 4 AB de Villiers produced a Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Murtagh ...... 7 scored maiden Test fifties as Non-striker Imam- century on day masterclass as Royal c Porterfield b Thompson ...... 31 Pakistan fought back in Ireland’s ul-Haq, like Faheem Challengers Bangalore (RCB) two of Ireland’s Asad Shafiq c Balbirnie b Rankin ...... 62 inaugural Test match in Dublin making his Test debut, inaugural Test Babar Azam c Stirling b Murtagh ...... 14 defeated Delhi Daredevils by yesterday. found himself sand- match in Dublin Sarfraz Ahmed c Stirling b Thompson ...... 20 five in their Indian Pakistan were 268 for six wiched between - yesterday. Shadab Khan ...... 52 (IPL) when bad light and then rain keeper Niall O’Brien and Faheem Ashraf not out ...... 61 encounter yesterday. brought the second day at Kane in a heavy collision Extras (b1, lb10, nb4, w2) ...... 17 Chasing a challenging Malahide to a premature close. as he scrambled to com- Total (6 wkts, 76 overs, 327 mins) .. 268 target of 182 runs, RCB lost Shadab, in just his second plete the run. To bat: Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, openers Parthiv Patel and Test, was 52 not out and left- The 22-year-old was Rahat Ali Moeen Ali within the first three hander Faheem 61 not out, with left flat on the ground and Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Azhar), 2-13 (Imam), overs. their unbroken seventh-wicket needed several minutes’ 3-71 (Haris), 4-104 (Babar), 5-153 (Shafiq), Kohli amassed 70 runs in stand so far worth 109 runs after treatment on the field, but 6-159 (Sarfraz) a 40-ball hurricane knock : Murtagh 17-4-33-2; Rankin 17-3-58- they had come together at 159 for he recovered to face the which included seven bound- 2 (1nb); Kane 18-2-84-0 (1nb); Thompson 16-2- six. second ball of the match, 51-2 (2nb, 1w); K O’Brien 6-1-20-0 (1w); Stirling aries and three massive hits Pakistan, sent into bat by with Imam playing and missing. subsided, then Pakistan were 13 at a Murtagh delivery that left him 2-0-11-0; into the stands. Ireland captain William Porter- It did not take long for Ireland for two off the very next ball, with off the pitch, was well-held by Ireland: (capt), , Earlier, asked to bat first, field, lost two wickets in suc- to make a stunning double strike Imam lbw for seven to a Murtagh at second . , Niall O’Brien (wkt), Paul Stir- Delhi rode some power cessive balls to be 13 for two, but on a pitch offering some sideways delivery that came back into him. Shafiq went on to complete a ling, Kevin O’Brien, , Stuart Thomp- packed batting by Pant and concerns that Ireland would pay movement. After a few near run-outs, 107-ball fifty when he pulled son, Tyrone Kane, , talented teenager Abhishek for doing without a specialist Rankin, the 15th man ever, Pakistan’s third-wicket duo Rankin for a single. Toss: Ireland Sharma to post a challenging spinner were eventually proved and the first since Kepler Wessels settled in. But with the towering Rankin, total of 181/4. to be well-founded. (Australia and South Africa) 25 Shafiq square-cut Kane for bowling from around the wicket, break when, on 36, he edged Middlesex paceman Tim years ago, to play for four, with left-hander Haris Sohail a similar shot proved Shafiq’s Rankin only for a diving Niall Brief Scores: Murtagh led Ireland’s attack with two nations after making a lone glancing for a undoing when he found Andrew O’Brien to miss the catch and give Delhi Daredevils: 181/4 in two wickets for 33 runs from 17 appearance for England in 2014, legside . Balbirnie at square leg. the obscured Gary Wilson at first 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 61, overs, with Boyd Rankin taking had an uncertain Azhar (four) Pakistan, 67 for two at lunch, And when Pakistan captain slip no chance of taking the ball. Abhishek Sharma 46 not out; two for 58 in 17 overs. edging to Porterfield at second lost their third wicket soon after- Sarfraz Ahmed (20) was Duly reprieved, he went to Yuzvendra Chahal 2/28) There was drama at an ini- slip. wards when Haris was caught in by Stirling in the slips off fifty in just 52 balls, including Royal Challengers Ban- tially sun-drenched Malahide That left Pakistan 13 for one the gully by Porterfield off Thompson, the tourists were 159 seven fours, with Shadab fol- galore: 187/5 in 19 overs ((Virat right from yesterday’s first ball of off the last ball of the eighth over. Thompson. for six. lowing him to the landmark in 89 Kohli 70, AB de Villiers 72 not this stand-alone match. Barely had the crowd’s cheers Babar Azam (14), pushing hard Faheem, however, did have a balls. out; Trent Boult 2/40) 26 SPORT SUNDAY 13 MAY 2018 Prescod shocks Gatlin in Shanghai; Qatar’s Haroun third in 400m

AGENCIES

SHANGHAI: British sprinter Reece Prescod foiled the local challengers and overcame world champion Justin Gatlin to win the men’s 100 metres at a rainy Shanghai Stadium to claim his maiden Diamond League victory yesterday. Running in the outside lane, the 22-year-old came through to win in 10.04 seconds, edging out local favourite Su Bingtian (10.05). China’s Xie Zhenye came third in 10.17 with Gatlin trailing in seventh (10.20). “When I saw the rain tonight I thought ‘yes’. I train in these conditions all the time in the East Midlands. It suits me,” said Prescod who was 0.01 seconds shy of his personal best. “My expectation going in was I knew I had it in me as long as I executed my race. It is definitely the happiest moment in my time FROM LEFT: Botswana’s Isaac Makwala, Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun, Bahamas’ on the Diamond League circuit,” Steven Gardiner and Fred Kerley of the US in action during the men’s 400m he said. event of the Shanghai Diamond League at the Shanghai Stadium yesterday. American Gatlin put in a dis- appointing display after strug- gling to get out of the blocks. with a new meet record of 43.99 Ortega in a repeat of the Rio Brianna McNeal led an American Colombia’s Olympic gold steeplechase had some drama “I got stuck a little in the seconds. Makwala finished Games to win in 13.16 seconds. sweep of the top four places in medallist Caterine Ibarguen towards the end when Norah blocks tonight, and I just had too second as Qatar’s Abdalelah Bahamian Olympic the women’s 100m hurdles easily won the women’s triple Jeruto slipped coming off the much ground and distance to Haroun finished third with a time champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo which she won in 12.50 seconds. jump with 14.80 metres to take final barrier and fellow Kenyan make up,” Gatlin said. of 44.51 seconds. powered home in the women’s Chinese world champion her Diamond League meeting Beatrice Chepkoech won in Bahamas’ Steven Gardiner In his first 110m hurdles race 200 metres, clocking one of the Gong Lijiao showed her class in victory tally to 29, which puts her 9:07.27 minutes. edged Commonwealth games this year, world and Olympic eight meet records of the day to women’s shot put with 19.99m behind only Sandra Perkovic (39) Jeruto recovered to finish champion Isaac Makwala of Bot- champion Omar McLeod of win in 22.06 seconds. to win in front of the delighted and Renaud Lavillenie (32). second ahead of sister Daisy swana to win the 400m event Jamaica edged Spaniard Orlando Fellow Olympic champion home crowd. The women’s 3,000m Jepkemei. Hamilton ends Vettel’s Simpson ties course record to pole run in Barcelona take five-shot lead at Players

AFP REUTERS Patrick Cantlay (68), today, and I didn’t quite have the South African Charl shape, ball flight,” said the BARCELONA: Lewis PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Webb Schwartzel and New 14-times major champion. Hamilton roared back to form Simpson matched the course Zealander Danny “With these greens as soft as and secured a stunning pole record of nine-under-par 63 at they are, I didn’t take advantage position for today’s Spanish TPC Sawgrass on Friday, despite Lee (both 66) were of the opportunities I had today Grand Prix when he delivered suffering a late double-bogey, to a distant second on to really shoot a good number.” a record-breaking qualifying open up a five-shot lead on 10-under, while Tiger Woods at least fared better lap yesterday. 15-under at the halfway point of Woods (71), at one- than four-times major champion The defending four-ime the Players Championship. Rory McIlroy (74), who found the world champion and current Patrick Cantlay (68), South under 143, made the water for a double-bogey at the series leader broke the track African Charl Schwartzel and cut with nothing to 17th and missed the cut by two lap record with a series of New Zealander Danny Lee (both spare, as did Jordan strokes. laps that culminated in him 66) were a distant second on Schwartzel, without a top-25 clocking 1:16.173, 0.040 10-under, while Tiger Woods (71), Spieth (68) and Justin finish in seven starts at the tour- seconds ahead of his team- at one-under 143, made the cut Thomas (70) nament, said all facets of his mate Finn Valtteri Bottas as with nothing to spare, as did game had been strong, and that Mercedes locked up the front Jordan Spieth (68) and Justin he had started playing better row of the grid. Thomas (70). you’re going to make it, and I since receiving some recent It was Hamilton’s second Simpson was on the verge of grew up on an easy golf course, advice from compatriot Louis Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates pole position after pole this season, after the smashing the course record after so it reminded me of being back Oosthuizen to focus on swing qualifying round of the Formula One - Spanish Grand Prix season-opening race in Aus- reeling off six straight birdies but home, shooting low numbers. tempo. tralia, his third straight in at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain came to grief at the island-green “It’s rare as a golfer where “If I can keep the right tempo Spain and the 74th of his yesterday. par-three 17th. everything is working well, going, I’m going to keep hitting career. It broke Sebastian After some indecision on the driving, iron play, chipping and good shots,” said the 33-year-old, Vettel’s streak after three the one-two we deserved in Hulkenberg, who suffered tee he pushed his shot right and putting, and today everything who has won only twice in 173 straight poles. Baku...” fuel problems with his his ball took a huge bounce off a came together. starts on the PGA Tour, most sig- German four-time Vettel said he was happy Renault, Swede Marcus railway sleeper and ended up in “But at the same time you’re nificantly the 2011 US Masters. champion Vettel was third with his lap. “I was feeling Ericsson of Sauber and the water. at TPC Sawgrass, so you know Once ranked as high as sixth fastest for Ferrari ahead of his good too and I looked at the Russian rookie Sergey “I was in-between clubs,” he that trouble is everywhere, as in the world, Schwartzel has team-mate 2007 champion tower and then I saw my Sirotkin and his Williams said. “I tried to smash a sand you guys saw with me on 17.” dropped to 62nd after an indif- Finn Kimi Raikkonen and the name didn’t go up - but, then, team-mate Canadian wedge and blocked it a little Woods said he ferent couple of seasons. Red Bulls of Dutchman Max we expected Mercedes to be teenager Lance Stroll. bit. It’s a bit of a bummer.” could not quite get Verstappen and Australian strong. The second qualifying Still, the 2012 US it together on a Daniel Ricciardo. The Q1 session began in session began with the top Open champion could day when birdies Dane Kevin Magnussen mild conditions with rain four delivering record- hardly complain after were there to be of Haas was seventh ahead threatening and soon pro- breaking laps as both Mer- equalling the 63 previ- had. of two-time champion and duced drama. cedes and Ferrari scorched ously shot by Fred “I didn’t home hero Fernando Alonso After being accused of around the circuit, Vettel Couples, Greg Norman, quite swing of McLaren, fellow-Spaniard “sand bagging” by Hamilton, topping them off with a 1:16.8 Robert Castro, Martin it right Carlos Sainz of Renault and Ferrari quickly showed they to go quickest. Kaymer, Jason Day and Colt Frenchman Carlos Sainz of had more pace than expected Hamilton tested a set of Knost. Renault. by rising to the top of the super-softs before the session Simpson found his birdie The top four were sepa- times with Vettel outpacing ended with Belgian Stoffel streak from the 11th hole rated by only 0.132 seconds Raikkonen. Vandoorne of McLaren, almost amusing. at the end of the session - New Zealander Brendon Frenchman Pierre Gasly of “You start just kind which promises a close race Hartley of Toro Rosso was not Toro Rosso, the Force India of laughing,” said on Sunday at the Circuit de among the runners following pairing of Frenchman Simpson, whose halfway Catalunya. his huge accident at the end Esteban Ocon and Mexican score of 15-under 129 “I needed this pole - I’ve of final practice, which left Sergio Perez, and Frenchman matched the tournament not had one for a while,” said the rear end of his car Charles Leclerc of Sauber record set by Jason Day Hamilton who leads Vettel in wrecked after spinning into eliminated from the final two years ago. Webb Simpson of the the drivers’ title race by just the barriers at high speed. round. “Everything is United States plays his four points after four races. He will have to ask the Ferrari, unexpectedly, going in. You feel Bottas said: “It was close, race stewards for permission were pushed back to fifth and like no matter second shot on the 16th like it has been all week. I to take part in Sunday’s race seventh, 0.7 and 1.7 seconds what, hole during the second ruined my first run in Q3 so I even if his car is repaired and adrift respectively with Ric- round of The Players really only had one chance. he can prove his fitness. ciardo third for Red Bull Championship at TPC It is a shame it is only four- He was classified 20th before the final runs when Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra hundredths, but it is good for and was eliminated along Hamilton delivered his Beach, Florida on Friday. the team. Now we want to get with German Nico stunner. SUNDAY 13 MAY 2018 SPORT 27 Al Rayyan seal Amir Cup title

FAWAD HUSSAIN overcoming a promising Al Ahli THE PENINSULA side 25-17, 25-18, 25-19 in 90 minutes. DOHA: Al Rayyan culminated Al Ahli, who defeated Qatar their dominant season by SC in the semi-final, resisted well Al Rayyan’s winning the coveted H H The in best part of all three games but players and Amir Cup title following an failed to match Al Rayyan’s class officials emphatic 3-0 victory over Al Ahli in the decisive stages as they celebrate in the final at Qatar Volleyball conceded the defeat in straight with the Indoor Hall court yesterday. games. Amir Cup The coach Carlos Schwanke’s In the first game, Al Ahli were trophy. side, having swept almost all trailing by only one point at one titles this season, entered the stage, with Al Rayyan leading title-deciding match as over- 18-17 before the giants earned 7 whelming favourites and they quick points to take the first lived up to expectations by game 25-17 and secure an early

Al Rayyan’s player scores a point against Al Ahli during yesterday’s final.

advantage. Al Ahli showed a title by winning the third game VOLLEYBALL: TERRIFIC SEASON FOR AL RAYYAN better performance but it was 25-19. almost a similar story in the Apart from H H The Amir Apart from H H The Amir Cup triumph yesterday, giants second game which Al Rayyan Cup triumph, Al Rayyan have Al Rayyan have won season-opening Super Cup, before won 25-18. won season-opening Super Cup, The score was locked at 11-11, before clinching three more clinching three more domestic titles including the QVA before Al Rayyan again started domestic titles including the QVA League, the Qatar National Tournament and the Qatar dominating Al Ahli with an League, the Qatar National Tour- attacking display to win the nament and the Qatar Cup. They Cup. They also reigned supreme in the prestigious Arab

second game and take 2-0 lead. also reigned supreme in the pres- Clubs Championship. Al Rayyan maintained their tigious Arab Clubs top performance and sealed the Championship. Belmadi eyes AmirAmir Cup glory after Al Sadd win

RIZWANRIZWWAN REHMATREHMAT THE PENINPENINSULASULA harder nowno as we are just one Al Sadd will now travel to wwinin away from lifting the Amir Jeddah for the second leg of Cup,”Cup,” ththee Algerian tactician their AFC Champions League DOHA:DOHA: AlAl Duhail coach DjamDjamelel added. clash against Al Ahli who were BelmadiBelmadi ((pictured)pictured) saidsaid hihiss teateamm “In the last season, we won We deserved to win the semi-final as we hard beaten 2-1 last week. willwill be eyeing the Amir Cup the leagleagueue (QSL title) but lost in Ferreira sounded dejected gloryglory to completecomplete a trophytrophy thethe ffinalinal oof the Qatar Cup. Every worked really hard. We deserved a place in that his team were at the treble in the season, adding thatthat year we trytr to be better than the the final. We will work harder now as we are receiving end of a few VAR calls the QSL champions ‘deserved‘deserved year before,”befo Belmadi said. just one win away from lifting the Amir Cup: Al in the Amir Cup clash on Friday. to win’ the semi-final aagainstgainst Al “We“We hadh many chances to Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi In the Qatar Cup final at the end Sadd on Friday.Friday. end the mmatch with a bigger of April, Al Sadd players were RisingRising star Ali Almoez on score.score. NNowow our target is to win thrown out of the game for chal- FridayFriday fired the onlonlyy ggoaloal of the thethe Amir Cup,” Belmadi, the against Al Ain. That game can short but we tried to fight,” Fer- lenging the referee calls. matchmatch at Jassim Bin Hamad formerformer QQatar national team guarantee our qualification for reira said. “It is very sad end because StadiumStadium in tthehe 68t68thh minminuteute in coach, said.sai the quarter-finals. After that Ferreira felt some of the two consecutive times we lost whatwhat turned out to be a hotly- “After“After the good performance game, we will have a rest before VAR calls were not up to mark after the referee used video contestedcontested clashclash betweenbetween thethe against Al Ain (in the AFC Cham- returning to prepare for the new since Al Sadd could have won a replays to make decisions,” Fer- arch-rivals. pions League),Lea it was not easy season,” he added. penalty kick decision when reira said. “The situation could The clash on Friday was on us againstagai Al Sadd. The match An angry Al Sadd coach Hassan Al Haydos was brought have been different,” he said. a near rerepeatpeat of what hahap-p- was ddifficultiffic but we have four Jesualdo Ferreira seemed frus- down by Al Duhail. “The previous season was pened in the Qatar CupCup finalfinal days to preparep for the (in the trated after his team lost their The Portuguese coach also much better for us than this two weeks agoago when the two ssecondecond lleg)e against Al Ain. second successive clash against said the decision to send season. This season we just won sidessides were involvedinvolved in a feistyfeisty Belmadi said his team Al Duhail, who also won the Abdulkarim Hassan out of the the Super League title. Now we contest at thethe same venue. willw switch focus to the Qatar Cup clash against the game with a red card was harsh have to work very hard to “We“We deserveddeserved to win tthehe AlA Ain clash set to take Doha giants at the end of last since the foul was ‘merely achieve a positive result and semi-finalsemi-final as wwee havehave placep this week. In the month. deserved a yellow card’. move into the quarter-finals of workedworked reareallylly hahard,”rd,” BeBelmadilmadi firstf leg, Al Duhail “I refuse to talk about the “Unfortunately, we lost this the AFC Champions League,” saidsaid aafterfter tthehe cclashlash on FriFridayday thrashedth Al Ain 4-2. game because it was not as eve- game and the pace will affect us Ferreira said. night.night. “We work very hard ryone expected. In the first half, in front of my players as we get The Amir Cup final on May “We“We deserveddeserved a placeplace in toto achieveach our goals. Now both teams were equal. In the ready for our trip to Jeddah,” 19 will signal the end of the the final.final. WeWe wiwillll wworkork wewe havehave an important match second half, we were a man Ferreira said. regular football season in Qatar. Hamburg suffer first ever relegation

AFP The day started disastrously clock in Hamburg’s Volksparks- for Hamburg, as Joshua Guila- tadion, which displays how long BERLIN: Hamburg were rele- vogui fired Wolfsburg ahead in the club have been in the top gated from the Bundesliga for the the opening minute against flight, must now finally be first time in their history Cologne. switched off. yesterday, as a 2-1 win over In Hamburg, put At the other end of the table, Borussia Moenchengladbach the home side ahead before Josip Hoffenheim pipped Bayer proved too little too late. Drmic equalised for ‘Gladbach. Leverkusen and RB Leipzig to A proud run of 55 season in Jonas Hector brought Cologne fourth place, as they beat Borussia Germany’s top flight came to an level just after the half-hour mark Dortmund 3-1 to secure Cham- ugly end, as Hamburg fans set off with an exquisite chip, but Divock pions League football next a flurry of fireworks, releasing a Origi restored the lead for season. cloud of black smoke across the Wolfsburg, edging Hamburg Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Volksparkstadion, forcing play to closer to disaster. Buerki gifted Hoffenheim pos- be suspended just minutes from Lewis Holtby’s curling strike session with a dreadful clearance time. kept Hamburg’S hopes alive, but on 26 minutes, allowing Andrej The six-time German cham- when Bobby Wood was sent off Kramaric to fire the home side in Hamburg players look dejected as they leave the pitch at the end of the match yesterday. pions, who won the European 20 minutes from time, their fate front. Cup in 1983, are the only team to seemed sealed. Marco Reus equalised for have played in every single Bun- Minutes later, Robin Knoche Dortmund after half-time, but place. A brace from Jean-Kevin Saturday was supposed to be a home game, as they stumbled desliga season since the league’s headed in Wolfsburg’s third, and goals from Adam Szalai and Pavel Augustin and goals from Timo day of celebration, as they were to a shock 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart. inauguration in 1963, earning when Josip Brekalo added a Kaderabek fired Hoffenheim into Werner, Dayot Upamecano and presented with the Bundesliga Ruthless on the break, the them the nickname “dinosaur”. fourth in stoppage time, Ham- Europe’s elite. Ademola Lookman helped trophy for the sixth season in a visitors tore through Bayern, as Hamburg had battled to burg’s fight was over. Lucas Alario grabbed a brace Leipzig to a frantic 5-2 win over row. Daniel Ginczek, Anastasios victory over Moenchengladbach, After a 15-minute delay due as Leverkusen eased to a 3-2 win Hertha Berlin. Bayern, though, were unable Donis and Chadrac Akolo all but were doomed to relegation to crowd trouble, the game was over Hanover, as both they and For Bayern Munich, who to give coach Jupp Heynckes an found the net on the as Wolfsburg beat Cologne 4-1. able to end. The famous digital Leipzig secured a Europa League wrapped up the title last month, appropriate send-off in his final counter-attack. SUNDAY 13 MAY 2018 SPORT 25

I think when you win, you get Australian golfer Jason Day FORMULA ONE CRICKET a little bit more motivated to puts himself in contention do more practice and hungry heading into the Players Spanish Grand Prix in Ireland vs Pakistan, to win a lot more. Championship. Barcelona LIVE ON third day of one-off Test TUBE

Davis Cup could Nadal plays down Thiem be held in Madrid or France next hiccup, eyes Rome event year: RFET chief REUTERS Not that the Mallorcan will lose any sleep over it. REUTERS MADRID: Claycourt king Rafael “You cannot be number one Nadal has played down the signifi- when you’ve been not playing for five cance of his quarter-final defeat by months,” he said. MADRID: The Spanish Tennis Federation Austrian Dominic Thiem at the “I think from Shanghai (last year) (RFET) has held meetings with the Barcelona Madrid Open -- a loss that ended a till Monte-Carlo, I hadn’t finished a and national soccer team player Gerard year-long winning streak on clay and single tournament. We’re talking Pique about holding the planned revamped cost him the world number one about a lot of months that I gave up. Davis Cup in France or Madrid next year, ranking. “This year till now I had only one the organisation’s chief Miguel Diaz said on The 31-year-old Spaniard looked or two tournaments that I had played. Friday. unstoppable going into his Friday This is the reality of this year. In February, the International Tennis clash with fifth seed Thiem, having “I’m not going to keep the Federation (ITF) announced a massive won 50 consecutive sets on the red number one today. At the end of the shake-up of the competition, which will see dirt, but he was well beaten 7-5, year we will see what happens. the formation of an 18-nation World Cup 6-3. Spain’s Rafael Nadal looks “I think I placed myself in a good of Tennis Finals played in one location, after Coincidentally, it was Thiem who dejected after losing his position. I am three in the (ATP Race), agreeing a 25-year, $3bn partnership with last beat Nadal on clay, at last year’s quarter final match against which is the most important thing. I investment group Kosmos, founded and Rome Masters, shortly before the Austria’s Dominic Thiem still have two good weeks on clay, chaired by Pique. Spaniard rampaged to a 10th French on Friday. and then I’ll keep on moving “We are looking at a formula whereby Open title without dropping a set in forward.” the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will the match. Nadal ended 2017, in which he be held in Madrid or in France so it doesn’t However, Nadal quickly slapped took his Grand Slam tally to 16 by have to go to Asia,” Diaz told reporters at down any notion that world number winning the French and US Open the Madrid Open on Friday. seven Thiem knows the secret of titles, with a knee injury and then had “We’ve had a couple of meetings with beating the greatest ever exponent a hip problem at this year’s Australian Gerard Pique and we will have one more of claycourt tennis. Open that forced him to quit against but we still need data. We are looking at the “Well, three weeks ago I beat him way,” Nadal, who also beat Thiem en been a match where he was better Marin Cilic in the last eight. final format and still nothing has been 6-0, 6-3. I don’t know if that’s a tough route to the Roland Garros title last than me, same as a few weeks ago I He returned to Tour action only decided. We will make the decision at our player or not. I don’t think it’s that year, told reporters. “I think it has just was better than him. in April, winning the Monte Carlo title board meeting at the end of May,” the RFET “If he beats me three times in a for an 11th time before rolling through chief added. row, maybe we can say he reads my the draw in Barcelona for his 11th The ITF did not respond to a request to game and can beat me.” triumph there. comment on the proposal. Nadal will now focus on next Despite being off-key against Pique, who is set to be named in Spain’s week’s tournament in Rome where, Thiem, he said he was now fully fit squad for next month’s World Cup in Russia, I think it has just been a match where he was better should he win the title, he could as Paris looms. was photographed watching countryman than me, same as a few weeks ago I was better than reclaim the number one ranking from “What makes me happy is I feel Rafael Nadal’s quarter-final defeat by great rival Roger Federer who has fit, can compete with possibilities Dominic Thiem on Friday at the Madrid him. If he beats me three times in a row, maybe we opted to sit out the claycourt season every single week. This is my final Open alongside Real Madrid players Lucas can say he reads my game and can beat me: Nadal in preparation for Wimbledon and goal: to be happy. That’s what I’m Vazquez and Marco Asensio. beyond. working on,” he said.

Pakistan hockey legend Mansoor Ahmed dies aged 49

AFP This photograph Pakistan in 338 international “I may have broken a lot of groups. Despite the strained ties, taken on April hockey games between 1986 Indian hearts on the field of play Pakistanis are eligible to apply 22, 2018 shows KARACHI: Pakistan hockey and 2000. He also captained the by beating India in the Indira for medical visas to India, Mansoor Ahmed legend Mansoor Ahmed died Pakistan team for a short time. Gandhi Cup (1989) and in other renowned for its booming being treated yesterday after being ill for a The 49-year-old had been events but that was sport,” medical tourism industry. at a hospital in long time due to a heart ailment. suffering from complications Ahmed said. Ahmed — who played 338 Karachi. The legendary goalkeeper, stemming from a pacemaker “Now I need a heart trans- international matches, partici- known as the hero of the 1994 and stents implanted in his plant in India and for that I need pated in three Olympics and hockey World Cup, was 49 years heart. support from the Indian various other high-profile old. He was admitted to the hos- Ahmed was a sporting icon government.” events in a career spanning pital on Saturday morning and in Pakistan since helping the India-Pakistan ties, from 1986 to 2000 — had said was put on ventilator, but didn’t country win the 1994 World Cup including sports and cultural the visa could be a lifesaver. survive since his heart was func- in Sydney with his penalty contacts, plummeted after the “Humanity is paramount tioning with only 20 per cent stroke push against the Nether- 2008 militant attacks in and I too would be obliged if I efficiency. lands in the final and had called Mumbai, which New Delhi get a visa and other help in Mansoor had represented out India to help him. blamed on Pakistani militant India,” said Ahmed. James seeks 8th Finals in a row AFP challenge.” James has averaged glass just trying to clean up as best 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.3 I can.” Add JR Smith and Kyle Kor- WASHINGTON: LeBron James is assists against the Celtics this ver’s 3-point shooting, Tristan on the verge of reaching the NBA season as Cleveland won two of Thompson’s rebounding and the Finals for an eighth consecutive three meetings. At the end of the Celtics, who boasted the NBA’s season, but his Cleveland Cava- “At the end of the day, you day, you have to do best defensive numbers, will be liers face a familiar and formidable have to do whatever it takes to whatever it takes to challenged to shut down James obstacle in the Boston Celtics. win,” James said. “It doesn’t matter win. It doesn’t matter and silence his supporting crew. The Cavaliers visit Boston how it happens.” “We know where the head of today for the opening game in the “King James” would share how it happens: James the snake is,” said Celtics center best-of-seven Eastern Conference fourth on the all-time list by Aron Baynes of Australia. Finals, with the winner to face reaching his eighth consecutive all know that. What he does for us “We know what we have to either regular-season pace-setter NBA Finals, two shy of Bill Rus- is big.” The 33-year-old play- focus on. But he has got a lot of Houston or defending champion sell’s record run from the 1960s maker, whose dream came true great role players around him and Golden State in the NBA Finals. Celtics dynasty team and trailing in 2016 as he sparked the Cava- some other guys who can really Four-time NBA Most Valuable nine in a row by Russell team- liers to ending Cleveland’s 52-year create as well.” Player James has carried the Cavs mates Sam Jones and Tommy pro sports title drought, is the The Celtics assembled a on his back at times, averaging Heinsohn. maestro of a deep corps of role superteam in the off-season to 34.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.0 James went 2-2 in the finals players led by forward Kevin Love, threaten Cleveland’s reign in the assists in 11 play-off games for the with Miami from 2011-2014 and whose aggressive play has been East, in part thanks to a major Cavaliers, who edged Indiana in a 1-2 with Cleveland the past three ignited by a scoring spark. trade with the Cavaliers that hasn’t seven-game first round before years, all against Golden State. He’s “More than anything just brought a lasting impact. sweeping Eastern conference top 3-5 in the finals overall, having seeing the ball go through the hoop The Celtics lost Gordon seed Toronto in the second round. also lost with the Cavs in 2007. has been big for me,” Love said. Hayward to a broken leg against “LeBron is on just a ridiculous “Every time we come to the “Just staying in attack mode, the Cavaliers in the season opener. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James shoots against run,” said Celtics coach Brad play-offs he has that edge,” Cavs miss or make on the offensive end, And Kyrie Irving, obtained from Toronto Raptors in game four of the second round of the 2018 Stevens. coach Tyronn Lue said of James. making the right decision playing the Cavs, is sidelined after left knee “We know it will be quite a “He’s a special player, and we hard and then on both ends on the surgery. NBA Play-offs at Quicken Loans Arena last week.