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Home , Dean Henderson, Matteo Darmian, Meshaal Barsham, Rahul Tripathi, Salah Zakaria

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MONDAY 12 APRIL 2021 LingardL double fires West Ham back into topt four in standings ItI is great. We are in something to fight for. Games are like cupc finals. We grind out the wins and take the points home. The lads battle on. There is a big belief in the team.

Jesse Lingard Sport | 11

PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Man United, West Ham United 3-2 Leicester City, Burnley 1-2 Newcastle United Cavani inspires United's 3-1 win at Tottenham

AP –

Edinson Cavani set up Fred’s equalizer before scoring with a diving header as Manchester United beat Tottenham 3-1 yesterday, strengthening Al Sadd players at the Hamad International Airport ahead of their departure for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday. its grip on second place in the Premier League and dealing a further blow to AFC Champions League: Group stage set to kick off on Wednesday former manager Jose Mourinho’s Champions League qualification hopes. Cavani’s euphoria at scoring was clear as he Al Sadd, Al Duhail depart for Saudi roared in celebration at the empty north London stadium after what would have been an opener was ruled out for Son Heung- Arabia as Al Rayyan head to India min falling after being caught by Scott McTominay THE PENINSULA – DOHA in the buildup. Even more irritating for The reigning QNB Stars League United was Son then champions Al Sadd and second- beating Dean Henderson at placed Al Duhail yesterday left the goalkeeper’s near-post for Saudi Arabia where they will to put Tottenham in front begin the group stage in the 40th minute. campaigns of the AFC Cham- But United’s comeback pions League. began in the 57th when The Al Sadd left for Riyadh, Fred teed up Cavani for a where they will join their Group shot that was parried by D counterparts Al Nassr (Saudi Hugo Lloris and the Bra- Arabia), Al Wehdat (Jordan), and zilian followed up with his Foolad FC (Iran). first Premier League goal The Al Sadd delegation since 2018. includes members of the tech- Having denied Bruno nical and administrative staff Fernandes, Lloris was as well as 24 players, and is beaten again in the 79th headed by Turki Al Ali, the when the Portugal mid- club’s general manager. fielder’s nutmeg helped to The team held their last AL SADD SQUAD set up training session in Doha on Sat- Al Duhail players at the Hamad International Airport ahead of their departure for a cross that Cavani got urday, after the 3-0 win over for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday. on the end of with a Qatar SC, in the 22nd and last header. round of the QNB Stars League. The Wolves finished 13 hosts Al Ahli Saudi FC, Iran Pro begin their Champions League Saad Al Dossari, Meshaal Barsham, And Greenwood put The Wolves recorded 19 vic- points clear of Al Duhail. League giants Esteghlal FC and campaign next Thursday Jehad Muhammad, Yousuf Al further gloss on the win in tories and three draws to end , the 2019 Asian Iraqi powerhouse Al Shorta. against Al Shorta at 8:45 pm. Balushi, Ahmed Sayyar, Pedro the sixth minute of on 60 points, and completed a Player of the Year, will not be Al Duhail's delegation is While in Jeddah, Al Duhail Miguel, Hassan Al Haydos, Nam stoppage time by scoring dominant run to finish the joining the squad as he is still headed by Faraj Al Marri, Sports play their matches at King Tae-hee, Muhammad Waad, Khoukhi after and league undefeated. recovering from a muscle Director and includes 21 Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Boualem, Guilherme Torres, Rodrigo Cavani combined to set up Al Sadd’s feared striker injury. players. known as the Jewel in the Tabata, , Salem the English forward for a Baghdad Bounedjah was the top Meanwhile, in Jeddah, Al Al Duhail, one of the most crown of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hajri, , Yousuf shot that Lloris got a touch scorer with 21 goals. Duhail will join Group C rivals successful clubs in Qatar, will sporting venues. Abdurisag, Hussam Kamal, Musab to but couldn’t keep out. Meanwhile, yesterday, Al Khidir, , Bahaa Al While United is locking Rayyan left for Goa, India where Laithi, Hashem Ali, Abdelkarim down second place, Tot- they will play their Group E Hassan, , Ali Asad tenham has fallen six points matches. Coach: Hernandez from fourth place with Group E action will kick off seven games remaining in on Wednesday with Iran's AL DUHAIL SQUAD an erratic season that saw Persepolis FC facing Al Wahda Khalifa Abu Bakr, Muhammad a brief title bid FSCC of UAE. Al rayyan will Al Bakri, Salah Zakaria, Ismail disintegrate. start their campaign against Muhammad, Ali Mal Allah, The Premier League hosts FC Goa on the same day Muhammad Musa, Mahdi bin Attia, trophy seems out of reach at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ahmed Yasser, Bassam Al Rawi, Ali for United with Man- Stadium. Afif, Sultan Al Brik, Louise Martin chester City 11 points In the AFC Champions Karim Boudhaif, Ali Karimi, Jassim ahead, but Ole Gunnar Sol- Al Muhairi, Abdullah Abd Al Salam, League's expanded format of 40 skjaer is still on course to Khaled Muhammad Saleh, Edmilson teams playing in 10 groups, Junior, , deliver the team’s highest group leaders in addition to the and Muhammad Muntari finish since being runners- top six runners-up will qualify up three years ago under Al Rayyan players aboard the flight as they leave for Goa, India. Coach: for the Round of 16. Mourinho. El Clasico: Relentless Real beat Barca to take La Liga lead AP – MADRID The victory in pouring rain in the its sixth straight win in all competitions. had won nine away matches in a row from a free kick following a foul on Spanish capital left Madrid tied on The defending league champions were in the competition. Vinícius Júnior, who was coming off Keeping Lionel Messi in check again points with Atlético Madrid, which on coming off a 3-1 win over Liverpool in It was an even start at the Alfredo an outstanding performance in in what could turn out to be his last Sunday can return to the top when it the Champions League on Tuesday. Di Stéfano Stadium in Madrid’s training Madrid’s win over Liverpool. Kroos Spanish league clásico, Real Madrid visits sixth-place Real Betis. Madrid is Barcelona got on the board in the center, but the hosts opened the scoring shot from just outside the area and the continued the impressive run which ahead of its city rival on the head-to- second half with a goal by Óscar in the 13th minute with Benzema’s ball was deflected by American has put it at the heart of the title race. head tiebreaker. Mingueza. It nearly equalized with a superb flicked shot from close range defender Sergiño Dest before going Four days after beating Liverpool Barcelona, which had been shot from young substitute Ilaix Moriba after a low cross by Lucas Vázquez. into the net. in the first leg of the Champions League unbeaten in 19 straight league games, that struck the crossbar in the final play The French striker, who has scored Madrid almost added to the lead in quarterfinals, Madrid defeated Bar- stayed one point off the lead. of the match. 10 goals in his last nine matches, got the 34th when Federico Valverde hit celona 2-1 on Saturday to return to the The 33-year-old Messi, who "We tried until the end but it wasn’t in front of Barcelona defender Ronald the post after a breakaway led by top in Spain. reached seven straight clásicos without possible. We almost had it in that final Araújo and flicked the ball toward the Vinícius Júnior, who also hit the post "We have to enjoy what we've been a goal, has his contract with Barcelona play,” Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto said. net with his back foot. He hadn’t scored in the second half. That was after Bar- doing. We got two very good results ending this season. The Argentina star This was the first time Madrid has against Barcelona in nine consecutive celona pulled one back in the 60th with and it wasn't easy,” Madrid coach Zin- expressed his desire to leave the taken the league lead since the early clásicos. a shot from inside the area by Mingueza edine Zidane said. Catalan club last year but had the rounds of the competition, and it trailed The Catalan club complained of a after a low cross by Jordi Alba. "Being in the lead won't change request denied. Atlético by 11 points at one stage. foul by Vázquez on Messi just moments Madrid played the final minutes a anything for us. We have to keep Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos The result ended Barcelona’s six- before the opening goal. man down after Casemiro was sent off working hard.” scored first-half goals to give Madrid match winning streak in the league. It Kroos added to the lead in the 28th with a second yellow card. MONDAY 12 APRIL 2021 SPORT 11 Darmian the unlikely Juventus ease past Genoa to match winner as Inter close in on title keep faint title hopes alive REUTERS – MILAN

REUTERS – TURIN A rare goal from full back Matteo Darmian earned Inter Kulusevski scored his first goal since the end of January before Morata Milan a 1-0 victory over Cagliari yesterday, as Antonio Juventus eased to a 3-1 victory over Genoa on Sunday to keep added a second to put Juve in control. Conte’s side closed on their first title in 11 years. alive their faint hopes of making it 10 successive Serie A titles this Scamacca could have levelled before the break but was not to Struggling Cagliari were proving to be a tough nut season. be denied early in the second period and Marko Pjaca wasted a glo- to crack in the San Siro, with debutant goalkeeper The champions raced into a comfortable lead inside 22 minutes rious chance to restore parity moments later. Guglielmo Vicario making several fine saves to keep thanks to goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Alvaro Morata, the Spanish But McKennie, making his return to the side after being fined by the league leaders at bay. striker converting after Cristiano Ronaldo had hit the post. the club for breaking COVID-19 protocols, raced clear to seal the But the visitors’ resistance was broken by an Juventus have not been convincing recently, however, and win. unlikely source in Darmian, whose second league goal let the visitors back into the match four minutes after the of the season in the 77th minute secured Inter a 11th break with Gianluca Scamacca finding the net. successive league win. Genoa had chances to level but Weston McKennie Inter moved 11 points clear of AC Milan in second stepped off the bench to make sure of the victory 20 with eight games to play while Cagliari remained lan- minutes from time as third-placed Juventus moved on guishing down in 18th place, five points from the safety to 62 points after 30 matches, one behind AC Milan zone. and 12 adrift of leaders . “I like to repeat - these matches are starting to feel Napoli climbed to fourth in the standings like victories are worth six points,” Conte told DAZN. thanks to a 2-0 win at Sampdoria while Sergej “For many it is the first time being under pressure Milinkovic-Savic’s stoppage-time goal earned like this, playing always to win. I am very satisfied with sixth-placed Lazio a 1-0 victory at Hellas Verona. what we are doing.” With such a healthy lead at the AS Roma host Bologna and fifth-placed Atalanta top of the table, Conte shuffled his pack for Cagliari’s travel to Fiorentina later on Sunday. visit, with Lautaro Martinez and given With Inter winning earlier on Sunday, and Milan beating a rest, but Inter’s cohesion did not suffer early on as Parma on Saturday, it was important Juve kept pace at the they created plenty of chances. top of the table, with only domestic honours to fight for. Juventus’ Dejan Kulusevski celebrates with team-mates forced the best save from Vicario They appeared on course for an easy win after after scoring their first goal yesterday. in the first half - a fine one-handed stop to claw out a goalbound effort from the Dane. As the match wore on, Inter started to look more nervous, and Conte brought Martinez and Hakimi on, with the latter instrumental in brilliantly setting up the Games in chance for Darmian, who celebrated with a jubilant Lingard double fires West bench. Serbia under Inter’s 12th successive home league win left them needing 14 points from their last eight matches to guar- match-fixing Ham back into top four antee the Scudetto. scrutiny: FA REUTERS – LONDON Rapinoe’s penalty REUTERS – BELGRADE scored twice as West Ham United climbed back UEFA has asked the Serbian into fourth spot in the Premier kick gives US 1-1 Football Association (FSS) to League with a vital 3-2 victory investigate games in March over third-placed Leicester City draw with Sweden where match-fixing might yesterday. have taken place, the Balkan Lingard, who has been in AP – STOCKHOLM nation’s soccer governing body scintillating form since arriving said yesterday. on loan from Manchester United The United States’ 16-match winning streak was Serbia’s Sport Klub tele- in mid-season, took his tally for snapped in a 1-1 draw with Sweden on Saturday in Carli vision said that it had learned, the Hammers to eight goals with Lloyd’s 300th national team appearance. without naming its sources, two strikes before halftime. Lina Hurtig put Sweden ahead off a set piece in the there was suspicion that two Jarrod Bowen made it 3-0 38th minute before Megan Rapinoe’s penalty kick pulled matches were rigged last shortly after the interval and the United States even in the 87th. month. West Ham were denied a fourth The draw extended the US team’s unbeaten streak “It is true that we have when Issa Diop’s effort was to 38 games. Rapinoe’s goal was her sixth this year to received certain information deemed offside. lead the team. from UEFA suggesting possible Leicester finally came to life Rapinoe said the scare from the Swedes will help irregularities pointing to with Kelechi Iheanacho punishing the United States as it prepares for the Olympics this breach of integrity in some a defensive mistake with 20 West Ham United’s Jesse Lingard scores their first goal. summer. games,” FSS spokesman Milan minutes remaining. “Even throughout the whole game, I was kind of Vukovic said in a statement. West Ham, who squandered tension with a second goal in unlikely top-four finish. They thinking, ‘This is exactly what we need.’ We didn’t play “The FSS has opened pro- a 3-0 lead to draw with Arsenal stoppage time. moved back above Liverpool and well. We were very sloppy. Tactically we needed to be ceedings but at this time we last month and almost did the But West Ham survived some Chelsea with 55 points from 31 a lot better, and just individually,” she said. cannot reveal more details. We same against Wolves in midweek, heart-in-the-mouth moments in games, one point behind Leicester The Americans have not lost a match since January will inform the public about looked nervy at times after that six added minutes to secure a vital who suffered a second successive 2019, when they fell to France. Their 16-game winning our findings in due course.” and Iheanacho ramped up the victory in their quest for an league defeat. streak was the third longest in team history.

New South Wales players pose with the champions trophy. No. 15 seed Picture: Twitter/@CricketNSWBlues IPL: KKR beat SRH Kudermetova, KKR – CHENNAI (KKR) started their IPL 2021 campaign with a clinical 10-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai Kovinic set for yesterday, courtesy some spectacular batting from (80 off 56) and Rahul Tripathi (53 off 29), and some clinical mid-over and death bowling spells. Volvo Car final starred with 2-35 while , and pitched in with one wicket each. Russell bowled brilliantly in the last over, where the Orange army AP – CHARLESTON needed 22 runs, to restrict SRH to 177-5. Earlier, SRH had won the toss and put the Knights in to bat Veronikia Kudermetova of Russia and Danka Kovinic first. Even though was cleaned up by Rashid Khan of Montenegro will play for their first WTA title for 15 (13), Rana and Tripathi put up a 93-run partnership (50 Sunday in the Volvo Car Open championship. balls) to lay the foundation for KKR's 187-run total in the stipu- Kudermetova, the 15th seed, rolled past Spain’s lated 20 overs. Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-3, continuing a run at the year’s Rana (9x4s 4x6s) was in exquisite form, sweeping, pulling, opening clay-court tournament where she hadn’t IPL-depleted NSW thump driving all around the park. He found an able partner in Tripathi lost a set in four matches this week. as the duo ripped into the SRH attack. After Tripathi was holed Kudermetova, 23, reached the final of the Abu out by SRH keeper Wriddhiman Saha, running backwards, KKR Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open in January before WA to win 12th ODI Cup title appeared to have lost some momentum briefly. losing to Aryna Sabalenka. Andre Russell (5) started off with a boundary but couldn't last Kudermetova said she’ll try not to think much REUTERS – SYDNEY a competitive 251-8. Opener Daniel long and a strategical Rashid got the better of him for the fourth about that defeat three months ago. “I’d just like to Hughes contributed 58 but Jason time in 10 meetings. Mohammad Nabi added two consecutive try and work and play the final here and have fun,” A depleted New South Wales rode Behrendorff (3-46) and Mitchell jolts in the next over as he eliminated both Rana and captain Eoin she said. “It’s an amazing atmosphere here.” Jack Edwards’ composed century to Marsh shared five wickets to restrict Morgan (2) to reduce KKR to 160-5. Had it not been for Vice- Badosa, who outsed top-ranked Ashleigh Barty crush Western Australia by 102 runs NSW. captain 's late 9-ball 22 (n.o.) cameo, KKR would in the quarterfinals, tried to scratch back in the match. in yesterday's final of the Marsh Western Australia mounted a have struggled to cross 180. After losing the opening set and down 2-0 in the One-Day Cup and clinch their 12th feeble reply, losing Sam Whiteman For SRH, Jonny Bairstow, stole the show with a 40-ball 55 and second, she won the next two games to tie. domestic one-day title at the Bank- for a duck to the second ball of their as long as he was at the crease, it looked like KKR were in for That’s when the two played a 12-minute game stown Oval. innings, and struggled against NSW’s some trouble. Manish Pandey also contributed a healthy 44-ball where Kudermetova saved two break points to pull NSW were without six frontline star-studded bowling attack. 61 n.o. but he ran out of aggression from the non-striker's end ahead. She won four of the final five games. players, including batting stalwarts Cameron Green topscored for after Cummins had dismissed Bairstow. Kudermetova said she was nervous entering the Steve Smith and David Warner, cur- them with 36 but Sean Abbott (4-23) KKR will next face Mumbai Indians on April 13 at the same match, but called on her emotions to pull her through. rently representing their franchises and Nathan Lyon (3-38) wrecked ground. “I liked it very much,” she said. in the their batting order. Brief scores: Kovinic, unseeded and ranked 91st in the world, Twenty20 competition. Mitchell Starc bowled Lance Kolkata Knight Riders 187/6 (Nitish Rana 80, Rahul Tripathi defeated her third seeded opponent in Jabeur to make Edwards, 20, stepped up in their Morris in the 41st over to seal the 53; Rashid Khan 2/24) the final. She topped No. 3 seed and two-time Wim- absence and smashed 108, which victory as Western Australia were SunRisers Hyderabad 177/5 (Manish Pandey 61 not out, Jonny bledon champion Petra Kvitova on Thursday, then included three sixes, to help NSW to bundled out for 149. Bairstow 55; Prasidh Krishna 2/35) dropped the opening set against 11th seeded Yulia Putintseva in the quarterfinals before rallying to victory. Kovinic was tied with Jabeur at 3-all in the PSL to resume in Karachi on June 1 opening set, then won seven straight games to take control. It is Kovinic’s first finals’ appearance in a REUTERS – LAHORE including six players, tested positive for stringent implementation of the protocols, as WTA tournament since a clay-court event in Ins- COVID-19 last month. well as maintaining a zero-tolerance approach tanbul, Turkey in 2016. The remaining 20 matches of this year’s Pakistan PCB’s Board of Governors were disappointed towards all those who breach the COVID-19 Kovinic, 26, had no illusions that would change Super League (PSL) will take place in Karachi’s by the failures highlighted in a report into the SOPs,” the PCB said in a statement. when the week began. National Stadium with the final on June 20, the breaches of the tournament’s COVID-19 standard Teams will begin a mandatory seven-day Kudermetova and Kovinic have met just once country’s cricket board said yesterday. operating procedures. quarantine period from May 22 before Lahore previously, the Russian taking a qualifying round match The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suspended “The BoG endorsed all recommendations of Qalandars take on Islamabad United in the first for the Shenzhen Open in China in December 2018. its flagship tournament after seven people, the fact-finding panel, including robust and match on June 1. Sport MONDAY 12 APRIL 2021 10

The giant Olympic rings are seen over the sea in Tokyo, Couturier breaks Japan, in this January 22, 2021 file photo. 3rd-period tie, Flyers beat Bruins 3-2

AP – PHILADELPHIA

Sean Couturier broke a tie midway through the third period to help the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 yesterday. Brian Elliott stopped 29 shots to help Phila- Hotel to house Olympic delphia move within four points of Boston for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NHL’s East Division. The Bruins have two games in hand on the Flyers, with Philadelphia having 16 games athletes with COVID-19 remaining. The teams completed the regular- season series. Travis Konecny and Shayne Gostisbehere AP – TOKYO the Olympics and Paralympics during a complicated by rising cases in Osaka, Tokyo added goals for Philadelphia. Patrice Bergeron pandemic. and elsewhere. and Jack DeBrusk scored for Boston, and Jeremy Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics who come The Olympics are to open on July 23 and Tokyo will begin today to employ tougher Swayman stopped 20 shots. down with minor symptoms of COVID-19 face strong opposition from up to 80% of measures to curb the rapid spread of the Maple Leafs 6, Senators 5 could be isolated in a hotel lined up by local Japanese polled. The Olympics and Paral- virus. It will allow Tokyo’s governor to Meanwhile, Auston Matthews had a hat trick, organisers of the games. ympics will involve about 15,000 athletes impose shorter opening hours for bars and Jack Campbell made 27 saves to set an NHL record The Japanese news agency Kyodo yes- from more than 200 nations and territories, restaurants, mandate punishment and award for consecutive victories to start a season with 11 terday said organizers are working to secure and tens of thousands of other officials, compensation to those who comply. and Toronto beat Ottawa. 300 rooms in a hotel near the Athletes’ judges, administrators, media and Fewer than 1% of Japanese have been NHL RESULTS Village. broadcasters. vaccinated, and because of Japan’s slow Jets 5, Canadiens 0 The agency cited unnamed officials with Organizers and the International Olympic rollout that number will remain low when Lightning 3, Predators 0 “knowledge of the plan.” Committee have banned fans from abroad the Olympics open. Blackhawks 4, Blue Jackets 3 The rooms would be for athletes and staff from attending. Japan has attributed fewer than 9,500 Blues 3, Wild 2, Ot who do not need to be hospitalised. The They have yet to announce the maximum deaths to COVID-19, good by world standards Stars 4, Panthers 1 measures underline the risk of trying to hold capacity for venues, which is now but poor compared to many countries in Asia. Red Wings 5, Hurricanes 4, So Flames 5, Oilers 0 Kings 4, Sharks 2 Small Japanese Masters: Matsuyama in media control, leads by four shots contingent a REUTERS – AUGUSTA MASTERS SCORES Have that freedom to take a run at it, and of course I’d Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama 205 - Hideki Matsuyama love to kind of stay with it blessing for stormed home in style to put 69-71-65 just a little bit better.” himself in position to become 209 - Xander Schauffele Corey Conners used an Matsuyama the first Asian golfer to win 72-69-68 eight iron to make a hole-in- the Masters as he held a four- Marc Leishman one at the 180-yard, par- REUTERS – AUGUSTA shot lead after the rain-inter- 72-67-70 three sixth hole that helped rupted third round at Justin Rose put the Canadian in con- The coronavirus has kept all but a Augusta National on 65-72-72 tention heading into the final few Japanese reporters from the Saturday. Will Zalatoris round where he will start five Masters, something that leader Matsuyama, who began 70-68-71 shots back from Los Angeles Lakers Talen Hideki Matsuyama is very happy the day three shots behind 210 - Corey Conners Matsuyama. Horton-Tucker dunks to score. about. overnight leader Justin Rose, 73-69-68 “Didn’t seem like the Matsuyama is used to patiently played eight holes after a 211 - Jordan Spieth wind was helping as much enduring a microscopic level of 78-minute weather delay 71-68-72 as I had anticipated, but for- attention that even Tiger Woods and went a sizzling six under 212 - Brian Harman tunately, it flew far enough,” would find wearing, routinely over that stretch for a seven- said Conners, whose ball Jazz 69-69-74 answering a seemingly endless series under-par 65 that brought 213 - Tony Finau took a few bounces before of mundane questions after every him to 11 under. 74-66-73 disappearing in the cup. round, whether shooting 65 or 75. “Before the horn blew I “I think I hit the pin with first to After shooting a spectacular didn’t hit a very good drive, a little bit of steam, but it was Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama acknowledges the crowd after seven-under-par 65 for a four- but after the horn blew for right in the middle. So pretty holing his eagle putt on the 15th green during the third round stroke lead in the third round at the restart I hit practically special moment.” Augusta National on Saturday, he every shot exactly how I of The Masters in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday. Former champion 40 wins was honest enough to acknowledge wanted to,” Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth (72), who came that it was refreshing. whose last PGA Tour win to grab the outright lead fol- rain-softened conditions. into the week among the AGENCIES – UTAH “I’m not sure how to answer this came in 2017, said through lowing a magnificent The 40-year-old Eng- favourites after snapping a in a good way, but being in front of an interpreter. approach. lishman made a birdie- nearly four-year victory Donovan Mitchell scored 42 points the media is still difficult,” he said “This will be a new expe- Matsuyama then birdied birdie start to build an early drought, was six shots back and the Utah Jazz became the first via his interpreter. rience for me being a leader the next two holes before three-shot lead but then after a round that included team in the NBA to reach the “I’m glad the media are here going into the final round in capping the first bogey-free made consecutive bogeys four birdies, two bogeys and 40-win mark with a 128-112 victory covering it, but it’s not my favourite a major. I guess all I can do round of the week with a par from the par-three fourth an double-bogey. Saturday night over the Sacramento thing to do, to stand and answer is just relax tonight, prepare to set a target nobody could before the inclement Schauffele, who drained Kings in Salt Lake City. questions. And so with fewer media, well and just do my best catch as he became the first weather moved in while he a 61-foot eagle putt at the Mike Conley added 26 points it’s been a lot less stressful for me, tomorrow.” player from Japan to lead was playing the seventh hole. par-five 15th that gave him and Joe Ingles contributed 20 off and I’ve enjoyed this week.” Rose (72), seeking his after any round of the Rose returned and mixed a brief share of the lead until the bench, with both players No Japanese player has won a first Green Jacket after a pair Masters. one birdie with a bogey at the playing competitor Mat- sinking five 3-pointers, to help the men’s major, with Isao Aoki’s of close calls, was in a four- It also marked Mat- par-three 16th and then suyama made his eagle, will Jazz overcome a double-digit runner-up to Jack Nicklaus at the way share of second place suyama’s best round in his made a clutch 17-foot par be in the final group for Sun- deficit en route to a rout of the 1980 U.S. Open the closest call. with Xander Schauffele (68), 10 Masters appearances by save at the last hole where day’s final round. Kings. Also, Matsuyama was equal Australian Marc Leishman one shot. he sent his drive into the pine “My dinner will taste a It was Utah’s 24th straight win second at the 2017 U.S. Open, though (70) and Masters debutant Rose, seeking his first straw right of the fairway little better,” Schauffele said at home and the team’s 11th win in a distant four shots off the pace. Will Zalatoris (71). Masters victory after a pair before missing the green after making some key putts 13 games. It is way too early to hand Mat- World number 25 Mat- of runner-up finishes, had with his second shot. down the stretch and an up- Mitchell became the first Jazz suyama a Green Jacket. The law of suyama stormed through been in control all week and “I didn’t play well and-down for par at the player since Hall of Famer Karl averages suggests one of the quartet Amen Corner with a pair of led by two shots moments enough today, simple as that penultimate hole. “It wasn’t Malone to score 35 points in three tied for second will have a strong birdies and then started to after play resumed but was really,” said Rose. “I think all quite as nice as Hideki’s consecutive games. final round, but this could be a once- pull away from the field with out of sync and unable to in all, to have a shot cleanup there on the last few De’Aaron Fox scored 30 and in-a-lifetime opportunity. an eagle at the par-five 15th take advantage of tomorrow, I’m delighted. holes, but I’ll take it.” Richaun Holmes poured in 25 points for Sacramento, but the Kings couldn’t hold on to an early 11-point lead. Warriors 125, Rockets 109 Stephen Curry poured in a game-high 38 points to move within 18 of Wilt Chamberlain’s career franchise record, lifting Golden State to a victory over visiting Houston. Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 25 points and Jordan Poole 21 off the bench for the Warriors. Curry increased his career point total to 17,765. 76ers 117, Thunder 93 Joel Embiid scored 27 points to lead Philadelphia to a road win over Oklahoma City. It was Embiid’s first time playing both ends of a back-to-back since returning from missing 10 games due to a knee injury. Three Philadelphia starters -- Embiid, Ben Simmons and Furkan Korkmaz -- scored 10 points each in the opening quarter as the 76ers jumped out to a 37-25 lead.

OTHER NBA RESULTS Suns 134, Wizards 106 Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama hits his tee shot Lakers 126, Nets 101 on the 9th hole during the third round. Raptors 135, Cavaliers 115 Blazers 118, Pistons 103