Established 1961 27 Sports Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Dynamite debut: Lukaku scores as Conte’s Inter reign starts in style Begins his campaign to topple eight-time holders Juventus MILAN: Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku scored on his respecting the idea of what I wanted,” said Conte. “Then Inter Milan debut as new coach Antonio Conte’s reign at 2-0 I didn’t like what I saw from the lads. Too relaxed, got off to a perfect start with a 4-0 win over promoted losing intensity under pressure. “We need to improve Lecce on Monday. “There was a spark, but now we must both mentally and physically but I am very happy and become dynamite,” said Conte as he begins his cam- satisfied, I like working with these guys who have always paign to topple eight-time holders Juventus. Lukaku — shown great commitment. “Let’s celebrate until midnight, a 65 million euros ($73 million) summer signing from from tomorrow we think of Cagliari, it will be a difficult Manchester United — scored the third goal on the hour trip,” he added of next weekend’s game in Sardinia. mark at the San Siro. A blunder by Lecce goalkeeper Gabriel parried the Icardi ‘irritates’ ball into the path of Lautaro Martinez allowing Lukaku Conte’s arrival at Chinese-owned Inter has raised to finish off. The 26-year-old turned and took a bow in expectations of a first Serie A title since 2010. The for- front of the jubilant Inter fans among the 65,000 crowd. mer Juventus and Chelsea boss took over from Luciano “Lukaku entered the world of Inter in the best way, with Spalletti who secured Champions League football with great humility,” said Conte. “He’s a gentle giant, a giant a fourth-place finish last season. The 50-year-old’s with a smile. He is ready to work for the team. But not coaching credentials include three Serie A titles with only Romelu, Lautaro also played very well.” Juventus from 2012 to 2014, and the Premier League Croatian Marcelo Brozovic had opened the scoring with Chelsea in 2017. after 21 minutes with a powerful strike for his 15th goal in And former Italy boss Conte’s first game was against his sixth season with Inter. But another new signing his hometown club Lecce, the team where he started his Stefano Sensi, a summer loan from Sassuolo, also found a playing career, and who are back in Serie A after seven way through three minutes later. Lecce played the last years. The sideshow surrounding former Inter captain quarter of an hour a man down after Brazilian Diego Mauro Icardi continued with the Argentine not named Farias saw red in his first game for a studs on tackle on on the bench. Inter director Giuseppe Marotta insisted MILAN: Inter Milan’s Italian forward Antonio Candreva (C) celebrates scoring with Inter Milan’s Belgian forward his former Cagliari teammate Nicolo Barella. there was no room in the club for the forward, with the Romelu Lukaku (L) and Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella during the Italian Serie A football match Antonio Candreva blasted in the fourth goal on 84 transfer window closing on September 2. Inter Milan vs US Lecce on August 26, 2019 at the San Siro stadium. — AFP minutes, allowing Inter to match champions Juventus and Icardi has rejected moves away from the San Siro runners-up Napoli who both won their opening league despite being frozen out of the team and stripped of the matches at the weekend. Juventus beat Parma 1-0, with captain’s armband last season amid a protracted contract stay by senior club bosses. “We greeted Wanda Nara’s before Monday’s game. “I absolutely deny that any of the Napoli edging a seven-goal thriller at Fiorentina 4-3. dispute. Icardi’s wife Wanda Nara, who is also his agent, comments with a bit of irritation, both for the timing and club management, and in particular (president) Steven “We started off well with the right intensity and desire, said he wants to remain at Inter and had been told to the method,” Marotta told sports broadcaster DAZN Zhang, have invited Icardi to stay.” — AFP African players in Naismith, Snodgrass recalled for Europe: Klopp crucial Scotland Euro qualifiers LONDON: Experienced duo Steven “But at the moment I just feel it’s a little hails ‘absolutely Naismith and Robert Snodgrass were bit too early to push him.” recalled to the Scotland squad by Scotland made a woeful start in Steve Clarke yesterday for next their Euro qualifying campaign under amazing’ Salah month’s challenging home Euro 2020 Clarke’s predecessor Alex McLeish, qualifiers with Russia and Belgium. having been hammered by Naismith, who won the last of his 49 Kazakhstan and Belgium, the number PARIS: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called caps against Portugal in October last one ranked side in the world. Scotland a Mohamed Salah goal against Arsenal at the year, has been beset by injury prob- are fourth in their group, level on six weekend “absolutely amazing” as the Egyptian lems and this term the 32-year-old points from a possible 12 with once again stole the show among Africans in the forward has not played a full 90 min- Kazakhstan, six points behind leaders major European leagues. The reigning African utes for Scottish Premiership side Belgium. The Scots host Russia, who Footballer of the Year fired into the corner of the Hearts. are second in the group with nine net after a run from close to the halfway line as West Ham defender Snodgrass, 31, points, on September 6, and the the Reds triumphed 3-1 to top the Premier has not featured in a Scotland side Belgians three days later. League table. Salah has recovered impressively since coming on as a substitute for his with Liverpool after being part of the Egyptian 26th cap in the 4-0 hammering by Squad team stunned by South Africa in Cairo at the last- Belgium in a friendly in September Goalkeepers: Craig MacGillivray 16 stage of the Africa Cup of Nations during July. 2018. “He has good experience, (Portsmouth/ENG), David Marshall ANFIELD: Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah runs with the ball during the English Premier Robert,” said Clarke. “When I spoke (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Jon League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. — AFP ENGLAND to him over the summer he was very McLaughlin (Sunderland/ENG) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) keen to come back on board. “He Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds The Egypt forward produced a masterpiece substitute for just 78 seconds when he cut in Serie A rivals Sassuolo during the close season picked up a little injury last week but United/ENG), Grant Hanley (Norwich in a 3-1 win over Arsenal as he scored an early from the left to bury the ball into the top-right after a loan spell with Barcelona. He scored the he let us know he was fine.” Despite City/ENG), Charlie Mulgrew (Wigan contender for goal of the season. With corner from the edge of the area. third Fiorentina goal to pull them level, but the the size of the task facing Scotland, Athletic/ENG), Stephen O’Donnell Liverpool two goals up after Cameroon defend- Serie A runners-up snatched victory two min- who have conceded seven goals with- (Kilmarnock), Liam Palmer (Sheffield er Joel Matip’s header and Salah’s penalty, the SPAIN utes later. out scoring against Belgium in their Wednesday/ENG), Andrew star man took possession just inside the Arsenal Karl Toko Ekambi (Villarreal) last two outings, Clarke decided to Robertson (Liverpool/ENG), Greg half and weaved his magic. Accelerating away The Cameroonian laid on the assist for GERMANY give striker Leigh Griffiths more time Taylor (Kilmarnock) from David Luiz and Nacho Monreal, Salah Gerard Moreno to open the scoring for Ihlas Bebou (Hoffenheim) to reintegrate into the Celtic team. Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong burst into the penalty area and fired home to Villarreal, but could not stop Levante coming The Togolese forward scored his first league goal Griffiths missed the last six months (Southampton/ENG), Ryan Christie ensure leaders Liverpool extended their 100 from behind to win 2-1. Midfielder Toko Ekambi for new club Hoffenheim in a 3-2 win over Werder of the 2018/19 campaign to deal with (Celtic), Ryan Jack (Rangers), John percent start to the season. slid a perfect pass for Moreno to finish in the Bremen, smashing in a loose ball inside the area to mental health problems but has scored McGinn (Aston Villa/ENG), Callum third minute at the City of Valencia Stadium but put his team 2-1 up on the hour mark. — AFP three goals this season and said he McGregor (Celtic), Kenny McLean Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) two Roger Marti penalties in the second half was ready to return for Scotland. “He (Norwich City/ENG), Robert The Ghana forward bagged his first goal of gave Levante victory. was close,” Clarke said. “Leigh has got Snodgrass (West Ham United/ENG), the season to help Palace claim their first league some fantastic attributes. I just look at Scott McTominay (Manchester win at Manchester United since 1989. Ayew ITALY Matches on TV him just now and he’s come a long way United/ENG) scored the opener in the first half of the 2-1 tri- Christian Kouame (Genoa) in a short space of time after a very Forwards: James Forrest (Celtic), umph, latching on to Jeffrey Schlupp’s flick-on Ivorian Kouame grabbed a point for Genoa (Local Timings) difficult spell in his life.