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Monday, August 14, 2017 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 22, 1438 AH Falcao hits treble GULF TIMES as Monaco win without Mbappe SPORT Page 7 RALLYING Al-Attiyah cruises to comfortable win in Hungary

Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim celebrates his win in the men’s high jump final at the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships in London yesterday. (Reuters)

2017 IAAF WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Felix wins 16th

It was Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah’s (left) fourth victory in the Hungarian Baja.

Agencies result. It will come, he is still young.” worlds medal as US Veszprem, Hungary Al-Attiyah made the perfect start and a time of 7min 33.2sec through the 11.41km Prologue stage on Friday af- verdrive Racing’s Nasser ternoon gave the Qatari the choice of Saleh al-Attiyah moved a favourable starting position for Sat- one step closer to a third urday’s opening selective section and successive FIA World Cup an overnight lead of 8.8 seconds over Ofor Cross-Country Rallies title with a Czech driver Martin Prokop. Domzala win 4x400m title convincing start-to-fi nish victory in slotted into fi fth place, sandwiched the Veszprém-based Hungarian Baja, between Marcin Lukaszewski and fel- Kenya’s Manangoi and Obiri win gold; Semenya wins 800m title with ease round eight of the series. low Pole Jakub Przygonski. The Qatari and French co-driver Al-Attiyah continued where he left Matthieu Baumel clinched victory on off on Friday evening with the fastest the Prologue stage on Friday evening time of 1hr 39min 19sec through the and that paved the way for a domi- fi rst of two runs in a 136.60km selec- nant performance in their Toyota tive section on Saturday morning. It Hilux that saw them reach the po- enabled the Qatari to extend his ad- dium fi nish with a winning margin vantage over Mikko Hirvonen to 1min of 3min 38sec over former WRC star 14sec. Przygonski moved up to third Mikko Hirvonen of Finland. Al-At- and Domzala climbed a place to fourth. tiyah won four of the weekend’s fi ve The slippery special featured numer- timed tests. ous water splashes and muddy condi- It was the fourth win for al-Attiyah tions after overnight heavy rain. in Hungary after previous successes In drying conditions, al-Attiyah in 2008, 2014 and 2015 and the sixth was 4min 13sec quicker on his sec- of the season in the FIA World Cup ond run through the stage than he for Overdrive Racing after victories had been in the morning and duly ex- in Russia, Dubai, Qatar, Kazakhstan tended his advantage over Hirvonen and Spain and a bonus victory for to 1min 24sec at the overnight halt, Christian Lavieille in China’s Takli- despite admitting to driving with makan Rally. caution over the rutted tracks and “It was not an easy race at all. The through the muddy sections. Dom- conditions were diffi cult on Saturday zala dropped around fi ve minutes to Elijah Motonei Manangoi of Kenya celebrates his win in the men’s 1,500m final in US athletes Quanera Hayes, Allyson Felix, Shakima Wimbley and Phyllis Francis and I did not want to take any risks,” his closest rivals after collecting two London yesterday. (Reuters) celebrate their women’s 4x400m relay victory yesterday. (Reuters) said the Qatari. “Mikko was always punctures and returned to Veszprém close behind and I could never relax, in sixth overall, 2min 24sec off fi fth Agencies lation for her Olympic silver last year title when she won the world 800 me- last men’s individual track event to take but the win puts me in a strong posi- place. London winning the women’s 5,000 metres tres gold, biding her time before surg- the title in 3 minutes 33.61 seconds, just tion now to retain the FIA World Cup A shortened selective section of world title. ing clear to record one minute 55.16 ahead of Cheruiyot (3:33.99). title.” around 98 kilometres was repeated The 27-year-old produced a devas- seconds, the fastest time in the world Kiprop, who had briefl y threatened Poland’s Aron Domzala and navi- twice on Sunday. Al-Attiyah re- lympic champions the United tating burst down the back straight to this year. to make it a Kenyan clean sweep, found gator Maciej Marton set the fastest corded his fourth successive quickest States reclaimed their wom- leave defending champion Almaz Aya- South Africa’s Semenya, who won the pace too hot on the last lap, fading time on the fi nal stage – beating al- time in the opener by stopping the en’s 4x400m relay world ti- na trailing and went on to win in a time bronze in the unfamiliar 1,500m on into ninth place in 3:37.24, a fairly tame Attiyah by just one second - and de- clocks in 1hr 01min and that enabled tle as Jamaica suff ered more of 14min 34.86sec. Monday, looked much more at home attempt to emulate the four straight livered a solid display in the second him to extend his lead to 3min 11sec injuryO heartbreak in the fi nal yesterday. Ayana, who had won the 10,000m in her preferred event as she sat on the metric mile world golds of Moroccan of the Overdrive Racing Toyotas to heading into the fi nal stage. Domzala Twenty four hours after Usain Bolt gold in what was her fi rst race of the shoulders of front-runnerers Francine Hicham El Guerrouj. fi nish in sixth position, despite los- tied to the second with Zimbabwe’s sensationally pulled up in his relay season, took silver for Ethiopia in Niyonsaba of Burundi and in-form Norway’s European champion Filip ing around fi ve minutes with two fl at Conrad Rautenbach and consolidat- event, Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby 14:40.35 with the Netherlands Sifan American Ajee Wilson before driving Ingebrigtsen snatched the bronze on tyres on the third stage. ed his hold on sixth overall. slowed down clutching her leg 20 Hassan fi nishing third in 14:42.73. clear off the fi nal bend. the line in 3:34.53. Overdrive Racing’s CEO Jean-Marc metres into her second leg and went Ayana had decided to inject some Semenya, 26, is the 2016 Olympic Fortin said: “It has been a very good 2017 HUNGARIAN BAJA RESULTS to ground, ending Jamaica’s reign as much-needed zip into the pace with and 2009 world champion and is poised PERKOVIC DOMINATES DISCUS TO weekend, perfect, with nothing hap- 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/ world champions. nine laps to run and only Obiri was able to inherit two more golds after Russian CLINCH SECOND WORLD TITLE pening to the cars at all. For Nasser, Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Jamaica had been in the lead, but to match her. doper Mariya Savinova-Farnosova was Double Olympic champion Sandra Perk- from the pre-rally test to the fi nish, Overdrive 5hrs 24min 54sec American Allyson Felix surged clear The fi eld was suddenly splintered stripped of her 2012 Olympic and 2011 ovic eased her way to a second world it was a perfect weekend. We chose a 2. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Andreas of the fi eld to open up a 15-metre gap with Hassan, also fom Ethiopia but who world titles. discus title after being the only athlete to good place to start the fi rst stage after Schulz (DEU) Mini John Cooper which teammates Shakima Wimbley came to the Netherlands as a refugee Niyonsaba, who took silver behind throw over 70 metres yesterday. the Prologue. Opening the road today Works Rally 5hrs 28min 32sec and Phyllis Francis extended to win aged 15, leading a group of fi ve contest- her in Rio, was second again in 1:55.92 The Croatian, who fi rst won the was not easy, but he managed. We were 3. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Tom Col- gold in a world leading time of 3 min- ing the minor medal. and Wilson claimed bronze in 1:56.65. world title in 2013, threw 70.31m on her managing the eight tyres only as well. soul (BEL) Mini John Cooper Works utes 19.02 seconds. Ayana was unable to burn off Obiri as second attempt which was enough to Mikko used his eight tyres yesterday, Rally 5hrs 32min 56sec Felix strengthened her record as she had done her rivals in the 10,000m MANANGOI BRINGS 1,500M JOY triumph in the same stadium in which which was a mistake. So, this morning, 4. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Jan Tomanek the most decorated athlete in World — which she won by over 46sec — with FOR KENYA AS KIPROP FLOPS she won Olympic gold in 2012. we had fresh tyres and that made the (CZE) Ford F-150 Evo 5hrs 38min Championships history by winning her the Kenyan content to let her 25-year- Asbel Kiprop failed in his bid for a The 27-year-old had the top three diff erence. 41sec 11th gold to equal Bolt’s haul. It was her old rival do all the pace-setting. fourth consecutive 1,500 metres gold throws of 2017 going into the compe- “For Aron, this was a mixed rally. 5. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek 16th medal overall. Her strategy paid off perfectly as medal at the World Athletics Cham- tition, and led from the fi rst attempt There were some excellent times, a Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo 5hrs Britain fi nished second in 3:25.00 heading into the fi nal lap she moved up pionships but Kenya still celebrated a in the fi nal to secure her country’s fi rst good Prologue but then he got two 39min 55sec to clinch silver. Poland came third in onto Ayana’s shoulder and then deliv- dazzling one-two with new champion gold of the championships. punctures on the same stage and lost 6. Aron Domzala (POL)/Maciej Marton 3:25.41 to take bronze. ered her coup de grace. Elijah Manangoi leading home Timothy Dani Stevens of Australia took sil- the chance of the podium. To come (POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 5hrs Cheruiyot. ver with a personal best 69.94m, while back strongly this morning and to set 40min 58sec OBIRI DENIES AYANA WORLD SEMENYA TAKES ANOTHER 800M Manangoi, the fastest man in the Melina Robert-Michon of France also the fastest time was a great way to fi n- 7. Conrad Rautenbach (ZAF)/Filipe DOUBLE TITLE IN HER STRIDE world this year, sped past his young achieved a lifetime best throw, with ish, but it is frustrating that he has a Palmeiro (POR) Mini John Cooper Kenya’s Hellen Obiri claimed conso- Caster Semenya claimed another global compatriot on the home straight of the 66.21m getting her the bronze medal. small issue and he cannot achieve a top Works Rally 5hrs 50min 23sec Gulf Times 2 Monday, August 14, 2017 ATHLETICS

AFTERMATH FOCUS Henriques breaks own Organisers to blame world record to win women’s 50km title

Agencies for Bolt’s collapse, London nes Henriques smashed her own world record by more than two minutes to win the inaugural women’s 50 kilometre race walk at Ithe World Championships yesterday. The 37-year-old crossed the fi n- say teammates ishing line at The Mall in 4 hours, 5 minutes and 56 seconds, obliterating her previous best of 4:08:26 which ‘The race was 10 minutes late and we were kept 40 minutes’ she set in January after the IAAF rati- fi ed conditions for a women’s 50km AFP record. London Henriques dominated the race to win her fi rst major global title, and The conditions were near-perfect the fi rst race walking title to go to a for the athletes, who were compet- sain Bolt’s dramatic and in- Portuguese woman. ing at the same time as the men, with glorious end to his top level Draped in the fl ag of her country, bright sunshine, clear skies and a career was the fault of world she was embraced after the fi nish- cool breeze. championship organisers, his ing line by a member of her team and The IAAF introduced the women’s Ufurious teammates claimed. cheered generously by the crowds 50km to the programme in July in or- The 30-year-old 100 metres and lined up all the way down from Buck- der to ensure gender equality. 200m world record-holder collapsed ingham Palace. on the London Stadium track whilst “It is great that the 50km is at the DINIZ ENJOYS HIS GOLDEN anchoring Jamaica in the fi nal of the World Championships despite the MOMENT AT LAST 4x100m on Saturday as cramp gripped fact that it is a really hard event,” Mercurial Frenchman Yohann Di- his leg. Henriques told reporters. niz fi nally ended years of frustration Bolt lay prone on the track but waved “The last 5kms were really tough. in winning men’s 50 kilometres walk away the off er of a wheelchair and My goal was to go under 4 hours and world championship gold at the sixth eventually, aided by his three team- 6 minutes, so I am really happy with attempt yesterday. The 39-year-old — mates, limped across the line before this time. whose previous best was silver in the making a hasty exit — not the way the “It felt like at home in London with 2007 world championships — spent so man who had won triple Olympic gold so many Portuguese fans supporting much time celebrating with spectators at the same stadium in 2012 would have me. I hope that in future we will see close to the fi nish that he missed the wished his competitive career in cham- more women competing at this dis- opportunity to eclipse his own world pionships to fi nish. tance.” best mark by 39sec. “A lot of training But his team-mates complained that Athletes from China completed has gone into this — cycling, swim- his problem was caused by organisers the podium. Yin Hang claimed silver ming — everything for this 50km walk. keeping the relay teams waiting in the with an Asian record of 4:08:58, while Last night I kept away from watching cold before their race as several medal 20-year-old Yang Shuqing fi nished the TV (athletics) because I did not ceremonies were held. third with a personal best of 4:20:49. want to get too excited.” “I think they were holding us too long in the call room. The walk was too long. Usain was really cold. In fact Usain said SPOTLIGHT to me, ‘Yohan, I think this is crazy. 40 minutes and two medal presentations before our run’,” said Yohan Blake, who branded the wait as “crazy”. Yang takes 20km walk “We kept warming up and waiting, then warming up and waiting,” added the 2011 100m world champion, who gold in dramatic fi nish also won Olympic relay gold in 2012 and 2016 with Bolt. “I think it got the better of us. We Reuters trio just as they started the last of the were over warm. London 10 two kilometre loops between Ad- “To see a true legend, a true champi- miralty Arch and Buckingham Pal- on go out there and struggling like that. ace on The Mall came home for the “The race was 10 minutes late and we ang Jiayu raced to gold in a bronze in 1:26.36, Italy’s fi rst medal were kept 40 minutes.” thrilling fi nish to the 20km of the championships. Bolt may not have led Jamaica to a walk at the World Athlet- glorious fi nale anyway, though, as he Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (centre) grimaces in pain as teammates and medical staff try to help him during the men’s 4x100m relay ics Championships yester- AREVALO WINS COLOMBIA’S took the baton well behind eventual Yday but her compatriot Lyu Xiuzhi FIRST GOLD final at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London on Saturday. (AFP) winners Great Britain and the US. learned she had been dramatically Eider Arevalo won Colombia’s fi rst But Jamaica’s 110m hurdles world side, I think they had three medal cer- deny Bolt a farewell gold in the indi- that’s where the cramp came from. disqualifi ed when metres away from gold of the World Championships champion Omar McLeod — who ran emonies before we went out so we were vidual 100m. That’s what he suff ered with. He was winning the bronze medal. yesterday by triumphing in the men’s the first leg — likewise pointed the really trying our hardest to stay warm “I think it was the elements. I am running out there cold.” Yang upped the pace over the last 20 kilometre walk. finger at organisers for denying his and keep upbeat. sorry he got this injury. He is still the Despite his relatively unsuccessful 100 metres on the Mall to power The 24-year-old continued his country’s greatest star a more fitting “But it was ridiculous. We waited a best in the world,” said Gatlin. championships — in which he will exit away from Mexico’s Maria Guada- unbeaten run over this distance in swansong. really long time. I drank like two bottles “It was a recipe. I don’t want to say with just a single bronze medal — Bolt lupe Gonzalez and fi nish a mere one 2017 by crossing the line, wearing his “It’s heart wrenching,” said McLeod, of water.” this, I understand we need to be ready was still scheduled for a fi nal lap of second clear in 1 hours 26 minutes country’s fl ag as a cape, in a national who is also the Olympic champion. Their criticism echoed that of Justin early, but I think we took our clothes off honour in a tribute ceremony before 18 seconds, a superb triumph for the record time of one hour, 18 minutes “It was ridiculous man, we were Gatlin, who led an American 1-2 along- a little too early. the curtain comes down on the world 21-year-old in her maiden senior and 53 seconds. there around 45 minutes waiting out- side team-mate Christian Coleman to “It’s a little chilly in here so I think championships later yesterday. championship. Russian Sergey Shirobokov, com- Yet Lyu, perhaps favourite for the peting as an authorised neutral ath- title, did not realise she had already lete, shadowed Arevalo for most of COMMENT received a third red card for a late the race but faded on the fi nal lap on infringement — meaning automatic The Mall. disqualifi cation — as she was still The 2015 youth champion still man- racing home just behind Gonzalez. aged a late surge to fi nish two seconds As she was less than 20 metres behind Arevalo to take silver in his de- from the line believing the bronze but senior World Championships. medal was in her grasp, a senior of- Caio Bonfi m repeated his perform- Does Farah leave the track as fi cial stepped out in front of her to ance from the Pan American Games confi rm her disqualifi cation. two years ago to take bronze in 1:19:04 It meant that Antonella Palmisano, for Brazil’s fi rst medal of any colour at greatest distance man? who had been broken by the leading the championships in London.

Reuters runner ever at 5,000m with fi ve global Farah says British media trying to London titles, is ranked only the 31st-fastest runner of all time, at 12 minutes 53.11 destroy his achievements seconds. Bekele holds the world record ight at the last, Mo Farah’s at 12:37.35. Reuters infusions of supplements to improve unbeatable air could not stand At 10,000 metres, in which Farah London the performance of his runners, up to another examination by has also won a record fi ve global golds, citing what the newspaper said was the world’s best distance run- he is also still only the 16th-fastest a leaked United States Anti-Doping nersR as he was denied one fi nal global (26:46.57), nearly half a minute down ritain’s Olympic and world Agency (USADA) report. triumph in his farewell championship on Bekele’s world record of 26:17.53. champion Mo Farah said the Farah has repeatedly denied track race on Saturday. Bekele, a year older than Farah at 35, BBritish media were trying wrongdoing. As the Briton was consoled — and won nine global golds, once went un- to destroy his achievements and “It’s like a broken record repeat- congratulated on a peerless track ca- beaten for eight years at 10,000 metres, repeated that he was a clean ath- ing myself,” said Farah when the reer — by his competitors following his won 11 world cross-country titles and lete during an emotional outburst subject was brought up on Sunday. world 5,000 metres silver in the stadi- now holds the second-fastest mara- yesterday. “If I have crossed the line, and Mo um where his legend was fi rst properly thon time in history (2 hours 3 minutes “It’s like I have achieved what I Farah has done something wrong, sculpted in 2012, the only question that 3 seconds). have achieved and you are trying then prove it.” remained was where he stands in the For the moment, even if Gebrselas- to destroy it,” he told reporters. “You can write what you like but annals of track distance running. sie was the great Ethiopian trailblazer, “You guys, so many times towards I’m a clean athlete... and I sleep well There is a powerful argument to say, it seems fair to rank Bekele the highest me, you have been unfair. I don’t at night, loving my kids, hugging after 10 straight global championship for his all-round achievements on the know why.” my kids, showing (them) what’s victories stretching back to the 2011 track, country and roads. Farah won silver in Saturday’s right. That’s all that counts.” world 5,000 metres triumph in Daegu, is very diff erent from being seen as the BOTH DISTANCES Yet Farah, who has run only one 5,000 metres at the World Athlet- Farah, speaking calmly but looking that the 34-year-old is the greatest greatest distance athlete of all-time. In championship running, Farah won marathon, fi nishing eighth in London ics Championships — his final track exasperated, said his achievements distance racer we have ever seen on the Sebastian Coe, the IAAF President 10 on the trot before Saturday’s set- in 2014 in a relatively modest 2:08:21, race of a career in which he won spoke for themselves. track. and a massive fan of Farah, set the back, compared with Gebrselassie’s believes he can make a big impact on two successive Olympic 10,000 “History doesn’t lie — everybody’s Despite his defeat on Saturday, his ball rolling when declaring in Friday’s six in a row at 10,000 metres and the roads. and 5,000 gold medal doubles. proud of me,” he said. ability, time and again, to fend off every Evening Standard newspaper that Haile Kenenisa Bekele’s best run of four The most amazing tale in the annals The 34-year-old, who was born “The fact is, I work hard at what I challenge and tactic thrown at him — Gebrselassie was the greatest. championship wins in succession at of British athletics may not quite have in Somalia and moved to Britain do and I achieve (it) through hard from Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes “When it comes to the debate on the both distances. run its course yet. at the age of eight, has also won work... putting my balls on the line, ganging up on him to being spiked and greatest distance runner of all time, I’m Yet the two Ethiopian greats also As Farah, who admitted to being three world titles each in the 5,000 year after year, and delivering for bruised in physical races — and still tough on this,” said Coe, who himself is went chasing records to extraordi- tearful after an amotional night, said metres and 10,000 metres. my country, and for the people out sprint to victory was unprecedented in the shake-up for the title best mid- nary eff ect, Bekele setting a total of after his race: “As I’m getting older, In February, Farah’s coach Al- there.” during an incredible six-year reign. dle-distance runner of them all. three new world marks at 5,000m and it’s getting a bit more challenging and berto Salazar denied administering “I’m going to still keep fighting, His ability to strike for home with “For me, it’s not Mo Farah — and 10,000m and Gebrselassie seven at the that’s the reason I’m going to end on banned supplements to his ath- keep working, making my country that long, loping stride, anywhere from that’s not to do a disservice to Mo, who two events. the track and see what I can do on the letes and issued a firm rebuttal of proud,” said Farah, who will now 600 metres to 100 metres out — and is one of the greats of all time. Farah has never been down that roads. what he said were false allegations concentrate on running mara- then to fi nd yet another gear when it “For me that still has to be Haile route, with his capacity for really fast “This is end of in terms of major against him in a British newspaper. thons. “I am proud to be British and seemed as if he was fl at out — marked Gebrselassie, for the distances that he times never examined. championships, I’m done. I’ve closed The Sunday Times had reported put my GB vest on and do it for my him as a unique talent. covered, the titles he won and the world It remains an extraordinary fact that that chapter of my life. I want to start a that Salazar had used prohibited country.” Yet being considered the best racer records he broke.” the most successful championship new challenge in my life.” Gulf Times Monday, August 14, 2017 3 SPORT

CRICKET MOTOGP Dovizioso pips Pandya, Kuldeep Marquez to clinch Austrian GP AFP put India on top Spielberg bei Knittelfeld, Austria ndrea Dovizioso held off the hard-charging Marc Marquez to win Sri Lanka, following on, were 19-1 at stumps on day two, still trailing India by 333 runs a thrilling Austrian MotoGPA Grand Prix for Ducati yesterday. World championship leader Marquez had started on pole but Italian Dovizioso got the better of an incredible battle where the lead changed hands several times, including twice on the fi nal corner. Three-time world champion Marquez’s Honda teammate and compatriot Dani Pedrosa came he couldn’t challenge for the vic- third. Dovizioso’s third win of the tory and Dovizioso prevailed. season moved him up to second Italy’s Franco Morbidelli behind Marquez in the standings, earned his seventh win of the 16 points back, as Spaniard Mav- season with victory in Moto2. erick Vinales dropped to third World championship leader after fi nishing only sixth. Morbidelli beat fellow Kalex rid- That was one place above his ers Alex Marquez of Spain and Yamaha teammate and seven- Switzerland’s Thomas Luthi into time world champion Valentino second and third respectively at Rossi of Italy. "I heard Marc's the Spielberg circuit. engine the corner before the last, In Moto3, Spain’s world cham- he opened the gas before me, and pionship leader Joan Mir won I knew he wanted to try," said ahead of German Philipp Oettl Dovizioso who saw Marquez slip and compatriot Jorge Martin. It past him on the fi nal bend be- was a stunning seventh GP suc- fore the Spaniard ran wide and cess of the season for Honda’s allowed the Ducati man to take Mir, who had started from the back the lead. fourth row of the grid at the "So I left the door open be- Spielberg circuit. cause if I didn't he would have hit me and could have won. He was RESULTS AND STANDINGS good stopping the bike and try- MOTOGP: 1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/ ing to exit, but I was faster." Ducati) 39min 43.323sec, 2. Marc Dovizioso had started sec- Marquez (ESP/Honda) at 0.176sec, ond on the grid but dropped to 3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 2.661, third as his Ducati teammate 4. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) and three-time world champion 6.663, 5. Johann Zarco (FRA/ Jorge Lorenzo jumped from third Yamaha) 7.262, 6. Maverick Vinales to fi rst at the start. Dovizioso, (ESP/Yahaha) 7.447, 7. Valentino who was second in Austria to Rossi (ITA/Yahama) 8.995, 8. Alvaro his then team-mate Andrea Ian- Bautista (ESP/Aspar) 14.515, 9. Loris India’s Hardik Pandya plays a shot as Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella (C) and Dimuth Karunaratne look on during the third and final Test in Pallekele. (AFP) none last year, took advantage of Baz (FRA/Avintia) 19.620 10. Mika the battle between Marquez and Kallio (FIN/KTM) 19.766 AFP Pandya, who made his Test debut in the Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s batting coach SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS Lorenzo to snatch the lead. OVERALL STANDINGS: 1. Marc Pallekele, Sri Lanka series opener in Galle, added. Hashan Tillakaratne gave no excuses for D. Karunaratne c Saha b Shami 4 Marquez also passed Lorenzo Marquez (ESP/Honda) 174, 2. And- Kuldeep, another Indian rookie, then the team’s poor batting performance, but U. Tharanga c Saha b Shami 5 to launch a thrilling battle with rea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 158, 3. fl attened the Sri Lankan batting in the said he hoped the boys will learn from K. Mendis run out (Ashwin/ K. Yadav) 18 Dovizioso. The Spaniard seemed Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 150, blazing century from all- hosts’ fi rst innings, returning impressive their mistakes. D. Chandimal c Rahul b Ashwin 48 to have an edge in speed but 4. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) rounder Hardik Pandya and four fi gures of 4-40 in just his second Test. “It’s a disappointing day. We batted A. Mathews lbw b Pandya 0 every time he passed the Ital- 141, 5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) wickets from spinner Kuldeep The 22-year-old turned on the heat to rat- so poorly today, I am sure the boys have N. Dickwella st Saha b K. Yadav 29 ian, usually after a daring and 139, 6. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Yadav left India in total com- tle the middle order and combined with realised where we went wrong (and) will D. Perera c Pandya b K. Yadav 0 almost reckless lunge into a turn, Tech3) 99, 7. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/ mandA of the third and fi nal Test against fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to come out with a better plan tomorrow,” his ice-cool rival quickly took M. Pushpakumara b K. Yadav 10 Ducati) 79, 8. Jonas Folger (GER/ Sri Lanka yesterday. wipe out the tail in the fi nal session. said the former batsman. “There are so L. Sandakan c Dhawan b Ashwin 10 back the lead. Their battle al- Yahama Tech3) 77, 9. Cal Crutchlow Kuldeep led an inspired bowling dis- Off -spinner Ashwin took two wick- many things that you can say when the V. Fernando b K. Yadav 0 lowed Pedrosa to close right in (GBR/LCR Honda) 76, 10. Danilo play with his left-arm wrist spin to help ets including the prized scalp of skip- team is not doing too well. This is the L. Kumara not out 0 around six laps from the end but Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 75, dismiss Sri Lanka for 135 in response to per Dinesh Chandimal, who top-scored time we must back these guys and give Extras (b4, lb1, w6) 11 India’s 487, before the visitors enforced with a gritty 87-ball 48. Pace spearhead them confi dence,” he added. Total (all out, 37.4 overs) 135 the follow-on in Pallekele in search of a Mohammed Shami also contributed two India are eyeing their fi rst-ever series Bowling: Shami 6.5-1-17-2, U. Yadav 3.1-0- series whitewash. wickets, removing the Sri Lankan open- sweep in Sri Lanka after taking an unas- 23-0, Pandya 6-1-28-1, K. Yadav 13-2-40-4, The hosts were 19-1 at stumps on day ers in the fi rst fi ve overs of the innings. sailable 2-0 lead in Colombo. Ashwin 8.4-2-22-2 two, still trailing India by 333 runs. Di- Pandya, 23, also chipped in with his Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Tharanga), 2-23 muth Karunaratne on 12 and nightwatch- pace bowling to have former captain An- SCOREBOARD (Karunaratne), 3-38 (Mendis), 4-38 (Math- man Malinda Pushpakumara on nought gelo Mathews lbw for nought. But it was INDIA I INNINGS (OVERNIGHT 329-6) ews), 5-101 (Dickwella), 6-107 (Perera), 7-125 were at the crease. Paceman Umesh Ya- Pandya’s batting blitz that tore apart the W. Saha c Perera b Fernando 16 (Chandimal), 8-125 (Pushpakumara), 9-135 dav had opener Upul Tharanga trudging Sri Lanka attack as the right-hander hit H. Pandya c Perera b Sandakan 108 (Fernando), 10-135 (Sandakan) back to the pavilion for seven after the 8 fours and 7 sixes after starting on his K. Yadav c Dickwella b Sandakan 26 left-handed batsman dragged a delivery, overnight score of one. M. Shami c & b Sandakan 8 SRI LANKA II INNINGS which was going away, onto his stumps. He was fi nally out to spinner Lakshan U. Yadav not out 3 D. Karunaratne not out 12 But it was Pandya’s 96-ball 108 that Sandakan, who claimed his fi rst fi ve- Extras (b10, lb6, nb2, w6) 24 U. Tharanga b U. Yadav 7 paved the way for India’s dominance af- wicket Test haul, on the third ball of the Total (all out, 122.3 overs) 487 M. Pushpakumara not out 0 ter resuming the day on 329-6. “It was second session as India’s innings ended Bowling: Fernando 26-3-87-2, Kumara Extras 0 an ideal opportunity and obviously there without adding to the lunch total. “I al- 23-1-104-0, Karunaratne 7-0-30-0, Perera 8-1- Total (1 wicket, 13 overs) 19 was a team’s goal which was to get them ways wanted to play Test cricket. Its name 36-0, Sandakan 35.3-4-132-5, Pushpakumara Bowling: Shami 4-2-7-0, Ashwin 6-4-5-0, a 400-run target and we scored close to is Test because it is a diffi cult format; it 23-2-82-3 U. Yadav 2-0-3-1, K. Yadav 1-0-4-0 490. I was taking a calculative risk,” Pan- tests your patience, fi tness, tempera- Fall of wickets: 1-188 (Rahul), 2-219 (Dha- Fall of wicket: 1-15 (Tharanga) dya told reporters. “I am pretty lucky to ment,” said Pandya, who is already being wan), 3-229 (Pujara), 4-264 (Rahane), 5-296 Still to bat: K. Mendis, D. Chandimal, (From left) Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, Honda's Marc Marquez and have such a team and such people who are compared to iconic Indian all-rounder (Kohli), 6-322 (Ashwin), 7-339 (Pandya), 8-401 A. Mathews, N. Dickwella, D. Perera, L. Dani Pedrosa in action during the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix race supporting me and backing me all out,” Kapil Dev. (K. Yadav), 9-421 (Shami), 10-487 (Pandya) Sandakan, V. Fernando, L. Kumara at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, yesterday. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT Kasparov, the retired champ who can’t give up chess AFP not?!,” Kasparov tweeted last month Vladimir Kramnik, and retired from St. Louis, United States when it was announced that he was competitive chess in 2005. coming out of retirement. Kasparov never managed to cut ties Born Garik Weinstein in Azerbaijan with the game, even attempting in 2014 ussian chess champion Garry to an Armenian mother and Jewish fa- to become president of the World Chess Kasparov owned the game for ther, Kasparov has been described as “a Federation by dethroning its wealthy 15 years, gaining superstar sta- monster with 100 eyes, who sees all.” At and well-connected leader, Kirsan Ily- tus among fans before retiring age 12, he took on his mother’s surname umzhinov. But Kasparov’s outspoken andR throwing himself into politics — and launched what became one of the personality dogged his campaign and but he just can’t seem to stay away from longest and most grueling rivalries he lost after only securing 61 federation the chessboard. in the history of chess, against Soviet delegates votes out of 175. Ilyumzhinov, The 54-year-old former world grandmaster Anatoli Karpov. who was close to Russian President champion is coming out of retirement The icy, stone-faced Karpov was Vladimir Putin, prevailed. today to play in an offi cial tournament a symbol of the once mighty but The young chess retiree took to poli- in St. Louis, Missouri against nine then crumbling Soviet Union, while tics, becoming fi xated on a bid to check- top-notch players. Kasparov, known Kasparov was just a young pup from mate Putin. After leaving the game in for an aggressive, high-energy attack- little Azerbaijan. In 1985, Kasparov 2005, Kasparov founded the anti-Putin ing style, is widely considered one of beat Karpov and, at just 22, became the opposition movement Other Russia, the game’s greatest. And the so-called youngest world champion ever, kicking accusing the president of returning the “Beast of Baku” — nicknamed after the off an era of unprecedented dominance. country to its dictatorial past. capital of his native Azerbaijan — has Kasparov held that crown for 15 years He became a powerful political voice nothing left to prove. and set about breaking molds in the and even tried to win the Kremlin in Still, here he comes, taking on much world of chess. the 2008 Russian presidential election. younger players in a return seen as re- He was a show unto himself — a the- Kasparov took part in unprecedented fl ecting a drive to enhance the cult-like atrical bundle of nerves who wanted anti-Putin demonstrations in 2011 and status he earned through years of mas- to win at all costs, shunning draws in was arrested in 2012 after a rally in fa- terful play — and make up for a few set- games and sometimes even speaking of vour of the punk rock feminist group backs he suff ered along the way. himself in the third person. Pussy Riot. In 2013, he opted for life Kasparov was given a wild card entry Other players feared him. His bigger- Russian chess champion Garry Kasparov, 54, is coming out of retirement today to play in an off icial tournament in St. Louis, in exile, moving to New York to calcu- in the tournament dubbed Rapid and than-life style earned him critics, too. Missouri against nine top-notch players. (AFP) late his political moves at a distance. Blitz, and will be the oldest among the Kasparov took the chess world into a Now, after 12 years of jousting with the fi eld of 10 players when play starts to- new modern era, with endorsement venture that would come back to sting puter Deep Blue, beating it in 1996 but to reach six won. When Kasparov lost, Kremlin, Kasparov has found the allure day. “Ready to see if I remember how to deals, televised games and high tech- him. Kasparov had declared haughtily then losing to the machine a year later. he cried foul. of his fi rst love too great to resist — and move the pieces! Will I be able to an- nology. He pioneered using computer that no machine could ever beat him at He and the computer were tied at fi ve Three years later, Kasparov lost his return to the board could grant him nounce my re-retirement afterward if databases as a tool for practicing — a chess. He took on the IBM supercom- games each in a match in which the fi rst his world title to his former student, the chance to regain the crown. Gulf Times 4 Monday, August 14, 2017 SPORT

TENNIS GOLF Kisner one ahead of Matsuyama and Resurgent Federer Stroud at PGA advances to fi nal against Zverev The 36-year-old Federer blasted nine aces and lost just nine points on his serve as he extended his match win streak to 16 — his longest win streak in five years

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a backhand against Robin Haase of the Netherlands (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Uniprix Stadium. At bottom, Alexander Zverev PICTURE: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports Kevin Kisner of the United States plays his shot from the 11th tee during the third round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Reuters Charlotte “It’s a dream to win a major. That’s what I grew up practis- ing and playing, to play on the evin Kisner survived a PGA Tour and to have a chance in poor fi nish to limp in major championships,” said the with a one-stroke lead two-time tour winner. over Hideki Matsuyama “The way my game’s pro- andK Chris Stroud as the third gressed over my career, I like round of the PGA Championship where I am, and I like having a turned into a battle of attrition chance tomorrow. It will be awe- on Saturday. some to take home the Wana- On a day when Australian Ja- maker Trophy.” son Day plunged out of conten- Matsuyama, tied for the half- tion with a quadruple-bogey at way lead, had high hopes of the last, Kisner eked out a one- moving into position to become over 72 on a Quail Hollow course the fi rst Japanese man to win a that bared its teeth, despite Fri- major. day’s rain and little wind. Instead, he bogeyed the fi rst Kisner, not the longest of hit- and never got anything going, ters but unerringly accurate for making just one birdie all day and the most part until he double- hitting more than his share of er- bogeyed the 16th and bogeyed rant shots. the last, posted a seven-under But by parring the brutally- 206 total, one stroke ahead of diffi cult fi nal three holes, known fellow American Stroud (71) and as the ‘Green Mile’ with water Japan’s Matsuyama (73). lurking, he stayed very much in American Justin Thomas and contention. South African Louis Oosthuizen “I’m disappointed with the were two behind heading into day I played today. However, the fi nal round of the year’s last I’m happy to be just one stroke major. back and still have a chance,” he On undulating greens, some of said. the hole locations were extremely Stroud was also still standing diffi cult, with nobody on the lea- despite bogeying the fi nal two derboard shooting better than the holes, six days after recording his 68 by Canadian Graham DeLaet, fi rst PGA Tour victory in Reno, AFP Cinderella run of 18-year old Canadian charge and forced a second-set tiebreak who went six-under in a remark- Nevada. Montreal Denis Shapovalov with a 6-4, 7-5 win in before Federer stymied the challenge to able four-hole stretch to vault “It played very diffi cult today,” the other semi-fi nal. win the match. within fi ve strokes of the lead. said the 35-year-old American, Federer is undergoing a resurgence this Zverev, 20, will have a much tougher Kisner lamented squander- who recorded his fi rst PGA Tour wiss superstar Roger Federer season after it appeared to many he might time against the skilled veteran Federer ing the chance to eliminate more victory in Reno, Nevada six days turned in a precision performance be slowing down as he transitions through than he did in beating Shapovalov. rivals. He had hardly put a foot ago. Saturday at the ATP Montreal his mid-30s. Zverev came into Montreal with four ti- wrong until pulling his approach “Didn’t do anything great to- Stennis, using thundering serves “Confi dence can get you a long way, tles this season while Shapovalov had just into water at the par-four 16th. day but I didn’t do anything bad. and clever backhands to defeat unseeded and if you’re feeling fi ne physically and three career match victories. Shapovalov “I had a chance to run away I made some great pars and at the Robin Haase for a spot in the fi nal. you are ready to fi ght mentally you have a leaves Montreal with seven career wins, from guys and take people out of end of the day I’ve got a chance. The 36-year-old Federer blasted nine lot of things in the bag,” said Federer, who including a shocking upset of 10-time the tournament that were four or Last week gave me an unbeliev- aces and lost just nine points on his serve would earn the second seed at the upcom- French Open champion Rafael Nadal. fi ve (or) six back, and I didn’t do able sense of calm. as he extended his match win streak to 16 ing US Open if he wins in Montreal. “It is a completely life-changing week,” it. Now I’m in a dogfi ght tomor- “I’ve never felt so relaxed on — his longest win streak in fi ve years. “And then the only thing that maybe is said Shapovalov, whose dream run this row and I have to be prepared for the golf course and it’s a lot of the He raised his game to another level missing is practice, but sometimes prac- week also included a win over former US that,” said the world number 25. reason I’m playing so well.” when it mattered most, beating Nether- tice is overrated. It’s all about the matches Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro. “I didn’t make the putts I’ve Texan Jordan Spieth surren- lands Robin Haase 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in just 75 at some stage. The fourth seeded Zverev broke Shapo- been making the fi rst two days dered any chance of completing minutes. “I’m happy I’m playing as well as I am valov at 4-4 in the fi rst set then served for and just terrible fi nish there. the career grand slam for at least “I’m very excited to be back in the fi - this year on the match courts. At the end the set to silence the partisan crowd. “It feels easy until you smack 12 months, a double-bogey at the nals,” Federer said. “A bit surprising, to be that’s what matters because I spent hours Ultimately, Zverev played better in the one in the water and then it last leaving him 10 shots off the quite honest, because I hadn’t practised know what, I practised so much the last and hours on the practice courts in the last key moments, fi nishing with two aces, seems hard again.” pace. much.” year, let’s go play some matches.’ year.” winning 81% of his fi rst-serve points and Despite that, Kisner could Pre-championship favour- Federer has taken more time off this “It’s a big bonus right now and I hope I The 19-time Grand Slam winner Fed- breaking the Canadian three times. capture the title in just his 12th ite Rory McIlroy was also out of year than usual. He skipped the clay- can play as free as I have so far in the fi nals erer is seeking his 27th Masters 1000 title Shapovalov fi nished with three aces, six major start. contention, 11 back. court season from April to mid-June. tomorrow.” and his third Canadian Masters crown af- double faults and won 64% of his fi rst- “I came from vacation, did some fi t- Second seeded Federer will clash with ter wins in 2004 and 2006. serve points in the one-hour, 43-minute ness, saw how I was feeling and said, ‘You German Alexander Zverev who ended the Haase, who hit 17 winners, made a late match. SPOTLIGHT BOTTOMLINE Sore left arm keeps Sharapova out of Wozniacki snaps Stephens’ Cincinnati event

AFP ment with the left forearm in- Cincinnati jury I sustained in Stanford,” Sharapova said. run, Svitolina routs Halep “I want to thank the tourna- ive-time Grand Slam ment for the wildcard opportu- AFP 934 in the world, was playing in then broke Stephens again to champion Maria Shara- nity and really look forward to Toronto just her third tournament after take a commanding 5-1 lead. pova withdrew Saturday competing here next year.” missing 11 months while recov- After breezing through the from next week’s WTA Sharapova was due to play ering from foot surgery. She beat fi rst set, Wozniacki let a 3-1 Ftournament in Cincinnati with a French Open champion Je- enmark’s Caroline Petra Kvitova, Angelique Kerber lead in the second slip away as left forearm injury. lena Ostapenko in the opening Wozniacki rolled into and Lucie Safarova to reach the Stephens levelled at 3-3. The move came a week after round. Either a qualifi er or lucky the fi nal of the WTA semi-fi nals. Wozniacki regained the mo- the former world number one loser will replace her in the draw. DToronto tennis by Wozniacki’s road to the fi nal mentum and after a brief rain from Russia withdrew from a The injury cast more doubt cooling off the red-hot Sloane included a victory over world delay she served out the match WTA event in Toronto from the over Sharapova’s participation Stephens, while Elina Svitoli- number one Karolina Pliskova. at 5-3. In earlier quarter-fi nal injury she suff ered in a second- at the US Open, which starts na needed two wins Saturday None of Wozniacki’s 25 career matches on Saturday, Halep de- round match at Stanford, where in New York on August 28. Due to punch her ticket to the title titles have occurred this year. feated Frenchwoman Caroline she withdrew after her opening- to her low ranking, Sharapova match. She is 0-5 in fi nals in 2017. Garcia 6-4, 6-2 while Svitolina round victory. would need a wild card to play Wozniacki, the 2010 cham- “I had one year where I went to rallied from a fi rst set loss to beat Sharapova, the 2011 Cincin- in the main draw of the tour- pion, required 80 minutes to six fi nals and I won all of them,” Muguruza. nati champion, arrived Friday nament. Sharapova suff ered eliminate a resurgent Stephens Wozniacki said. “I guess it’s a The pair took to the court and made the decision to with- the injury while playing in her 6-2, 6-3 and reach her sixth fi nal give and take sometimes and just early Saturday morning after draw after consulting with the fi rst US match in more than two of 2017. that I keep myself in these situ- Friday’s rain delays forced the event medical staff on Saturday. years, defeating American Jen- Fifth seeded Svitolina Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark serves against Sloane Stephens of ations is awesome. I give myself quarter-fi nals to stretch into a “I arrived in Cincinnati yes- nifer Brady 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 in her quashed defending champ Si- the United States during a semi-final match on Day 8 of the Rogers a chance to win and that’s what second day. terday eager to play. However, Stanford opener. mona Halep’s quest for back-to- Cup at Aviva Centre in Toronto. I’m going to go out (Sunday) and Halep needed 70 minutes following the doctor’s advice She had not played in the US back titles with a 6-1, 6-1 demo- try to do.” to advance as she didn’t drop on-site, as a precaution for the since March of 2015 due in part lition. The win came just hours bledon Garbine Muguruza 4-6, was postponed from Friday due The Danish sixth seed jumped a serve and broke Garcia three US Open, I am unfortunately to a 15-month doping suspen- after she ousted reigning Wim- 6-4, 6-3 in a quarter-fi nal that to rain. Stephens, who is ranked out to a 3-0 lead in the fi rst set times. withdrawing from the tourna- sion for the use of meldonium. Gulf Times Monday, August 14, 2017 5 SPORT

MLB Nationals win but Harper out indefi nitely with knee injury The right fielder and 2015 National League MVP has a bone bruise in his left knee but no ligament damage

AFP Washington

ashington Nationals star Bryce Harper is out indefi nitely after be- ing injured in a Major League Base- ball game against the San Francisco WGiants when he slipped on a base. The right fi elder and 2015 National League MVP has a bone bruise in his left knee but no ligament damage, general manager Mike Rizzo yesterday. The Nationals hope he can return at some point this season. “We dodged a bullet here,” said Rizzo, who initially thought the injury might be more serious. “We’re optimistic we’ll see him this season.” Harper collapsed to the ground after he slipped on a wet fi rst base bag while trying to beat out a groundball on Saturday in a game that began three hours late due to a rain delay. Edwin Jackson allowed one run in six innings and Adam Lind was 3-for-3 with one RBI as the Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1. The game ended around 1:15 am with a few hundred fans in the stands after a long rain de- lay before the fi rst pitch. Washington scored two runs in the fi rst and then Lind had an RBI double in the sixth against Giants starter Jeff Samardzi- ja (7-12) to give Washington a 3-1 lead.

RED SOX 10, YANKEES 5 Andrew Benintendi continued his spectacular month by hitting two three-run homers as Bos- ton pounded New York. Benintendi tied a career high with six RBIs by homering in consecutive at-bats off Luis Severino (9-5) when Boston Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper grimaces in pain after suff ering an knee injury in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park in Washington. (USA TODAY Sports) scored fi ve times in the third and fi fth innings. It was Benintendi’s third career multi-homer streak. Jose Abreu hit two home runs to lead MARLINS 4, ROCKIES 3 game on May 16 at Detroit. game. In his last eight games, he is batting.484 CARDINALS 6, BRAVES 5 the White Sox. Leury Garcia drove in two runs Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors in (15-for-31) with four homers and 11 RBIs after Paul DeJong and Randal Grichuk each homered for Chicago, which had its four-game winning homers, drilled a tiebreaking, three-run shot to DODGERS 6, PADRES 3 hitting.222 during July. to support Carlos Martinez’s six solid innings as streak end. left fi eld to lead Miami over Colorado. Stanton Los Angeles was due for a clutch hit and Co- surging St Louis edged Atlanta. DeJong’s team- has 41 homers, one short of the franchise season rey Seager came through in the sixth inning. BLUE JAYS 7, PIRATES 2 leading 17th homer in the bottom of the seventh TIGERS 12, TWINS 11 record set by Gary Sheffi eld in 1996. Stanton has The second-year shortstop yanked a two-out, Chris Rowley has made the unusual transition fi nished the scoring for St Louis, which was held Justin Upton drilled a walk-off , two-run homer 20 homers in the past 32 games. three-run double down to right fi eld to give the from West Point graduate to a major league below eight runs for the fi rst time since a 4-1 with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth in- Dodgers the lead for good in a victory over San pitcher and allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings in win on Aug. 5 in Cincinnati. ning to give Detroit a comeback victory that PHILLIES 3, METS 1 Diego. Toronto’s victory over Pittsburgh. The 26-year- snapped Minnesota’s six-game winning streak. Aaron Nola stifl ed New York for seven innings, old signed a minor league contract with the Blue INDIANS 3, RAYS 0 Mikie Mahtook lined a single to right-center allowing one earned run and two hits while ANGELS 6, MARINERS 3 Jays in 2013 after he was not drafted before em- Jay Bruce drove in his fi rst two runs since join- fi eld off reliever Matt Belisle (0-2) to start the striking out eight in Philadelphia’s come-from- Albert Pujols hit a two-run double to break a barking on his US Army commitment. ing Cleveland, helping his new team to a win ninth and Upton followed with his 22nd home behind victory. Nola (9-7) is one of the hottest tie in the eighth inning and Los Angeles went over Tampa Bay. Bruce had an RBI bloop double run off a 2-1 fastball. Detroit blew a 5-0 rst-in-fi pitchers in baseball, posting a 1.71 ERA in his last on to defeat Seattle. The Angels won their fi fth DIAMONDBACKS 6, CUBS 2 in the fi rst inning and an RBI single in the sixth, ning lead and trailed 11-6 in the seventh before 10 starts. straight game and took sole possession of the Brandon Drury’s two-run double keyed a four- accounting for the only RBIs for the Indians. mounting its comeback. American League’s second and fi nal wild-card run sixth inning that broke up Jon Lester’s Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger (6-4) held ORIOLES 12, ATHLETICS 5 berth. pitching duel with Patrick Corbin, and Arizona the Rays to four hits in seven innings, striking BREWERS 6, REDS 5 (10 INNINGS) Tim Beckham went 4-for-5 with three doubles ended a three-game losing streak by beating out nine batters while walking only one. Eric Sogard scored on a 10th-inning wild pitch and three RBIs, and Dylan Bundy struck out a RANGERS 8, ASTROS 3 Chicago. Corbin (9-11) was coming off two suc- as Milwaukee snapped a six-game losing streak career high-tying 10 batters as Baltimore rolled Texas rode a few big swings from Brett Nicholas cessive rough starts that included a 16-4 loss to ROYALS 5, WHITE SOX 4 by beating Cincinnati. The Brewers and Reds to a victory over Oakland. Beckham extended and Mike Napoli, and a strong game from Adrian Chicago in which he allowed eight runs in three Melky Cabrera hit a go-ahead, two-run homer combined for six homers, with each side hitting his hitting streak to 12 games to begin his Orioles Beltre to its third straight win. Nicholas’ three- innings. On Saturday, he consistently shut down in the eighth inning and Kansas City held on for three. Milwaukee’s Eric Thames tied it in the career and scored three runs. run homer in the second inning, his fi rst home Cubs threats while scattering fi ve hits in 6 2/3 a win over Chicago. Eric Hosmer also homered sixth with his team-leading 27th homer of the The Orioles pounded out a season-high-ty- run of the year, spotted Texas an early lead for scoreless innings. as Kansas City snapped a fi ve-game losing season. ing 20 hits, matching their total in a 13-inning the second day in a row.

NBA VOLLEYBALL Johnson feeling right at home in Miami Qatar fail to qualify for By Shandel Richardson or not focused on what my career was and Sun Sentinel happened to lose this opportunity. I’m glad I came here at the right time.” Like most, Johnson, 30, enjoys what World Championship t was a fi rst for James Johnson in his South Florida has to off er. The beaches. The eight-year NBA career. The well-trav- weather. The food. The culture. But what Agencies of no consequence. in 1956 and have been competing elled power forward had played for four stands out the most about his current situa- Ardabil, Iran Led by Amir Ghafour and Mo- continuously since 1994 in the teams, including two separate stints in tion is the stability. hamed Mousavi, who scored 16 quadrennial event. China’s best IToronto. The constant shuffl ing caused him He had never been on a fi rst-name basis and 11 points respectively, Iran ever fi nish was seventh place to rent homes that were already furnished with the mailman until now. Neighbours ran and China secured their destroyed Kazakhstan 3-0 (25- twice, in 1978 and 1982. because he was growing accustomed to wave as he walks his sons down the block. tickets to the 2018 FIVB 18, 25-17, 25-16) with another Play wraps today with South short-term stays. His 1-year-old, Harlem, has toys scattered Men’s World Champion- blocking party of 13 stuff s to 4. Korea playing Kazakhstan and It all changed when he joined the Miami across the fl oor and a motorized jeep parked ship yesterday with a day to The hosts are at the top of the Iran taking on Qatar. Last month Heat last summer. He fell in love with South by the pool, a sign they are here for the long Ispare, after both scored straight- table with an absolutely perfect Japan and Australia claimed the Florida so much he and his fi ancee, Diana haul. set wins that put them beyond record after three matches. other two berths available to Issa, decided to decorate their house. They The experience is much diff erent from the reach of any other opponents at Earlier in the day China had Asian teams, through a qualifi - wanted to feel like residents, not drifters. past. Each summer was fi lled with uncer- the Asian qualifi ers in the city shut out Korea 3-0 (25-18, 25- cation tournament held in Can- With Johnson signing a four-year, $60 phies and memorabilia hang from the walls tainty. His home was full of boxes, always of Ardabil. The top two sides of 20, 25-23) with Jiang Chuan once berra. Hosts Italy and Bulgaria, million contract in July, it appears the once of his Pinecrest home. There’s even a shrine ready to be shipped to another city. Family the fi ve-team, single round robin again leading the scoring on 14 defending champions Poland journeyman has fi nally found a true home. in the living room full of moments and life was left at the mercy of the team’s gen- tournament in Ardabil qualify to points. Iran will be competing in have direct tickets to the FIVB’s “There are things you take for granted paintings from his fi rst season in Miami. eral manager. the 2018 World Championship, the World Championship for the fl agship tournament. France, that you don’t really consider until it’s too “Just to call a place like Miami home is one “In the summer, you’re not thinking like, which will be jointly hosted by fourth time straight and sixth The Netherlands, Slovenia, Rus- late,” Johnson said. “Just trying to build an of the most gratifying things that I can think ‘Oh, we can make plans for the summer,” Italy and Bulgaria next year. time overall, after a debut in 1970 sia, Serbia, Finland, and Belgium empire here in Miami is one of the dopest of,” Johnson said. “I was happy to hit those said Issa, who has been dating Johnson for Yesterday’s results ended Qa- and a best ever fi nish of sixth last from Europe plus Japan and Aus- things I could even think about doing with other places. I learned a lot, but I was very three years. “We’re thinking, ‘Where are we tar’s hopes of qualifying for the time around in 2014. tralia from Asia, and Brazil from my family.” happy to fi nd a place like Miami so late in my going to go (next)? What’s going to happen?’ Worlds for the fi rst-ever time in China will be making their 14th South America have already se- After being on the go so much of his ca- career. I wouldn’t have wanted to come here Now, it’s nice. You’re set. You’re good. You history. As a result, Qatar’s last appearance in the FIVB’s fl agship cured their berths through con- reer, Johnson is now in a place where tro- during those times when I was immature can move forward.”’ match against Iran today will be competition. They fi rst took part tinental qualifi ers.

NHL Former Red Wings coach, general manager Murray dies

By Helene St. James by the Washington Capitals. In 1991, during this most diffi cult time.” acter were refl ected in the teams he Detroit Free Press Murray got the Wings into the playoff s, Murray was general manager in De- coached and the teams he built over beginning what would be a record- troit through 1993-94, departing a decades of front offi ce excellence,” setting 25 consecutive seasons of mak- year after Scotty Bowman had been Commissioner Gary Bettina said in ryan Murray, who was both ing the playoff s. Murray also had the named head coach. Murray would go a statement. “While his warmth and coach and general manager of distinction of being Nicklas Lidstrom’s on to serve as general manager of the dry sense of humor were always evi- the Detroit Red Wings when fi rst NHL coach. Florida Panthers (1993-00), Anaheim dent, they were accompanied by the they began their impressive The Wings said in a statement that Mighty Ducks (2002-04) and Sena- fi ery competitiveness and determina- playoffB run, has died at age 74, after they “are saddened to learn of the tors (2007-16). He also served as head tion that were his trademarks. As we being diagnosed with colon cancer. passing of Bryan Murray, a deeply-re- coach with each team, forging an NHL mourn Bryan’s passing, we celebrate The news was announced on Sat- spected staple in the NHL community head coaching record of 620-465- his many contributions to the game urday by the Ottawa Senators, where for 35 years. 131-23. In 13 full seasons as NHL head – as well as his courage. The National Murray served as general manager “The Red Wings organization would coach, Murray took his teams to the Hockey League family sends our deep- from 2007-16. like to extend its deepest condolences playoff s 12 times. In 2007, he coached est condolences, comfort and support Murray joined the Wings during to the Ottawa Senators organization the Senators to the Stanley Cup Final. to Bryan’s family, his many friends and the 1990-91 season, after being let go and all of Murray’s family and friends “Bryan Murray’s strength and char- all whose lives he infl uenced.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, August 14, 2017 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Will develop equestrian sport in region: AEF president al-Attiyah Al-Attiyah said that aim of the AEF should be to match the level of equestrian federations of Europe and America

QNA fi nal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” equestrian in Asia, thanks to the great Doha he said. potentials at the level of enterprises The AEF president said that it is very and its organisation and hosting of important for the equestrian sport in many high rating world champion- ewly-elected president of the the region to be developed as this will ships,” he said. Asian Equestrian Federation have a signifi cant impact on speeding He announced that Qatar Equestrian (AEF) Hamad Abdulrahman the development of the Qatari eques- Federation will work in the future on al-Attiyah said that taking trianism, which is highly supported by the participation of equestrians from Nover the AEF presidency is important to the state. the Asian continent in the tournaments the development of equestrian sport in “My election to the highest post of to be held in the State of Qatar, stress- Asia. Al-Attiyah, who is also the presi- Asian body will help raise the level of all ing that this is one of the most impor- dent of Qatar Equestrian Federation national teams in all categories and will tant goals of his election programme. (QEF), said in an interview, that aim of help in the growth of the horse market Al-Attiyah underlined that the level the AEF should be to match the level of because equestrian sports also depends of equestrian sport in Qatar is witness- equestrian federations of Europe and on marketing,” he added. ing a remarkable development, but the America. Al-Attiyah said he had an electoral results of their foreign participations He stressed that the development of experience last year, but luck was not are currently due to the level of horses sport in Asia will be refl ected positively on his side, especially since the last participating. on the level of equestrian development elections were held in South Korea and He noted that the Federation has a in the State of Qatar by fi nding more were won by the president of the Korea plan to support its riders with a number and powerful competitors and who Equestrian Federation. of good horses, however, fi nding the have more experiences. He pointed out that during that elec- right horses needs to be thoroughly re- Al-Attiyah credited his win in the tions, the Qatari delegation received the searched. AEF elections due to the support of support of some of the federations that Speaking about upcoming events for His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim gave it their votes, which led Qatar to the Federation, al-Attiyah explained bin Hamad al-Thani and His High- announce its nomination again because that the season will start in October ness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin the State of Qatar has a good reputation with local competitions and continue Khalifa al-Thani, as well as the direc- internationally thanks to its permanent until May 2018. tives of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- participation and its support and spon- “This year we have introduced the Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic sorship of championships abroad. points system in the local champion- Committee. “Thanks to their support “Members of the Asian Assembly ships, those who receive the highest the Qatari equestrian has made many have a clear vision that Qatar will able number of points will have the oppor- achievements and victories in various to assume the presidency of the Fed- The chief of Qatar Equestrian Federation Hamad Abdulrahman al-Attiyah was elected as president of the Asian tunity to participate the camps organ- fi elds, most notably qualifying for the eration and has the ability to develop Equestrian Federation (AEF) in the elections held last week in Jakarta. ised by QEF in Europe,” he noted.

Ooredoo congratulates Qatar’s FIBA ASIA CUP national para-athletics team Wright leads Philippines past Qatar

Agencies Beirut

he Philippines topped Group B with a 80-74 win to hold off a relentless Qatar at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup bas- ketball tournament yesterday. Mat- Tthew Wright had 11 of his 25 points in the fi rst quarter to get the Philippines off to the start they needed and hit huge baskets throughout, as his squad fi nished the Group Phase at 3-0. The Philippines were hot from beyond the arc, knocking down nine of their fi fteen tri- ples in the fi rst half in front of a raucous crowd to remain in control. Qatar kept on fi ghting, led by Mansour Elhadary, and got back within fi ve in the fourth but were unable to get over the hump, thanks in large part to the play of Doha: Ooredoo yesterday Ooredoo’s Chairman, hosted medals at such an important Wright. Cruz added 13 points for the Philip- congratulated the Qatari the event, alongside senior event is a huge step for our pines, while Elhadary had 23 points and 6 as- national para-athletics team management. country and a testament of sists for Qatar, and Saad fi nished with 18. for their achievements at the Athletes attending the the dedication and talent China survived a scare to prevail with a 61- recent World Para-Athletics event included Abdulrahman our sportsmen and women 60 victory over Iraq. With Iraq leading by 9 Championships in London. Abdulqader, who won a gold have. Ooredoo is delighted with just over four minutes remaining, the Qatar's Abdulrahman Saad (right) in action against Philippines during the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup A host of team members medal in the men’s shot put to welcome the team here, to upset of the tournament appeared to be on, basketball tournament in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. from the event, as well as event, and Sarah Masoud who not only congratulate them but China refused to go down without a fi ght. players from the Paralympic claimed the silver medal in the on their success but highlight Ailun Guo caught fi re, scoring 10 of his 19 ish, jumping out to an 8-2 lead with some lead Lebanon, as they also received 18 points Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, women’s shot put during the the importance of sport for points in the fi nal three minutes to see China pretty ball movement to open the game and from Fadi El Khatib. Kazakhstan saw 23 points and winners of the Special London championships. Qatar’s younger generations.” through. Han was the only other player in never looking back. Defensively holding Ka- from Rustam Yargaliyev and 19 from Mikhail Olympics World Winter Games Talking about the occa- Ooredoo has a long history double fi gures for China with 11. Omar Ala- zakhstan to just 10 points in the second pe- Yevstigneyev but it would not be enough as in March 2017, attended the sion, Sheikh Abdulla Bin of supporting sports in Qatar zawi led Iraq with 22 on 8 of 13 shooting, go- riod made matters worse for the visitors, as they saw their hopes of advancing dashed. event which was hosted at Mohammed al-Thani, Ooredoo and is the off icial ‘National ing six of seven from beyond the arc. Lebanon improved to 2-1 and set up a qualifi - Korea watched Shea Ili’s shot bounce off the Ooredoo’s HQ1. Sheikh Ab- Chairman, said: “Qatar’s para- Partner’ of the Qatar Olympic On Saturday, Lebanon ensured they kept cation to quarter-fi nals match-up with Chi- rim as time expired to pull out a 76-75 win over dulla Bin Mohammed al-Thani, athletics team winning two Committee (QOC). the home fans happy with a 96-74 win over nese Taipei. New Zealand. Despite the loss, Kiwis stay on Kazakhstan. The hosts led from start to fi n- Wael Arakji had 20 points and 5 assists to top of Group C due to points diff erence.

HORSE RACING ROUND-UP Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Wukair Tamim al-Majd team clinch women’s basketball tourney wins Group 1 in Deauville QNA al-Muraikhi, Ghanim Bu Jassoum, Ali al-Janahi and Doha Mohammad al-Muraikhi. The Qatari team, he said, Agencies will participate in the singles and doubles competi- Deauville, France tions and it had already participated in the previous amim al-Majd team won the women’s bas- edition of the Asian Indoor Games in Korea. ketball championship, organised by the Qa- The State of Qatar will have 53 players partici- esterday’s Prix du Haras de Fres- tar Women’s Sports Committee at the Doha pate in the 5th Asian Indoor Games. The Games will nay-le-Buff ard – Jacques Le Marois Exhibition and Convention Center. bring together 22 countries to compete in 21 sports, at Deauville saw a thrilling battle TThe tournament, in which eight teams, took part, including swimming, indoor athletics, weightlift- for supremacy in the Group 1 race, is part of the preparation for Qatar Women’s Bas- ing, basketball, taekwondo, dance sport, kickbox- whichY was eventually won by Al Shaqab ketball national team to the Asian Championship, ing, belt wrestling, greco-roman wrestling, snook- Racing’s Al Wukair. scheduled to be held in November in China. Tamim er, chess, football, tennis, muaythai, sambo, kurash, The three-year-old colt, ridden by Frank- al-Majd beat Al Rayyan in the fi nal with a 16-15 vic- ju-jitsu, bowling, track cycling and billiards. ie Dettori, managed some acceleration to tory. Al Shamal came in third place after beating Al fi nish a short head in front of Inns of Court Waab. The top three teams of the tournament were QSA PRESIDENT PRAISES QATARI SWIMMERS right on the fi nish line. Thunder Snow, who felicitated by the Assistant Secretary of the Wom- President of Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) had led the race early on, fi nished a close en’s Sports Committee Maha al-Abdul Jabbar, and Khaleel al-Jabir praised the results achieved by Qa- third. The win was Al Wukair’s fi rst in a Saleha al-Nuaimi, a member of the Board of Direc- tari swimmers in the third series of the FINA Swim- Group 1, after fi nishing an excellent third in tors of the Basketball Federation. ming World Cup 2017 in the Dutch City of Eindhov- the 2,000 Guineas in Newmarket. en, where they set 7 new personal records. This was also Al Shaqab Racing’s fi rst win QATAR BOWLING TEAM PREPARES Al-Jabir said that the tournament, which was at- in the race, after Olympic Glory’s second FOR ASIAN INDOOR GAMES tended by more than 200 swimmers from 31 coun- place in 2013, behind Moonlight Cloud. Qatari bowling team is preparing to participate in tries, saw strong competitions, noting that the “I am happy that Al Wukair won. But I the 5th edition of the Asian Indoor Games to be achieved results refl ected a promising future. would have also been pleased if one of my hosted in the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat The president of the Association wished suc- other horses had won. Al Wukair could go from September 17 to 27. cess to the technical and administrative bodies and to Ascot over 2,000m,” Al Wukair trainer Al Shaqab Racing’s executive director Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah receives the trophy Executive Director of the Qatar Bowling Fed- swimmers in the upcoming tournaments. Qatar André Fabre said. “I would like to say a word after Al Wukair won Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buff ard – Jacques Le Marois in Deauville, eration Mubarak al-Muraikhi said in a press release swimmers: Abdulaziz al-Obaidly, Abdelrahman about Gregory Benoist. He had ridden the France, yesterday. PICTURE: Zuzanna Lupa that the preparations are under way, adding that the Hesham, and Firas al-saidi had represented the As- horse wonderfully in the past and I wish him programme includes camps abroad for players who sociation. Al-Obaidly participated in the 50m and a quick recovery.” The Prix Messidor was a return race and could step him up in trip; the Champion will represent the Qatari team in the tournament. 100m freestyle, 100m individual medley, and 200m Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, racing man- Frankie Dettori had respected the colt. For Stakes have been mentioned. It will be in- Al-Muraikhi indicated that the team will also at- individual medley. Abdelrahman Hesham took part ager for Al Shaqab Racing in France, added: the past two weeks, his trainer was pleased teresting to see him over longer because he tend a camp in Sweden and will participate in Den- in 100m backstroke, 200m breaststroke, and 200m “It’s awesome. After a very good race in the with Al Wukair. shows he will be better. On Sunday, he fi nds mark Championship before competing in the Asian individual medley. Firas al-Saidi was in action in Guineas, it is very nice to see him do this. The softer ground was not a problem. We his action at the end.” Indoor Games. The Qatari team will include Jassim 50m, 100m, and 400m freestyle. Gulf Times Monday, August 14, 2017 7 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 QFA signs MoUs on QSL preseason South America trip friendly roundup A number of QSL Sides have taken part in friendly matches as preparation ahead of the new season. Here we have rounded up some of the games which took place over Falcao hits treble the past week.

Al Rayyan vs PEC Zwolle 3-1 The Lions secured a victory Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin against Dutch side PEC Zwolle Ahmed al-Thani, president of during their preseason camp the Qatar Football Asso- in Holland. Star signing, Ab- ciation signed a cooperation delrezzak Hamdallah scored as Monaco win agreement with the head of a brace while Rodrigo Tabata the Confederation of South added another from the American Nations, Alejandro spot to end the game 3-1 for Dominguez, and Robert Har- Michael Laudrup’s men. rison, president of Paraguay The team is expected to Football Federation. return to Doha on the 15th of The cooperation agreement August ahead of the start of includes the exchange of the 2017/2018 QSL season. without Mbappe experiences between the two countries and Paraguay. Al Arabi vs ZTE FC 1-4 The QFA president had an of- The Dream team suff ered a 4-1 ‘But for me it wasn’t the turning point. Our opponents deserved their advantage, ficial meeting with Dominguez defeat in their friendly against at the headquarters of the Un- Hungarian side ZTE FC. The regardless of the fact we had to play without our goalkeeper for the last half-hour’ ion. The two sides discussed match took place in Slovenia ways to promote and develop during Al Arabi’s preseason football around the world. training camp. New signing The QFA president also had Khalfan Ibrahim scored the a meeting with Victor Pishi, only goal for Kais Yaqoubi’s Minister of Youth and Sports men from the penalty spot. of Paraguay. The two countries, off icials Al Ahli vs OSS FC 1-2 said, are looking forward to Joaquin Caparros’s men deepen the sports coopera- endured a narrow 2-1 defeat tion in various fields. at the hands of Dutch outfit FC OSS in a friendly encoun- Qatar juniors ter last Tuesday. The match conclude Thailand took place at the VV Herpinia camp with win Stadium in the city of Herpen, Netherlands during Al Ahli’s preseason training camp.

Al Gharafa vs Canakkale Dardanel 1-3 The Cheetah’s lost their friendly game to Turkish side Canakkale Dardanel by 3 goals to 1. Luis Jimenez scored the Qatar beat Thailand 3-0 to only goal for Al Gharafa in conclude a fruitful training their first friendly match dur- camp in Bangkok. ing their preseason training The goals were scored by camp in Turkey. Youssef Abdul Razzaq, Khaled Waleed and Hashim Ali. In the Umm Salal vs Al Markhiya 3-2 opening friendly, Qatar U-19 QSL sides Umm Salal and Al side beat Thailand 2-0. Markhiya played out a 5-goal The Qatar squad were in friendly match which ended in Thailand as part of the favour of the Orange Fortress preparations for the AFC U-19 3-2. Ivorian striker Yannick Championship to be held in Sagbo and Syrian forward Doha from November 4 to 8. Mahmoud Mawas were Qatar have been grouped with amongst the scorers. Iraq, Lebanon and Afghani- Umm Salal are now in Holland stan. Al Annabi are due to for their preseason camp return to Doha on Friday. The and are expected to return to squad will continue training Doha on the 27th of August. for the qualifiers before fly- ing off for a training camp in Qatar SC vs Al Shamal 5-1 Turkey from August 22 to 28. Newly promoted QSL side Qa- Monaco’s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (R) celebrates after scoring his third goal during the French Ligue 1 match against Dijon FCO yesterday. The training camp in Turkey tar SC defeated second vision will also include a couple of outfit Al Shamal by 5 goals to 1 AFP window shuts at the end of the month, Ligue 1 results er Herve Koffi , Lille were instead forced friendlies. in a friendly match before the Paris with Real Madrid keen but PSG his pre- to hand the gloves to striker Nicolas De At the Doha event, Qatar Kings headed to Slovenia for ferred destination. Racing Strasbourg 3 Lille 0 Preville. will play against Lebanon their preseason training camp. His club want 180 million euros ($213 Dijon 1 Monaco 4 Guingamp He promptly denied Idriss Saadi when on August 4 followed by a New signing Bruno Galo got ylian Mbappe watched on from million, £164 million) if they are to sell. the Strasbourg player found himself clash again Afghanistan on his name on the score sheet as the bench as Radamel Falcao Mbappe was in the Monaco squad clean through, but the home side had November 6. Qatar face Iraq well with a goal from the spot struck a hat-trick in champions at the Stade Gaston Gerard but did not after the restart to complete a fi ne victory been on top throughout and they got the on November 8. last Monday evening. Monaco’s 4-1 victory away to make it off the bench as coach Leonardo for the away side. breakthrough they deserved in the 74th KDijon in Ligue 1 yesterday. Jardim gave a debut to 21-year-old wing- minute through Jonas Martin. Jemerson also scored in a comprehen- er Adama Diakhaby, a 10 million-euro CHAOTIC DEFEAT FOR LILLE De Preville had had enough of his stint sive victory for the principality side that signing from Rennes. Earlier, Marcelo Bielsa suff ered his first in goal and he opted to give the gloves to SHOCKER made it two wins from two after they Without Mbappe, Monaco went ahead loss as coach of Lille, three diff erent play- captain Ibrahim Amadou for the closing started the campaign by beating Tou- inside three minutes as Kamil Glik head- ers going in goal in a chaotic 3-0 defeat stages. louse 3-2 last weekend. ed down a corner and Falcao helped the away to newly-promoted Strasbourg. He was beaten twice in the last 10 min- It was also their 14th consecutive ball towards goal, with goalkeeper Bap- On a miserable day for Bielsa and his utes, fi rst from a Dimitri Lienard penalty Hamburg stunned league win, equalling the record set by tiste Reynet getting a touch but unable to side, Lille lost Brazilian recruit Thiago and then from Jeremy Grimm’s long- Bordeaux in 2009. stop it from crossing the line. Mendes and full-back Kevin Malcuit to range strike as Strasbourg won a top- But it was the absence of Mbappe that Brazil centre-back Jemerson then pro- injury in the fi rst 18 minutes at the Stade fl ight game for the fi rst time in more than by 10-man minnows will likely prove the biggest talking point duced a remarkable overhead-kick fi nish de la Meinau. nine years. of Monaco’s trip to Burgundy. from another corner to double Monaco’s Bielsa then opted to make another “I can’t approve of it but I understand The 18-year-old France forward was lead and Diakhaby fed Falcao for a shot substitution before the interval, so when it,” said Bielsa of the sending-off . in German Cup one of the stars of Monaco’s title triumph that took a slight defl ection on its way in goalkeeper Mike Maignan was shown a “But for me it wasn’t the turning and run to the Champions League semi- to make it 3-0 in the 37th minute. straight red card just after the hour mark point. Our opponents deserved their ad- fi nals last season. Wesley Said pulled one back for Dijon for throwing the ball at Benjamin Corg- vantage, regardless of the fact we had to However, he is said to be determined to before the break but Colombian star Fal- net, Lille were in trouble. play without our goalkeeper for the last leave the principality before the transfer cao headed home another corner shortly Unable to send on substitute goalkeep- half-hour.”

BOTTOMLINE Coutinho future lies with Liverpool owners: Klopp

AFP it change something for me? I be an off side position. Watford, United Kingdom didn’t make the decision.” Klopp was pleased with Salah’s File picture of Osnabrueck’s Halil Savran. Asked if Coutinho’s transfer second half display following the request could change the club’s Egypt winger’s club record £34 AFP “We had one man more than urgen Klopp insists stance, Klopp added: “You have million move from Roma. Berlin them for 70 minutes and we still Philippe Coutinho’s Liv- to ask the club. I didn’t see the “He was involved in the pen- couldn’t win; we defended badly.” erpool future will be de- club today – those people. alty, and scored a goal,” Klopp RB Leipzig had an easier after- termined by the club’s “You have to ask them. But I said. “In the beginning every- op-fl ight Hamburg were noon, reaching the second round ownersJ as Barcelona bid to land don’t think so because I think it one could see he struggled a bit sensationally knocked with a 5-0 win against sixth-tier the want-away Brazil star. was pretty clear what the club, against Jose Holebas, a really out of the German Cup Dorfmerkingen. Coutinho is keen to join Bar- FSG, said about it.” strong man, he was a little bit in the fi rst round yes- Goals at the beginning of each celona and the Reds forward The Coutinho controversy too much on the wing, things terday,T suff ering a 3-1 defeat to half from Marcel Sabitzer gave submitted a transfer request 24 added to Klopp’s frustration like this. third division side Osnabrueck. Leipzig a 2-0 lead, before Timo hours before Liverpool opened after Liverpool squandered the “We spoke about it at half- This is despite Osnabrueck Werner, Yussuf Poulsen and their Premier League campaign chance to claim an opening day time and second half was much playing most of the game with 10 Naby Keita added three more in with a 3-3 draw at Watford on victory by conceding a stop- better. men, after defender Marcel Ap- quick succession. Saturday. page-time equaliser. “We need off ence in behind piah was sent off on 19 minutes. Hanover survived an early scare The 25-year-old, who missed with the speed, not all the time After taking the lead through a to beat fourth-tier SC Bonn. The the trip to Vicarage Road with a NOT FUN but if we can do it in another smash-and-grab goal from Halil top-fl ight club went behind to a back problem, is Barcelona’s top Stefano Okaka had given Wat- space then it’s easier for us to Savran fi ve minutes before half- Lars Lokotsch goal on 20 minutes, target to replace Neymar follow- ford an eighth minute lead and play football there. So yes, I am time, the underdogs struck again but goals from Niclas Fuellkrug, ing the Brazilian’s world record Abdoulaye Doucoure restored fi ne with his contribution.” through Marc Heider on the coun- Kenan Karaman, Sebastian Maier switch to Paris Saint Germain. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans. the home side’s advantage a Klopp was less impressed ter-attack with an hour played. and Martin Harnik saw them take Barca had a £90 million ($116 minute after Sadio Mane’s 27th with Liverpool’s defending at Disastrous defending from a 6-2 victory. million) bid for Coutinho rejected following the Watford match, sell him, then I’m not involved minute equaliser. set-pieces that led to two of Hamburg then allowed Ahmet Fourth-tier Schweinfurt pro- this week, prompting the player’s Reds boss Klopp maintained anymore,” Klopp said. Roberto Firmino’s penalty Watford’s goals. Arslan to add a third in the 71st vided a further upset, knocking decision to demand a move. Coutinho’s future is out of his “I’m responsible for all of and a debut goal from Mohamed “We had our moments, then minute. Though Bobby Wood out second division SV Sand- But Liverpool’s US-based own- hands. players, not just one, two or Salah put Liverpool ahead early we conceded an off side goal,” he pulled a goal back from the pen- hausen with a 2-1 victory. ers, Fenway Sports Group, insist- “As a manager of a football three. I cannot say anything in the second half. said. alty spot, it was too little too late Elsewhere, Greuther Fuerth ed in a statement on Friday that club I have bosses, and if bosses about it. But Miguel Britos secured a “That’s really not fun. Diffi - for Hamburg. and Bochm beat lower league Coutinho will not be allowed to decide, for example, we sell a “The only thing is I work point for Watford in the third cult to accept. But we know we “We have to be very self-crit- opposition, while Union Berlin leave Anfi eld at any price. player or we don’t sell him, then with the players I have, that is minute of stoppage-time when can do better and we have to do ical,” Hamburg sporting director secured a 2-1 victory over Saar- Quizzed about the situation I have to accept it. If they don’t what I’m always doing. So how he scored from what appeared to better.” Jens Todt told Sky. bruecken in extra-time. Monday, August 14, 2017 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

EPL REPORT WARY Bitter experience Lukaku makes keeps Pep grounded dream debut, Spurs down Newcastle Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. ‘To play in front of such a crowd is a dream come true but most important is the AFP Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, Brighton, United Kingdom and his new three-man defence three points. When you play for United, you have a job to do and mine is to score’ was seldom in diffi culty. “The fi rst game of a season AFP ep Guardiola says Man- is always complicated,” he said. London chester City will not “We spoke about that — we saw get carried away after a what happened with Liverpool 2-0 opening day win at and Watford, with Chelsea - omelu Lukaku enjoyed a dream Ppromoted Brighton as he is still that’s the Premier League. Premier League debut for Man- stung by the bitter experiences “Here every game is a battle, chester United as the Belgian’s of last season. and from my experience - in Bar- brace inspired a 4-0 rout of West A year ago City won their fi rst celona too - it’s diffi cult against a Ham,R while Jonjo Shelvey’s dismissal was 10 games in all competitions, be- newly-promoted club. They have the pivotal moment in Tottenham’s 2-0 ginning with a victory at home the passion, the fans, they have win at Newcastle yesterday. to Sunderland, yet fi nished the no pressure. United manager Jose Mourinho paid campaign empty-handed. “It’s diffi cult but we did it. a British record £75 million ($96 mil- “Last season we were favour- We were stable as a team and lion, 82 million euros) to sign Lukaku ites too,” said Guardiola. “I sat conceded just one chance after from Everton in the close-season and the here after the Sunderland game a corner and after that nothing 24-year-old needed just 33 minutes to and you said: ‘You are the fa- happened. We controlled the get off the mark for his new club. vourites, you are the most beau- game.” Accelerating on Marcus Rashford’s tiful, the most handsome, and Guardiola added: “And we pass, Lukaku drilled a powerful strike in nicest guys in the League’.And ran a lot. People say we are a big off the post to put United ahead in their you know what happened? After team, but we ran like a League Premier League opener at Old Traff ord. that, Chelsea killed us. One or Conference team. You Lukaku was virtually unplayable at “So okay, we accept what peo- don’t see a player in my team who times and he doubled United’s advantage ple say. Whether we are favour- didn’t run, and I’m proud of that. in the 53rd minute with a bullet header ites or not is your job to say, not Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus from Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s free-kick. ours. I cannot control it. But I am ran back, and Kevin De Bruyne Substitute Anthony Martial added used to that. I was manager of and David Silva. And that is the United’s, slotting past Joe Hart in the Barcelona and Bayern Munich so fi rst step to creating something. 87th minute, before Paul Pogba’s 90th I can handle that situation. “We did that last season too, minute strike sent Mourinho’s men to the “Last season we were third but in the boxes we were not top of the table above Huddersfi eld on and people said it was a disaster. good. Today in the boxes we were goal diff erence. We will try to improve. Last sea- perfect.” Once sold by Mourinho when the pair son we were a humble team and Brighton, in their fi rst top were at Chelsea together, Lukaku could an honest team. We played with fl ight game since 1983, had few be the catalyst for a fi rst serious title the best intentions and it was not chances to break out and their challenge from United since Alex Fergu- enough. We’ll try this season. If nerves were evident in their in- son retired in 2013. not, then next season.” ability to keep possession. “To play in front of such a crowd is a City won far more convincingly “The manager [Chris dream come true but most important is on Saturday than the score sug- Hughton] is top, and they have the three points,” Lukaku said. gests, even though they had to wait the qualities in their players,” “When you play for Manchester Unit- until the 70th minute to open the Guardiola said. ed, you have a job to do and mine is to Manchester United’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring his team’s second goal against West Ham United yesterday. scoring through Sergio Aguero. “They have strong central score goals.” Five minutes later an own goal defenders and they are so well Lukaku wasn’t the only impressive perb lofted pass. Results by Lewis Dunk ended the con- organised, but there are many United debutant, with Nemanja Matic Following Tottenham’s Danny Rose had test. teams like this. It will be tough delivering a solid display that underlined ranted about the club’s failure to sign qual- Newcastle United 0 Tottenham That was a relief after the un- for them, but it is tough for eve- why Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was ity players during the close-season, it was Hotspur 2 certain starts made by title rivals rybody.” so miff ed his club sanctioned the £40 fi tting that the injured left-back’s replace- Manchester United 4 West Ham million sale of the Serbia midfi elder to a ment Ben Davies was the man to increase United 0 title rival. his side’s lead in the 70th minute. “We did not start especially well, we Alli, Eriksen and Harry Kane opened Man United, title contenders? And looked nervous but then we put in a qual- up Newcastle with a fl owing move before points, but it wasn’t a great game and other lessons from the EPL weekend ity performance,” Mourinho said. Davies produced a clinical fi nish. wasn’t our best performance,” Pochet- “A word that I like is confi dence, they Having fi nishing second last term, tino said. Problems mount for Conte Arsenal’s defence is a mess played with confi dence and played foot- Tottenham will hope their winning start “The balance of the team is the main Throughout a turbulent close- Goals from substitutes Aaron ball. It was a very positive performance.” bodes well for a sustained bid to dethrone thing and we need some new players to season, Antonio Conte had Ramsey and Olivier Giroud Chelsea. bring some new energy.” grown increasingly fraught as earned Arsenal a thrilling 4-3 REVENGE Pochettino’s side host the champions Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez revealed Chelsea failed to deliver his win over Leicester City, but At St James’ Park, Shelvey was sent off next weekend in their fi rst league match Shelvey apologised to his team-mates for transfer targets, while allow- there was no glossing over early in the second half for deliberately at Wembley following their move to the ruining the promoted club’s return to the ing several players to leave. their defensive problems. treading on Tottenham star Dele Alli, national stadium while White Hart Lane top-fl ight. The Chelsea boss claimed Leicester’s first and third goals who was on the ground only yards from is being redeveloped this season. “The sending off changed everything. defending the title would be came from simple corner referee Andre Marriner. By then, the Argentine would like to He made a mistake,” Benitez said. the toughest test of his career routines, while their second Alli got his revenge by fi ring Totten- have added to his squad after a frustrat- “Hopefully he will learn from it. He and Conte’s worst fears were stemmed from a loose pass ham ahead in the 61st minute with a cool Tottenham’s Dele Alli celebrates scoring ing transfer window. has apologised but that changes nothing confirmed in Saturday’s stun- by Arsenal midfielder Granit close-strike from Christian Eriksen’s su- against West Ham yesterday. “It was important to start with three now.” ning 3-2 home defeat against Xhaka. Burnley. Arsenal finished the game Rocked by Gary Cahill’s early with midfielder Alex Oxlade- BOTTOMLINE red card, Chelsea crumbled as Chamberlain at right-back, Burnley scored three times in right-back Hector Bellerin at the first half with hardly any left-back and two left-backs resistance from the lacklustre – Nacho Monreal and Sead champions. Kolasinac – in central defence. Goals from Alvaro Morata Laurent Koscielny remains and David Luiz put a flatter- suspended for next weekend’s Conte admits red cards could ing gloss on the score, but, trip to Stoke City and Gabriel with Cesc Fabregas also sent is still sidelined, but Shkodran off , Conte’s already depleted Mustafi and Per Mertesacker squad will be even more could return to give the under-manned due to suspen- defence a more conventional prompt Chelsea re-think sions. “We lost our composure. — and solid — appearance. AFP striker Alvaro Morata impressed ning away to the champions on We have to improve a lot on London as a second-half substitute, scor- the opening day is only a small this aspect because there was Liverpool might not miss ing one goal and setting up anoth- step in the northwest side’s bid the rest of the game to try to Coutinho er for David Luiz. to yet again retain their Premier do our best,” he grumbled. Liverpool made a frustrating helsea manager Anto- League status. start to the season, denied vic- nio Conte has accepted ‘NOT WORRIED’ Man United look like title tory in a 3-3 draw at Watford he may have to embed “We tried to attack in the right ‘KILLS AWAY STORY’ contenders after Miguel Britos’s stoppage- a new formation in his way in the second half,” Conte Dyche saw Sam Vokes score It is very early days, but Man- time leveller for the hosts was teamC if they continue to have explained. “We didn’t lose our twice and left-back Stephen chester United’s emphatic 4-0 allowed to stand despite an players sent off . balance and I have to be proud Ward connect with a stunning victory over West Ham United apparent off side. After being reduced to 10 men about the great commitment, volley as his side won away in suggested they may be about At the other end of the pitch, in both the FA Cup fi nal and the the great desire, the great will of the top fl ight at the fi rst time of to mount a first serious title however, Philippe Coutinho Community Shield, Conte’s men my players even though it was asking — last season their only challenge since Alex Fergu- was not missed. fi nished the opening game of very diffi cult to change the result away league win came at Crystal son’s retirement in 2013. The Brazil playmaker, absent their Premier League title de- in the second half. Palace in April. Jose Mourinho’s side often due to a back injury, is the fence with just nine players after “I am not worried because we “This result kills off the away dominated their opponents subject of strong interest from Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas have to trust in our work. To- win story for this season but last season without being able Barcelona, which has been were both dismissed in a pul- day we had three injured play- we’re not getting carried away,” to make it count, but it was a met equally firmly by Liver- sating 3-2 defeat by Burnley at ers missing and one missing for said Dyche. completely diff erent story at pool’s owners Fenway Sports Stamford Bridge on Saturday. File picture of Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. a ban. “It’s a great win for us, bril- a sun-kissed Old Traff ord as Group, who are determined It left the Italian manager “For sure we’ll have two play- liant for our players, brilliant a team spearheaded by new not to sell him. concerned by the inability of his ceded the three goals. Conte’s sanguine post-match ers out — Cahill and Fabregas — for our supporters but we know striker Romelu Lukaku put But Sadio Mane, Roberto players to control their emotions “We have to improve a lot on analysis was no doubt inspired by from a ban in the next game but there’s a big season right in front West Ham to the sword. Firmino and new signing when a team-mate was dis- this aspect because this type of the ferocity of Chelsea’s second- we’ll fi nd the right solution. of us, the ‘second season’ that Lukaku scored twice, either Mohamed Salah all scored missed. situation can happen.” half comeback, fi rst with 10 men “Alvaro is working very hard everyone’s telling us about. side of half-time, before late and with Adam Lallana still to “I saw two faces of my team He added: “We have to think after Cahill’s 14th-minute dis- to fi nd his good fi tness as soon “It’s very diffi cult at this club goals from substitute An- return from injury and Divock today,” Conte said after a match that there is the rest of the game missal for a lunge on Steven De- as possible and to adapt very to make massive strides,” the thony Martial and Paul Pogba Origi, Daniel Sturridge and Do- where Chelsea were 3-0 down to play and do our best. We must four and then nine after Fabregas quickly to our style of football. Englishman added. “This win completed United’s most minic Solanke also at Jurgen before half-time. also have the right experience to collected a second yellow card. But for sure he played very well won’t do us any harm at all but it convincing opening-weekend Klopp’s disposal, if Coutinho “One positive in the second face this type of situation. I have The Chelsea boss was also in the last 30 minutes, which is won’t make our season. win since a 5-1 demolition were to leave, Liverpool might half, one negative in the fi rst to start to study a new formation without the injured trio of Pedro, good news for us.” “There are a lot of big games of Fulham in August 2006. not miss him as much as their half. We lost our composure af- with 10 players because this ir- Eden Hazard and recent arrival Meanwhile Burnley manager coming so it’s important that we Things do look promising. fans fear. ter the fi rst red card and we con- regularity is worrying.” Tiemoue Bakayoko, although new Sean Dyche knows that win- remind ourselves of that.