THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 SPORTS A-League star charged with drug possession SYDNEY: A-League star and former support will be offered to him during this Socceroo Mitch Nichols has been time,” the club said. Football Federation charged with drug possession after a Australia said in a statement it took such police swoop on a Sydney pub, it issues “very seriously”. “The matter has emerged yesterday. Police allege they been referred to the FFA integrity depart- found three bags of a white powder, ment, which has spoken to the club, and believed to be cocaine, on a 28-year-old will be dealt with under the FFA code of when they raided a nightclub with sniffer conduct.” The FFA has no clear precedent dogs on Saturday evening. He was widely for drug offences, with the scourge large- named in local media as Nichols, who ly bypassing the sport until now. The only was released by Western Sydney other incident of note was in 2015 when Wanderers last week, with video footage traces of a recreational drug were found circulating of the raid and the player in the system of Central Coast Mariners being questioned. midfielder Troy Hearfield during a doping Police said the man was issued with a test. He was sacked. field court attendance notice-effectively Known as a creative midfielder, a ticket-for possessing a prohibited drug, Nichols played five times for the national rather than being arrested. He is due to team, making his debut in 2009 with his appear in a Sydney court tomorro. The most recent appearance against Japan in Wanderers said it was committed to a 2014. He played 125 times for Brisbane zero tolerance message when it came to Roar before moving to Melbourne drugs. “While Mitch was released by the Victory. Nichols also had stints at Perth club prior to the incident, the player’s Glory and Japan’s Cerezo Osaka before wellbeing remains a priority and every joining the Wanderers in 2015. — AFP

Remodeled Aguero finally gets Guardiola’s seal of approval

MANCHESTER: For a player who has to get him involved in our game, to be excelled for years as a penalty-box poacher, involved defensively and especially to help Sergio Aguero found himself doing some us because I think he has a quality not just LONDON: Arsenal’s kicks the ball across goal, from which teammate Alexis Sanchez scored their side’s second goal during the unusual things in City’s final to score a goal but to be involved in the English soccer match between Arsenal and Sunderland at the . —AP home game of the season. When he wasn’t process. “Get out from the central defend- dropping deep to link up play with flicks ers, create space behind central defenders and one-twos, he was drifting out to the if they decide to follow him. He has the Sanchez keeps Arsenal in wing to leave space in the middle. quality to give that and make the pass. It’s He even took the option to pass instead necessary to feel that your teammates and of shoot on occasions. This is a remodeled manager and staff and the club are happy version of Aguero - and City manager Pep whether you score or don’t score.” Race, City all but there Guardiola wouldn’t want it any other way. For the first goal against West Brom, Aguero didn’t score for City in its 3-1 win whose ultra-defensive tactics were starting over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier to frustrate City, Aguero came short to LONDON: Alexis Sanchez sank Sunderland to farewell appearance in City’s colors. The popular the end of the season. Substitute Hal-Robson League on Tuesday, but that’s no longer receive a pass and carved open the visitors keep Arsenal in the hunt for Champions League Argentine right-back, who has been at the Kanu claimed a consolation goal for West Brom what he is being judged on. At least not by and produced a back-heel flick to play in qualification on Tuesday, while Manchester City Etihad for nine years, is due to leave the club at with three minutes remaining. — AFP Guardiola. Kevin de Bruyne, running through from all but secured a top-four place by beating West “An amazing performance,” the Spanish midfield. De Bruyne crossed and Gabriel Bromwich Albion. Sanchez scored two late coach said. Guardiola stunned reporters Jesus tapped in at the far post. close-range goals to earn Arsenal a 2-0 home and City fans alike at the start of his first For the second goal less than two min- victory over relegated Sunderland, while Kevin Leader Kane has great season in English soccer by publicly calling utes later, Aguero again started from deep, De Bruyne starred as City comfortably defeated out Aguero, saying he expected more from running through and passing to another West Brom 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. a player who has long been widely regard- midfield runner in Leroy Sane. The ball City climb to third in the Premier League, two expectations for Spurs ed as the best striker in the Premier League. dropped for De Bruyne to side-foot home points above Liverpool and three points clear of Guardiola wanted to see a better pressing from the edge of the area. Arsenal, with only the teams finishing third and LEICESTER: has backed first ethos preached by their manager. game from Aguero, more teamwork and The third goal from Yaya Toure particu- fourth assured to join Chelsea and Tottenham link-up play, a better work ethic. larly pleased Guardiola, who reacted to the Tottenham Hotspur to shake off their reputa- “Everyone just has a special connection here. Hotspur in the Champions League. “We’ve got in tion as title chokers and finally win the It’s a special bond and I don’t think you always Aguero was even dropped for a ball hitting the net by spinning on his heels on the final day many times,” Arsenal manager Champions League game at Barcelona in and punching the air with both fists - as Premier League next season. Mauricio get that at clubs,” Kane said. “That has to moti- Arsene Wenger told BBC Sport at the Emirates Pochettino’s side came up short in the title vate us to hopefully be out there next year lift- mid-October, a decision many could not much for the build-up as for the goal itself. Stadium. “We made 71 points and were second. understand. Was this the end for Aguero at Again dropping deep and dragging two race for the second successive year after ing a Premier League together. “That’s got to We now have 72 and want to go to 75. After that Chelsea repelled their determined challenge be the next step. That’s got to be our aim and City, the club for whom he famously won defenders with him, Aguero played a 1-2 you deal with what happens.” Arsenal must win the league with that 94th-minute goal on with Toure with a deft reverse pass with his in the same way Leicester City frustrated them we’ve got to use this as motivation to get their final game at home to Everton on Sunday 12 months ago. there.” Tottenham said an emotional farewell the final day of the 2011-12 season? If left foot. Toure charged into open space and hope Liverpool slip up at home to relegated Aguero wasn’t prepared to change his and finished between the goalkeeper’s Deposed champions Leicester are to White Hart Lane on Sunday, with a 2-1 win Middlesbrough if they are to guarantee a 20th Tottenham’s next opponents at the King against Manchester United the perfect send- game, it likely would have been, particularly legs. “I like strikers to not be there like a successive season of Champions League foot- with Gabriel Jesus arriving at City in January post,” Guardiola said, straightening up his Power Stadium today, but Kane’s thoughts are off for the 118-year stadium before it is ball. As well as their points advantage over already turning to next term. Watching demolished it make room for a new arena. and immediately displaying the kind of body. “I like when we arrive at the line for Arsenal, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool also have a attributes Guardiola liked in a striker. them to be there. I like strikers to arrive to Chelsea’s jubilant players celebrate their title Tottenham’s runners-up berth is their best superior goal difference (+33 to +31). triumph was a painful experience for league finish since 1963, but the progress of the positions, not stay in the positions. I A point at Watford on Sunday will guarantee MASTERED THE ROLE think Sergio does that amazing.” That didn’t Tottenham striker Kane, who once again has Pochettino’s side has inevitably prompted a top-four place for Pep Guardiola’s City, but they more than 20 goals to his credit without win- reports that several key players could be lured On the evidence of the West Brom used to be the case. Aguero has scored 31 can secure third place-and, crucially, avoid the game, Aguero has finally mastered how to goals in all competitions and is enjoying ning a major trophy. away by bigger clubs in the close-season. Champions League play-off round-if they win. A Even so, Kane is convinced it will be Kane is unmoved by such talk and says perform the striker role that Guardiola one of his most prolific seasons at City. But conspicuous number of empty seats at the wants. “What I saw from outside when I Guardiola appears to be getting much Tottenham’s turn to hoist the silverware soon- Spurs’ trajectory makes them as attractive as Emirates Stadium articulated the apathy that has er rather than later because Pochettino has virtually any club in the world. “We’re a family coached against him, he was a guy in the more out of the Argentina striker.Maybe taken hold among Arsenal fans this season and box to score a goal,” Guardiola said. “I tried Aguero will be staying at City after all. —AP built a gifted group that revels in the team- on and off the pitch. We work so hard as a Wenger’s team made heavy work of beating group. Look, there’s not many better teams to Sunderland. They had the best of the first half, be at around the world at the moment,” he with Hector Bellerin striking the outside of the said. “We’ve got a very bright future, a great post from one of a succession of home attacks. squad, a team that’s hungry to win and to But rock-bottom Sunderland twice threat- learn and to get better. “Of course there’s ened on the counter-attack, with Arsenal goal- going to be rumours over the summer, but I keeper Petr Cech obliged to save from Didier think I’d be very surprised if most of us ain’t Ndong and . Sunderland goal- still here next season.” keeper looked set to foil Arsenal in the second half, saving from Aaron Ramsey ‘NEXT STEP’ and substitute Danny Welbeck, but in the 72nd Despite all their promise, Tottenham are minute the hosts’ pressure told. yet to win a trophy under Pochettino and their last major prize was the League Cup in 2008. ZABALETA FAREWELL They face the added problem of playing their Granit Xhaka’s lofted pass was squared by home games at Wembley next season while Mesut Ozil and Sanchez volleyed in his 22nd the new stadium is built. Yet, ignoring his goal of the league campaign from beneath the team’s poor results at the national stadium in crossbar. After Pickford had thwarted Sanchez, recent years, England star Kane is adamant Xhaka and Alex Iwobi, Sanchez made sure of the they should be aiming high next term. points in the 81st minute, heading in after “Imagine what it would be like winning a Pickford had blocked Olivier Giroud’s volley. Premier League, or winning an FA Cup or a Guardiola is now within touching distance of Champions League or something?” he said. securing his minimum objective of Champions “That’s got to be our next step. We’re young League qualification following a straightforward but we’re getting more experience year in, home win over West Brom. After Aleksandar year out. “We’ve just got to go and make it Kolarov’s free-kick was pushed behind by visit- happen. We’ve got the team, we’ve got the ing goalkeeper and Leroy Sane had belief, so next season hopefully it’s our year.” dragged wide, City went ahead in the 27th After their fairytale title last season, this has minute with a fine team goal. been a turbulent campaign for Leicester, with Sergio Aguero’s artful back-heel released De poor league form leading to Claudio Ranieri’s Bruyne, whose deflected cross from the left was sacking before a memorable run to the tapped in by Gabriel Jesus. De Bruyne doubled Champions League quarter-finals under Craig City’s lead within two minutes when he shaped a Shakespeare. half-volley inside the right-hand post from the With two home games left, it could be a edge of the box. Yaya Toure added a third shortly long goodbye for Algeria winger Riyad before the hour, exchanging passes with Aguero, Mahrez, who remains a target for several clubs driving into the box and slotting home. despite an erratic campaign from last season’s “Gabriel was amazing, but today I think that PFA Player of the Year. “You don’t have a deci- the key player was Sergio,” Guardiola said. “He sion to make unless you get an offer, and we didn’t score, but he helped us to play the third LONDON: Tottenham’s Harry Kane cele- brates scoring a goal during the English haven’t had an offer for any one of our play- man. He made two or three assists, he made an ers,” Shakespeare said of the transfer talk. MANCHESTER: West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob, left, and Manchester City’s amazing, amazing performance. Sergio played Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester “There is always going to be speculation Sergio Aguero battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match ‘wow’, like a long time I didn’t see.” Guardiola because they are good players.” — AFP against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.— AP used the final half hour to offer Pablo Zabaleta a United at White Hart Lane stadium. — AP Dutch star Kuyt retires as Feyenoord triumph

THE HAGUE: Former Dutch international had the dream of winning trophies and central figure at De Kuip. After three prolif- self to Liverpool supporters with his com- Dirk Kuyt announced his retirement yes- becoming a champion with Feyenoord. All ic seasons in Rotterdam, Kuyt was snapped mitment and down-to-earth approach, terday, three days after his hat-trick my dreams have come true.” Kuyt, 36, up by Liverpool in 2006 after playing at but the goals dried up in his final cam- steered Feyenoord their first Eredivisie scored all three goals on Sunday as that year’s World Cup in Germany. He paign at Anfield and he was sold to title in 18 years. “Throughout my career I Rotterdam-based Feyenoord beat scored 71 goals-including a late consola- Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2012. He then have always followed my heart when tak- Heracles 3-1 to clinch the Dutch title after tion in Liverpool’s 2007 Champions League returned to Feyenoord for a second spell ing decisions and that goes for this one finishing one point clear of Ajax. final defeat to AC Milan-over six seasons in 2015 on a one-year deal, before extend- too,” Kuyt said in a statement on He is expected to stay on at Feyenoord with the English club. The Dutchman, who ing his stay for one final season. “It’s a Feyenoord’s website. in a technical capacity after calling time played 104 times for his country, started great moment to be back,” Kuyt told Dutch ROTTERDAM: In this Sept 15, 2016 file photo “To me this feels like the right time to on his 19-year playing career. Kuyt made every game as the Netherlands reached newspapers at the time.”The difference to Feyenoord’s team captain Dirk Kuyt applauds the sup- retire. I have had two fantastic years here his professional debut at FC Utrecht in the 2010 World Cup final only to suffer a my previous stint (at Feyenoord) is that porters at the end of the Group A Europa League match since returning to Feyenoord, with this 1998, before joining Feyenoord in 2003 heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Spain after extra this time around I would really like to win between Feyenoord and Manchester United at the De season’s title as the absolute pinnacle. “I where he quickly established himself as a time in Johannesburg. Kuyt endeared him- a trophy.” — AFP Kuip stadium. — AP