Sports Reporter Fourth Overall After SS1 but Navigational Ha’Il, Saudi Arabia Issues Cost Him Valuable Time, As Did a Minor Accident

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Sunday, January 10, 2021 FOOTBALL Jumada I 26, 1442 AH Non-league Chorley GULF TIMES shock virus-hit Derby in FA Cup SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Al-Attiyah aims for strong fi nish at Dakar Rally The Qatari ace is second in the overall standings, 5:53 seconds behind 13-time Dakar champion Stephane Peterhansel

By Sports Reporter fourth overall after SS1 but navigational Ha’il, Saudi Arabia issues cost him valuable time, as did a minor accident. Farrés climbed as high as third overall after stage two, but the fter a day’s rest, Qatar’s Spaniard lost two and a half hours on Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah will stage fi ve and the second quickest time be hoping to bounce back on the stage into Ha’il was the former into title contention as Dakar enduro rider’s best return thus far. He ARally resumes today. Al-Attiyah is sec- was plagued by electrical and fuel is- ond in the overall standings, 5:53 sec- sues early in the race with the latter onds behind 13-time Dakar champion solved in time for him to deliver a stun- Stephane Peterhansel. ning sixth stage performance. Al-Attiyah, a three-time winner of The Portuguese crew of Lourenço world’s toughest off -road rally, has Rosa and Joaquim Dias crew the sixth of been fast and aggressive in his Toyota the South Racing Can-Am Team T4s. Gazoo but problems with his tyres have They set four top 10 stage times on the put him in a spot of bother. The Qa- driver’s fi rst Dakar and have climbed tar and his French co-driver Matthieu into contention for a top 10 fi nish. Rosa Baumel have suff ered two punctures currently holds 10th place. and lost valuable time. Dutchman Kees Koolen came into The Qatari, though, has been as un- the Dakar on the back of sealing the FIA erring throughout the opening week, T4 world title before Christmas, but claiming four stage victories (includ- he and fellow countryman Jürgen van ing the prologue) and ratcheting up the der Goorbergh have yet to challenge pressure on the overall leader Peter- the front-runners at the Dakar. Koo- hansel. He has a knack for pushing his len’s best stage performance came with rivals until they crack. the sixth quickest time on SS3 and he Of the 286 total entries cleared to reached Ha’il in 11th position. start the 2021 Dakar Rally in Saudi Spaniards, Fernando Alvarez and Arabia, 231 (78 motorbikes, 14 quads, Antonio Gimeno Garcia, have deliv- 56 cars, 49 lightweight vehicles and ered consistent results each day in their 34 trucks) have survived the prologue Conarpesa-backed Can-Am. They and opening six stages and made it to climbed to 13th overall after day three the rest day. A further 26 vehicles have and reached the rest day in a similar withdrawn from the race but remain position in the rankings. eligible to continue the adventure un- Local driver Saeed al-Mouri teamed der “Dakar Experience” rules without up with Uruguay’s Sergio Lafuente and appearing in the general standings. has been running mid-way through the 44-car fi eld since the start of the event KHALIFA AL-ATTIYAH PLACED in Jeddah on January 2nd. He holds 23rd NINTH IN T4 CATEGORY overall. Meanwhile, in the T4 category, Nass- South Racing is also running two er’s young brother Khalifa al-Attiyah is Can-Ams under the Polish Energy- at ninth place after a poor start. Kha- landia Rally Team banner for driving lifa al-Attiyah and navigator Paulo brothers Marek and Michal Goczal. Ceci worked together for the fi rst time Nasser al-Attiyah (right) with his younger brother Khalifa al-Attiyah as the two Qataris enjoy the rest day at the Dakar Rally yesterday. Michal and his co-driver Szymon Gos- shortly before Christmas and won the podarczyk have faired the better of the second of the Ha’il Bajas in South Rac- The South Racing Can-Am Team SSV T4 event outright from the second Am Team cars. Dom ala won the fourth up to second overall on the sixth test two. They set four top fi ve stage times ing-built Can-Ams. has enjoyed a superb fi rst half of the stage and picked up daily victories on stage and has never been outside the after running in third for the last three and hold fi fth at the rest day. Brother That new Qatari-Italian partner- Dakar Rally. All 12 of the South Racing- stages three and fi ve in their Copec- top three since the Prologue. days. Marek and navigator Rafal Marton are ship has gone from strength to strength entered cars are still running after six supported Can-Am before losing over Young American Austin Jones and his Brazilian Reinaldo Varela and Span- classifi ed in 12th overall. ever since and the Doha-based driver special stages with Polish driver Aron an hour following an accident over a Brazilian co-driver Gustavo Gugelmin iard Gerard Farrés are taking part in The Dakar Rally resumes today with has recovered well from losing almost Domzala currently leading the SSV T4 sand dune on day six. crew the second of four Monster En- the third and fourth of the Monster a selective section from Ha’il to Saka- two hours on the fi rst stage. He slipped category and South Racing-built cars That delay dropped the 2019 win- ergy Can-Ams, built by South Racing, Energy-backed Can-Ams and hold ka, as the route winds its way through down to 56th overall after that fi rst spe- winning the Prologue and fi ve of the six ner down to third overall and lifted and Jones was the early leader of the sixth and 15th at the rest day with their the cooler northern deserts during the cial but a fourth, a ninth, a second and a timed tests. Dom ala and navigator Maciej Marton rally after winning both the Prologue respective co-drivers Maykel Justo and second week, taking in additional night fastest time on stage six have lifted the Francisco Lopez and fellow Chilean into an outright lead of just 40 seconds and the opening stage. He slipped to Armand Monleón. halts in Neom, Al-Ula and Yanbu before Qatari into ninth place at the rest day. navigator Juan Pablo Latrach led the in the fi rst of four Monster Energy Can- fi fth overall after stage two and moved Varela had been running as high as the fi nish in Jeddah next Friday.

FOCUS Lusail Multipurpose Hall wears new look ahead of World Judo Masters ith less than a day for the are also not leaving any stone unturned start of the IJF World Judo in ensuring that the competition is held Masters Doha 2021, Lusail under the safest condition given the Multipurpose Hall is al- current global Covid-19 pandemic. Wready wearing a new look in readiness To this end, the International Judo for the 2020 Tokyo Games qualifying Federation (IJF) and Qatar Taekwondo, event, which takes place at the ultra- Judo and Karate Federation (QTJKF) have modern venue from tomorrow till Jan- jointly set up health protocols in collabo- uary 13. ration with the Ministry of Public Health, The hall is looking splendidly radiant and the Ministry of Interior to accommo- after the branding’s completion, and date all delegations in one hotel in a quar- the necessary makeovers have also been antine. All the participants will undergo done as Doha is set to host some of the PCR test, ﬁ rst on arrival before being world’s best judokas. Aside from this, taken to their hotels. Another test will be all the venue facilities are in top shape conducted before they compete on each with all the required technical and lo- day of the tournament. gistical equipment in place. Riner of France, a two-time Olym- Tournament Director Eid al-Me- The tournament features over 320 pic gold medallist and ten-time world raikhi said, “We are happy with the athletes – 184 male and 136 female – champion in the +100kg, Idalys Ortiz progress of things so far, and we are from 63 countries representing ﬁ ve of Cuba – the 2012 Olympic gold med- very impressed with the level of our continental federations namely the Af- allist in the +78kg female category, and preparation for the IJF World Judo Mas- rican Judo Union, Judo Union of Asia, Japan’s Soichi Hashimoto – world No. ters Doha 2021. All arrangements are in and European Judo Union, Oceania 1 in the lightweight division and four- place to ensure a smooth and stress- The Lusail Multipurpose Hall is all set to host the IJF Doha Masters from tomorrow. Judo Union and Pan-American Judo time World Championships gold med- free tournament. We are ready to host Confederation. allist. the world, and we believe all partici- Qatar is globally renowned for hosting this tournament.” and women, and it will be streamed Top on the list of top judokas who Aside from the branding and venue pants will leave Doha at the end of the very successful sporting events, and The tournament will feature compe- live on the IJF website and social media will be in action in Doha includes Teddy preparation, the tournament organisers competition with lasting memories. we are building on that reputation with tition in seven categories for both men channels. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, January 10, 2021 FOOTBALL

FA CUP SPOTLIGHT Klopp pleased aft er Non-league Chorley Liverpool overcome ‘tricky’ Villa challenge

Reuters have to start new. That’s football London and academy players are good players. Last year we played here shock virus-hit Derby, with our kids and they gave Villa iverpool manager Juer- a proper game as well. That’s just gen Klopp said preparing how it is. These young kids can to face a youthful Aston all play football and if you don’t Villa team in Friday’s FA play well against them you have LCup third round clash presented problems.” a challenge he had never faced Sixteen Villa players made West Brom crash out before, but the German was their fi rst-team debuts on Fri- pleased after his side emerged day and Delaney said he was im- It was Chorley’s third league scalp after previous wins against Wigan and Peterborough with a 4-1 win. Villa were forced mensely proud of the character to fi eld academy players due to a they had shown. “The character- mass Covid-19 outbreak among istics of the boys, their together- their ranks, with Under-23 coach ness, the camaraderie between Mark Delaney taking charge of the group, they pulled them- the game instead of fi rst-team selves together, they didn’t let it manager Dean Smith. faze them,” he said. “You’ve got Sadio Mane scored twice to take your hat off to the play- while Georginio Wijnaldum ers, they were outstanding.” and Mohamed Salah added one In all, 14 unnamed Villa em- each to cancel out a fi ne goal by ployees — nine players and fi ve Villa’s 17-year-old striker Louie staff — have tested positive, forc- Barry and send Liverpool into ing the Premier League club to the fourth round. “The kids of close their training base on Thurs- Villa did really well,” Klopp told day because of the outbreak. Liv- reporters. “It was a tricky one. erpool played a strong side for I’ve never before had this kind the third round tie at Villa Park, of challenge in my life, that you but Villa’s youngsters acquitted have no idea who you’re playing themselves well. Four of Villa’s against — absolutely no idea. You starting line-up weren’t even prepare a meeting and then you born when Liverpool midfi elder can throw all the preparation, all James Milner made his profes- the videos in the bin and then you sional debut for Leeds in 2002.

Chorley’s Mike Calveley scores against Derby County during the FA Cup third round match at Victory Park in Chorley, Britain, yesterday. (Reuters)

AFP upset was a welcome boost for Chorley changes and they needed goals from Semi THIRD ROUND RESULTS London manager Jamie Vermiglio, whose job as Ajayi and Matheus Pereira to send the tie Everton 2 (Tosun 9, Doucoure 93) Rother- a primary school headteacher has been to penalties. ham 1 (Olosunde 56) aet; Nottingham thrown into chaos by the current national In the shoot-out, Kyle Edwards, Dar- Forest 1 (Taylor 3) Cardiff 0; Boreham on-league Chorley knocked lockdown in Britain. nell Furlong and Pereira all missed to Wood 0 Millwall 2 (Zohore 31, Hutchin- coronavirus-ravaged Derby “It’s a very proud moment for us. hand the 1953 FA Cup winners a memora- son 75); Luton 1 (Moncur 30) Reading 0; out of the FA Cup with a sur- Credit to our boys, they’ve been on a ble victory. After 21 winless games, Shef- Norwich 2 (McLean 6, Hugill 7) Coven- prise 2-0 win yesterday, while journey and we said it before the game, fi eld United fi nally earned a victory as try 0; Chorley 2 (Hall 10, Calveley 84) Aston Villa’s Louie Barry (right) scores against Liverpool during the NWest Brom suff ered an embarrassing exit the journey can continue today and it has Jayden Bogle’s strike clinched a 3-2 suc- Derby 0; Oldham 1 (Bahamboula 45-pen) third round FA Cup match in Birmingham. (Reuters) against Blackpool as the spiking pandem- done,” Vermiglio said. There are growing cess against third-tier Bristol Rovers. Bournemouth 4 (Brooks 43, Riquelme ic took its toll on the third round. concerns over whether the English sea- Chris Wilder’s 100th win as Blades 49, King 74, 86); Stevenage 0 Swansea Derby were forced to play with only son should be halted as the new Covid-19 boss was the fi rst for the Premier League’s 2 (Routledge 7, Gyokeres 50); Bristol Under-23 and Under-18 players after variant wreaks havoc. Liverpool beat bottom club since defeating Chelsea in Rovers 2 (Kilgour 27, Ehmer 62) Sheff ield Spurs boss Mourinho to buy their fi rst-team squad and interim man- virus-plagued Aston Villa 4-1 in the FA July. Leicester rested Jamie Vardy and United 3 (Day 6-og, Burke 59, Bogle 63); ager Wayne Rooney were ruled out fol- Cup third round on Friday, with their James Maddison at second-tier Stoke but Blackburn 0 Doncaster 1 (Richards 42); Marine raffl e ticket lowing a virus outbreak at the Champi- opponents missing the entire fi rst-team still won 4-0 as James Justin, Marc Al- Stoke 0 Leicester 4 (Justin 34, Albrighton onship club. squad and boss Dean Smith due to a Cov- brighton, Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes 59, Perez 79, Barnes 81); Wycombe 4 London: Tottenham Hotspur out of a 20,000 pounds adver- Chorley, from the sixth-tier National id outbreak. all netted. (Onyedinma 3, Jacobson 9-pen, Knight manager Jose Mourinho plans tising package when the game League North, took advantage of Derby’s Southampton’s third-round tie against Everton needed extra time to see off 25, Samuel 82) Preston 1 (Jakobsen 43- to buy a ticket for the raff le went behind closed doors. weakened line-up, all making their de- Shrewsbury on Sunday has been post- second-tier Rotherham 2-1 at Goodison pen); Burnley 1 (Vydra 90+4) MK Dons 1 organised by Marine ahead However, former Liverpool buts and with an average of 19, to reach poned after several positive tests at the Park. Cenk Tosun scored his fi rst Everton (Jerome 29) aet, Burnley won 4-3 on pen- of today’s FA Cup third round defender Jamie Carragher has the fourth round for the fi rst time. It was League One team. A record-high 40 posi- goal since November 2019 in the fi rst half alties; QPR 0 Fulham 2 (Decordova-Reid clash but said he could not stepped in to sponsor Marine’s Chorley’s third league scalp in the FA Cup tive tests were detected among top-fl ight and Abdoulaye Doucoure won it in the 104, Kebano 105) aet; Exeter 0 Sheff ield claim the top prize, which is to dugouts and pre-match warm- this season after previous wins against players and staff in the week between De- 93rd minute. Wednesday 2 (Reach 27, Paterson 90); manage the eighth-tier side in up tops through his JC23 Wigan and Peterborough. cember 28 and January 3 and four Premier Top-fl ight strugglers Fulham prevailed Blackpool 2 (Yates 41, Madine 66) West a friendly. Foundation charity. Marine are In freezing conditions, with snow League games have already been post- 2-0 after extra-time in their west London Brom 2 (Ajayi 52, Pereira 80-pen) aet, Cash-strapped Marine’s also raising funds by selling vir- cleared off the pitch before kick-off , poned this term. derby at QPR. Burnley edged past third- Blackpool won 3-2 on penalties hopes of generating revenue tual tickets at 10 pounds each Chorley went ahead after 10 minutes Newcastle boss Steve Bruce and Leeds tier Milton Keynes Dons 4-3 on penalties Playing today (1800 GMT unless through the turnstiles were which will go into a raff le and when Derby failed to clear a long throw manager Marcelo Bielsa claim there is a after Matej Vydra’s stoppage-time equal- stated): Barnsley v Tranmere, Crawley dashed when the Merseyside Portuguese coach Mourinho is and Connor Hall nodded over the line. moral argument to suspend all matches iser for the Clarets rescued a 1-1 draw. v Leeds, Bristol City v Portsmouth, region was placed in Tier 3 of set to dip his hand in his pocket Chorley’s modest Victory Park ground is with the UK death toll from the virus Among Saturday’s other third-round Manchester City v Birmingham, Chelsea Britain’s Covid-19 restrictions, to help out. so homely that one fan was able to watch reaching a new high this week with 1,325 ties, Manchester United host Champi- v Morecambe, Cheltenham v Mansfield, forcing the game to be played “I am buying,” Mourinho from over their back garden fence, while deaths reported on Friday alone. onship club Watford and holders Arsenal Marine v Tottenham, Newport v Brighton without supporters at the told reporters. “If I win, I cannot two others used a cherry picker crane to For now, the FA Cup action goes on and face Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium. stadium. The Merseyside-based do it (manage Marine) because get a glimpse of the action. West Brom were victims of an upset at The highlight of Sunday’s fi xtures sees Tomorrow: Stockport v West Ham club expected 500 fans to at- we have our pre-season. I don’t Those enterprising fans saw Chorley’s Bloomfi eld Road as third-tier Blackpool eighth-tier Marine at home to Jose Mour- Played Friday: Aston Villa 1 (Barry 41) tend but are staring at 100,000 think I will have conditions to Mike Calveley seal their side’s memora- won 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. inho’s Tottenham, while Manchester City Liverpool 4 (Mane 4, 63, Wijnaldum 60, pounds ($135,630.00) in lost do that. But the meaning of it ble success when he poked home from Sam Allardyce’s side, second-bottom play Birmingham and Chelsea entertain Salah 65); Wolves 1 (Traore 35) Crystal revenue while a sponsor pulled makes me say yes to buying.” close range in the 84th minute. The cup of the Premier League, featured seven Morecambe. Palace 0

SERIE A Ilicic inspires Atalanta to Benevento rout and climb to fourth AFP scored on the rebound. out three players who are suff ering Milan Two minutes later, Ilicic was again from coronavirus in Alex Sandro, Juan the creator with a brilliant cross for Za- Cuadrado and Matthijs de Ligt. pata to tap in the third from close range. Pirlo insisted Juventus shouldn’t osip Ilicic scored a goal and set Substitute Luis Muriel curled in from be considered favourites to retain the up two others as Atalanta moved the edge of the area four minutes from league title they have clinched for the up to fourth in Serie A yesterday time for his 10th league goal this cam- last nine years, despite ending AC Mi- with a 4-1 win over midtable Be- paign, and sixth in fi ve games. lan’s unbeaten run. nevento.J The 32-year-old proved he has Atalanta moved above defending “Whoever is top is always the team to returned to his best form after taking champions Juventus by a point, with beat, at the moment that’s Milan,” Pirlo two months out due to personal prob- the Bergamo side now six points adrift said. “We know that we are a team that lems after the fi rst coronavirus lock- of leaders AC Milan, who were hosting has won the title for the last nine years down last year. Torino late last night. and there is pressure to do it again, but The Slovenia striker was impres- Gasperini said the decision to keep I consider the team that is top to be the sive throughout, with Atalanta captain Argentinian Gomez sidelined was “a team to beat. It was a great and impor- Papu Gomez still frozen out after clash- technical choice”. “I needed to try an- tant victory but if we don’t win tomor- ing with coach Gian Piero Gasperini. other type of system because I saw row, it will have been for nothing.” “We’re into the championship now,” that we were suff ering in midfi eld and said Gasperini after a third consecu- Gomez did not adapt.” tive win. “It’s a really good time for us, AC Milan are looking to extend their SERIE A RESULTS we’ve regained confi dence, the abil- one-point advantage over city rivals Benevento 1 (Sau 50) Atalanta 4 (Ilicic ity to play for 90 minutes and also (re- Inter Milan who travel to third-placed 30, Toloi 69, Zapata 71, Muriel 86) gained) enthusiasm.” Roma today. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has re- Playing today (all times GMT): AS Ilicic gave the visitors the advantage Atalanta’s Josip Ilicic (third left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Benevento yesterday. turned to the Milan squad after seven Roma v Inter Milan (1130), Udinese v after half an hour, embarking on a solo weeks out injured, with the 39-year- Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma run up the right fl ank, dribbling past post shortly afterwards with a fi erce chances. Ilicic had a role in Atalanta’s next two old having missed eight league games. v Lazio (all 1400), Fiorentina v Cagliari three defenders and fi ring in at the near drive from long range, having also pro- Marco Sau pulled Benevento level fi ve goals, as Benevento goalkeeper Lorenzo Today, fi fth-placed Juve face a tough (1700), Juventus v Sassuolo (1945) post, through centre-back Kamil Glik’s vided perfect crosses for Robin Gosens minutes after the break, with Zapata Montipo pushed his 69th-minute ef- match at home against sixth-placed legs. He was a denied a second by the and Duvan Zapata, who squandered the having a goal ruled out for off side. But fort into the path of Rafael Toloi who Sassuolo. Andrea Pirlo’s side are with- Tomorrow: Spezia v Sampdoria (1945) Gulf Times Sunday, January 10, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA West Ham’s Moyes urges people not to pick on footballers over virus breaches London: West Ham boss Dav- Schalke avoid equalling id Moyes has urged people not to “pick on” footballers over breaches of coronavirus protocols as case numbers spiral in Britain. Hammers midfielder Manuel Lanzini has apologised and made a longest winless run donation to an east London foodbank after breaching Borussia Dortmund sensation Haaland hits double as Leipzig miss out on top spot the rules over the Christmas period. Britain on Friday re- AFP ported a record 1,325 deaths Berlin over a 24-hour period from people testing positive for Covid-19 as overstretched chalke avoided a record-equal- health services struggled to ling 31st consecutive Bundesliga cope. Moyes acknowledged game without a victory yester- Argentina’s Lanzini made a day as American teenager Mat- “mistake” but insisted the thewS Hoppe netted a hat-trick in a 4-0 vast majority of players were thrashing of Hoff enheim to lift his side abiding by the game’s strict off the bottom of the table. protocols. “I was able to take my chances,” Asked if sterner action Hoppe said modestly after becoming needed to be taken against the fi rst American to score a Bundesliga off enders to ensure compli- hat-trick. “The win will give us confi - ance after a series of inci- dence and some momentum. There are dents involving high-profile 19 games left, hopefully we can stay up footballers, Moyes pleaded in the fi rst division.” for equal treatment. “If you After enduring a 30-match winless are going to take tough run in the league, the Royal Blues en- measures on players, then joyed their fi rst Bundesliga win in just you might as well take them under a year as 19-year-old Hoppe con- on the government people verted three chances created by Moroc- as well who have broken the co’s Amine Harit, who scored the fourth rules because it’s certainly goal. not just football players who After getting a win in only his second have done it,” he said. game in charge, Schalke coach Chris- “We’ve just got to be tian Gross praised Hoppe and the “out- careful that everybody isn’t standing” display of goalkeeper Ralf picking on football players. Faehrmann. “We have to build on the A lot of people are throwing result. There are still a lot of diffi cult stones in glass houses at the games to come,” Gross added with Bay- moment regarding this. We ern Munich, who crushed Schalke 8-0 all know what the protocols on the opening day of the season, visit- are, we all know we have to ing in a fortnight. be ever-vigilant and make Mainz replace Schalke at the bottom sure we’re doing the right of the table after a 2-0 home defeat to things. But we can all make Eintracht Frankfurt. Tasmania Berlin, mistakes as well. who went 31 games without a victory in Manuel Lanzini under- the 1965/66 season, keep the Bundes- stood he made a mistake, liga record for the longest winless run. he has apologised for it, he’s Meanwhile, Erling Braut Haaland made a donation to the food- netted twice as Borussia Dortmund banks for what he’s done and won 3-1 at RB Leipzig, who missed the I think it was a really good chance to take top spot in the Bundes- gesture.” liga from Bayern Munich. Dortmund Schalke’s Matthew Hoppe (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Hoff enheim in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, yesterday. (AFP) Moyes’ comments came winger Jadon Sancho scored his second a day after Newcastle goal in as many weeks by fi ring home by Sead Kolasinac who was making his bottom left-hand corner ten minutes was shown a straight red for a nudge BUNDESLIGA RESULTS head coach Steve Bruce on 55 minutes after Haaland’s cross was fi rst Schalke appearance back on loan from time. After defeats to Bayern and on Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi just Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Schick 73) Wer- questioned the morality of deftly fl icked into his path by captain from Arsenal. “The white shorts of all Eintracht Frankfurt, third-placed Bayer outside the area and Union midfi elder der Bremen 1 (Toprak 52); Freiburg 5 football continuing during Marco Reus. my teammates were fi lthy dirty — that Leverkusen drew 1-1 at home to Werder Robert Andrich fi red in the resulting (Demirovic 18, Hoefler 39, Sallai 59, Lien- the pandemic. The Scot, Haaland headed home a Sancho cross is what we need, what we all want to Bremen as Patrik Schick equalised after free-kick on 52 minutes. hart 69, Hoeler 79) Cologne 0; Union Ber- however, believes sport is with 19 minutes remaining and grabbed see,” Kolasinac said in praising his Omer Toprak put Bremen ahead from a Union had the ball in the net again lin 2 (Becker 29, Andrich 52) Wolfsburg 2 playing an important role his second goal in the 84th minute, be- team’s workrate. free-kick with only their second chance with an hour played, but the goal was (Steff en 10, Weghorst 66-pen); Schalke04 and saluted the players for fore Alexander Sorloth scored a late Hoppe broke the deadlock with a deft of the game. disallowed as the referee judged Awon- 4 (Hoppe 42, 57, 63, Harit 80) Hoff enheim their contribution. consolation for Leipzig. The result chip just before the break, then doubled Union Berlin climbed to fourth af- iyi had fouled Wolfsburg goalkeeper 0; Mainz 0 Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (Silva He said: “We have to re- means Bayern stay two points clear of the lead on 57 minutes when Harit’s pass ter a controversial 2-2 draw at home Koen Casteels. Wolfsburg striker Wout 24-pen, 72-pen); RB Leipzig 1 (Sorloth 89) member that the players are second-placed Leipzig despite crashing again put him in behind the defence to to Wolfsburg, who came from behind Weghorst equalised on 67 minutes by Dortmund 3 (Sancho 55, Haaland 71, 84) the ones taking risks every to a 3-2 defeat at Borussia Moencheng- calmly round Hoff enheim’s goalkeeper after Maximilian Arnold was sent off converting a penalty after a handball by Playing today: Augsburg v VfB Stuttgart week. They continue playing, ladbach on Friday, while Dortmund are and fi re into an empty net. just after the break. Renato Steff en gave Union defender Marcus Ingvartsen. (1430 GMT), Arminia Bielefeld v Hertha they have to go back to their fi ve points behind the European cham- The American claimed his hat-trick Wolfsburg an early lead with a head- Freiburg set a new club record of fi ve Berlin (1700 GMT) families, so we have to say pions in fourth. just after the hour mark when put into er, but Union striker Sheraldo Becker straight league wins, which has seen that the players are the ones Played Friday: Borussia Moenchengla- In Gelsenkirchen, Hoff enheim were space by another sublime Harit pass to equalised with a crisp shot after squan- them climb from 14th to eighth in the out there who are taking a lot dbach 3 (Hofmann 36, 45, Neuhaus 49) missing 11 players either injured or sus- fi re home with another deft chip. Harit dering a clear chance. table, with a 5-0 romp at home to Co- of risks.” pended, while the hosts were captained then completed the rout by hitting the It was 1-1 at the break, but Arnold logne. Bayern Munich 2 (Lewandowski 20-pen, Goretzka 26)

SPOTLIGHT LA LIGA Bayern ‘punished’ Messi revival continues as Barca thrash Granada AFP by mistakes in Madrid Gladbach defeat ionel Messi is back in form and Barcelona are fi nding their feet AFP after a 4-0 demolition of Gra- Berlin nada yesterday put them within Lfour points of the top of La Liga. Messi scored twice to make it four goals in three ayern Munich head matches since the turn of the year and his coach Hansi Flick ad- resurgence has coincided with an upturn mitted it was errors by for the team too, this victory Barca’s third the European cham- on the bounce. pionsB which cost them a 3-2 It puts them in sight of league lead- Bundesliga defeat at Borussia ers Atletico Madrid, even if Diego Sime- Moenchengladbach on Friday. one’s side now have three games in hand. The league leaders suff ered only Atletico’s match against Athletic Bilbao their second loss this season, but earlier yesterday was postponed due to it did not cost them top spot as the snowstorm that has engulfed Spain second-placed RB Leipzig lost to this weekend. Messi’s double, the sec- Borussia Dortmund yesterday. Moenchengladbach’s Florian ond a sweetly-struck free-kick, came “Gladbach were very effi cient, Neuhaus celebrates scoring between two strikes from Antoine Griez- they brutally exploited three against Bayern Munich. (AFP) mann, who is also enjoying a revival after mistakes by us,” Flick said. “We a disappointing 18 months at Camp Nou. played good football for the fi rst but in the end it was a hard fi ght.” Some had wondered if Messi would ever 30 minutes and dominated the Thomas Mueller agreed with get back to his best following an under- game, but it was little things that Flick that Bayern can only blame whelming start to the season but his lat- decided the match — mistakes themselves. “Our passing mis- est contribution makes him the league’s by us, ball losses, some poor de- takes were punished — ice-cold. top scorer on 11 goals. fending. We lost the ball too easily going After attempting to leave Barcelona last “The individual mistakes hurt forward,” Mueller added. “We summer, the 33-year-old’s recovery al- us because they were punished made too little out of it when we ways felt dependent on him rediscovering and after going 3-2 down, we laid seige to their goal in the sec- his own motivation and focus. But Barca Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (centre) scores against Granada in the La Liga in Granada, Spain, yesterday. (Reuters) couldn’t come back as we had ond half.” coach Ronald Koeman deserves credit for hoped. We have to blame our- In the pre-match build-up, the rejuvenation of players like Griez- ball sliced backwards to Griezmann, who Atletico’s game at home to Athletic Liga, level on points with Sevilla. selves for this defeat.” Gladbach coach Marco Rose had mann, Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de touched and shot past Rui Silva. Bilbao was called off , with the snowfall in Bayern were cruising at 2-0 highlighted Bayern’s tendency to Jong, all of whom have improved signifi - Griezmann was the instigator for the Madrid on Friday the heaviest since 1971. LA LIGA RESULTS defend high up the pitch, which second goal too, the Frenchman driv- Bilbao’s players were unable to land in the up after 26 minutes thanks to cantly in recent matches. Sevilla 3 (En-Nesyri 4, 7, 46) Real Sociedad a Robert Lewandowski penalty created space for opponents to Barcelona’s recovery has a long way to ing forward to the edge of the area before city and returned to Bilbao early on Friday 2 (Carlos 5-og, Isak 14); Granada 0 and a superb Leon Goretzka goal attack, and his team ruthlessly run, with unresolved issues on and off transferring inside to Messi. Messi was evening. Barcelona 4 (Griezmann 12, 63, Messi 35, at Borussia Park. However, Glad- exploited the weakness. the pitch very likely to resurface before given the yard he needed to shift onto his Seville was among the areas spared bach roared back as midfi elder “We have to keep going — the end of the season. Yet Koeman will left foot and curl home. Messi made it the awful weather conditions, with Se- 42) Jonas Hofmann scored twice to that’s the key message I have just hope a corner has been turned and at a three from a similar position, just on the villa able to play against Real Sociedad Postponed: Atletico Madrid v Athletic make it 2-2 at the break, then set told the boys, we’ve had many good time, with the Champions League edge of the box, this time the ball was sta- and win a fi ve-goal thriller 3-2. Youssef Bilbao up Florian Neuhaus who scored games in which we didn’t have last 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain to tionary. Pedri had been prevented from En-Nesyri grabbed a hat-trick in a fran- Playing today: Levante v Eibar (1300), what proved to be the winner much luck,” said Rose, whose come next month and a large chunk of the running into the box and Messi fi red the tic match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Cadiz v Alaves (1515), Elche v Getafe (1730), for the hosts just after the break. side still trail Bayern by nine league calendar still remaining. resulting free-kick low, perfectly into the where four goals were scored in the fi rst Real Valladolid v Valencia (2000) “We scored the goals exactly the points in seventh place. “We Barca’s fi rst goal was fortunate, with corner. Griezmann made it four, fi ring in 14 minutes before En-Nesyri decided it way we set out to score them,” worked for it, but overall it was Roberto Soldado seemingly surprised to a scooped pass from Dembele on the turn. early in the second half. Defeat means Tomorrow: Huesca v Real Betis (2000) said Hofmann. “We got better deserved. I’m really happy for the have the ball passed at him by Sergio Bus- Messi went off with almost half an hour Real Sociedad have won only one of their Played Friday: Celta Vigo 0 Villarreal 4 and better as the game went on, boys, they did great.” quets. Soldado’s lashed clearance saw the left, his work already done. last six matches. They drop to fi fth in La (Gerard 5, Moises 14, Parejo 19, Nino 31) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, January 10, 2021 SPORT

NFL NHL Six Stars players, two staff members If Texans to trade test positive for Covid-19, delaying Watson, Dolphins team’s opener By Matthew DeFranks mage, before Friday morn- The Dallas Morning News ing’s news. When the Stars last took the ice, they were missing fi ve players and coaches: for- ix Stars players and two wards Jason Robertson, Joel staff members tested L’Esperance and Tye Felhaber, positive for Covid-19, defenceman Joel Hanley and should be fi rst in line according to a state- assistant coach Todd Nelson. mentS from the NHL, cancelling The team could not say wheth- training camp practices indefi - er their absences were injury or ‘WE NEED A LEADER SO WE CAN FOLLOW THAT LEADER AS PLAYERS’ nitely and altering the team’s illness-related. regular-season schedule. Columbus, a new divisional By Dave Hyde According to the NHL, the opponent for Dallas, held out South Florida Sun Sentinel league is revising the Stars’ a number of players from prac- regular-season schedule with tice Friday due to “an abun- the expectation that the team dance of caution and in ac- f Deshaun Watson talks his will not be ready to play until cordance with NHL Covid-19 way out of Houston, the January 19. protocols,” according to a Blue Miami Dolphins should talk Dallas was scheduled to Jackets statement. their way to the front of the open the season at Florida on Unlike when the NHL re- Iline. Jan. 14 and 15, followed by a turned last summer to com- Trade Tua Tagovailoa. Trade trip to Tampa Bay on January plete the 2020 postseason, the the No 3 draft pick. Throw in 17 and 19. Stars and other teams around both second-rounders this year On Friday morning, the the league will have to con- and also a fourth-rounder next Stars announced the cancel- tend with the coronavirus as year just to pretty it up like a full lation of practice, what was they travel around the country fl ower arrangement. set to be the team’s fi fth day of instead of staying in a seques- If Houston is dumb enough to training camp. tered bubble in Canada. allow Watson to leave, the Dol- According to the NHL’s pos- During the duration of the phins should take advantage of itive test protocol, asympto- two bubbles in Toronto and them for a dumb-to-dumber matic people who test positive Edmonton, there were no second time recently. must isolate for 10 days since positive Covid-19 results. The Trade Tua, the No 3 pick, a their fi rst positive test. Symp- Stars conducted training camp second-rounder and the fi rst- tomatic people who test posi- in July without a single posi- round pick next year to make it a tive must isolate for 10 days tive. full box of chocolates. since symptoms began, and Last year, the Lightning and Watson is everything you hope at least 24 hours since the last Blues both closed their facili- Tagovailoa quickly becomes. use of fever-reducing medi- ties following positive tests, He’s 25. He’s one of the NFL’s cations. Symptomatic people although they came during best quarterbacks. He’s signed can also exit isolation with two optional small group workouts for a moderate price through negative tests after the resolu- instead of training camp. Tam- 2025. He was on a 4-12 team this tion of any fever. pa Bay re-opened its facility year and ranked as the NFL’s The league defi nes close fi ve days later; St. Louis, three. second-best quarterback behind contacts as people who “have This year, teams are playing Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. been within 6 feet of the In- games in their home arenas. Oh, and one more thing. dex Individual for a cumula- Players won’t be separated He’s really unhappy. tive total of 15 minutes or more from their families. Some or- “Some things never change,’’ over a 24-hour period.” Close ganizations — like the Stars, Watson tweeted this week af- contacts who test negative are and division rivals Tampa Bay ter Houston owner Cal McNair not subject to quarantine re- and Florida — will be allowing hired Nick Caserio as general quirements as long as they are fans at games. To account for manager. symptom-free and continue to potential positive cases, the The issue, it seems, is Watson test negative, according to the NHL created the taxi squad, wasn’t consulted on the hire. NHL’s protocol. a 4-6 player group that will Maybe it is Caserio’s New Eng- Players are tested daily, and travel and practice with the land background, too. Fired the NHL’s coronavirus pro- NHL team, able to quickly fi ll coach Bill O’Brien and another tocol does not explicitly have in for abrupt absences. front-offi ce type, Jack Easterby, guidelines for when team fa- The Stars are playing this were also from Bill Belichick cilities may reopen. season in a realigned Central University. The Stars had an off day Division, facing the other sev- Yes, Dolphins coach Brian Thursday and do not have a en divisional teams eight times Flores graduated from the same practice schedule for the up- each during the 56-game regu- school. But his management coming days. The team fi n- lar season. Dallas is scheduled style, if it matters, is notice- ished three days of practice, to host its home opener against ably diff erent than Belichick, including Wednesday’s scrim- Nashville on January 22. who rules by fear. Flores rules by building relationships with players. “They’re like my sons,’’ he has said on diff erent occa- Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans scrambles with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half if their NFL game at NRG 76ers’ Curry tests positive for Covid-19 sions. Stadium in Houston on December 6, 2020. (Getty Images/TNS) Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry tested positive for Back to Watson. Covid-19, prompting the team to spend the night in New York “We need a whole culture raising that [Lombardi] trophy.” he was a free agent, he had a ca- third-round pick who will need They also rarely have any say after losing to the Brooklyn Nets, ESPN reported. Curry didn’t shift,” Watson said at the end Again, doesn’t that sound like reer-threatening injury and San a year or three of clipboard car- in the next general manager. But play in the 122-109 loss due to an ankle injury. He was report- of the season when he unloaded Flores’ Way? Diego had Philip Rivers waiting rying. Bottom-line: They want Watson stood on the deck of the edly tested for Covid-19 on Thursday morning and the 76ers on the Houston franchise. “We The cold-water reality is behind him. a quarterback who is no threat Titanic last season as McNair were informed of the positive result shortly before tip-off . need new energy. We need dis- Houston would be nuts to trade The Dolphins sound like they to Tagovailoa’s standing either empowered coach Bill O’Brien Curry spent the first quarter on the bench in street clothes and cipline. We need structure. We Watson no matter how unhappy won’t go the San Diego Way of in practice where players could to make dumb move after dumb was seen talking to centre Joel Embiid late in the period after need a leader so we can follow he is. The Dolphins once had insuring Tua with another highly notice or in the games where move. He then fi red O’Brien and the latter came out for a rest with 3:05 left in the stanza. that leader as players.” an unhappy quarterback who drafted quarterback. They sound everyone else would. That’s not now brings in Caserio. The 30-year-old Curry left the bench area at the end of the Isn’t that Flores in a para- wanted out. They went through like the surprisingly wonder- unusual, either. They’re all in on Do the Texans have one more quarter after being told of the result and was isolated from his graph? the behind-the-scenes motions ful Ryan Fitzpatrick years have their guy. dumb move in them? teammates. “I’m not sure what exactly the of trading Dan Marino after the played themselves out on both The Watson situation is unu- Because there’s only one thing The 76ers are slated to conduct contact tracing on Friday ownership wants to do, but who- 1988 season but never did so. sides, too. sual. Franchise quarterbacks more nuts than Houston actu- morning and the players will undergo another round of testing, ever it is has got to come in with Name the last top-tier quar- They sound like their backup rarely speak out against the fran- ally trading their franchise quar- per NBA health and safety protocols. Philadelphia’s next con- a great structure and plan and terback to be traded in his prime. quarterback next year will be chise. They rarely express such terback. It’s the Dolphins not test is Saturday at home against the Denver Nuggets. Embiid making sure we’re accountable Hmm. Well. There has to be some journeyman with neither discontent about the owner that standing at the front of the line told ESPN after the game that he will self-quarantine away from for every action. We’re all striv- someone. Drew Brees leaving the game nor the team-winning it makes headlines. They rarely with a basket full of goodies to his family until he is sure he didn’t contract the virus. ing to go for one goal, and that’s San Diego in 2006? Sure, except personality of Fitzpatrick or a try to talk their way out of town. pry him away.

SPOTLIGHT Lundqvist recovering aft er heart surgery

Reuters Samsonov, 23, as its primary starter, with ils forward Travis Zajac said on Thursday. New York Lundqvist serving as the backup. “Obviously, no one knows himself better Lundqvist and the Rangers parted ways than he does, so obviously we want him after 15 years on September 30 when the to be part of this team, but I think going eteran NHL goaltender Henrik team bought out the fi nal season of his forward, he’s got to make that decision. I Lundqvist said he is progressing seven-year, $59.5 million contract. think he can take all the time he needs. We after undergoing open-heart sur- He left the Rangers with his name all want him here.” gery earlier this week. over top-10 lists in NHL history. He’s sixth Crawford, who turned 36 last week, V “Day 3. Surgery went really well,” Lun- in wins (459), seventh in saves (23,509), signed a two-year, $7.8-million contract dqvist, 38, wrote Friday on his personal eighth in games by a goalie (887) and ninth with the Devils on October 9, one day after Twitter account. in time on ice (51,816 minutes and 19 sec- New Jersey placed goaltender Cory Sch- “About fi ve hours to get it all taken care onds). He also ranks 16th in shutouts with neider on unconditional waivers for the of. Really appreciate the great staff here 64. purpose of a buyout. Crawford highlighted at the Cleveland Clinic. Last few days has The Rangers selected the Sweden na- his 13-season career in Chicago by helping been pretty crazy but feel like I’m in really tive in the seventh round of the 2000 the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup champion- good hands. Every day is a step in the right NHL Draft, and he took over in goal for the ships in 2013 and 2015. direction.” Rangers in the 2005-06 season. He also captured the William M. Jen- The update also included a drawing by nings Trophy in those seasons, sharing the his young daughter, Juli. DEVILS’ COREY CRAWFORD honour with then-teammate Ray Emery in The longtime New York Rangers goal- TAKES INDEFINITE LEAVE OF ABSENCE 2013 and with Carey Price of the Montreal tender and 2012 Vezina Trophy recipient New Jersey Devils goaltender Corey Craw- Canadiens in 2015. announced on Dec 17 that he would miss ford is taking an indefi nite leave of absence Crawford posted a 16-20-3 record with his fi rst season with the Washington Capi- for personal reasons, the team announced one shutout, a 2.77 goals-against average tals because of an issue with his heart. Friday. and.917 save percentage in 40 appearances Lundqvist signed a one-year contract Coach Lindy Ruff didn’t elaborate on last season. He was playing in the last sea- worth $1.5 million with the Capitals on Crawford’s absence on Thursday, only to son of a six-year, $36-million deal. October9. The move came on the heels note that it was a personal day. Crawford’s Crawford has a 260-162-53 mark with of Washington parting ways with fellow absence on Friday marked his third con- 26 shutouts, a 2.45 GAA and .918 SP in former Vezina Trophy recipient Braden secutive missed practice since the team 488 career games since being selected by Holtby in free agency. opened training camp last week. the Blackhawks in the second round of the Washington was expected to have Ilya “We need to give him his space,” Dev- 2003 NHL Draft. New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Gulf Times Sunday, January 10, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA NFL Ravens’ Wild Card mission? Stop Warriors rally past Derrick Henry

Reuters in an inspired bit of red zone New York trickery. With a top-10 rushing defense that allowed an average he Baltimore Ravens’ of 18.9 points per game this Clippers, Jazz trip elaborate defensive season, the 11-5 Ravens hope agenda in today’s Wild not to repeat history in Ten- Card matchup against nessee today, and help their Tthe Tennessee Titans could fl eet-footed, 2019 league MVP possibly boil down to a sin- quarterback Lamar Jackson gular objective: Stop Derrick clinch his fi rst-ever playoff Henry. win. The leading rusher during “They’re one of the top Bucks at home the regular season by an enor- teams for a reason,” said head mous margin, the Titans’ fero- coach John Harbaugh, who has ‘We are a young team trying to find our identity and understand how we are going to win games cious running back earned a heaped praise on Titans’ quar- spot in the NFL’s “2,000-yard terback Ryan Tannehill’s play- AFP club,” an elite group of just action abilities as well. Los Angeles eight running backs to cross “It’s really important to be that threshold in one sea- able to run the ball in the red son, and presents perhaps the zone, and then the ability to tephen Curry scored 38 points as biggest threat to Baltimore’s extend plays is really critical, the Golden State Warriors rallied postseason ambitions. which, of course, (Tannehill) from a 22-point defi cit to over- “It’s the greatest challenge can do very well.” power the Los Angeles Clippers every play. Let’s make no mis- The former Dolphins quar- withS a 115-105 victory on Friday in San take about it - he’s the best terback is coming off of a pro- Francisco. running back in football,” Bal- lifi c, 3,819-yard season - one The Warriors used a 34-6 run over the timore defensive co-ordinator of his strongest yet – with sev- third and fourth quarters to stun the Clip- Don Martindale told reporters en interceptions and 33 touch- pers and erase their big lead. this week. “We know it. He downs. “We are a young team trying to fi nd our knows it. We’re just getting “They do a good job of mov- identity and understand how we are going ready to go for the challenge ing around and getting open to win games,” Curry said. “A win like this ahead on Sunday.” on the extended play and gives us confi dence that no matter how far The Titans ended the Bal- scramble. Of course, (Tan- out of it we are, we can turn it around.” timore Ravens’ playoff run a nehill) keeps the ball a lot of Curry drained nine three pointers as the year ago in a 28-12 shock AFC times down inside the 10-yard Warriors avenged a loss to the Clippers on Divisional game upset over line,” Harbaugh told report- Wednesday when Curry was held to a sea- the heavily favoured number- ers. “So, all of those things are son low 13 points. The Warriors made 20 one seed, in which Henry ran why they’re so good. It’s going threes in Friday’s contest. for 195 yards and even tossed to be up to us to try to get them “It is perseverance and resilience on my a three-yard touchdown pass stopped.” part,” he said. “I credit my conditioning to be able to keep going and I use my basketball IQ to fi nd those holes.” SPOTLIGHT Curry posted his third 30-point performance in the last four games, making

RESULTS Rams’ Donald and Boston 116-107 Washington Oklahoma City 101-89 New York Chiefs’ Kelce anchor Golden State 115-105 Clippers Lakers 117-115 Chicago All-Pro team Toronto 144-123 Sacramento Reuters (fi rst) helped the Packers (13- Houston 132-90 Orlando New York 3) secure the No. 1 seed in the Memphis 115-110 Brooklyn NFC. Left guard Quenton Nel- son (third), linebacker Darius Utah 131-11 Milwaukee os Angeles Rams de- Leonard (second), defensive Detroit 110-105 Phoenix fensive tackle Aaron tackle DeForest Buckner and Charlotte 118-110 New Orleans Donald and Kansas special teamer George Odum City Chiefs tight end each earned their fi rst All-Pro 13 of his 24 shots and nine of his 14 three- LTravis Kelce were unanimous nods for the Colts, who fi n- point attempts. He also had 11 assists. selections to the 2020 Associ- ished 11-5 and earned a wild- Wiggins fi nished with 16 points for the ated Press All-Pro team an- card berth. Warriors, who shot 20-for-41 on three- nounced Friday. Tennessee Titans running pointers and outscored the Clippers 60- Donald and Kelce swept all back Derrick Henry was hon- 42 from beyond the arc. 50 votes from a nationwide oured for the fi rst time after Paul George had a team-high 25 points panel of media members. It is rushing for 2,027 yards and and Kawhi Leonard 24 for the Clippers, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) high fives forward Eric Paschall during the third quarter of their NBA game against the sixth consecutive selection capturing his second straight who made 18 turnovers. the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center. (USA TODAY Sports) for Donald, 29, who registered NFL rushing title. The Clippers led by 14 points at the half, 13.5 sacks for a Rams defense The rest of the All-Pro of- and 85-63 late in the third quarter. Curry Jordan Clarkson added 26, Bojan ping the Jazz off ence as they pulled away sists for the Bulls. that fi nished No. 1 in the NFL fense includes Chiefs wide capped a 19 point third quarter with a 29 Bogdanovic chipped in 20 points, while for good behind a 12-0 run to open the In Detroit, Jerami Grant had 31 points in scoring defense and total receiver Tyreek Hill (third foot basket in the fi nal seconds to give the Royce O’Neale added 18 points for the fourth quarter. and 10 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons defense. It is the third selec- selection), Buff alo Bills wide Warriors a 87-81 lead. Jazz, who made a franchise record 25 three stormed back from a 23-point fi rst half tion for Kelce (2016, 2018). The receiver Stefon Diggs (fi rst), Golden State extended that to 97-91 pointers and snapped a two-game losing STRONG GAME FOR LEBRON defi cit to beat the Phoenix Suns 110-105 in 31-year-old helped the Chiefs Washington Football Team early in the fourth but the Clippers tied it skid. Also, LeBron James had 28 points, seven overtime in Detroit. secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC right guard Brandon Scherff 97-97 with just over seven minutes left on Mike Conley fi nished with a double- rebounds and seven assists, and the Los Grant has been red-hot lately as his 31 playoff s and set a record for (fi rst) and Cleveland Browns the clock. double, delivering 17 points and 10 assists. Angeles Lakers held on for a 117-115 vic- points equalled a career high which he es- tight ends with 1,416 receiving right tackle Jack Conklin (sec- Brad Wanamaker drained two threes Antetokounmpo scored 35 points and tory over the visiting Chicago Bulls. tablished on Wednesday against the Mil- yards. The Green Bay Packers ond). Seattle Seahawks line- and Andrew Wiggins made a clutch shot Khris Middleton added 31 to lead Milwau- Montrezl Harrell tallied 17 points and waukee Bucks. and Indianapolis Colts both backer Bobby Wagner made late to drown out any attempt by Los An- kee but their off ensive prowess wasn’t 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who played Delon Wright fi nished with 16 points, had four players on the list. the team for the sixth time in geles to rally late. enough to prevent the Bucks from drop- without injured Anthony Davis, who is fi ve rebounds and six assists and Blake Quarterback and leading the last seven seasons. Elsewhere, Donovan Mitchell scored 32 ping their fi rst game at home in the new out with sore groin. Griffi n also had 16 points for the Pistons MVP candidate Aaron Rodg- The AFC placed 18 players points as the Utah Jazz handed Giannis season. Dennis Schroder also scored 17, while who scored the fi rst six points of overtime. ers (third selection), left tack- on the list, compared to 11 for Antetokounmpo’s Bucks their fi rst loss at Antetokounmpo scored 16 of his 35 Wesley Matthews had 14 points and Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 le David Bakhtiari (second), the NFC. Sixteen of the 32 NFL home this season with a 131-118 victory in points in the fi rst quarter. Markieff Morris added 11. points and former Piston Langston Gal- center Corey Linsley (fi rst) and teams had at least one player Milwaukee. Once they got going there was no stop- Zach LaVine had 38 points and six as- loway had 17. wide receiver Davante Adams selected.

PREVIEW Browns battling Covid-19, Steelers on playoff return AFP ertheless be missing head coach ant and wide receiver KhaDarel tans. Last season, the Ravens en- Los Angeles Kevin Stefanski from the sidelines Hodge – remained on the Cov- tered the playoff s as the top seeds at Heinz Field today. id-19 reserve list with uncertain- in the AFC but were dumped out Stefanski is one of more than a ty over their availability. at the fi rst hurdle in a 28-12 upset he Cleveland Browns will dozen Browns players and coach- The Browns clinched their by the Titans. be bidding to overcome es whose involvement this week playoff berth last Sunday with a Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Covid-19 and the Pitts- has been aff ected by the Covid-19 24-22 defeat of the Steelers, who however, insists that his team will burgh Steelers today as outbreak. rested veteran quarterback Ben not use last year’s shocker as mo- Tthey return to the NFL playoff s Stefanski tested positive for Roethlisberger and several start- tivation. for the fi rst time in nearly two Covid on Tuesday and has been ers, having already locked up the “We’re just focused on the decades. in isolation since. His position on divisional title. game,” Harbaugh said. “Previous For so long a punchline, the the sideline will be taken by spe- Roethlisberger, meanwhile, games have little bearing.” Browns are back in the playoff s cial teams coach Mike Priefer. is preparing for Sunday’s game Those words were echoed by after a transformation in fortunes knowing that it may well be his quarterback Lamar Jackson. “It’s that saw them claim a wild card COVID CRISIS last.At 38, Roethlisberger is one not about them; it’s about us,” spot from the AFC North with an “I’m going to try to be an exten- of several veteran quarterbacks Jackson said. “It really doesn’t 11-5 regular-season record. sion of Kevin,” Priefer said. “I’m in this year’s playoff s nearing the matter who we play.” It was the Browns fi rst win- going to try to do exactly what end of their respective careers, a Today’s other game sees the ning season since 2007, and came Kevin would want in those situ- list that includes Tom Brady (43), Chicago Bears travel to New Orle- four years after the team posted ations.” Drew Brees (41) and Philip Rivers ans to face the Saints in the NFC. just one victory in two seasons in Stefanski, meanwhile, plans (39). Like the Steelers’ Roethlis- 2015-2016, a miserable run that to address the team on Saturday berger, Saints quarterback Brees included an 0-16 campaign four before handing off head coaching ‘THE OLD GUYS’ knows that he could be one defeat years ago. duties to Priefer. “All the old guys. It’s cool. It’s fun from retirement. But the Browns’ stay in the “Once it’s game time, coach to be a part of it with them. I’m Brees, who turns 42 next week, post-season could be brief. The Priefer will be serving that role,” hoping we’re not one and done so was reluctant to be drawn on his team’s preparations for Sunday’s Stefanski said. “I have a ton of I can be the last one standing,” he career beyond this season when daunting trip to Pittsburgh have faith in him. The guys know the said. “I think every player should talking to reporters. been engulfed by a Covid-19 out- message. They don’t need a Zoom approach this game like it could “All I know is this,” Brees said. break that has wiped out practice call from me to tell them what to be their last playoff ever. I know “I didn’t come back to play this since Tuesday. do.” I am.” season for myself. I came back for The team were fi nally given the Yet as of Friday, eight Browns Elsewhere today, the Baltimore my team. I came back for the city, all-clear to return to training on players – including guard Joel Ravens look for revenge when I came back for the organisation. Friday afternoon, but will nev- Bitonio, tight end Harrison Bry- they travel to the Tennessee Ti- That’s why I’m here.” Cleveland Browns coach Mike Priefer Gulf Times 6 Sunday, January 10, 2021 SPORT

MEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE: WINS FOR AL GHARAFA AND Al SHAMAL

Al Gharafa (in white) defeated Al Rayyan 93-83 in first match of the Men’s Basketball League at the Al Gharafa Sports Club Indoor Hall yesterday. (Right) Al Shamal (in red) beat Al Wakrah 71-67 in the second match of the day.

TENNIS MOTORSPORT Mazepin needs to grow up, says Haas Musetti, Alcaraz F1 boss Steiner

Reuters “We are not saying that this London was OK and letting him get away with it. We are educating him and will keep on educat- ussian rookie Nikita ing him for his future. There chase Grand Slam Mazepin needs to will be consequences if this grow up and has not or something similar happens been let off the hook again. forR causing off ence with a vid- “We have put things in place eo on social media last month, that will help him to get bet- his Haas Formula One team ter and make sure this doesn’t boss Guenther Steiner said on happen again; not to make the Friday. same mistake again, because debuts in Doha The 21-year-old driver, this was a clear mistake.” whose father is a fertiliser bil- The hashtag #WeSayNoTo- lionaire, angered the team Mazepin has spread on Twitter Tommy Robredo is also seeking his first Grand Slam main draw appearance since 2018 when images of a female pas- since the incident. senger being groped in the Steiner, whose other driver ATP back of a car appeared on his in an all-new lineup is Ferrari Doha Instagram feed. great Michael Schumacher’s The footage was swiftly de- 21-year-old son Mick, said he leted and Mazepin apologised, was aware of the social media orenzo Musetti and Car- with Haas addressing the situ- response. los Alcaraz will lead the ation internally, but Steiner “People have an opinion, #NextGenATP charge said in a column that the mat- that’s fi ne, also internally peo- in the Australian Open ter was “not done and dusted.” ple didn’t like what happened, Lqualifying draw, which will take “This is a young man who and this is why we continue to place in Doha from January 10-13 needs to grow up and for sure take this seriously,” he added. due to the Covid-19 pandemic. we have dealt with this and we “This is a distraction that The Next Gen ATP Finals will continue to deal with this,” we don’t want, but sometimes contenders will aim to reach the he said. these things happen.” main draw at a Grand Slam for the fi rst time, in just their second Grand Slam qualifying ap- RUGBY pearances. Musetti came within one victory of a place in the Aus- tralian Open main draw last year, but fell short with a straight-sets Six Nations set for loss to Tallon Griekspoor. Since then, the Italian has soared more than 200 posi- crunch talks aft er tions in the FedEx ATP Rank- ings. During a breakthrough run on home soil last year, Musetti travel block stunned Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori at the Internazionali AFP believed were too light. Six BNL d’Italia in Rome, captured Paris fi xtures in the Champions and his maiden ATP Challenger Tour Challenge Cups from earlier in trophy in Forli and advanced to the season have already been his fi rst ATP Tour semi-fi nal in iscussions about the cancelled due to coronavirus Sardinia. Six Nations will be cases among squads. The 18-year-old, who is the held next week after After playing games against second youngest player in the the French govern- English sides in December, Top 200, will meet Botic Van mentD yesterday recommended Bayonne and Pau record- de Zandschulp in his opening Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti will attempt to reach his first Grand Slam main draw. rugby clubs postpone upcom- ed cases of the new variant match. Musetti shares his sec- ing European Cup matches among their set-ups. tion of the qualifying draw with sections of the draw, third seed ship for the second straight year. this event in 2017. Seventh seed his most recent Grand Slam main with domestic British teams The Basque side had threat- 32nd seed Blaz Rola of Slovenia. Aslan Karatsev will face #Next- In Melbourne at last year’s event, Damir Dzumhur will attempt to draw appearance at Wimbledon due to the new Covid-19 vari- ened to pull out of the second- Rola will face 2014 Roland Gar- GenATP American Brandon Na- Purcell advanced to the doubles compete in the Australian Open in 2019, will face 14th seed Jozef ant in the United Kingdom. tier Challenge Cup due to the ros semi-fi nalist Ernests Gulbis kashima. Karatsev, a four-time championship match alongside main draw for the sixth consecu- Kovalik of Slovakia. The decision casts a doubt contaminations. of Latvia in his fi rst match. Challenger fi nalist last year (2-2), Luke Saville (l. to Ram/Salis- tive year. Denis Istomin will attempt over the fi nal two rounds of The president of joint- The only player younger than and Nakashima are both aiming bury). The three-time ATP Tour ti- to reach the Australian Open pool matches scheduled to record four-time European Musetti in the Top 200 of the compete in the Australian Open In his second appearance in tlist shares his section of the main draw for the 14th time. The start next weekend. Cup winners Toulouse Didier FedEx ATP Rankings is Alcaraz. main draw for the fi rst time. the qualifying draw, sixth seed draw with 31st seed Mohamed 34-year-old will face 29th seed The meeting initiated by Lacroix played down the cur- The 17-year-old Spaniard com- The winner of Karatsev and Thiago Seyboth Wild will aim Safwat of Egypt. Lorenzo Giustino in his opening the French sport ministry will rent problems and said he piled a 20-3 main draw record in Nakashima’s clash will face to qualify for the fi rst time. The Former top 5 star Tommy Ro- qualifying match. talk about the annual interna- hoped the tournament would his fi nal six Challenger events in #NextGenATP Frenchman Hugo #NextGenATP Brazilian, who bredo is seeking his fi rst Grand Istomin is one of only three tional tournament which is set be fi nished later in the year. 2020, which included three titles Gaston or Max Purcell. captured his maiden ATP Tour Slam main draw appearance players to have defeated eight- to start on February 6 featur- “There’s enough time to from four fi nal appearances. On his Roland Garros debut crown in Santiago last year, will since the 2018 US Open. The time champion Novak Djokovic ing France, England, Ireland, make up for this competition,” Alcaraz will begin his quali- last year, Gaston stunned three- meet Robin Haase in his fi rst 2007 quarter-fi nalist will open in the past decade at Melbourne Scotland, Wales and Italy. he told AFP. fi cation bid against Slovakia’s time Grand Slam champion Stan match. his qualifi cation bid against Park. “This new variant of Sars- “I think it’s a competition Filip Horansky. The three-time Wawrinka and pushed US Open Seyboth Wild is in the same eighth seed Antoine Hoang of The 6’2” right-hander out- CoV-2 has increased trans- that’s far from being distorted Challenger titlist could meet champion Dominic Thiem to fi ve section as Mischa Zverev. The France. Bernard Tomic will also lasted Djokovic in fi ve sets in missibility compared to right now, it will take place second seed Hugo Dellien in the sets. German upset then-World No. 1 face seeded opposition in his 2017. Wawrinka and Hyeon those currently circulating in more with a knockout stage, fi nal qualifying round. Purcell will attempt to qualify Andy Murray to reach his maid- opening match. Chung are the only other players France, which then increases with things a bit harder,” he In one of the most exciting for his home major champion- en Grand Slam quarter-fi nal at The 28-year-old, who made to achieve the feat. the risk of contamination,” a added. statement seen by AFP said. The decision could have an “It’s why all travel or holi- impact on football with seven day to Britain is strongly ill- English sides and one Scot- High-risk people must get priority over athletes for vaccine: Wiebe advised. tish club set to feature in con- “The French government is tinental knockout games in Canada’s Olympic wrestling 15,000 athletes from almost most at risk and people in long- “They (athletes) are already During his visit to Tokyo in No- leaning, on a short-term ba- February. champion Erica Wiebe has said every country in the world are term care homes - they are the healthy, they’re in an age vember, International Olympics sis, towards the adoption of None of those games are frontline workers and vulnerable expected to travel to Tokyo for ones that need to be prioritised. bracket that hasn’t been shown Committee President Thomas measures that restrict or even against French opposition people should be prioritised the Olympics and the subse- Canadian gymnast Kyle Shew- to be super vulnerable to fatal Bach said athletes would be en- bar French clubs from partici- however. over Olympic athletes for the quent Paralympics. “I think the felt, who won gold at the 2004 outcomes from this disease. couraged to get the vaccine but pating in games against team Additonally there are grow- novel coronavirus vaccine. Olympic movement stands in Athens Games in the men’s floor “As much as I want the Olympics it would not be mandatory for from the United Kingdom,” it ing concerns over whether the Senior Olympics off icial Dick its purity for a lot more than exercise, echoed compatriot to move forward... there isn’t a their participation in the Games. added. Premier League season can Pound said athletes should just putting athletes on stage to Wiebe’s comments, saying the doubt in my mind where (vac- Concerns over whether the Last week, European Pro- be completed on time due to be given priority access to entertain the world,” Wiebe told vaccine is “liquid gold”. cines) need to go. The Olympics Olympics can be held in Tokyo fessional Club Rugby (EPCR) the new variant. Newcastle the Covid-19 vaccine so the CBC. “The most important peo- “From a moral standpoint, it can still move ahead safely, have increased in the last few and domestic competition or- boss Steve Bruce and Leeds Tokyo Games can go ahead as ple that need to get the vaccine doesn’t sit right (with me),” regardless of whether athletes weeks as Covid-19 cases surge in ganisers agreed to evolve pro- manager Marcelo Bielsa claim scheduled from July 23. Over are front-line workers, those Shewfelt said. get vaccinated or not.” Japan and around the world. tocol in the continental tour- there is a moral argument to naments, which Top 14 outfi ts suspend all matches. Gulf Times Sunday, January 10, 2021 7 SPORT

CRICKET SPOTLIGHT Weakened Windies face ‘multiple’ tests Rizwan, Usman on Bangladesh tour

AFP after that. Their fi rst warmup Dhaka match is on January 18. Bangladesh is providing some net bowlers and even they will be epleted by stars refus- in their own separate bubble that centuries see UAE ing to tour during the will also be used to keep ground coronavirus pandemic, staff and drivers away from risky West Indies players will contacts. faceD multiple Covid-19 tests in On top of Holder, Pollard and Bangladesh before they even get Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin close to a fi ve-day match against Lewis, Shai Hope, Shimron Het- their hosts. myer and Nicholas Pooran de- The normally carefree Car- clined to travel because of coro- past Ireland in ODI ibbean stars have been put on navirus fears. edge by a trip to South Asia and And all-rounder Romario captain Jason Holder along with Shepherd failed a coronavirus Rizwan, originally from Kerala in India, struck nine fours and a six in his 109 Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo test just before the team’s de- will be among a host of players parture meaning uncapped Keon missing when the squad arrives Harding had to be called up at the today. last minute. The tourists will go straight Bangladesh could sense an into a seven-day quarantine upset victory against such weak- bubble to prepare for the three ened opponents, but they are still one-day internationals and two cautious. Tests against Bangladesh who are “I think this West Indies team already in their own bubble. is still a very good side,” said There has been no interna- former skipper and current se- tional cricket in Bangladesh lector Habibul Bashar. since March and the cricket “Who we are playing against, board is taking no chances. who is coming, that is not im- “We will do everything that portant. What is important is is needed to keep the series risk how we play,” he added. free,” BCB chief executive offi cer “It’s going to be an interesting Nizamuddin Chowdhury told series for both teams.” AFP. The two countries agreed After their warmup game on health protocols in December. against a local side, West Indies “They will be tested immedi- take on Bangladesh in two ODIs ately after arrival and then again in Dhaka on January 20 and 22 after three days and then after with the fi nal one-day game in travelling to Chittagong. Chittagong on January 25. “They will be tested in multi- The fi rst Test starts February ple times in diff erent layers and 3 in Dhaka, with the second get- if a player develops any symptom ting underway on February 11. he will be isolated immediately,” All the matches will be played he added. in empty stadiums. The fi rst three days of their Bangladesh has recorded more quarantine will be in isolation in than 500,000 pandemic cases a hotel. The players will have to but its fatality rate has been one pass a test to be allowed together of the world’s lowest.

Chundangapoyil Rizwan (L) and Mohammad Usman pose after UAE’s win over Ireland on Friday.

AFP match Rizwan was removed for His 131 not out came off 148 dug in, though, for the next 33 Since the New Year, the daily Abu Dhabi 109 with 35 runs still needed. balls and included nine fours overs to swing the game back to number of fresh Covid-19 cas- A quickfi re unbeaten 10-ball and four sixes. the hosts. es in the country has averaged 18 from Waheed Ahmed helped He shared a second wicket Rizwan, originally from Kera- around 2000. aiden ODI centuries to guide them home with an partnership of 102 with Balbi- la in India, struck nine fours and Following the UAE series, Ire- for Chundangapoyil over to spare, the experienced rnie who made 53 from 61 balls a six in his 136-ball 109 while land will remain in the country Rizwan and Mo- Usman fi nishing on 102 not out. but the innings faltered with the Lahore-born Usman’s unbeat- to play three ODIs against Af- hammad Usman, “We are hugely disappointed captain’s dismissal. en 102 came from 107 balls and ghanistan. whoM shared a fourth wicket with the result, we are here to Ireland reached 269 for fi ve included seven fours and three partnership of 184, steered UAE win games of cricket but we from their 50 overs. sixes. Scores: to an impressive six-wicket don’t have much time to re- Leinster fast bowler Barry The second ODI takes place Ireland 269-5 in 50 overs win over Ireland in the fi rst of a fl ect,” said Ireland captain Andy McCarthy ripped out open- on Sunday when UAE are still (Paul Stirling 131 not out, Andy four-match series on Friday. Balbirnie who won the toss and ers Zawar Farid and Vriitya Ar- likely to be without vice-cap- Balbirnie 53) Chasing 270, Rizwan and Us- chose to bat. avind, and when Curtis Cam- tain Chirag Suri and uncapped UAE 270-4 in 49 overs (Chun- man came together with UAE Opener Paul Stirling paced pher found the outside edge of left-arm spinner Aryan Lakra dangapoyil Rizwan 109, Mu- wobbling on 51 for three in the himself superbly to bat through Alishan Sharafu’s bat, the home who both missed Friday’s open- hammad Usman 102 not out) Jason Holder has opted not to tour Bangladesh. 13th over but they calmly rebuilt the innings and claim his tenth side were in serious trouble. er after testing positive for Cov- Result: UAE won by six wickets, the innings until man-of-the- ODI century. Rizwan, 32, and Usman, 35, id-19. lead four-match series 1-0. OPINION GOLF Pujara’s slow batting putting pressure on English seizes two-stroke PGA others: Ponting

Tournament of Champs lead Indian batsman Cheteshwar AFP qualifi ed for Hawaii by reaching the Tour ranked Berger, playing together, each Pujara avoids a bouncer Los Angeles Championship in a one-year entry rule fi red eight-under 65s to share second. by Australian paceman Pat change due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We played great all day,” Berger said. Cummins at Sydney Cricket “I can’t go out there trying to win,” “Put myself in good position going into Ground (SCG) yesterday. ATHLETICSarris English closed with a 10- English said of ending his win drought. “I the weekend. It was an important day to foot birdie to fi re a six-under keep putting myself in these positions. I keep myself in contention. par 67 and seize a two-stroke know it’s going to happen. I’ve got to get “Collin and I got into a little bit of a lead after Friday’s second round out of my own way. I hope I can put my- rhythm and fed off each other, made some IANS Ground on Saturday as the Aus- Hof the US PGA Tournament of Champi- self in that position on Sunday.” nice birdies here and there.” tralia bowlers kept a very tight Sydney ons. English, whose most recent 36-hole Added Morikawa: “Overall the round and disciplined line. The 31-year-old American made six lead was in 2019 at Mayakoba, sank a 22- was really good. Hit it well off the tee, He was caught behind off the birdies in a bogey-free round to stand on foot birdie putt at the third, tapped in for struck it well... I was putting really well.” heteshwar Pujara’s slow bowling of Australia pace bowler 14-under 132 after 36 holes on the par-73 birdies at the par-5 fi fth and ninth and Palmer fi red his second 67 to stay in the batting is putting too Pat Cummins as the sixth wicket Plantation course at Kapalua, Hawaii. par-4 10th. chase pack. much pressure on the to fall. “I feel good about my game right now,” He seized the lead alone at 13-under by “I knew I had to play a good round to other India batsmen, Pujara has been dismissed by English said. “I felt like I played really sol- sinking a fi ve-foot birdie putt at the par-5 keep pace and I was able to do that. A Cformer Australia skipper Ricky Cummins four out of the fi ve id. Just didn’t hole as many putts as I did 15th and made another fi ve-footer to save very satisfying 18 holes of golf for sure,” Ponting said yesterday while times in this series. Nathan Lyon in the fi rst round. I drove the ball really par at 17 before his clutch birdie at the Palmer said. “Just keep the pedal to the asking the India No. 3 to change has picked him once, in the fi rst well and hit a lot of greens in regulation. par-5 18th. metal. It’s going to be a race to the fi nish: his approach. innings of the fi rst Test. “If I keep shooting six-under it’s going Defending champion Thomas, ranked birdie-fest.” “I don’t think it was the right Cummins has got Pujara to be a good score at the end of the week.” third, birdied the last after hitting the Sixth-ranked Schauff ele, the 2019 approach, I think he needed to caught behind on three occa- Americans Justin Thomas, Ryan Palm- fl agstick to shoot 69 and grab a share of winner, closed with an 81-foot eagle putt. be a bit more proactive with his sions and had him caught at gully er, Collin Morikawa and Daniel Berger second. “It was nice to make that really long scoring rate because I felt it was once. shared second on 134 with South Korean “Played really well. Score didn’t show eagle putt at the last,” he said. “I knew I putting too much pressure on his The right-handed India bats- Im Sung-jae and Americans Brendon “You’ve got to go low out here,” English it,” Thomas said. “I truly don’t think I’ve needed to make up some ground.” batting partner,” Ponting tweet- man, who notched three cen- Todd, Patrick Reed and Xander Schauf- said. “I’m going to try to make as many ever had a round where I’ve putted it so Johnson, a two-time Champions win- ed yesterday. turies on the last tour includ- fele on 135. birdies as I can. I’ve got to keep the pedal well and had nothing go in. I stayed posi- ner, fi red a 65. Pujara, who won the man of ing a 193 at the Sydney Cricket World number one Dustin Johnson, down.” tive and I’ve got two rounds to fi gure it “I hit a lot of good golf shots. Had a the series award in Australia back Ground, has managed to aggre- in his return after winning the Masters English, who has already matched last out.” lot of good looks at birdie. I kept burning in 2018-19, scored 50 off 176 balls gate just 113 in fi ve innings so far in November, was among seven on 136 year’s winning total, has not won a solo Seventh-ranked Morikawa, last year’s the edges,” Johnson said. “Hopefully I’ll at a strike rate of 28.41 in the fi rst at an average of 22.6. This was his ahead of the weekend shootout. PGA event since 2013 at Mayakoba but PGA Championship winner, and 13th- make a few more putts this weekend.” innings at the Sydney Cricket fi rst half-century of this series.

Sunday, January 10, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

CRICKET TENNIS Top stars to Labuschagne and quarantine Smith steer Aussies in Adelaide to ominous lead Jadeja likely out of remainder of series after suff ering a fracture while batting

Rafael Nadal of Spain.

AFP Tiley told Tennis Channel. An Sydney offi cial statement announcing the January 29 exhibition said it would feature the world’s ennis’ top stars will top three men — Novak Djoko- quarantine in Ad- vic, Rafael Nadal and Dominic elaide rather than Thiem — and two of the top Melbourne and play three women in Simona Halep Tan exhibition there ahead of and Naomi Osaka. the Australian Open, with the World number one Ash- city also hosting a WTA event leigh Barty was not included, after the years’ fi rst Grand but 23-time Grand Slam win- Slam, organisers said yester- ner Serena Williams was, with day. two more players to be added Some 1,270 players and to the fi eld. support staff are due to ar- “The conditions of the rive in Melbourne on charter quarantine will be the same fl ights late next week, where (as Melbourne),” said Tiley, they will have to spend a man- with players only allowed out datory 14 days in quarantine. of their rooms for fi ve hours But with hotel rooms in the to practise and train in a bio- city scarce, Australian Open secure bubble. chief Craig Tiley said he had “They’ll be in a diff erent approached the South Aus- hotel and a smaller cohort and tralian government about tak- travel direct to Adelaide. We ing some of them. think this is a great opportu- Matters were further com- nity to actually launch before plicated when a hotel in Mel- we go into the season.” bourne that was due to ac- They would then head to commodate players pulled Melbourne Park for the 12- out on Tuesday, reportedly team ATP Cup, along with two because of concerns from WTA tournaments and two residents. With little benefi t ATP events being played from to Adelaide from putting its January 31 ahead of the Aus- community at risk of corona- tralian Open on February 8. virus by housing players, an Organisers also announced exhibition featuring the top an extra WTA 500 tournament names in the game was sug- in Adelaide after the Austral- gested as an enticement. ian Open, from February 22-27 “It would be a benefi t if they with 70 players taking part. Australia’s Josh Hazlewood (C) celebrates with teammates after running out India’s Hanuma Vihari during day three of the third Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. played an exhibition tourna- Australia has largely con- ment just before they came tained the coronavirus, al- Smith steadied the ship, building a threat- to Melbourne, so the premier though fresh outbreaks have AFP SYDNEY SCORECARD Sydney ening 68-run partnership that is slowly (Steven Marshall) has agreed to forced authorities to reintro- taking the game away from India. host 50 people in a quarantine duce some restrictions, in- Australia first innings 338 (S.Smith 131, Bowling: Starc 19-7-61-1, Hazlewood India were all out just before tea after bubble and then have those cluding a lockdown in Bris- irst innings heroes Marnus La- M. Labuschagne 91, W. Pucovski 62; R. 21-10-43-2, Cummins 21.4-10-29-4, Lyon some scintillating bowling and razor-sharp players play an exhibition,” bane. buschagne and Steve Smith steered Jadeja 4-62) 31-8-87-0, Labuschagne 3-0-11-0, Green fi elding, having resumed at the Sydney Australia to an commanding 197- India first innings (overnight 96 for two) 5-1-12-0 Cricket Ground on 96 for two. run lead in the high-stakes third R. Sharma c&b Hazlewood ...... 26 Australia second innings Cummins snared Pujara while Josh SPOTLIGHT FTest yesterday, leaving an injury-hit India S. Gill c Green b Cummins ...... 50 D. Warner lbw b Ashwin ...... 13 Hazlewood removed a dangerous Pant af- with a mountain to climb. C. Pujara c Paine b Cummins ...... 50 W. Pucovski c Saha b Siraj ...... 10 ter a breezy 36. The pair’s downfall saw They came to the crease after Will Pu- A. Rahane b Cummins ...... 22 M. Labuschagne not out ...... 47 the team crumble, with Ashwin and Jas- covski and David Warner fell early, pushing H. Vihari run out (Hazlewood) ...... 4 S. Smith not out ...... 29 prit Bumrah both run out, joining Hanuma Gasanova stuns them to 103 for two at stumps and a strong R. Pant c Warner b Hazlewood ...... 36 Extras (lb1, nb3) ...... 4 Vihari who suff ered the same fate earlier in position with the four-Test series locked at R. Jadeja not out ...... 28 Total (two wickets, 29 overs) ...... 103 the day. A cautious Pujara began the day on 1-1. Labuschagne, who scored 91 in the fi rst R. Ashwin run out (Labuschagne) ...... 10 To bat: Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, nine and captain Ajinkya Rahane two after Pliskova in UAE innings, was not out on 47 and Smith, who N. Saini c Wade b Starc ...... 4 Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins dismissed open- blitzed 131 in his fi rst knock, unbeaten on J. Bumrah run out (Labuschagne) ...... 0 Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood ers Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill Reuters with Spaniard David Ferrer, 29.Australia padded up again after taking M. Siraj c Paine b Cummins ...... 6 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Pucovski), 2-35 (50) on Friday. Abu Dhabi the world number seven con- eight wickets on day three to dismiss India Extras (lb1, w5, nb2) ...... 8 (Warner) Rahane, who scored a century in the last fi rmed on social media. for 244 in reply to the hosts’ 338. Total (10 wickets, 100.4 overs) ...... 244 Bowling: Bumrah 8-1-26-0, Siraj 8-2-20-1, Test at Melbourne, had an escape on 16, Zverev added former world “I woke up today hoping that by the close Fall of wickets: 1-70 (Sharma), 2-85 Saini 7-1-28-0, Ashwin 6-0-28-1 with a Nathan Lyon delivery ballooning to ussian qualifi er number three Ferrer to his of play we still wouldn’t be bowling and to (Gill), 3-117 (Rahane), 4-142 (Vihari), 5-195 Toss: Australia Matthew Wade at short leg, who could only Anastasia Gasa- coaching team around the have a lead of near 200, a great day,” said (Pant), 6-195 (Pujara), 7-206 (Ashwin), Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS), Bruce Oxen- get his fi ngertips on the ball. nova, who made her middle of 2020 and reached Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins, 8-210 (Saini), 9-216 (Bumrah), 10-244 ford (AUS) The skipper then whacked Lyon for six maiden WTA main his maiden Grand Slam fi nal who took 4-29. (Siraj) TV umpire: Paul Reiff el (AUS) before his new-found aggression cost him drawR appearance this week, at the US Open, where he went “I think we need (to bat) for at least a his wicket, chopping a Cummins ball onto could barely believe what down to Dominic Thiem after session-and-a half, two sessions tomorrow his stumps in the next over. she achieved yesterday after winning the fi rst two sets. and then have a good crack at them.” was sent for scans after a hit to the thumb ma and batsman K L Rahul, while skipper Pujara did what he does best, grinding breezing past former world The German picked up two India’s Cheteshwar Pujara, who made a while batting. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant Virat Kohli is on paternity leave. out singles while occasionally opening his number one Karolina Pliskova ATP titles in Cologne and patient 50, said early wickets would be cru- joined him in the clinic after a nasty blow to Despite this, Mohammed Siraj stepped bat, bringing up his 26th half-century. in the second round in Abu also made the fi nal of the ATP cial for his team today. the elbow. Jadeja reportedly has been ruled up to remove Pucovski for 10, caught by But the celebrations were short-lived, Dhabi. Masters 1000 event in Paris “We need to pick up a couple of early out of the rest of the series after suff ering a substitute keeper Wriddhiman Saha. with Pant out two balls later, edging a The 21-year-old qualifi er, in an encouraging close to the wickets tomorrow morning and not allow fracture. Ravi Ashwin then took the prized scalp Hazlewood delivery to Warner at slip. ranked 292nd, had won her season. them free runs in the fi rst session,” he said. It piled more misery on India, who were of David Warner for 13, his ninth career dis- And it got worse when Pujara was re- fi rst-ever tour-level match in “I would like to thank David India’s task was made harder by the ab- already without injured bowlers Moham- missal of the opener, trapping him lbw. moved in the next over, gloving a rising the opening round of the WTA for the months we have shared, sence of key spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who med Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Shar- But the disciplined Labuschagne and Cummins ball to wicketkeeper Tim Paine. 500 event to set up the clash the times on and off the court, with Czech Pliskova in her fi rst wishing him only the best in meeting with a top 100 player. the future,” Zverev wrote on BOTTOMLINE But Gasanova, whose goal his Instagram account. is to break into the top 200 “I also want to thank his this year, took just 72 min- family for giving me the chance utes to secure a 6-2 6-4 vic- to spend precious weeks with Bumrah and Siraj suff er racial abuse in Sydney tory against world number six David during these diffi cult Pliskova. times. I have tremendous re- Reuters Indian cricket board (BCCI) had offi cially “It was not me on the court,” spect for the way David played Sydney lodged a complaint with its Cricket Aus- Gasanova told reporters amid and coaches tennis.” tralia counterpart. continuous giggles. “I was so Zverev will start his 2021 The two boards and the International sure of myself. I’m really hap- season at the team-based ATP ndia’s players were allegedly sub- Cricket Council (ICC) did not immediate- py right now. Cup which will be played at jected to racial abuse from a section ly respond to a request for comment. “I’m really surprised, Melbourne Park a week before of the crowd at the Sydney Crick- “We’ve come to know about the issue,” but when I woke up today, I the Australian Open is held at Iet Ground (SCG) in the third Test BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told thought, ‘Why not? Why can’t the same venue from Feb. 8. against Australia yesterday, local media Indian news agency ANI. I win this match?’. Actually, I “I had to decide by the end reported. “Cricket is a gentleman’s game and thought I would lose in quali- of the year; I spoke to Alex- India captain Ajinkya Rahane and other these kinds of things are not allowed or fi ers or something like that, ander and told him that I pre- senior players spoke to the umpires at the accepted.” but I just kept pushing myself, ferred not to continue working end of the third day’s play after quicks According to the ICC anti-discrimina- like, I need to win and I want to with him in 2021,” Ferrer told Jasprit Bumrah and Mohamed Siraj com- tion policy, the host board would have to win.” tennis website Punto de Break. plained of hearing racist slurs while fi eld- probe any incident relating to ‘inappro- Gasanova will next play “There wasn’t a particu- ing near the boundary rope, the reports priate conduct’ and submit a report to the India’s Mohamed Spain’s 66th ranked Sara Sor- lar reason or anything; I just said. world governing body within two weeks. Siraj is one of the ribes Tormo in the last 16. thought the time wasn’t right. India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara did A man was banned from attending cricket players who Meanwhile, German Alex- Everything is fi ne between not answer when asked about the matter matches in New Zealand for two years after suff ered racist ander Zverev will head into us... I’m not the right person at the end-of-day news conference. being found guilty of abusing England fast abuse in Sydney. the 2021 season looking for to help Alexander at the mo- Reuters was unable to confi rm if the bowler Jofra Archer during a 2019 tour. a new coach after splitting ment.”