ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 16

Spain’s Cesar Azpilicueta, (right), scored against Croatia during the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between Croatia and Spain, at Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Hazard scores winning goal as top-ranked team reach quarters Belgium keep Ronaldo in check, end Portugal title defense

SEVILLE, Spain, June 28, (AP): Bel- gium stopped Cristiano Ronaldo on one end, and had just enough attacking power on the other. The top-ranked Belgians held Ron- aldo scoreless and held onto a fi rst-half lead to beat Portugal 1-0 and advance to the quarterfi nals of the European Championship. Ronaldo, who threw his captain’s armband to the ground in de- spair after the fi nal whistle, is still one goal shy of becom- ing the all- time men’s top scorer in inter- national soccer. He came into the match tied Hazard with former Iran striker Ali Daei at 109 goals. Belgium, which have never before won a major soccer title, will next face Italy on Friday in Munich. Belgium’s potent attack, led by Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, also struggled, but Thorgan Hazard scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute with a swerv- ing shot from outside the area. Portu- gal goalkeeper Rui Patrício was left wrong-footed and was late to swat the ball away. Belgium played most of the second half without De Bruyne, who had to be substituted after being tackled from Belgium’s Thomas Vermaelen, (left), and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo challenge for the ball during the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between Belgium and Portugal at the behind and injuring his left ankle. De La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain. (AP) Bruyne missed the team’s fi rst game at Euro 2020 while recovering from a fa- six in total and scored the only time it matches so far at Euro 2020 and won was off target with a free kick in the teammates, with Diogo Jota misfi ring aldo inside his own area. The forward cial injury sustained in the Champions hit the target. all 10 qualifi ers for the tournament. 74th, and then only managed a weak from close range tried to put pressure on the goalkeeper League fi nal. While Portugal’s run for a second They are unbeaten in 13 consecutive shot on goal from inside the area a few It had been a slow start at La Car- but he cut back with the ball as Ron- Portugal had several good chances consecutive European title ended, matches in all competitions, since a tuja Stadium on a hot night in southern aldo went past him. to equalize late in the match, includ- ing a header by Rúben Dias saved by Belgium stayed on track to end their loss to England last year in the Nations SOCCER Spain, with neither team threatening The game grew heated at times, with Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois title drought. The Belgians lost in the League. Belgium have lost only one of much offensively. a small altercation starting in the 76th and a shot by Raphael Guerreiro that European Championship fi nal in 1980 its last 27 international matches. Portugal kept Belgium’s attack after Portugal defender Pepe came in hit the post. and fi nished third three years ago at the Ronaldo was kept in check for most minutes later. under control until Thorgan Hazard hard on Thorgan Hazard while play The Portuguese did most of the at- World Cup for their best fi nish at that of the match, with his best scoring The Juventus striker seemed frus- scored after a failed clearance in front was stopped as Lukaku waited to be tacking in the second half, fi nishing the tournament. chance coming from a free kick saved trated by the lack of opportunities, and of the area. The buildup to the goal attended by doctors after being hit on match with 24 attempts. Belgium had The Red Devils have won all four by Courtois in the 25th minute. He also he also couldn’t do much to help his started with Courtois dummying Ron- the head by an opponent’s foot. Middleton powers Bucks past Hawks

Young injures ankle Peru fi nish second in Group B ATLANTA, June 28, (AP): Khris Middleton showed once again that the Mil- Ecuador hold Brazil, advance Copa quarters waukee Bucks have more SAO PAULO, June 28, (AP): Ecua- very intense teams and had little time than one player capable of dor held a below-strength Brazil to a to recover,” coach Ricardo Gareca taking over a game. 1-1 draw on Sunday to secure a spot said. “To impose ourselves against He did it Sunday night at the best in the Copa America quarterfi nals. different adversities and manage to possible time. Neymar, defender Thiago Silva get a spot fairly speaks clearly about Middleton scored 20 of his play- and striker Gabriel Jesus didn’t play the fortitude (of) this national team.” off career high-tying 38 points in the against Ecuador at the Olimpico Sta- Group B ended with Brazil on 10 fourth quarter, leading the Bucks to dium in Goiania. points, followed by Peru (7), Colom- a 113-102 victory over the Atlanta The draw moved Ecuador to bia (4), Ecuador (3) and Venezuela Hawks for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern fourth spot in Group B, eliminat- (2). Conference fi nals. ing Venezuela and likely setting up “What he did today was unreal,” Gi- Meanwhile, Ecuador midfi elder annis Antetokounmpo said. “He was a quarterfi nal match against Argen- Damian Diaz tested positive for the unbelievable. Carried the team at the tina. Brazil had already secured top coronavirus . end. ... What I saw today was great- spot in the group before the match Diaz was in “great conditions, ness. Simple as that.” Trae Young Atlanta Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic began, allowing coach Tite to con- isolated,” Ecuador said on social (13) rebounds the ball against Mil- tinue testing his lineup with an eye media. He was the only player in scored 35 points for Atlanta but was waukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton slowed in the fi nal period. He stepped on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. the squad who tested positive, the Belgium’s Tim Merlier celebrates as he crosses the fi nish line to win the (22) and Giannis Antetokounmpo The defending champions opened team added. third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 182.9 kilometers (113.65 on an offi cial’s foot late in the third (34) during the fi rst half of Game miles) with start in Lorient and fi nish in Pontivy, France. (AP) and injured his right ankle. He will 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference the scoring in the 37th minute with a have an MRI on the ankle on Monday. basketball fi nals in Atlanta. (AP) header by Éder Militão after a cor- “It’s hurting. It’s frustrating,” ner. Angel Mena equalized for Ecua- Van der Poel keeps yellow jersey Young said, adding the injury im- to fi ve fi rst-quarter points but regained pacted “my blow-by speed.” Game 4 his scoring form in the second period. is Tuesday night in Atlanta. He had 11 points in the period as the SOCCER Middleton scored 10 points in the Bucks fi nally pulled even at 56-all on a decisive run in the fourth that gave 3-pointer by Pat Connaughton with 12 dor in the 53rd when he fi nished with Merlier wins Tour de France Milwaukee the lead. He had 11 re- seconds remaining in the half. an angled shot in front of goalkeeper bounds and seven assists. The Bucks took their fi rst lead at Alisson. The draw ended a streak of “I just fi nally got them to go,” Mid- 82-80 on a basket by Bobby Portis Jr. with 1:47 remaining in the third. A 10 consecutive Brazil wins. dleton said. “I’ve been struggling some Brazil defender Marquinhos with the ball going in the basket. Final- 3-pointer by Danilo Gallinari, who had stage 3, contenders tumble ly they started dropping for me at the 18 points, gave Atlanta an 85-83 lead said the game against Ecuador was right time. I’m thankful for that.” An- at the end of the period. important for Brazil “so all play- ers of the squad could have at least PONTIVY, France, June 28, (AP): Tim Merlier of Belgium sat on the road for a while clutching his right shoulder and gri- some time of play, so everyone can powered to victory in the third stage of the Tour de France macing in pain as he was tended to by the race doctor. It looked on Monday when several top contenders hit the ground dur- like he would retire but ultimately went back on his bike. BASKETBALL be ready when knockout begins.” ing another crash-marred day. “Also,” he added, “players who were Tour organizers said the peloton was riding at 43 kph Merlier won ahead of his Alpecin-Fenix teammate Jasper when the crash took place. Robert Gesink, a teammate of tetokounmpo, who often has the spot- tired had some rest so they can go to Philipsen and Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni. the knockout and play their best.” last-year’s runner-up Primoz Roglic, also fell and was forced light for Milwaukee, had 33 points. There was a crash in the closing stages when ace sprinter to abandon. The Bucks trailed most of the game Marquinhos also expressed concern Caleb Ewan’s front wheel slid from under him in the fi nal With his racing kit lacerated, Thomas struggled at the before surging in the fourth quarter. about the pitch at the Nilton Santos turn. He brought down Peter Sagan with him. Atlanta led 95-88 before Middleton Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where Mathieu van der Poel rode safely at the front throughout made his fi rst of three 3-pointers dur- Brazil will play in the quarterfi nals the day and escaped unscathed to keep the yellow jersey he CYCLING ing the 15-3 run for a 103-98 lead. and, if they win , in the semifi nals of earned on Sunday. “Just being around him a lot, he the tournament. The narrow roads in the stage fi nale took a toll on many back. Teammate Luke Rowe waited for him and the Welsh starts to see it go in, he starts to feel Peru beat Venezuela 1-0 with a competitors who crashed as the peloton rode at full speed. good, he gets in a rhythm in a lot of Last year’s runner-up, Primoz Roglic, went down about nine pair lagged 2 1/2 minutes behind the main pack. With the goal by André Carillo from close help of more teammates they eventually caught the peloton ways,” said Bucks coach Mike Buden- range in the 48th minute. The Ven- kilometers from the end in the town of Pontivy. holzer before adding “I’m just glad Roglic immediately got back on his bike but lost ground after Thomas changed his bike. he’s on our side.” After never leading ezuelans needed a win to progress Thomas was 20th overall before the start of the stage, 41 sec- to the playoff stage. The Peruvians to his main rivals as his Jumbo-Visma teammates tried to in a 125-91 Game 2 loss, the Hawks pace him back to the peloton. onds behind race leader Mathieu van der Poel. He predicted “a were eager for a better start in their started the tournament being ham- Defending champion Tadej Pogacar was slowed a few kil- stressful day” because of the bad weather conditions. fi rst home game of the series. Turno- mered by Brazil 4-0, but recovered ometers further down the road following another crash but it The race started in the rain in Lorient and a group of fi ve vers by Middleton and Antetokounm- after a 2-1 win over Colombia. The was unclear whether he crashed. riders surged ahead immediately. po led to dunks by Clint Capela, and Brazil’s Gabriel Barbosa, (right), 2-2 draw against Ecuador had al- Earlier, former Tour champion Geraint Thomas hit the Behind, the peloton rode at a pedestrian pace and riders Kevin Huerter added a 3-pointer for a and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie ready put the team close to securing tarmac but managed to keep on racing and was paced back were accompanied by scattered showers making the roads 7-0 lead. battle for the ball during a Copa their knockout stage place. to the peloton. slippery and dangerous. The Hawks stretched the advantage America soccer match at Olimpico “Peru were overcoming itself as The Ineos-Grenadiers leader fell off his bike and hit the The crash-prone Thomas has shown in the past he can sol- to 13 points. Antetokounmpo was held stadium in Goiania, Brazil. (AP) matches went on. We played against ground hard with about 145 kilometers left. The 2018 champion dier on in pain.

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