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Friday, April 21, 2017 FOOTBALL Rajab 24, 1438 AH ‘Blood, sweat and GULF TIMES tears’ not enough for beaten Barcelona SPORT Page 2

FOOTBALL PREVIEW/QATAR CUP SEMI-FINAL 2 Al Sadd survive Lekhwiya target third Rayyan scare to title of season

By Sports Reporter Doha

ekhwiya, who are well placed to sweep all the four book fi nal berth titles that form part of Qa- Ltar’s domestic season, will take on El Jaish today in the second Al Sadd will play the winners of today’s second Qatar Cup semi-final between semi-fi nal of the Qatar Cup. A victory for Djamel Belmadi’s Lekhwiya and defending champions El Jaish in the final on April 29 men today would earn them the right to take on Al Sadd in the fi nal after the Wolves thrashed Al Rayyan yes- terday. The Red Knights began the do- mestic season with a bang, winning the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup and earlier this month asserted to win the trophy but we will face a their supremacy by clinching the tough challenge,” he noted. Qatar Stars League title for the fi fth Lekhwiya midfi elder Abdurah- time in seven years. man Mohamed added that he fully If they win the Qatar Cup fi nal believed in his team’s ability to win on April 29, then only the Emir Cup the Cup. remains. Victory in Qatar’s most lu- “We are all looking forward to the crative tournament would be a great Qatar Cup. For us the league title was way to cap off the season as Lekhwiya just the beginning. We are hungry would be merging with El Jaish next to win the Qatar Cup again for Le- season with the new club named al khwiya. Duhail Sports Club. El Jaish assistant coach Jean-Marc El Jaish incidentally are the de- Kuentz admitted his side would be fending Qatar Cup champions and up against it, but were ready for the Belmadi made no secret of the fact challenge. that Lekhwiya mean business. “Lekhwiya are the strongest side “This is a new competition for us in Qatar right now. We know that but this season. We are full of confi dence we believe we can cause them some after winning the league title and of problems. I hope we can win and course we plan to go for a victory. It progress to the fi nal. will be a challenge against El Jaish “We are in form and we are the who will be keen to retain their title,” defending champions. The team is said the Algerian. well prepared for the game and we “We always aspire to win titles and have the history to progress and lift after a very challenging league sea- the trophy for a third time. But any- son we enter a major tournament in thing is possible in football,” added the Qatar Cup. Our aim as always is Kuentz.

SPOTLIGHT

Al Sadd’s Hassan al-Haydos (second from left) is congratulated by his teammates after he scored against Al Rayyan. At bottom Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira reacts. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil Qatar Cup trophy

By Sports Reporter a few chances as the fi rst half ended Doha 3-0 in Al Sadd’s favour. gets grand welcome The Lions kicked into life from the very start of the second half with Par- l Sadd staved off a spirited aguayan international Caceres head- at Toyota booth fi ghtback yesterday to se- ing just wide. Moments later, Garcia cure a 3-2 win over Al Rayy- also had an opportunity to pull a goal Aan and book their spot in the back but his eff ort skimmed just wide fi nal of the Qatar Cup. of the left hand post. The Wolves raced to a 3-0 lead after Al Rayyan eventually made their just 22 minutes, but the game turned possession count on the 53rd minute on the hour mark when Al Sadd mid- when midfi elder Koh Myong-jin fi elder Sami Kasola was sent off for tapped in to make the score 3-1. A low a second yellow card. Sergio Garcia cross from Rodrigo Tabata evaded the scored a spectacular goal for Al Rayy- Al Sadd defence leaving Koh to score an to set up a thrilling fi nal few min- from close range. utes, but Al Sadd held out to stay on Just on the hour mark, the tie swung course for their fi rst title of the sea- in Al Rayyan’s favour after Sadd mid- son. fi elder Kasola picked up his second With the fi rst attack of the game, Al yellow of the game. With the extra Sadd opened the scoring. A cross from man advantage, Al Rayyan pushed left back Abdulkarim Hassan found hard eventually fi nding their second Jugurtha Hamroun who unleashed a goal in spectacular fashion. he Qatar Cup trophy was drilled right footed shot which snuck With 73 minutes on the clock Span- given a grand reception at into the bottom right hand of the goal, ish attacker Sergio Garcia unleashed the Toyota booth by the rep- getting the better of Al Rayyan keeper a fi ne curling shot from just outside resentatives of Abdullah Omar Barry. the box which sailed into the top AbdulghaniT & Bros. Co. who are par- Shocked into action, Al Rayyan be- right-hand corner. It was game on as ticipating in the 7th Edition of Qatar gan to dominate the ball and put their Al Rayyan had 20 minutes to fi nd the Motor Show. opponents under pressure. With four equaliser. A large number of people gathered minutes on the clock, Musab Khed- Michael Laudrup’s men streamed at the Toyota booth to take photo- er’s well placed cross found Rodrigo forward looking for a goal which graphs and selfi es with the trophy and dulghani & Bros. Co. Tabata, but his snap header fl ew over would take the tie to penalties. On went home with a smile on their face. Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. the bar. Tabata again saw a headed ef- the 77th minute, Rayyan’s talismanic The trophy was accompanied by are the Offi cial Automotive Partner of fort loop wide on the seventh minute captain Rodrigo Tabata had the goal at senior QSL offi cials and players from Qatar Cup and the company has been as Michael Laudrup’s side attempted his mercy but his shot on the turn fl ew various clubs, including Soud al- supporting football in the country for to fi nd parity. well over. And fi ve minutes from full Khater of El Jaish, Ahmed Abdelkader the past many years. The manage- On the 20 minute mark, Al Sadd time, a cross fell to substitute Ahmed of Lekhwiya, Ahmad Suhel of Al Sadd ment of Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. doubled their lead from the penalty stepped up for his side and slotted the Omar Barry in the Al Rayyan goal and Alaaeldin but his header hit the post. and Baskwa Welices from Al Rayyan. Co. took the opportunity to thank the spot. Lions defender Victor Cacares ball into the left hand for his side’s the ball fell to Hassan Haydoos who Al Sadd will play the winners of Present on the occasion were Qatar Stars League management for was adjudged to have handled the second goal of the match. picked out team mate Hamroun who today’s second Qatar Cup semi-fi nal Hisham Ismail, Senior Manager, Toy- bringing the esteemed trophy to the ball in the area, leaving referee Ab- Two minutes later, Al Sadd were was left with the simplest of fi nishes. between QSL champions Lekhwiya ota National Sales, Ahmed Abu Saad, Toyota Booth as well as giving them dulraham al-Jassim little choice but in dreamland as they struck their Al Rayyan again attempted to fi nd and defending champions El Jaish in Senior Manager, Lexus National Sales an opportunity to sponsor this pres- to point to the spot. Hassan Haydos third goal. A cross was mishandled by their way back into the tie but missed the fi nal on April 29. and other offi cials from Abdullah Ab- tigious tournament. Gulf Times 2 Friday, April 21, 2017 FOOTBALL Spain Supreme Court reviews Messi tax case SPOTLIGHT ‘Blood, sweat and AFP as is common in Spain for fi rst of- panies in Belize, Britain, Switzer- spending, as the government strug- Madrid fences for non-violent crimes carry- land and Uruguay to avoid paying gles to bring Spain’s public defi cit ing a sentence of less than two years. taxes on 4.16mn euros ($4.5mn) of down. The court argued in its ruling tears’ not enough A spokesman for the Supreme Messi’s income earned from his im- that the 29-year-old fi ve-time world pain’s Supreme Court yes- Court said the case was being exam- age rights from 2007-09. player of the year “decided to remain terday started reviewing a ined by fi ve magistrates, a process Messi has always maintained he in ignorance” about how his fi nances for beaten Barca 21-month jail sentence hand- that could last several days. knew nothing about how his wealth were managed. Sed to Lionel Messi and his fa- News of the review comes just days was managed and trusted his father It added that if the player was not ther for tax fraud after the Barcelona before Barcelona face Real Madrid with his fi nances. His lawyers ap- punished, “ordinary” citizens could star lodged an appeal, a spokesman in El Clasico on Sunday with their pealed the sentence. conclude that it was better to “not said. Spanish league title at stake. Messi’s tax fraud trial took place show interest” in their tax obliga- But even if the sentence is main- Argentina international Messi in Barcelona last June against a tions. tained, neither Messi nor his father and father Jorge Horacio Messi were backdrop of simmering voter anger Messi was also fi ned 2.09mn euros are likely to spend time behind bars, found guilty last July of using com- over steep cuts to health and social and his father 1.6mn euros.

HEROES Juve hailed aft er Messi reacts aft er Barcelona crashed ousting Barcelona out yesterday.

AFP fore stepping down at the end of Juventus, who are on their way to a sixth straight Serie A title, can also target an Barcelona the season. “I feel happy to be able to work unprecedented club treble — last achieved by an Italian club by Inter Milan in a club that always wants to ionel Messi ended with a win everything. It is not a good bloodied face, Neymar in night and it is not a good mo- tears, but no matter what ment for Barca fans, but we will they tried Barcelona fi ght until the end.” couldn’tL break down a Juventus Without the suspended Ney- Juventus players celebrate winning against Barcelona at the Camp Nou defensive wall as the Spanish mar on Sunday, Barca will need stadium in Barcelona on Wednesday. champions crashed out of the Messi and Suarez to recover Champions League. their killer instinct. Of Barca’s Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw 17 shots on Wednesday, only one wasn’t the cause of their demise, was on target and that came from but an error-strewn 3-0 fi rst leg defender Javier Mascherano. defeat that left even Messi, Ney- “Impotent against a wall,” said mar and Luis Suarez too much Madrid sports daily AS. to do against the team with the “The shots on target are the best defensive record left in the ones that count,” conceded En- Champions League. rique. “A goodbye with pride,” ran Emotions ahead of the Clasico the headline in both Barcelona couldn’t be more contrasting for sport dailies Mundo Deportivo Spain’s two powerhouses. and Sport. Whilst Barca have failed to The hosts were even handed make it beyond the Champions a rousing reception by the near League quarters for two suc- 100,000 fans at the Camp Nou, cessive seasons for a fi rst time but there is little time for Barca in a decade, Madrid booked to lick their wounds as Sunday’s their place in a seventh straight El Clasico at La Liga leaders Real semi-fi nal thanks to Cristiano Madrid off ers a fi nal chance to Ronaldo’s hat-trick in a thrilling save their season. 6-3 aggregate win over Bayern “There was blood, sweat and Munich. tears and the Barca fans recog- Real have always considered nised that with a standing ova- themselves the kings of Eu- tion,” said Sport. rope thanks to their 11 European “The Clasico arrives as a fi nal Cups. However, now they seek chance to lift a season under- to end Barca’s recent rule of do- mined by inconsistency.” mestic matters in Spain with just Even a victory at the home of a second league title in eight sea- their eternal rivals might not be sons. enough for Barca to win a third Messi and Barca captain An- straight league title. dres Iniesta have been two of the Madrid lead the league by mainstays to Barca’s decade of AFP La Gazzetta dello Sport, which included a though, the Italians showed enough over ment of keeping a clean sheet against three points and also have a dominance. Milan vignette showing teary-eyed Barca star the two legs to merit another tilt at the Barca, he believes there’s more to come. game in hand to come. A bruised Messi will pick him- Neymar being comforted by former club trophy they last won in 1996 with a 4-2 “It’s almost unheard of for Barcelona However, winning at the San- self up to go again at the Berna- defender Dani Alves. penalties victory over Ajax. to fail to score over two legs. But the lads tiago Bernabeu would ramp up beu in search of his 500th Bar- Unbeatable” Juventus can fi nally Corriere dello Sport used the same dra- “Over the two legs, they were better need to realise they can do even better. We the pressure on Zinedine Zi- celona goal. And Iniesta insisted hand goalkeeper Gianluigi Buff on matic picture of Alves and Neymar to than us so they deserve to go through to are slowly improving,” Allegri told Medi- dane’s men and at the very least the Catalans aren’t yet a spent an elusive Champions League ti- fully illustrate the Brazilian starlet’s dis- the semi-fi nals. I think they can win the aset Premium. off er some joy in a season short force. tle after making fi ve-time winners appointment. Champions League this season,” said “I’m satisfi ed with what we’re achiev- on things to shout about. “It is disappointing to be Barcelona“ “cry” on their way to a spec- “You made them cry,” screamed Cor- Pique. ing but the onus is not on maintaining “We have the chance to put eliminated from the Champions tacular Champions League semi-fi nal riere’s headline, while for Turin-based Gazzetta dello Sport suggested Juve’s current form. Instead, we should aim to ourselves in the fi ght for La League, but being able to win La exit on Wednesday. Tuttosport Juventus are simply “Unbeat- virtually “impenetrable defence” should improve it.” Liga,” said coach Luis Enrique Liga depends on winning at the Those were the headlines splashed able”. also give 39-year-old club legend Buff on After Real Madrid overcame Bayern after overseeing his last Cham- Bernabeu and that is our inten- across the front pages a day after rock- Even Barcelona, outdone by Paulo the chance to add a trophy from Europe’s Munich 4-2 on Tuesday to send the Bun- pions League game in charge be- tion.” solid Juventus followed their impressive Dybala’s impressive brace and Giorgio premier club competition to his long list desliga giants packing, Juve fans were 3-0 fi rst-leg win over the Spanish giants Chiellini’s 55th minute header in Turin of titles and accolades. celebrating. with a defensive masterclass that held last week, had to agree. “It’s your year. With a defence like this The Germans have stopped Juve in LAMENT Barca to a frustrating scoreless draw at “Compliments to @Juventusfc for you can lift the trophy,” said an inside- their tracks twice in recent seasons, at the the Camp Nou. reaching the semi-fi nal,” the Catalan club page headline. quarter-fi nal stage in 2013 then again in As Juve celebrated a 3-0 aggregate win wrote on its offi cial Twitter page. Currently on their way to a record sixth the last 16 last year. at a stunned but appreciative Nou Camp, To which Juventus replied: “Thank @ consecutive Serie A title and a third suc- But after seeing his Juve side oust both Bus delay ‘worst thing Barcelona — who beat Juventus on their FCBarcelona, it’s an honour to beat such cessive league and Cup double, Juve can Monaco, in the quarters, and Real, in the way to triumph in 2015 — crashed out of a great opponent.” also target an unprecedented club treble semis, on their way to a 3-1 fi nal defeat by the competition after seeing stars Li- Juve go into today’s semi-fi nal draw — last achieved by an Italian club by Inter Barcelona in 2015, Allegri should be wary that could happen’ to onel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar fail along with Real Madrid, Monaco and Milan under Jose Mourinho in 2010. of Atletico. to fi nd the net over 180 underwhelming Atletico Madrid — all of whom have faced “Henceforth, there’s no doubt: there’s Runners-up to Real Madrid last year, minutes. Massimiliano Allegri’s men in recent Eu- a smell of the treble in the air,” wrote the Spaniards have beaten Juve once and Dortmund — Tuchel “Fly Juve Fly” was the front page head- ropean campaigns. Gazzetta columnist Alessandro De Calo. held them to a draw on their previous two line on Italy’s biggest-selling sports daily For Barca defender Gerard Pique, While Allegri applauded the achieve- meetings. AFP minutes and when we tried to Monaco fi nd out why they just said it was BOTTOMLINE for security reasons. “It was the worst thing that orussia Dortmund coach could happen a week after the at- Thomas Tuchel com- tack — everyone was on the bus Relentless Monaco dream on aft er reaching semis plained that the team’s ready to go but we were not al- delayed arrival at the lowed to. Bground for Wednesday’s Cham- “You come into such a game AFP gan in the third qualifying round their fi rst semi-fi nal appearance pions League quarter-fi nal clash trying to have a clear mind to go Monaco against Fenerbahce last July, since 2004 as they join Juven- with Monaco seriously dented out and turn the tie around, but nine months ago. tus, Real Madrid and Atletico their chances of turning the tie with just an hour and a quarter to Teenage sensation Kylian Madrid in the draw. None of around. A week after a bomb at- go before the match we were not brilliant Monaco side Mbappe, skipper Radamel Fal- those teams will fancy playing tack on their bus en route to the able to think about football at all that has taken Europe cao and substitute Valere Ger- Monaco, who for all Paris Saint- fi rst leg in Germany left defender and it wasn’t ideal.” by storm will not re- main got their goals with Marco Germain’s eff orts in recent years Marc Bartra with a broken wrist Dortmund, runners-up in lent in their bid for Reus netting for Dortmund on a will be the fi rst French repre- and forced the match to be post- 2013, were ultimately outclassed Aglory after beating Borussia memorable night for the hosts. sentative in the last four since poned 24 hours, Dortmund were by a brilliant young Monaco side Dortmund to reach the Champi- The last team to come through Lyon in 2010. held up by police in Monaco. but Tuchel is convinced things ons League semi-fi nals, prom- two qualifying rounds to reach “We have taken France into That forced the match at the would have been diff erent with- ised coach Leonardo Jardim. the semi-fi nals of the Champi- the semi-fi nals. We want to go Stade Louis II to kick off fi ve min- out the tragic eff ects of last week. The team from the Mediter- ons League was Dynamo Kiev in out and enjoy it but all four sides utes later than planned. When asked what his side — who ranean principality were too 1999, although the format was are capable of winning the com- “The bus was supposed to sit fourth in the Bundesliga with good for their German oppo- diff erent in those days. petition,” warned Jardim, whose depart at 7:15pm. Everyone was fi ve games remaining — lacked nents in Wednesday’s quarter- Nobody expected Monaco team were visited by Prince on the bus and the police were to go the extra step in Europe, fi nal second leg, winning 3-1 at — conquerors of Pep Guar- Albert in the dressing room af- ready to accompany us, but then Tuchel said: “Eight days after the the Stade Louis II to advance diola’s Manchester City in the terwards. Monaco are not just we were told we had to wait,” attack it is very diffi cult to answer 6-3 on aggregate. “We have last round — to get this far but fi ghting for glory in Europe — Tuchel said after the 3-1 defeat that question. won nothing, but we have made they have done it playing a su- they are also top of the French in the Mediterranean principal- “In the fi rst leg it was impos- history,” declared Portuguese Dortmund’s defender Matthias Ginter (L) and Monaco’s Colombian perb brand of football that has league and in the French Cup ity which saw them go out 6-3 on sible for us to play the game and coach Jardim after the game, as forward Radamel Falcao collide during theIR UEFA Champions League yielded 141 goals so far this sea- semi-fi nals, but fatigue is their aggregate. take it seriously in the way we his side extended a run that be- match on Wednesday. son. Now they are preparing for biggest foe now. “We stayed there for 16 or 17 needed to do.” Gulf Times Friday, April 21, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

FA CUP SPOTLIGHT Klopp rules out Hart move Tottenham hungry to AFP “The situation with our London goalkeepers is really good. I understand the question but I cannot give the answer prob- iverpool manager Ju- ably a few people want.” rgen Klopp has ruled Klopp, whose third-placed out a swoop for exiled side host Crystal Palace on Manchester City goal- Sunday, has more pressing is- challenge favourites Lkeeper . sues, with midfi elder Lucas Hart is currently on loan Leiva and centre-backs Joel with Serie A side Torino after Matip and Ragnar Klavan un- being banished by City man- able to train this week. ager Pep Guardiola. He could The German also admitted return to the Reds captain next season, but it is unlikely is still struggling to return from he will play for City again and the foot problem which has Chelsea: Pochettino Liverpool have been linked sidelined him since early Feb- with a deal for the 30-year-old ruary. Asked whether Hender- England international. son’s campaign could be over, ‘We are happy to fight with the best team in England for the Premier League and (FA) Cup’ Klopp’s keepers have been Klopp added: “I don’t know, a constant problem this sea- we will see. At this moment he son after fi rst-choice Simon cannot really train so we have Reuters Mignolet struggled and was to wait for this, that was the London replaced by Loris Karius, who plan from the beginning. also failed to shine. “We are in intense talks with But Mignolet has improved diff erent medical departments helsea are favourites to since returning to the line-up but we have to wait. He is al- win this weekend’s FA and, in the last two matches ready not patient any more. Cup semi-fi nal despite against Stoke and West Brom- “He looks really healthy but their recent stutter and wich Albion, the Belgian has he cannot play football and TottenhamC Hotspur’s irresistible been particularly impressive. that is the situation at the mo- form, Spurs manager Mauricio With that in mind, Klopp ment. If something changes we Pochettino insists. is adamant he has no plans to can talk about it.” Tomorrow’s clash at Wembley make a move for Hart. Former Liverpool captain creates a diversion from the duo’s “Extra competition? You will feature in Premier League title race, which ask about goalkeepers but even Klopp’s team in an end-of- has burst to life after Totten- though you don’t say the name season friendly in Australia. ham sliced Chelsea’s lead to four is it about Joe Hart?” Klopp Liverpool will play A- points with six games remaining. said when asked whether he League side Sydney FC at the While Antonio Conte’s Chel- was considering his goalkeep- ANZ Stadium on May 24 and sea side, who were 13 points clear ing options. Klopp has added a quartet of a few weeks ago, have looked “We don’t usually talk about former players to his current vulnerable in defeats by Crystal these sort of things but in this squad for the game. Palace and Manchester United, particular case I think we can. Tottenham have built up a head “He is a fantastic goalkeep- of steam with seven consecutive er, the goalkeeper of the Eng- league wins. lish national team, the highest “I think if there is one favourite quality, but we have highest- it’s Chelsea because they are top quality goalkeepers. of the table, because of the ex- “It is not for us in this mo- perienced players and the man- ment and hopefully not for us ager that they have,” Pochettino, in the future, not because of whose Tottenham side lost the Joe, but we already have two 2015 League Cup fi nal to Chelsea, strong goalkeepers. told reporters yesterday. “Danny Ward is at Hud- “We are talking about one of dersfi eld and playing a brilliant the best teams in Europe. Players season. He is our player so we that in the past fi ve years have will bring him back next year won European competitions and so there is competition. World Cups, a manager who won the league in Italy. They are more experienced than us. “But we are in a good mo- Chelsea, Spurs stars headline ment, too, and we are hungry to challenge this type of team. We PFA Team of the Year are happy to fi ght with the best Table-topping Chelsea and their title rivals Tottenham both team in England for the Premier Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino. have four players in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. League and (FA) Cup.” Chelsea midfielders N’Golo Kante and , both Former Espanyol and South- lem that Tottenham had. Now “It means a lot because we are Clement eyes Terry move if Swansea survive nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, are included, ampton manager Pochettino, in after three years not only have in a very diff erent project. Today, while Blues central defenders Gary Cahill and David Luiz are his third season in north Lon- we reduced the gap to the top to beat Tottenham is a big, big Swansea City manager Paul Clement says he is interested in signing also in the line-up. don, is yet to win any silverware four we are fi ghting for the Pre- challenge for everyone, which is when the veteran central defender leaves Chelsea this Spurs, who trail Chelsea by four points in the title race, are with Tottenham but if trophies mier League and to win titles. good news for us.” summer, providing his struggling side avoid relegation from the represented by midfielder and striker , as were awarded for progress the “With six games to go we have Former England midfi elder Premier League. Clement worked with Terry during his time as an well as full-backs Danny Rose and . Argentine would be ahead of his 71 points. Last season we fi n- Ugo Ehiogu was rushed to hospi- assistant coach under then Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti in the Manchester United’s gets the nod in goal, while rivals. ished with 70. We have improved tal after collapsing at Tottenham 2009-10 season. Liverpool winger Sadio Mane and Everton striker Romelu Since the start of last sea- — that is a reality. The team is Hotspur’s training ground, the With Terry announcing he will end his long association with Chelsea Lukaku, the division’s top scorer with 24 goals, complete the son they have won 141 Premier playing in a good way, exciting club confi rmed. at the end of the season in a bid to find regular first-team action, line-up. League points — 11 more than the football, scoring goals and not The 44-year-old, who works Clement admitted yesterday he would love to bring the 36-year-old While Kane and Lukaku are also on the shortlist for player of second-best team, Manchester conceding too many chances. as Tottenham’s under-23s to south Wales. But Clement accepts the only chance Swansea have the year, the other two nominees, United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic City, and 16 more than Chelsea. “We have great momentum coach, was treated by medical of signing Terry is if they climb out of the relegation zone. and Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal, miss out. A late collapse last season meant and that is the most important staff before being taken away by “If we stay up why wouldn’t we be interested?” asked Clement, is one of four Brighton players in the they fi nished third despite being because that can change very ambulance. whose team are two points from safety with five games left. I know Championship Team of the Year. the only club to push Leicester quickly.” “We can confi rm that Ugo John very well as a player and a person and I would be more than The French midfielder, the Championship’s Player of the Year, City for the title, and they are Pochettino said he was espe- Ehiogu is currently in hospital happy to speak to him. When the season finishes we can have those is joined by goalkeeper and defenders Bruno poised to improve on that. cially proud of his work despite after collapsing at our training discussions about our own players and potential targets. But having and Lewis Dunk for the Seagulls, who celebrated promotion “I remember three years ago the greater spending power of centre earlier today,” the Premier worked with John, I know what a fantastic player he is and what a on Monday. when we signed here I remember the clubs around them. League club said in a statement. career he has had. He has unbelievable talent and he is a fantastic Newcastle trio , Jamaal Lascelles and Dwight the fi rst few press conferences “It’s a big thing that people “He received immediate treat- leader — one of a dying breed of leaders. He has represented that Gayle are included, along with Leeds striker Chris Wood, and I was asked how we can re- include Tottenham in the same ment on site from our medical club so well over so many years in a time when players are too Aaron Mooy of Huddersfield and Fulham duo Tom Cairney and duce the gap to the top four,” he level as United, Chelsea, City, staff before being transferred to quick to move on and go from club to club.” 16-year-old full-back . said. “That was the main prob- Arsenal and Liverpool,” he said. hospital by ambulance.”

FOCUS FA Cup won’t decide my fate, says Wenger

AFP Villa Park against Wolves. That’s the ‘Wilshere expected back in Arsenal training in July’ London day when I realised how big the club is, how much it means to our sup- Injured England midfielder ing only 17 games in two seasons blighted porters. will return to Arsenal from Bournemouth by prolonged spells on the sidelines. rsene Wenger has “It is a special experience and, for at the end of the season and is expected to However, this season was looking brighter slammed suggestions Ar- us, I think we are focused, highly mo- return to training in July, manager Arsene and Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe senal’s FA Cup fate will have tivated. Wenger said yesterday. Wilshere, 25, broke said this month that he wanted to sign an impact when he decides “Maybe not at the maximum of our his leg during a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham the player, who is entering the final 18 hisA Gunners future. confi dence because we had recently Hotspur last weekend and will be out until months of his contract with Arsenal, on a Wenger’s side face Manchester some disappointing results, but that after the end of his loan deal. permanent basis. City in the FA Cup semi-fi nals at is a good opportunity to show we are Wenger told reporters he had discussed Wenger said negotiations with Wilshere Wembley on Sunday with the Gun- ready for a fi ght and how much we the situation with medical staff . “They had yet to start and the injury had noth- ners boss yet to reveal if he will ex- want to go to the fi nal. Because it’s think it’s a very simple fracture, that ing to do with any extension although he tend his 21-year stay with the north maybe our only opportunity to get a doesn’t need any surgery at all. Hopefully had been saddened to hear of it. “Jack is a London club. trophy this season.” he will be back in July for normal train- great football player, a great football brain With Wenger enduring constant Even if they win the Cup, failure ing,” he said. “But we need patience. Let’s and his career has been stopped by many calls for his resignation from furious to qualify for the Champions League hope that all goes well. injuries,” he said. “Today at the top level Arsenal fans, it has been claimed a qualifi cation would taint any Wem- “Until the end of the season he’s a player of the most important thing is the consist- limp exit from the FA Cup might con- bley celebrations. Bournemouth but we have a good under- ency of the presence. vince the Frenchman to quit when But Wenger insists Arsenal, cur- standing with the medical staff ,” added the “When the player has been out for a while, his contract expires at the end of the rently seven points adrift of the top Frenchman. the game is of such intensity that it takes season. four, are not in a position where they “The rehab will certainly be made here... you always a while to find the rhythm, the The north Londoners have once have to start prioritising the FA Cup because the loan spell ends at the end of confidence back. A great career doesn’t again failed to mount a challenge for over the league yet. the season.” suff er stop and go. You have to be consist- the Premier League title and suff ered But, asked yesterday if winning the focused on that. My future is Sunday. “You don’t think about it like that The injury-prone Wilshere has made 27 ently present. an embarrassing Champions League Cup for a seventh time would have a “What I expect when you go into a because we don’t have to make a league appearances for Bournemouth “When you look at all the players who last 16 thrashing by Bayern Munich. bearing on his future, Wenger said: semi-fi nal is to go to the fi nal. I think choice,” he said. during his season-long loan deal, his are at the top level in the world like (Real With Wenger’s record of qualify- “It doesn’t play any part in that. somebody told me that I had played “We are not in a position where you biggest run of domestic outings since the Madrid’s Cristiano) Ronaldo, they play 50 ing for the Champions League for the “The FA Cup is a very important 10 semi-fi nals in the FA Cup, so that can make a choice, do we choose this 2013-14 season. or 60 games a year. They have the luck last 19 years under severe threat this game for me because it’s the next means it’s a great experience and it’s or do we choose that? The next game Once one of the brightest young hopes not to be stopped by injuries. so you are season, lifting the FA Cup might be game and because it’s an opportunity, always something special. is the semi-fi nal of the FA Cup, so we in English football, Wilshere slipped down always sad when a guy of that quality is the only way to salvage a wretched as I just told you, to win a trophy this “I remember my fi rst one, we just have to give absolutely everything to the pecking order at Arsenal after manag- stopped by problems.” campaign. season. So of course we are all fully spoke about it, when we played at go to the fi nal.” Gulf Times 4 Friday, April 21, 2017 CRICKET

PREVIEW Retiring duo Misbah, Khan lead Pak against WI

AFP team, has seen them slip to fi fth their lone warm-up match ahead ternational cricket during the Kingston, Jamaica and increased public pressure on of the series where they were limited-over leg of the tour, Pa- Misbah-ul-Haq to step down as outplayed in a drawn three-day kistan’s Shadab Khan may not captain. fi xture by a West Indies Board make his Test debut alongside est Indies and Pa- After much speculation Mis- President’s XI in the western established wrist-spinner Yasir kistan get a three- bah has announced that this Jamaican town of Trelawny. Shah unless the pitch looks ex- Test series under- series will be his last before re- Three of the representative tremely dry before the toss on way today at Sabina tiring from the international team who starred with the bat Friday morning. WPark in Jamaica with both teams game. against the tourists — Kieran Wahab Riaz and Mohamed struggling in the midst of chal- And only last week fellow Powell and the uncapped pair of Aamir are set to spearhead their lenging transition periods. veteran Younis Khan, Pakistan’s Vishaul Singh and Shimron Het- attack but with Hasan Ali nurs- Despite victories in both the most prolifi c run-scorer in Test myer — were named in the West ing an injury sustained in the T20 and One-Day International history, also revealed that the Indies squad of 13 for the open- warm-up match, there is spec- series earlier in the tour, the West Indies tour will be his last ing Test although it is antici- ulation that 27-year-old fast tourists have shaped up as a far in national colours. pated that Hetmyer, captain of bowler Mohamed Abbas will more vulnerable outfi t in the tra- Khan goes into the match the victorious team at last year’s earn his fi rst Test cap in support ditional format of the game. needing just 23 more runs to be- Under-19 World Cup in Bangla- of the senior men. The home side, who remain come the fi rst Pakistani to amass desh, and fast-medium bowler mired in the lower reaches of the 10,000 runs in Tests, and while Miguel Cummins will be omitted Teams (probable) international rankings, look set the milestone will be of immense from the fi nal eleven. West Indies: Jason Holder to make further alterations to personal signifi cance, of even Kraigg Brathwaite, the main- (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran their line-up in the quest for a greater concern to the visiting stay at the top of the batting Powell, Shai Hope, Vishaul Singh, consistent winning formula. team is completing their fi rst- order over the past three years, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Pakistan topped the Test rank- ever Test series triumph in the goes into the match still basking Dowrich, Roston Chase, Dev- ings last September following West Indies by the time the fi nal in the glow of his historic eff ort endra Bishoo, Alzarri Joseph, their drawn series in England. Test concludes in Dominica in in the Sharjah Test victory when Shannon Gabriel. But a slump of six consecutive mid-May. his unbeaten innings of 142 and Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), defeats, ironically initiated by Sabina Park’s 50th Test since 60 guided the West Indies to Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, the West Indies in Sharjah fi ve- the fi rst was staged in 1930 their fi rst Test win over Pakistan Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Asad and-a-half months ago at the against England is likely to be an away from home in 26 years. Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mo- end of an otherwise disastrous intriguing aff air given Pakistan’s Notwithstanding his out- hamed Aamir, Wahab Riaz, Yasir campaign for the Caribbean less than fl attering display in standing entry to senior in- Shah, Mohamed Abbas. Misbah-ul-Haq (R) with Younis Khan.

IPL CHAMPIONS TROPHY Australia include Pattinson, Starc Buttler, Rana power and Hastings

IANS Henriques has been re-called Melbourne to the side having last played for the national one-day squad against Sri Lanka in August last ast bowlers James Pat- year. Henriques was chosen Mumbai to eight-wkt tinson and John Hast- ahead of batsmen including ings have recovered from Usman Khawaja, Pete Hands- their injuries to return to comb, George Bailey and Cam- theF Australian squad for the ICC eron White. Champions Trophy to be held in Khawaja and Handscomb England next month. were both part of the ODI team “We have selected a very over the summer, and the latter’s exciting, well-balanced squad performance with the bat suf- victory over Punjab that will give us plenty of op- fered notably when asked to keep tions with both batting and wicket in New Zealand in place bowling, depending on the of the injured Matthew Wade. ‘Chasing that kind of total was great for me because I could go from ball one without thinking’ conditions.” However, all-rounder James “We are in a very fortunate Faulkner has been omitted position at the moment with a from the side. It is also possi- IANS large number of quality players ble that a lack of recent match Indore available for selection, as such practice has gone against this was a very diffi cult team Faulkner, who has not featured to choose and there have been in a competitive game since umbai Indians rode some unlucky players on this oc- playing for Tasmania against on destructive half casion,” national selector Trevor Queensland in the Sheffi eld centuries from Eng- Hohns said in a statement. Shield in early March. lishman Jos Buttler Talking of the international He is yet to play a match for Mand young Nitish Rana to thrash return of Pattinson and Hast- his IPL team, Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets ings, Hohns asserted that their this season. in an Indian Premier League (IPL) experience of playing county Henriques, on the other 2017 encounter at the Holkar cricket in England will help them hand, has featured in all but Cricket Stadium yesterday. adapt to the local conditions. one of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Buttler’s 37-ball 77, laced with “Both James and John have six matches, scoring 138 runs seven fours and fi ve huge sixes made very good returns from at an average of 46.00 and a and Rana’s unbeaten 31-ball 54, injury and are bowling well for strike rate of 127.77, and taking comprising seven mammoth their respective teams in the one wicket in 10 overs. punches over the rope, outshone English County competition as “James has been a consist- South African star Hashim Am- well as both contributing well ent performer for the one-day la’s maiden T20 century for Kings with the bat,” Hohns said. squad for several years. How- XI, as the visitors overhauled the Fast bowler Mitchell Starc ever, with players such as Pat- massive target of 199, with more and Chris Lynn have also been tinson, Cummins and Hast- than four overs to spare. included in the 15-man squad ings coming back to full fi tness Chasing a mammoth 199, as they make their return from and the emergence of Marcus the opening duo of Parthiv Pa- injury. Lynn has displayed ex- Stoinis, James was squeezed tel (37) and Buttler dealt mostly cellent form during the ongo- out of the squad and an un- in boundaries to raise Mum- ing IPL although Mitchell is yet lucky omission,” Hohns said. bai’s highest fi rst wicket stand to return to competitive cricket Stoinis and Hastings are the of all IPL seasons of 81 runs, as since picking up an injury dur- two other seam-bowling all- the Punjab bowlers had little to ing the recently concluded Test rounders in Australia’s squad, counter the left-right pair. series in India. with Maxwell and Head pro- Buttler started the onslaught “When you also add Mitchell viding part-time off spin back- from the very fi rst over dis- Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat up to Zampa’s legspin. patching medium pacer Sandeep Cummins to the fast bowling Sharma for a six before lofting artillery, it becomes a very ex- The squad him for another in his next over citing proposition for Austral- Steven Smith (C), David as Mumbai raced to 50 in just ian cricket,” Hohns said. Warner, Pat Cummins, Aaron four overs. “Our medical staff will con- Finch, John Hastings, Josh Medium pacer Mohit Sharma tinue to monitor Mitchell and Hazlewood, Travis Head, was at the receiving end in his Chris’ recovery from their in- Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, very fi rst over, when Buttler juries but we are hopeful they Glenn Maxwell, James Pat- milked him for three consecutive will be fi t in time for the team’s tinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus boundaries after Parthiv got one departure on May 18.” Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam off the first ball. Batting all-rounder Moises Zampa. The diminutive Patel was not too far behind and joined the party by cracking Ishant Sharma Shafi ul back in Bangladesh squad for a four and then a huge six off the legs before welcoming Mar- Paceman Shafiul Islam, who be played between the top cus Stoinis with another huge six last played one-day inter- eight ODI sides of the world, over deep midwicket. Mumbai Indians Jos Buttler plays a shot against Kings XI Punjab during the IPL match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore yesterday. (AFP) national cricket in October starts from June 1 in England. Stonis, however got the better last year, has been named in The 2006 edition was the last of the southpaw off a slower ball ing freely and No.3 Nitish Rana ary for a six to seal the deal in the tage of the life he got on 3, when the three-fi gure mark and the Bangladesh’s 15-man squad time Bangladesh played in the when Parthiv, who faced 18 balls continued his great run with the visitors’ favour. Kings XI bowlers he was dropped off a diffi cult team to a mammoth score. for the Champions Trophy in tournament. The South Asian and struck four boundaries and willow to get his fourth half cen- could only blame themselves for chance by Rana, to fi rst get to a “I think today, chasing that June, the country’s board said nation has been grouped with two sixes, failed to time it prop- tury of the season off 29 balls. letting the opportunity slip as superb half century in just 34 kind of total was great for me yesterday. Shafiul, who has Australia, England and New erly and ended in the hands of Rana started by launching none of the them had an economy balls. Punjab needed their cap- because I could go from ball one played 56 ODIs and taken 63 Zealand in Group A. India are Glenn Maxwell at mid off . Stoinis for a maximum before rate of less than 10 runs an over. tain Glenn Maxwell to step up without thinking. I’ve put a lot wickets in the 50-over format, in Group B with neighbours Such was the carnage from taking the likes of Ishant, Axar Earlier, the hosts were off to the gas and the Australian wast- of pressure on myself, trying too has been missing from the and arch-rivals Pakistan, the Mumbai duo that there were Patel and Swapnil Singh to the a steady start with Amla (104 ed no time to settle down. He hard to score the runs. When international scene since pick- South Africa and Sri Lanka. only fi ve dots in the powerplay, cleaners to take Mumbai to 123/1 not out) and Shaun Marsh (26) started off with two consecutive you’re chasing a big score, you ing up a hamstring injury in a The squad: Tamim Iqbal, including the wicket ball of midway into their innings. Rana putting on 46 runs before Max- boundaries off medium pacer can relax and play your shots. domestic league match last Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Parthiv and more importantly dominated the 85-run second well took just one over from Jasprit Bumrah before smoking Keep a still base and do the rest,” year. His last ODI was against Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al included 14 boundaries. wicket stand with Buttler, who pacer Mitchell McClenaghan, McClenaghan for two back to Jos Buttler said. England at Chittagong. Nurul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Buttler, who had faced 23 balls was undone by Mohit’s slower milking 28 runs, to change the back sixes and then two fours to Hasan, paceman Subashis Roy Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, by now, got to his fi fty with a delivery with Mumbai within complexion of their innings. fi nish off the over. BRIEF SCORES and all-rounder Shuvagata Mehedi Hasan, Sunzamul single to the right of long-on as sniffi ng distance of victory. McClenaghan’s over, the 15th Amla meted out special treat- Mumbai Indians 199 for 2 (But- Hom were dropped from the Islam, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza Rana took the onus of getting the Thereafter, Hardik Pandya of the innings, was incidentally ment to Sri Lankan pacer Lasith tler 77, Rana 62*, Parthiv 37) squad in the wake of the re- (captain), Mustafizur Rahman, big shots. The fall of the Gujarat struck a four and a six in his the second-most expensive over Malinga, dispatching him for beat Kings XI Punjab 198 for cent drawn series in Sri Lanka. Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, wicketkeeper-batsman did not 4-ball 15 before Rana pulled of this IPL season. Amla, on the two consecutive sixes twice in 4 (Amla 104*, Maxwell 40) by The Champions Trophy, to Shafiul Islam. deter the visitors from scor- Mohit over the long leg bound- other hand, took full advan- two overs to help himself reach eight wickets. Gulf Times Friday, April 21, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Gibson backstops Ducks Warriors cut down to sweep of Flames AFP Sean Monahan scored for Calgary. Calgary, Canada The Flames have lost seven straight games to Anaheim and 15 of 16 dating back to the second round of the 2015 oaltender John Gibson playoff s, when the Ducks knocked off bounced back from a subpar the Flames in fi ve games. Blazers, Westbrook performance as the Anaheim Brian Elliott started in net for the Ducks became the fi rst team Flames, but was yanked after giving up Gto reach the second round of the NHL a soft goal to Eaves at 5:38 of the fi rst playoff s with a four-game sweep of the period. Chad Johnson replaced him and Calgary Flames. stopped 20 of the 21 shots. Gibson made 36 saves Wednesday as Getzlaf scored his third goal of the the Ducks scored two goals early then series into an empty net with six sec- runs out of gas held on for a 3-1 win at the Saddledome onds remaining in regulation. arena to eliminate the Flames from the Western Conference playoff s. RESULTS ‘Tonight we didn’t really get it going... but we won the game with our defense’ Gibson redeemed himself after be- Ducks 3, Flames 1 ing pulled during the second period (Anaheim win the best-of-seven series AFP of Anaheim’s come-from-behind 5-4 by 4-0) Washington victory over the Flames in overtime Capitals 5, Maple Leafs 4 two nights earlier. Patrick Eaves, Nate (The best-of-seven series is level at 2-2) Thompson and Ryan Getzlaf scored for Senators 1, Bruins 0 he Golden State Warriors the Ducks on Wednesday. (Ottawa lead the best-of-seven series clamped down on defense as The Ducks next play the winner of by 3-1) they cruised to a 110-81 vic- the series between the Edmonton Oil- Wild 2, Blues 0 Ttory over the Portland Trail ers and San Jose Sharks, who are dead- (St. Louis lead the best-of-seven series Blazers, taking a 2-0 lead in their fi rst- locked at 2-2. by 3-1) round playoff series. Playing without injured star Kevin Durant, Golden State held Portland to just 12 points in the third quarter Wednesday to post their 11th straight home win over the Trail Blazers in a rematch of last year’s Western Confer- ence semi-fi nal series. Durant missed the game with a calf strain. “You got to be aggressive. Tonight we didn’t really get it going and we had some dry spots but we won the game with our defense,” said Warriors star Stephen Curry. “We asserted our- selves in fi rst quarter that set the tone for the game.” Curry had 19 points and Klay Thompson added 16 as the Warriors won easily despite scoring 11 fewer points than in their 121-109 win in the opening game of the series. JaVale McGee said they miss not Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson (left) stops a shot from the Calgary Flames in having Durant in the lineup but they game four of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoff s in Calgary, Canada, on also know how to adjust when he is Wednesday. (USA TODAY Sports) not there. Stephen Curry (foreground) of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a shot in second game of the Western Conference “We have confi dence. We have had quarter-finals against Portland Trail Blazers in Oakland, California, on Wednesday. (AFP) to play without KD for a lot of games SPOTLIGHT earlier so we are used to it. But we need for a postseason triple-double in NBA Game three is today in Oklahoma tled for 55 fouls and took a combined KD. We need his scoring,” said McGee, history. City. 71 free throws. Atlanta was 33 of 38 who came off the bench to score 15 Despite the historic night, West- and Washington fi nished 24 of 33. points. brook failed to fi nd his teammates WHISTLE HAPPY REFS Washington’s Marcin Gortat easily Ex-NFL star convicted The teams will travel to Portland for with passes as he appeared to run out In Washington, Bradley Beal scored 16 controlled the head-to-head match- the next two meetings in the best-of- of steam in the fi nal quarter. of his 31 points in the fi nal quarter as up as Dwight Howard’s struggles in seven series, with the Warriors taking He missed 14 shots in the fourth, the the Washington Wizards seized a 2-0 the playoff s continued. Hawks center their lead into game three tomorrow. most misses in any quarter in the last lead in their fi rst-round series with a Howard had just six points and seven of murder commits 20 NBA playoff s. 109-101 win. rebounds. HISTORIC NIGHT FALLS SHORT “I wasn’t tired,” Westbrook said. “I John Wall delivered a team high 32 Elsewhere, Eric Gordon and Lou Wil- don’t care about the (personal stats). points as he and Beal tallied 20 of the RESULTS suicide in prison liams caught fi re in the fourth quarter We lost.” Wizards’ fi nal 21 points in a penalty EASTERN CONFERENCE as the Houston Rockets rallied for a “It’s not like it is going to be a sur- fi lled contest. At Washington AFP 115-111 playoff win over the Oklahoma prise to anybody. We know what we Game three is in Atlanta tomorrow Washington Wizards 109 Atlanta New York City Thunder, who lost despite anoth- have to do,” said Rockets coach Mike as the Wizards have won fi ve in a row Hawks 101 er historic 50-point night by Russell D’Antoni of stopping Westbrook. over the Hawks. (Wizards lead series 2-0) Westbrook. Gordon gave the Rockets their fi rst Paul Millsap had 27 points and ormer American football star The Rockets erased a 15-point defi - lead with his three-pointer at the 8:07 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Dennis WESTERN CONFERENCE and convicted killer Aaron cit to take a 2-0 lead after game two of mark of the fourth quarter at 96-94. Schroder scored 23 points and Tim At Houston Hernandez was found dead their Western Conference series. Gordon delivered another clutch Hardaway had 19. Atlanta committed Houston Rockets 115 Oklahoma City Fin prison on Wednesday after Westbrook delivered a triple-double basket with 1:48 remaining, drilling a 18 turnovers. Thunder 111 hanging himself with a bedsheet in his of 51 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds 28-footer off a James Harden pass to After game one, Millsap made a point (Rockets lead series 2-0) cell. but couldn’t get the ball to drop when extend the lead to eight. of calling out what he considered overly At Oakland His death ended a spectacular fall it counted. He shot a dismal four of 18 Harden fi nished with 35 points and aggressive play from the Wizards — Golden State Warriors 110 Portland from grace for a man who signed a in the fourth quarter. eight assists and was a perfect 18 for 18 “They were playing MMA,” he said. Trail Blazers 81 $40mn contract in 2012 with this year’s His scoring total was the highest from the free-throw line. In game two, the teams were whis- (Warriors lead series 2-0) reigning Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, after a troubled upbringing in Connecticut. MLB The 27-year-old was discovered hanging in his cell by corrections of- fi cers in Shirley, Massachusetts at ap- proximately 3:05 am (0705 GMT), said Christopher Fallon with the Massa- has enraged some fans for apparently Harper powers Nationals past Braves chusetts Department of Correction. being friends with Trump, skipped He died almost exactly two years af- the event, attributing his absence to ter he was sentenced to life without pa- “some personal family matters.” Brady By David O’Brien 2/3 innings over his past seven starts role for murdering a semi-pro football also skipped a similar visit with Barack The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS) against the Nationals. player in 2013 and fi ve days after he was Obama in 2015. It was his worst start since Sept. 27 acquitted of double murder in a sepa- A handful of other Patriots players at home against Phillies, when he gave rate Boston killing in 2012. had already opted out of the trip, some he next time Julio Teheran fac- up 10 hits and six runs in four innings Hernandez hanged himself with a citing political diff erences with the Re- es the Nationals, the Braves’ of a 7-6 win. Teheran entered with bedsheet that he had attached to his publican commander-in-chief. No. 1 starter might want to a 0.95 ERA in three starts and exited cell window and attempts to revive him Hernandez’s death swung the spot- swallow his pride and just not with a 3.52 ERA. were not successful, Fallon said. “Mr light back on a long line of crimes to Tchallenge Bryce Harper. Because what He also gave up 11 hits, six runs and Hernandez also attempted to block his tarnish the image of the NFL, most infa- the Washington slugger has done to two homers in six innings of a 10-9 door from the inside by jamming the mously by star running back O.J. Simp- him is downright Barry Bonds-ian. loss at Arizona on August 24. But since door with various items,” he added. son. In a sensational trial broadcast live Harper homered with the bases the loss to the Diamondbacks, Teheran The former NFL star was rushed to on television, Simpson was acquitted of empty in the fi rst inning and homered was 5-1 with a 2.64 ERA in his past 10 a hospital, where a doctor pronounced murdering his ex-wife Nicole and her again with them full in the second in- starts before Wednesday, allowing two him dead at approximately 4:07am friend Ron Goldman in 1994 but is now ning, powering the Nationals to a 14-4 runs or fewer in eight starts and only (0807 GMT). in jail, convicted of armed robbery and win against the Braves at SunTrust two earned runs in 19 innings over his Hernandez’s family and legal team kidnapping in 2008. Park and overshadowing a record-set- previous three starts this season. said they were “shocked” by his death, ting performance by Freddie Freeman. Teheran gave up one homer his past calling for a transparent and thorough MIXED REACTIONS Ryan Zimmerman added an eighth- six starts (37 innings) before giving up investigation. A database of arrests involving NFL inning grand slam off Ian Krol for the two to Harper in the fi rst two innings The one-time Patriots tight end was players compiled by USA Today has Nationals, who are 31-9 against the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper (right) hits a grand slam home run in the Wednesday. Harper’s fi rst-inning in a solitary cell in general population logged 854 cases dating back to 2000. Braves since the beginning of the 2015 game against Atlanta Braves in Atlanta on Wednesday. (USA TODAY Sports) homer came on a fi rst-pitch fastball, housing and had not been considered Brent Schrotenboer, the journal- season. The Braves have lost eight 90 mph and right down the middle for at risk of suicide. ist who created the database, told AFP consecutive games that Teheran has doubles, seven homers, 17 RBIs and Markakis and Brandon Phillips. 1-0 lead. “There were no conversations or in 2015 that the overall NFL crime rate started against Washington. OPS over 1.700. In his past 41 games against the His second-inning grand slam was correspondence from Aaron to his fam- was around two percent, below around After sweeping a four-game series No other player has more than three Braves, Harper has hit .322 with 17 on an 80-mph Teheran slider at the ily or legal team that would have indi- four percent for the general population. against the Padres to open SunTrust homers or nine RBIs against Teheran. doubles, 13 home runs, 36 walks and bottom of strike zone but over the cated anything like this was possible,” Hernandez had numerous run-ins Park, the Braves have lost the fi rst two Freeman had a fi rst-inning walk 40 RBIs. middle. said a statement released by his lawyer with the law during his college football games of a three-game series against and third-inning home run to set an Teheran couldn’t even walk Harper Jose Baez. “Aaron was looking forward career at the University of Florida. the Nationals. They’ll try to avert a Atlanta franchise record by reaching without a run scoring — he bounced a RESULTS to an opportunity for a second chance In June 2013, Odin Lloyd’s bloodied sweep by the Nationals on Thursday base in 12 consecutive plate appear- ball-four pitch fi ve feet in front of the San Diego 1 Arizona 0 to prove his innocence. Those who love body was found less than a mile from night when knuckleballer RA Dickey ances, a streak that was snapped when plate in the fourth inning with runners LA Dodgers 4 Colorado 2 and care about him are heartbroken and Hernandez’s luxury Massachusetts faces Washington’s Stephen Strasburg he grounded out in the sixth inning. on the corners and two outs, allowing Kansas City 2 San Francisco 0 determined to fi nd the truth surround- home. The two men had been dat- in the homestand fi nale. Freeman, who added an RBI sin- a run to score for a 7-3 lead. Teheran Houston 5 LA Angels 1 ing his untimely death.” ing sisters. The murder weapon was Teheran (1-1) was charged with sev- gle in the eighth inning and is hitting was hit in the right foot by a line-drive Washington 14 Atlanta 4 Hernandez leaves behind a four- never discovered, but analysts said en hits, seven runs and three walks in .440, broke the consecutive plate- infi eld single in the fourth and left af- Baltimore 2 Cincinnati 0 year-old daughter and a fi ancee. the evidence against Hernandez was just four innings, exiting with a 3.52 appearance record held by Jeff Bur- ter throwing 93 pitches (55 strikes) in Tampa Bay 8 Detroit 7 overwhelming. Last Friday, Hernandez ERA after entering with an 0.95 ERA roughs, who reached base in 11 con- four innings. NY Mets 5 Philadelphia 4 PATRIOTS AT WHITE HOUSE wept openly as he was acquitted of ear- through three starts. secutive PAs in April 1978. After going 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in Toronto 3 Boston 0 There was no comment from the Patri- lier Boston murders. Harper went 4-for-4 with two But by the time he broke it the Braves his fi rst seven starts against the Na- NY Yankees 9 Chicago White Sox 1 ots, who were on Wednesday welcomed Reaction to his death was mixed. homers, a double, a walk and fi ve RBIs. trailed 6-2, with Harper’s second- tionals including six Braves wins, Te- Seattle 10 Miami 5 to the White House by President Don- Some fans expressed shock over the His two homers (and walk) against inning grand slam reducing to ashes heran is 0-3 with a 6.11 ERA in his past Oakland 9 Texas 1 ald Trump as the winners of the pre- timing, others mourned the downfall Teheran made Harper an astounding the 2-1 lead that Teheran was staked to eight starts against them, all Braves Chicago Cubs 7 Milwaukee 4 mier American football championship. of a former talent or condemned a con- 15-for-33 (.455) against him with three via fi rst-inning RBI singles from Nick losses. He’s allowed 11 home runs in 38 St. Louis 2 Pittsburgh 1 Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who victed murderer. Gulf Times 6 Friday, April 21, 2017 SPORT

ATHLETICS BOXING Joshua’s mind on Bekele in a hurry Fury despite Klitschko fi ght

Reuters for London Bengaluru nthony Joshua is just days away from a world heavyweight ti- tle fi ght with Wladimir KlitschkoA in front of the largest British boxing crowd for nearly 80 years but the Briton says he marathon glory would rather be facing former champion Tyson Fury. Fury beat Klitschko in 2015, ‘Times are very important... Winning in 2:04 would be a diff erent feeling’ handing the Ukrainian his fi rst loss in 11 years, to become the Reuters IBO, WBA, IBF and WBO cham- London pion. However, he relinquished his titles the following year after his on Twitter last week after the riple Olympic track champion license was suspended pend- former champ called Joshua Kenenisa Bekele is somewhat ing investigation for doping and “a poor man’s Frank Bruno,” a surprised that his sepia-tinged medical issues. reference to the former British T5,000 and 10,000-metres world Joshua, who became the IBF WBC and European heavyweight records are still standing but, at 34, he world heavyweight champion champion. still feels he can complete a remarkable after beating Charles Martin “Twitter is about communi- hat-trick by claiming the marathon mark. in April 2016, is unbeaten in 18 cation and it’s just communicat- Ethiopian Bekele, widely regarded as bouts and will fi ght Klitschko, ing,” Joshua said. “He addresses the greatest distance runner of all time, who has not fought profession- me and Tweets me quite often set 5,000m and 10,000m world records ally since his loss to Fury, at and I was just in the frame of in 2004, improving the longer distance a Wembley on April 29. mind where I thought me and Kl- year later, and nobody has got remotely “I think Tyson Fury is the big- itschko don’t have much verbals, close to either since. gest fi ght for me,” Joshua told so let me respond to Fury.” After fi nding his feet in the marathon, British media from his training Joshua added that fury’s “Bru- he posted the second-fastest time ever camp in Sheffi eld. no” jibe showed a lack of respect. — two hours, three minutes and three “If it were up to me, that would “If he’s an all-time great then seconds — when winning Berlin last have been the fi ght happening why is he worrying about who September, six seconds outside Dennis this summer... I was planning for is behind him? You should focus Kimetto’s world record of 2:02:57, set on a massive showdown with Tyson on your future,” the 27-year-old the same course in 2014. Fury, but he had other plans and said. On Sunday, fi nally running free of the I just had to carry on. When he “If I was the greatest of all time succession of back, hip and calf injuries returns, I’m sure I’ll still be here.” I would never worry about who is that have dogged the last fi ve years of his Joshua and Fury traded barbs behind me. I’m leading the way.” career, he hopes to be able go one better by winning the London Marathon and eclipsing Kimetto’s world record. SPOTLIGHT “Times are very important,” Bekele told reporters in London yesterday. “On the track I don’t see anyone out there looking like they can reach my marks at Races key for the moment. In the marathon, running 2:10 and winning would not give you full happiness. Winning in 2:04 would be a successful relay diff erent feeling. “But it’s really challenging. It’s almost 10,000 metres pace so it’s diffi cult. I had Kenenisa Bekele (left) and Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia practise ahead of the 2017 London Marathon in London yesterday. (Reuters) teams, says Lewis to learn how to run diff erently from the track, a diff erent foot strike. Every race, here. It’s very special.” stalled as favourite after last year’s Lon- now is in the spotlight. I don’t want such Reuters the nation’s top fi ve. every course is diff erent and I’m learning Last year’s winner, Olympic champion don and Olympic champion and fellow a mess.” Vivian Cheruiyot, the Olympic Salvo, North Carolina As the athletes run around the with every one.” of , will not be de- Kenyan Jemima Sumgong pulled out after 5,000m champion, urged Sumgong, who track you will not hear Lewis’s Fellow Ethiopian Haile Gebrselas- fending his title as he concentrates on failing a doping test. Sumgong’s positive has yet to have her positive test confi rmed charges call “stick” as they pre- sie previously held the world records for trying to dip under two hours as part of for the blood booster EPO brought sting- by her B sample, to co-operate with the hen relay teams drop pare to pass the baton. 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon but no- Nike’s “Breaking2” project. ing criticism from some of her compatri- authorities. batons and make “That is too much to listen body has held all three at the same time. Bekele’s strongest challenge could in- ots ahead of the race. “She knows that she went for that other costly mis- for,” said Lewis. Bekele was third in London last year stead come from Eritrean Ghirmay Ghe- “For me it really embarrasses the injection,” she said. “She can’t say she takes, they are usu- “If you are calling stick, then and said he really enjoyed and learned breslassie, who was crowned marathon sport,” said Florence Kiplagat. “I am didn’t know. Wally criticised for lack of practice. your mind is worrying about from the experience. world champion at 19 two years ago. ashamed because we are losing top ath- “I remember her winning in Rio and that US teams have suff ered from something behind you. The race “The crowd here are diff erent from any The women’s race is also intriguing, letes like that.” everyone was happy for Kenya. If she is us- a number of high-profi le gaff es is in front of you. other race,” he said. “People like the sport with twice-winner Mary Keitany in- Ketainy added: “I think all of Kenya ing something it is very disappointing.” in recent Olympics and world “We do a blind pass. It’s all de- championships but American signed for the outgoing person to great Carl Lewis, who won fi ve run to a spot and the incoming global gold medals in the 4x100 person to try to beat him to that metres relay, says practice is not spot.” Farah injection before 2014 London Marathon was not recorded: doctor the key. Lewis is no fan either of rest- “Everyone thinks it is about ing sprinters on US relay teams, Double Olympic champion Mo Farah “When you are constantly on call for (USADA) report. riders. practice,” Lewis told Reuters. “It changing the order of runners was given a legal dose of a controversial athletes you travel to those athletes,” Farah has denied any wrongdoing. Team Sky are at the centre of an inves- is not about practice, it’s about and using alternates in the early supplement before the 2014 London Chakraverty, who now works with the UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner criti- tigation into the contents of a package understanding the system and rounds of global competitions. Marathon, but the treatment was not England football team, told the Culture cised Chakraverty. delivered to then team doctor Richard then doing it in front of a live au- Noting today’s sprinters face properly recorded, the doctor who gave Media and Sport select committee. “It was disappointing, definitely. It is Freeman at the Criterium du Dauphine dience. fewer rounds than in his day him the injection has said. “If you don’t record it straight away — what happened. It shouldn’t have hap- race in France in 2011 for former rider “It’s more important to get when he said he regularly ran Dr Robin Chakraverty, former chief which I didn’t in this case — then it can pened,” Warner told MPs. “You got a lot Bradley Wiggins, who went on to win the races than it is to get practice.” four 100s, four 200s, two days of medical off icer at UK Athletics, told Brit- get forgotten because you have all these of regret. What you had from him was an 2012 Tour de France. That is one reason the Uni- long jumping and all three relay ish legislators he injected Farah with 13.5 other things.” explanation not an excuse. It is recorded Warner denied there were any similari- versity of Houston coach, along rounds, Lewis questioned how millilitres (ml) of L-carnitine prior to his In February, Farah’s coach Alberto Sala- on his record, as it should be.” ties between the Farah case and the one with new US relays coach Orin they can be tired. London Marathon debut but had “forgot- zar issued a rebuttal of a Sunday Times Last month, British Cycling acknowl- involving Wiggins. Richburg, is a strong advocate “I don’t like it,” said Lewis. ten” to record it in the necessary forms. article alleging he had administered edged “failings” in its record-keeping “Please don’t tar us with the same of expanding top US sprinters’ “Because what they do is (have) L-carnitine is a legal supplement but banned infusions of supplements to his system after it emerged during an brush,” he said. “I think they are both participation in domestic relays every agent screaming to get administering a quantity greater than athletes, citing what the newspaper said investigation that Team Sky did not inexcusable. We should have the same during the American spring. their kid in to run. 50ml within six hours is prohibited. was a leaked US Anti-Doping Agency keep complete medical records for their gold-plated standard for all athletes.” “You need to do it in live meets,” “What it is about is trying to said Lewis, whose Houston men’s get someone a medal. We should 4x100m relay team ranks among be focused on winning.”

RUGBY Jones includes 15 uncapped Good squad but pressure on Lions: Hansen players for Argentina tour Shorn of 16 men selected for Maunder receives his first the British and Irish Lions, senior call-up alongside Reuters “I’m happy that our guys got England coach Eddie Jones flyhalf Piers Francis, backs Wellington some confi dence beating Ireland in Ire- yesterday named 15 uncapped Alex Lozowski and Harry land,” he told New Zealand’s Radio Sport. players in his 31-man squad Mallinder, centres Joe March- “You’re clutching at straws if that’s for the two-Test tour of Argen- ant, and Sam James as well ll Blacks coach Steve Hansen how you are selecting teams. You pick tina in June. as wings Denny Solomona, rates Warren Gatland’s British players who can do the job you want them Dylan Hartley, beaten to Lions Nathan Earle and Joe Coka- and Irish Lions squad as one of to do and play the style of game you want selection by his England nasiga. the strongest in recent memory to play.” understudy Jamie George, will Jones has made a number butA has questioned how the touring side Hansen said there were no major sur- captain the side with support of enforced changes to the will cope with the pressure of expecta- prises in Gatland’s squad with its “big from experienced vice-cap- coaching set-up to compen- tions in New Zealand. ball-carriers” in middle of the pack and tains Mike Brown, Danny Care sate for Steve Borthwick’s Gatland named his bumper 41-man “grunty forwards” but said England cap- and George Ford. absence on the Lions tour. The squad for the 10-match tour on Wednes- tain Dylan Hartley, who was omitted, A core of other experienced Australian, a former hooker, day, saying there was no clear stand-outs would have been an asset. players, including James will take responsibility of the for starting players in a number of posi- Haskell, Joe Launchbury, forwards, supported by scrum tions. ALL BLACKS RETAIN WHITELOCK Jonny May and former captain coach Neal Hatley. World Cup-winning coach Hansen was British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland with defence coach Andy Farrell and UNTIL 2020 Chris Robshaw, are also Defence coach Paul Gustard impressed by the depth at Gatland’s dis- captain Sam Warburton during the squad announcement on Wednesday. (Reuters) Two-time World Cup winner Sam included but overall there will adds the line-out and kick-off posal for the tour, which includes three Whitelock signed a contract extension be a very unfamiliar look to to his coaching remit and tests against the All Blacks. which I think is going to be interesting to Cup winners. yesterday that will see him stay with the the squad when they assem- former Australia back Glen “I think this is the best British and Irish see how they cope with that. With fi ve matches against New Zealand’s All Blacks until 2020. ble in London on May 29. Ella, who previously toured Lions that we’ve seen come here for a “A lot more expectation than they’ve dominant Super Rugby teams, Gatland said Whitelock, New Zealand’s most In the pack, props Will Col- with England in Australia in long, long time,” Hansen told reporters at been used to because people expect them the Lions faced the “toughest tour” but capped lock with 84 Test appearances, lier and Harry Williams are 2016, will link-up again as Christchurch’s Rugby Park on Thursday. to win.” seized upon Ireland’s shock 40-29 win over said he was thrilled to be staying with the included with second-row attack coach, supported by “There is depth all the way through, the All Blacks in Chicago in November as All Blacks and Canterbury Crusaders Su- Nick Isiekwe and back-row skills coach Rory Teague. that’s why people like Hartley and some CLUTCHING AT STRAWS proof they were only human. per Rugby team. forwards Sam Underhill as England play the first Test in of the Scottish boys have missed out be- Bookmakers, however, still expect the Hansen shot back that the Lions staff The 28-year-old played in every match well as brothers Ben and Tom San Juan on June 10 and the cause there’s so much depth. All Blacks to win the series, 12 years after would not want to base their selections on of the All Blacks’ 2015 World Cup cam- Curry. second in Sante Fe a week “It’s going to be a very good side and they whitewashed a Clive Woodward-led that result, given the All Blacks defeated the paign and all but one game leading up to In the backs, scrumhalf Jack later. they’ll come with a lot of expectation, Lions squad laden with English World Irish 21-9 two weeks later in Dublin. their 2011 triumph. Gulf Times Friday, April 21, 2017 7 SPORT

HORSE RACING SPOTLIGHT Pregnancy changes could sideline Serena Smart’s Najda leads from Wimbledon, says experts

Reuters that Williams’ size may be an Chicago advantage. Williams has not 1-2 in Al Huwaila Cup played since January and two major events are coming up: ennis star Serena Wil- the French Open in May and ‘It’s a shame that Hagwa couldn’t get her head in front because she deserves a win’ liams could take a pass Wimbledon in July. on Wimbledon if physi- Pivarnik said, he would be cal changes from her “shocked” if Williams decided Tpregnancy such as balance and to compete at Wimbledon. By Mikhil Bhat Doha blood fl ow aff ect her preparation “She’d be 30 weeks. I can’t see and performance, researchers her being able to perform at a who study pregnancy in high- level she’d need to win,” he said. H Sheikh Mohamed performing athletes said. Most top athletes are able bin Khalifa al-Thani’s It would be perfectly safe to perform very well through royal blue colours for Williams to continue with about the fi rst half of pregnan- shone in the Al Hu- rigorous training throughout cy, said Dr. Bruce Young, a pro- wailaH Cup, yesterday’s feature at pregnancy, but how quickly she fessor of obstetrics and gyne- the Qatar Racing and Equestrian would return to tournament cology at New York University Club (QREC), with Julian Smart- Tennis, if she so chooses, was Langone Medical Center. trained Najda notching up her uncertain, the researchers said. Starting at about six months fi rst win this season. Williams confi rmed her of pregnancy, a woman’s bal- Najda, helmed by Marco pregnancy through spokes- ance shifts. “That would be Monteriso, led a one-two for woman Kelly Bush Novak after fi ne if you were a swimmer. If Smart, with Hagwa running to the tennis player posted a pic- you are a Tennis player, it’s a her fourth straight top three ture of herself in a yellow bath- problem,” Young said. fi nish. The Al Shahania colours ing suit on Snapchat social me- Other changes could also have also made it to fourth place with dia with the caption “20 weeks.” an impact, he said. For example, Jassim Ghazali-saddled Rasi, James Pivarnik, a kinesi- beginning at about fi ve months, fi nishing right behind Alban de ology professor at Michigan a woman’s blood volume in- Mieulle’s Umm Qarn colt Sehab. State University, said Williams’ creases by 50 to 60 percent over “The two fi llies have run some muscular build could forestall the non-pregnant state, forcing race. I was expecting a second or some of the changes that could the heart to work harder. a third, because there are some impair performance. Williams, Red blood cell counts in- strong colts in there,” Smart, who is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 me- crease, but not in proportion to who had also won Wednesday’s tres) and weighed 155 pounds the increase in blood volume, feature Al Zubara Cup with Aa- Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) vice chief steward Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi with the winners of the Al Huwaila Cup after Najda won (70 kg) according to her Tennis reducing the oxygen-carrying ley Al Magam, told Gulf Times. the 1850m race at the QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim association profi le, won a 23rd capacity in the blood, he said. “It’s a shame that Hagwa Grand Slam tournament title at A woman’s lung volume also couldn’t get her head in front display to come ahead from the Race 2: 1. Geno (Gerald the Australian Open in January. decreases as the uterus grows because she deserves a win, but I back of the pack. Complimen- Avranche), 2. Could Be (Sal- “It’s not like some little 95 and presses on the diaphragm. am really happy for Najda. tor was breathing down What eem Golam), 3. Rijm (Marco pound distance runner. From a “If you are competing at a “She comes to the races every A Surprise’ neck in the fi nal few Monteriso), 4. Intenser (Sha- size change diff erence, it might very high level, that becomes time with some tremendous metres but the latter held on well kir al-Balushi). Won by: ¾, 4, ½. take longer for that to be an is- a factor,” Young said. Extreme pressure, because she is a full for a memorable win. Time: 1:35.792. Owner: Khalid sue with her, depending on exercise and training during sister of (2014 HH The Emir’s Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari- Hamad MA al-Attiyah. Trainer: how she carries,” said Pivarnik, pregnancy remains safe, how- Sword winner) Assy. So every- owned Itorio, schooled by Jassim Mohamed Hamad al-Attiyah. who has studied the impact of ever, and can contribute to a one goes, ‘Oh, full sister of Assy, Ghazali, had been in a good run Race 3: 1. Inland Sea (Gerald pregnancy on exercise for the swift return to pre-pregnancy she must be a superstar’. But, of form coming into yesterday’s Avranche), 2. Hi Holy (Marco past three decades. performance levels provided the you know, my two brothers (are) race, a Class 1 Thoroughbred Monteriso), 3. Aseer (Tomas In pregnancy, a woman’s delivery goes smoothly, a survey much, much better than I am. It Classifi ed Stakes even for horses Lukasek), 4. Poet’s Song (Faleh centre of gravity shifts forward of scientifi c literature by experts doesn’t work that way. rated 96-115, having fi nished in Bughanaim). Won by: ½, Nk, to accommodate the grow- on behalf of the International “But I am happy for her. She the frame for two straight races. ¾. Time: 1:35.678. Owner: HH ing foetus, which could aff ect Olympic Committee found,” lost her way. As a three-year-old The fi ve-year-old added a win Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al- Williams’ stance. Pivarnik said Pivarnik said. she looked very nice,” Smart said to that momentum, showing a Thani. Trainer: Stefano Ibido. about Najda, who had last won clean pair of heels in the mile- Race 4: 1. MJ Lattam (Faleh the Oaks in December 2015. long run, even as HH Sheikh Marco Monteriso rides Najda to victory in the Al Huwaila Cup at the Bughanaim), 2. Mujahidah “And then we just kind of Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s QREC yesterday. (Kelly Harrison), 3. Zahwah Hamilton stunned as teen driver lost our way with her. Good for Barwod, ridden by Richard Mul- (Richard Mullen), 4. Kasser (JP her and good for Marco. Marco len, came dangerously close at Zahwah completed the top three the back of the pack early on in the Guillambert). Won by: Nk, ½, 1. has legs amputated does an awful lot of work for the the post. JP Guillambert had under Mullen. Gerald Avranche mile-long race before hitting traf- Time: 1:31.910. Owner: Mohan- Three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton rallied to the stables behind the scenes, pace- Itorio go into the lead coming helmed winners for two straight fi c on the home stretch. Avranche ned Jassim al-Yaqoot. Trainer: support of a teenage British motor racing driver who had both making and things like that for off Gate 10 and then held on well races, winning both the Class 4 took advantage of a timely gap Mohamed al-Ramzani. legs amputated in a horrific high-speed crash. Billy Monger, 17, the big horses. So it is nice to get throughout, despite a stunning Thoroughbred Handicap events and soon Inland Sea was moving Race 5: 1. Itorio (JP Guillambert), was left fighting for his life after the crash in a Formula Four him a big win.” Barwod run on the outside on for horses rated 80 & below. forward and eventually edged out 2. Barwod (Richard Mullen), 3. Al race at Donington race track in England on Sunday, a smash Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin the home stretch. Julian Smart’s First up, in the Division 2 race, Yousef Bentaher’s Hi Holy at the Mohalhal (Gerald Avranche), 4. which left him trapped in his car for around 90 minutes. Now, Jassim al-Thani’s What A Sur- ward had to settle for second, Mohamed Hamad al-Attiyah- post by half-a-length. Fourioso (Alberto Sanna). Won a crowd-funding campaign has been set-up with a target prise indeed threw a surprise ahead of Majed Seifeddine- trained Geno, who impressed In the fi rst race of the day, the by: ½, 1 ½, Nk. Time: 1:35.067. of £260,000. “I have only just seen the news of this tragic in the Class 3 Thoroughbred trained Al Mohalhal. many on his Qatar debut last only run for maidens on the card, Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al- incident,” tweeted Mercedes star Hamilton with a link to the Handicap event for horses rated Qatari jockey Faleh Bugha- month, registered his fi rst win Anas al-Seyabi guided Hamad Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali. fund-raising site. “Thoughts and prayers are with you and your 76-90, winning the 2000m in a naim registered his 11th victory around the track at QREC yes- al-Jehani-saddled Yara Al Khair Race 6: 1. What A Surprise family, @BillyMonger.” thrilling fi nish. The three-year- of the season when he rode Mo- terday. to her fi rst career win. (Saleem Golam), 2. Complimen- Sergio Perez, a rival of Hamilton, also appealed for help. “Let’s old gelding had two victories to hamed al-Ramzani-trained MJ The four-year-old gelding The seven-furlong Purebred tor (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. help our fellow and his family thru this tough times! @Billy- his name coming into yester- Lattam to the four-year-old’s fi nished a little less than a length Arabian Maiden Plate event saw Goldenfield (Alberto Sanna), 4. Monger,” tweeted the Mexican Force India driver. day’s race and both over much second career win in the Pure- ahead of al-Malki-saddled the fi ve-year-old fi nish two Shahbar (Marvin Suerland). Won The 17-year-old Monger was injured in a collision with a car shorter distances. bred Arabian Handicap event for Could Be, helmed by Golam, lengths ahead of Smart’s Fazan by: Nk, 1 ½, Nk. Time: 2:05.263. being driven by Finland’s Patrik Pasma which appeared to Yesterday, Saleem Golam had horses rated 90 & below. who had fi nished with three for the win. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad have stopped on the track. Onboard footage from a camera the Ibrahim al-Malki ward fol- Bughanaim had his ride stay winners and couple of places a bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: on Monger’s car showed him seeming to run into the back of low early leader Shahbar, under closer to the front even as Al day before on Wednesday. RESULTS Ibrahim al-Malki. Pasma’s stationary car. After being trapped in his car for an Marvin Suerland, before mak- Majd Stud’s Teejann led with Next up, Avranche, along with Race 1: 1. Yara Al Khair (Anas Race 7: 1. Najda (Marco hour and a half, the British driver was airlifted to hospital in ing the move coming off the final Mujahidah, helmed by Kelly his partner Inland Sea, trained al-Seyabi), 2. Fazan (Richard Monteriso), 2. Hagwa (Richard nearby Nottingham. “After being involved in one of the most bend. Harrison, not too far behind. by Stefano Ibido for Sheikh Mo- Mullen), 3. E’zaaz (Tadgh Mullen), 3. Sehab (Jean Baptiste horrific crashes motorsport has seen Billy Monger is a teen- What A Surprise’s lead was As Teejann weakened, Muja- hamed, overcame a slow start O’Shea), 4. Fahdah Al Naif (Ger- Hamel), 4. Rasi (Tadgh O’Shea). ager that needs little introduction. Thousands of people have threatened when Al Jasra Stud’s hidah took the advantage but MJ and some traffi c to register a ald Avranche). Won by: 2, 1 ½, ½. Won by: 1 ¼, ¾, ¾. Time: 2:04.019. already watched the haunting footage of the crash which left Complimentor, ridden by Jean Lattam was in pursuit and the memorable win on the day. Time: 1L32.824. Owner: Ahmed Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Billy fighting for his life,” said a statement on the fund-raising Baptiste Hamel for trainer Tariq latter edged out the Ghazali ward The gelding, who had fi nished Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani. Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian page. “Sadly Billy has had amputations to both legs.” Issa, put a blistering pace on at the post by a neck. Smart’s runner-up a month ago, stayed at Trainer: Hamad al-Jehani. Smart.

TENNIS Murray, Wawrinka out of Monte Carlo Masters

Reuters Ramos, ranked 24th in the world and the Monte Carlo 15th seed, ripped through the second to go into the third with all to play for. He kept his head in the Monaco sun- orld number one Andy Mur- shine even after Murray, who ended up ray was knocked out of the being broken seven times in a match Monte Carlo Masters yes- with 13 service breaks, had romped to a terday as Spaniard Albert 4-0 advantage with the loss of just three WRamos battled back from 4-0 down in points. The Spanish claycourt specialist the fi nal set to win 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 and reach won four games in a row, before Mur- the quarter-fi nals on a day of upsets. ray applied some late pressure, and was Swiss third seed Stan Wawrinka, the implacable as he won the next two with 2015 French Open champion, was also back-to-back breaks and served for the sent packing when he lost to Uruguay’s match. Murray saved one match point, Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-4. Murray was when a Ramos backhand went wide, but playing only his second match since misjudged a drop shot that landed in the returning from a fi ve-week layoff after net to hand Ramos a famous fi rst victory an elbow injury. He was handed a fi rst- over his top-ranked opponent. round bye in the fi rst European clay- The Scot reached the semi-fi nals court tournament of the season. in Monaco last year and clearly needs “I’m disappointed to lose from the more matches ahead of the French Open position that I was in. Being 4-0 up in starting on May 28. the third, I haven’t lost many matches Rafael Nadal gatecrashed Alexander like that in my career,” Murray told a Zverev’s 20th birthday party with a bru- news conference. “He obviously started tal 6-1, 6-1 Monte Carlo Masters demo- playing better towards the end of the lition. Nadal, chasing a 10th title at the set. I still had a bunch of chances. I guess tournament, will face either Argentina’s both of us did, really. I should have been Diego Schwartzman or German quali- able to do enough to weather that storm fi er Jan-Lennard Struff for a place in the a little bit and fi nish the match off .” semi-fi nals. Novak Djokovic was made The Scot won the opening set at the to work hard by Spain’s Pablo Carreno Monte Carlo Country Club in 48 min- Busta, but the Serbian came out on top utes but his service was suspect and with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory. Albert Ramos-Vinolas celebrates his victory over Andy Murray (R)at Monte-Carlo ATP Masters match in Monaco yesterday. (Reuters.AFP)

Friday, April 21, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

QATAR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY Outright leads for Nasser, Sunderland and Sonik Abu Dhabi’s Mansour al-Helai leads in T2; Saudi’s al-Rajhi breaks suspension in a ditch

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah in action during the third stage of the Qatar Cross-Country Rally.

Rafal Sonik (top) and Matthias Walkner blaze a trail across the desert in Qatar.

By Sports Reporter Losail RESULTS CHECK sections as the stage progressed and I am happy. The bike ran perfectly. We Austrian Matthias Walkner claimed the have two days more and a long race in 1. Rafal Sonik (POL) Yamaha YFM 700 R 5hr 55min 44.2sec stage win and moved up to third overall. front.” atar’s Nasser Saleh al-At- CARS — FIA 10min 57sec 2. Paolo Gonçalves (PRT) Honda 450 CRF Rally Walkner said: “I realise now that I Alexis Hernandez lost his quad lead 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu 2. Alexis Hernandez (PER) Yamaha Raptor 8hr 02min 13.1sec tiyah, Austria’s Matthias Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 3hr 700R 5hr 13min 28sec 3. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally 8hr won the stage. Sure, it helps a bit when when he was penalised for missing two Walkner and Poland’s Rafal 26min 53sec 3. Rodolfo Schippers (GUA) Yamaha Raptor 05min 31.8sec you start at the back. It was so windy out waypoints and the Peruvian slipped to Sonik claimed victories in 2. Khalid al-Qassimi (ARE)/Khaled al-Kendi 700R 5hr 17min 29sec 4. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Rally there and almost on the limits for the second after day three behind the day’s theQ third stage of the Qatar Cross- (ARE) Peugeot 3008 DKR 3hr 36min 07sec 4. Kees Koolen (NLD) Barren Racer One 690 8hr 08min 26.0sec safety reasons. Sometimes you did not stage winner Rafal Sonik. 3. Mohamed Abu Issa (QAT)/Xavier Panseri 5hr 20min 58sec 5. Kevin Benavides (ARG) Honda 450 CRF see any piste or nothing. It was really Qatar’s Adel Abdulla lost his T2 cat- Country Rally, but al-Attiyah, Dubai- (FRA) Mini All4 Racing 3hr 36min 30sec Rally 8hr 08min 45.6sec based Briton Sam Sunderland and 4. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF)/Dirk von Zitzewitz POSITIONS 6. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) Husqvarna hard, but I am happy that I make up for egory lead in the sand dunes south of Sonik held the overall advantages in (DEU) Toyota Hilux 3hr 36min 58sec CARS — FIA 450 Rally 8hr 10min 44.8sec the time loss yesterday. The dunes were Sealine and that opened the door for the car, motorcycle and quad catego- 5. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu 7. Antoine Meo (FRA) KTM 450 Rally 8hr okay because Sam did a great job to leave Abu Dhabi Racing’s Mansour al-Helai ries after a windy day’s action in the Mini All4 Racing 3hr 44min 10sec Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 7hr 57min 19.9sec the lines to follow. But, after the refuel- to claim the stage win and move ahead 6. Erik Van Loon (NLD)/Wouter Rosegaar 03min 28.1sec 8. Mohamed al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Qatar deserts. (NLD) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 3hr 47min 39sec 2. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF)/Dirk von Zitzewitz Replica 9hr 35min 58.5sec ling, it was getting really diffi cult with of Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Saeidan in the (DEU) Toyota Hilux 7hr 06min 51.8sec 9. Maciej Giemza (POL) KTM 450 Rally Replica the navigation and I slow down a lot.” standings. The duo are 12th and 13th “The car is working very well BIKES 3. Mohamed Abu Issa (QAT)/Xavier Panseri 9hr 56min 36.1sec Sunderland continues to lead out- overall. Qatar’s Mohamed al-Harqan is and we do our job and our target 1. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally 4hr (FRA) Mini All4 Racing 7hr 07min 58.1sec right by 6min 28.9sec from Monster En- third. 01min 25sec 4. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) QUADS — FIM “From the fi rst 20km from the start, to win the stage. Now we are 2. Paolo Gonçalves (PRT) Honda 450 CRF Rally Mini All4 Racing 7hr 08min 25.0sec 1. Rafal Sonik (POL) Yamaha YFM 700 R 10hr ergy Honda team rider Paulo Gonçalves. leading and try to keep going like 4hr 04min 39sec 5. Khalid al-Qassimi (ARE)/Khaled al-Kendi 18min 03.1sec Pablo Quintanilla of the Rockstar En- the temperature of the engine went up this. The wind made it not easy 3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Rally (ARE) Peugeot 3008 DKR 7hr 13min 36.5sec 2. Kees Koolen (NLD) Barren Racer One 690 ergy Husqvarna Team holds fourth and and we stopped to try and fi x it,” said and we had a small mistake in 4hr 07min 31sec 6. Erik Van Loon (NLD)/Wouter Rosegaar 10hr 49min 49.3sec Honda’s Kevin Benavides is fi fth. Ride Adel Abdulla. “The fan had broken. 4. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally 4hr (NLD) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 7hr 15min 3. Alexis Hernandez (PER) Yamaha Raptor to Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed al-Balooshi Problems are chasing me from the be- the dunes and we lose around 07min 43sec 53.4sec 700R 10hr 54min 22.0sec three minutes. But we came back 5. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) Husqvarna 7. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Jan Tomanek (CZE) 4. Rodolfo Schippers (GUA) Yamaha Raptor holds eighth place. ginning of the season. I tried my best strong” 450 Rally 4hr 09min 29sec Ford F-150 Evo 7hr 43min 10.3sec 700R 11hr 13min 27.6sec “I saw that I was a bit too fast this not to miss any waypoints. You never 6.. Kevin Benavides (ARG) Honda 450 CRF 8. Aron Domzala (POL)/Szymon Gospodarc- morning and I had to ease it off a bit for know. There are still two long days to The day’s stage of 353.02km started Rally 4hr 10min 30sec zyk (POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 7hr 57min NON-FIM (SS3 ONLY) the strategy,” said Sunderland. “I didn’t go.” 7. Antoine Meo (FRA) KTM 450 Rally 4hr 10.4sec 1. Abdulmajeed al-Khulaifi (SAU) Yamaha YFZ near Sealine, passed the Inland Sea 32min 50sec 450R 2hr 04min 49sec want to take any risks or make any big Saudi Arabia’s Abdulmajeed al-Khu- and then meandered across to the west BIKES 2. Sultan al-Masood (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R mistakes with the navigation because laifi fi nished the shorter non-FIM sec- coast before heading north to an even- Quads — FIM 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally 7hr 2hr 28min 51sec it is so easy to happen. It’s strange now tion on his Yamaha quad for a second tual fi nish at Mekaines. Al-Attiyah at- with this one being four days. It makes day, with fellow countryman Sultan al- tacked through the early sand dunes it diff erent again. We will see how it Masood running behind. and began to eat into Yazeed al-Rajhi’s tage of 3min 23.7sec over Toyota team- back strong.” time to move up to fi fth overall behind pans out. It was very diffi cult to see this Saudi driver Khaled al-Feraihi was virtual stage lead. The Saudi had moved mate Leeroy Poulter, the South African “We broke the front left in a ditch and third-placed Qatari Mohamed Abu Issa morning to be honest. You could not the unoffi cial winner of the day’s Na- to the top of the rankings when over- making his fi rst appearance in the Mid- tried to drive the stage slowly, step-by- and Przygonski. Dutchman Erik van see the ends of the dunes or the bumps. tional Baja stage that fi nished at PC2, night leader Jakub Przygonski lost time dle East. step, but then we decided to (pull) out,” Loon was sixth in a third Toyota Hilux There was a really high wind today.” after 152.5km. Qatar’s Mohamed al- in the sand. Al-Attiyah said: “The car is working said al-Rajhi, who arrived in Losail with run by Overdrive Racing. Gonçalves was upbeat after his sec- Harqan was second and Mohamed al- Al-Attiyah continued to dominate very well and we do our job and our tar- a Mini sporting a puncture and broken KTM Red Bull Factory Team rider ond place: “I did another good stage. Mannai held third. Emirati driver Ab- throughout the day and, when al-Rajhi get to win the stage. Now we are lead- front-left suspension. “It got worse and Sunderland made a storming start from There were sand dunes at the beginning dullah al-Ketbi was hospitalised after withdrew from the stage after 277km ing and try to keep going like this. The worse. We see tomorrow what our start the front in the motorcycle category and and then we arrived at the fast stony an accident just fi ve kilometres into the following suspension damage in a ditch, wind made it not easy and we had a position will be and we will push.” stayed well ahead of his rivals through tracks. Before refuelling, Sam push a day’s National Baja stage. His co-driver the Qatari stormed to the top of the small mistake in the dunes and we lose Abu Dhabi Racing’s Sheikh Khalid the fi rst two checkpoints. But his pur- lot and I cannot catch him. Then he did Rashed al-Ketbi was not hurt in the in- leader board and now holds an advan- around three minutes. But we came al-Qassimi carded the second quickest suers managed to close in over the faster a mistake and I start to open the track. cident.

SPOTLIGHT Asian Communities Football semis today

By Sports Reporter Doha

eams from the Lebanese, In- dian, Jordanian and Nepalese communities will take part in an exciting night of communi- Tty football as they play the semi-fi nals of the fi fth Asian Communities Foot- ball Tournament (ACFT) 2017 at the Al Ahli Stadium today. Lebanon will take on India at 7pm, while Jordan will take on Nepal at 8:30pm. Winners of the semi-fi nals will qual- ify for the fi nal, which is scheduled to take place on 5 May at Al-Ahli Stadi- The Lebanese (L) and Nepalese teams taking part in the Asian Communities tournament who have qualified for the semi-finals. um, while losers will play the third and fourth place match on 28 April at the Eight teams from the two groups pines fi nished fourth with 6 points. included Indonesia, Lebanon, Jordan, qualifying for the knockout stage. by the Supreme Committee for Delivery QFA Football Development Department qualifi ed for their quarter-fi nals. Group Hundreds of fans are expected to at- India, South Korea and China, where- Group A showed that it consisted & Legacy (SC) as the Strategic Partner, pitches in Al Thumama at 7pm. A’s top four teams that qualifi ed include tend the thrilling semi-fi nals this week- as Group B included Malaysia, Sin- of the toughest teams as three of them while Nike is also sponsoring the event. The four teams qualifi ed for the Lebanon with a total of 12 points, In- end to cheer for their community foot- gapore, Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, and qualifi ed for the semi-fi nals (Lebanon, The ACFT is a community tournament, semi-fi nals after they won the quarter- dia and Indonesia with 10 points, and ball teams as they battle it out on the Philippines. The tournament follows India and Jordan), whereas only one which brings together various Asian fi nals, where Lebanon beat Philippines Jordan with 9. Group B was led by Sri fi eld to reach the fi nal. a traditional format of twelve teams team from Group B went through to the communities residing in Qatar and 1-0, Nepal beat Indonesia 3-1, India Lanka with 13 points, while Nepal came The tournament draw took place in split into two groups where group semi-fi nals (Nepal). aims to encourage them to stay active beat Malaysia 3-2 in penalties and Jor- in second with 13 points. Malaysia fi n- February, in which 12 teams were di- stage matches were played, followed Organised by the Qatar Football As- by engaging in physical activity through dan beat Sri Lanka 5-1. ished third with 7 points while Philip- vided into two groups of six. Group A with the top four teams of each group sociation (QFA), the ACFT is sponsored football.