THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 SPORTS Windies face tough World Cup challenge after washout

BELFAST: West Indies will need to smash hosts will qualify directly for the 50-over showpiece event in play in the qualifiers. We are where we are and if we do umpires’ decision. “Very disappointed. It was set to be a England in the upcoming one-day international series 2019. Teams that do not gain direct entry will get have to play in them, we will take it one step at a time.” good occasion for Irish cricket and it’s great to be here, to avoid the ignominy of being forced to qualify for the another shot through a qualifying tournament. The West Indies, who lost the recent Test series against albeit it’s very, very cold,” he said. World Cup after a washout against Ireland yesterday. West Indies captain Jason Holder said qualifying England 2-1, have been boosted by the return of Chris “It’s just unfortunate the weather intervened but it The game at Stormont was scrapped without a ball automatically would be a tough task but he is looking Gayle while Marlon Samuels will join up with the was very wet out there and the last shower settled it.” being bowled after fresh rain followed an overnight forward to the series, which starts in Manchester next squad after a family bereavement. The abandonment means Ireland are still waiting to soaking for the pitch, leaving the umpires with no week. “England are a quality cricket side and they are “We are still a work in progress and hopefully more play their first match against a Test-playing side since choice. It means the 1975 and 1979 World Cup winners playing at home,” said the skipper. players are coming back,” said Holder. “Meantime, we being granted full member status by the International will have to beat England 5-0 or 4-0 with either a tie or “We’re at the stage where we are looking to turn a have a young group of players challenging for places Cricket Council in June. a no-result in order to qualify ahead of eighth-placed corner and qualify for the World Cup, whether we have and hopefully they can come in and make their pres- West Indies fly to England on Thursday ahead of a Sri Lanka, who are eight points ahead in the rankings. to go through the qualifiers or qualify automatically. ence felt and feel more comfortable in the internation- one-off Twenty20 international at Chester-le-Street on Only the top seven ODI sides, apart from hosts We’re excited for the series and hopefully we can play al arena.” Holder was disappointed at missing out on Saturday. The ODI series starts at Old Trafford on England, currently ranked fourth, as of September 30 some good cricket. “It won’t be an embarrassment to playing yesterday but could not disagree with the September 19. — AFP Infantino opposed blocking Mutko

LONDON: A fired FIFA official testified yes- Mutko) on the World Cup,” Maduro said. “He terday that he banned Vitaly Mutko from was very clear about that.” soccer’s ruling council after resisting strong FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura pressure from the FIFA leadership, which went further to Maduro. “The secretary warned the World Cup in Russia would be a general made it clear to me that it was “disaster” and Gianni Infantino’s presidency extremely problematic,” Maduro said. could be jeopardized. Miguel Maduro pro- “More than that, she said we needed to vided an account to British legislators of find a solution to declare Mr. Mutko eligi- the pressures he endured from the FIFA ble because otherwise the presidency hierarchy during less than a year chairing itself would be in question, the World Cup the governance committee before being would be a disaster, that was her view, abruptly removed from his post in May. and the continued presidency of Mr. The biggest call of Maduro’s tenure was Infantino would also be in question.” to prevent Mutko, a Russian deputy prime Mutko’s continued position of power minister who is also head of the 2018 World within FIFA was also under scrutiny after Cup organizing committee, from seeking he was directly implicated in the state- re-election to the FIFA Council on grounds sponsored doping scandal in Russia. of political interference. Maduro said Infantino believes there is “With the exception of that case in gen- “no evidence” Mutko is involved in the eral, the president did not try to influence Russian doping scandal. our decisions,” Maduro told the sports com- The hearing at the British parliament mittee at the House of Commons. “He began with committee chairman Damian would transit to me sometimes those deci- Collins disclosing correspondence from sions were not well accepted but in that FIFA blocking ousted investigator Cornel case there was an attempt to influence that Borbely from taking questions from legis- decision.” lators. It came in March just as Russia was Samoura wrote to Collins warning that preparing to host a World Cup warm-up Borbely is prevented from appearing at tournament, where Infantino met with the digital, culture, media and sport com- Mutko and Russian President Vladimir mittee because he is still bound by the Putin. “(Infantino) expressed concerns FIFA ethics code and Swiss civil and crimi- about the impact of the decision (to ban nal law. — AP Reds stun Kawasaki to reach Asian final

SAITAMA: Urawa Reds scored three goals playing football, while several shots were in a 15-minute blitz to floor Japanese rivals more of a threat to low-flying aircraft than Kawasaki Frontale 4-1 in a fiery encounter the goalkeepers. But when substitute yesterday and reach the Asian Champions Ljubijankic headed Urawa’s second of the League semi-finals. Slovenian Zlatan night to make it 4-3 on aggregate, Ljubijankic, Brazilian Rafael Silva and Kawasaki began to look frayed and a Rafael Toshiyuki Takagi all scored late goals Silva bullet levelled the tie on 83 minutes. against 10-man Kawasaki as the home side As Kawasaki wilted in the humid condi- MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Joshua Kimmich (L) scores the third goal past Anderlecht’s Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels during overturned a two-goal deficit to win 5-4 on tions, Takagi’s shin connected with an the Champions League group B match between Bayern Munich and RSC Anderlecht in Munich, southern Germany, on Tuesday. — AFP aggregate. The Reds, who won Asia’s pre- attempted left-foot volley two minutes lat- mier club competition in 2007, will face er and the ball looped over goalkeeper SOCCER China’s Shanghai SIPG in the last four after Jung Sung-Ryong for a dramatic winner. a see-saw struggle. “To be honest, that goal wasn’t 100 percent Brazilian Elsinho put Kawasaki in front how I planned to hit it but it went in so I’ll Thiago strike helps Bayern after 19 minutes, flicking the ball home take it,” said Takagi sheepishly. “We’ve come after a comic error from goalkeeper this far so we have to make sure we reach Shusaku Nishikawa to stretch their lead to the final now.” three goals after winning the first leg 3-1. Urawa, currently eighth in the J-League past 10-man Anderlecht But Shinzo Koroki pulled one back for table, face Andre Villas-Boas’s Shanghai Urawa in the 35th minute before the tie side away on September 27 in the first leg MUNICH: Thiago Alcantara’s second-half strike in a fortnight. The Bayern-PSG tie at the Parc de unchecked down the wing. Another great took a dramatic twist moments later when of their semi-final. The return fixture will be helped an underwhelming Bayern Munich see Princes is likely to set the tone in Group B. chance fell to the Belgians early in the second Frontale defender Shintaro Kurumaya was played on October 18. Japanese sides have off 10-man Anderlecht 3-0 in their opening Head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacted to half when striker Lukasz Teodorczyk opened up sent off for a high boot that caught Koroki struggled in the Asian Champions League Champions League group match on Tuesday. Bayern’s shock 2-0 defeat at Hoffenheim by space for right-back Alexandru Chipciu, who hit in the face. since Urawa’s victory in 2007 and Gamba After Robert Lewandowski converted an early dropping Thomas Mueller and giving new sign- the post. Robben then forced Sels into a good At times it appeared that both teams Osaka’s triumph a year later, and Shanghai penalty, Thiago turned the tie decisively Bayern’s ing James Rodriguez his first start in the attack- save as Bayern applied some pressure. The sec- were more interested in fisticuffs and SIPG will go into the semi-final as firm way before Joshua Kimmich grabbed a late third ing midfielder role. Veteran wingers Robben and ond goal arrived when Kimmich’s cross from the rolling on the ground in mock agony than favourites. — AFP at a sold-out Allianz Arena. Franck Ribery, who both started on the bench in right was met by Thiago in the middle, who fired However, despite playing nearly 80 minutes Hoffenheim, returned to the starting line-up. past Sels on 65 minutes. with the numerical advantage following Sven Thiago moved back into defensive midfield Bayern centre-back Niklas Suele headed into Kums’s early dismissal, this was not a convincing alongside France international Corentin Tolisso. the Anderlecht net two minutes later, but display by Bayern against a limited Anderlecht Bayern seized the initiative after just 12 minutes Tagliavento disallowed the goal after spotting a side. “We should have capitalised,” rued when Anderlecht shot themselves in the foot. push from the home side. Kimmich. “In the end, Anderlecht had a few Tolisso’s pass put Lewandowski away and With 15 minutes left, Germany defender chances to equalise, and they shouldn’t even Anderlecht defender Kums pulled the Poland Jerome Boateng came on for his first appearance have been close. “With the extra man, we should striker down in the area when he was through of the season after injury, while Mueller came on have done more.” Arjen Robben agreed that on goal. Referee Paolo Tagliavento dismissed for Ribery to the Frenchman’s clear disgust. Bayern should have been more clinical. “There Kums and Lewandowski sent Belgian goalkeeper Mueller can now claim 10 consecutive years of was no tempo to our game - we needed to show Matz Sels the wrong way to convert the penalty. playing Champions League football for Bayern. a bit more desire,” said the Dutch winger. Despite having the numerical advantage and Only fellow Bayern legends Ribery, Mehmet “The crowd deserved more, we have to give enjoying 76 percent possession, Bayern took Scholl and Oliver Kahn have also played a more. We should have finished them when they their foot off the gas after going ahead. decade of top-level European football for the had a man sent off.” The Bavarians need an Anderlecht should have drawn level just before club. With the 90 minutes up, Boateng’s pass improved performance at big-spending Paris the break when midfielder Nicolae Stanciu fired through the defence put Kimmich away to roll Saint-Germain, who routed Celtic 5-0 in Glasgow, wide after Leander Dendoncker had charged his shot into the Anderlecht goal. — AFP Matthaeus slams Ribery tantrum

BERLIN: Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus has been one of the honest and loyal players in this SAITAMA: Kawasaki Frontale defender Eduardo (L) kicks the ball next to Urawa Reds criticised Franck Ribery for defiantly throwing off business, I respect the fans and I respect the club I defender Ryota Moriwaki (R) during the AFC Champions League quarter final match his Bayern Munich shirt after being substituted in love,” he wrote on his Facebook page. between Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale in Saitama yesterday. — AFP Tuesday’s Champions League win over Anderlecht, “Throwing my wet jersey last night has noth- prompting a passionate response from the ing to do with disrespect, or anything else that I Frenchman. am accused of by people who pretend to know Wunderkind Moukoko nets Having picked up an early booking for arguing me. “This wet jersey, in which I have given every- with the referee in the 3-0 home victory, Ribery was thing for more than ten years, with all my twice in Germany U-16 win taken off with 12 minutes to go in Munich and impulses, my will to win and in which I have BERLIN: German 12-year-old wunderkind rules, he is not allowed to play in the hurled his shirt at the Bayern bench. “Ribery has achieved so much. Youssoufa Moukoko continued his remark- Bundesliga until he is 17. been here long enough now-he is emotional, but “Some will never understand what it means to able season yesterday by scoring twice in an However, doubts persist in some quar- you can’t throw your shirt on the bench like that,” give everything to their club and I’m sorry for Under-16 international. Moukoko, who only ters about his age. According to his official ex-Bayern midfielder and Germany captain them. “As long as I stand on the pitch, I, Franck turns 13 in November, scored both goals in certificate, issued at the German consulate Matthaeus told Sky. Ribery, will defend our colours and be involved in Germany Under-16’s 2-1 win away to Austria in Yaounde, his date of birth is November “That is a bad.” Bayern head coach Carlo every game with all my passion.” Bayern played in Hippach yesterday, even though he is at 20, 2004. Bild, Germany’s biggest selling Ancelotti was equally unimpressed by the 34-year- nearly 80 minutes against 10 men after least two years younger than most of his daily newspaper, dedicated a spread on the old Frenchman’s behaviour. “Of course, the player Anderlecht had defender Sven Kums sent off just team-mates. Moukoko, who was born in precocious talent in Sunday’s sports supple- wants to play 90 minutes, but I decided to take him before Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty. Cameroon, made his international debut for ment under the headline: “Is this wun- off because there were 10 minutes left, we had the Ribery’s is just the latest Bayern star to show Germany’s juniors in a 3-1 win over Austria derkind really only 12 years old?” game under control and he already had a yellow unrest. Last week, Lewandowski criticised the club’s on Monday, then scored the winning goals in Moukoko is pictured alongside his 18- card,” said the Italian. “He had had problems (an spending policy while Germany forward Thomas a second international between the nations. year-old girlfriend, who plays for St Pauli’s injury knock) at the weekend, so I don’t understand Mueller complained about starting on the bench in He has already made waves in German Under-21 team in Hamburg, where the his reaction and I will talk to him about it.” the 2-0 win at Werder Bremen a fortnight ago. youth football this season by scoring 13 couple met. Bild said his 66-year-old father Ribery’s rage could well have consequences. “We Defending champions Bayern have made a goals in five games for Borussia Dortmund’s and his mother, 28, still live in Hamburg are FC Bayern, that is not okay and we will talk poor start to the new Bundesliga season as MUNICH: Franck Ribery attends a photo Under-17 team in the junior Bundesliga. while Moukoko lodges with a family in about it,” added director of sport Hasan Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Hoffenheim left them sixth shooting for a FC Bayern Munich sponsor in Under German Football Association (DFB) Dortmund. — AFP Salihamidzic. However, Ribery later defended his in the table, their worst position after three games traditional Bavarian clothing in Munich, actions in an emotional statement. “I have always since 2010/11. — AFP southern Germany, yesterday. — AFP