Wozniacki wallops New-look Spain Errani to reach ready for test semi-finals18 19against France THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Italy trying to rebuild after humiliating World Cup Page 19

DUESSELDORF: Argentina’s Federico Fernandez scores his side’s third goal during the friendly soccer match between and Argentina in Duesseldorf, Germany yesterday. — AP Argentina trounce Germany 4-2

DUESSELDORF: Angel di Maria set up day. Denmark captain Daniel Agger, to get past the group stage. Coach second half, with Capello also handing scored the winner in the 63rd minute, region of Crimea into the Russian three goals and scored the fourth him- who last week left Liverpool to return Fabio Capello handed a debut to debuts to 21-year-old Rubin Kazan knocking the ball in from inside the league system. self as Argentina trounced Germany 4-2 to Copenhagen club Brondby, gave the Dmitry Poloz, who has scored three midfielder Magomed Ozdoev and 25- penalty area when Artem Hromov’s in their friendly game yesterday to get a Danes the lead from the penalty spot goals in six games for Rostov this sea- year-old Spartak Moscow defender shot took a deflection. Moldova goal- US 1 Czechs 0 small measure of payback after losing late in the first half, and the home side son, but it was Kerzhakov who grabbed Sergey Parshivlyuk. Dynamo Moscow keeper Ilie Cebanu prevented a bigger scored in the to the host in the World Cup final. had plenty of chances to increase their the limelight. The Zenit St Petersburg defender Granat made it 4-0 on 80 min- loss for his team as he made some 39th minute, and a youthful US soccer Argentina was up 4-0 after just 50 min- advantage. Nicklas Bendtner, left out of forward notched his 27th goal for his utes, scoring his first goal for his coun- impressive saves, including late on team started the four year cycle of utes to dampen the home side’s World the original squad but called in as country after six minutes, passing try with a thundering header. “The when he kept out a fierce shot from preparation for the 2018 World Cup Cup title celebrations in its first game injury cover, was lively in attack but Vladimir Beschastnykh’s previous important thing is that a number of Artem Fedetskyi. For Ukraine, the nar- with a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic since winning the final 1-0 in extra time Turkey equalized through Olcay Sahan record tally, when he headed past young players got the opportunity to row margin of victory is unlikely to pro- in Prague yesterday night. Three play- in Brazil in July. Di Maria set up Sergio after 55 minutes. Bursaspor’s 19-year- Azerbaijan keeper, Kamran Agaev, fol- make their debuts. Today I understood vide a boost for a team faced with a dif- ers made their US debuts, with 21- Aguero in the 21st minute, Erik Lamela’s old defender Tufan then rifled a late ficult Euro 2016 group that also con- year-old forward Joe Gyau playing the outstanding volley in the 40th, and winner to give Turkey a scarcely- tains Spain, Slovakia and Belarus. entire match, 23-year-old defender Federico Fernandez’ headed goal two deserved victory. Denmark host INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES Ukraine’s first qualifier is at home to entering in the 63rd, and minutes after the interval. Di Maria Armenia in Copenhagen in their open- Slovakia on Monday before games 18-year-old midfielder Emerson crowned his performance in the 50th ing Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday, against Belarus and Macedonia next Hyndman coming in four minutes later. with a chip over substitute Germany while Turkey travel to Reykjavik to start lowing a fine left-wing cross by Dmitry that a new generation is appearing in month. Bidding to qualify for a first Hyndman made his debut last month ‘keeper Roman Weidenfeller. Andre their campaign away to Iceland on Kombarov. His 28th goal arrived five and they have a future,” Capello major tournament, Moldova plays away with Fulham in England’s second tier. Schuerrle pulled one back two minutes Tuesday. minutes later. He deftly deflected the told reporters. Russia will get their Euro to Montenegro on Monday. On a day The US went ahead when goalkeeper later before Mario Goetze, who scored ball past Agaev, following a good pass 2016 qualifying campaign underway that saw confusion over a potential Petr Cech, dropped from Chelsea’s the winning goal in the World Cup final, Russia crush Azerbaijan 4-0 from Villarreal’s Denis Cheryshev. on Sept. 8, when they face ceasefire in the fighting in the east of starting lineup by manager Jose made it 4-2 in the 78th. Alexander Kerzhakov became Russia, who were playing at the Liechtenstein at the Khimki Arena. Ukraine, the match in Kiev’s near-emp- Mourinho, sent the ball upfield to Russia’s record goalscorer with a double Khimki Arena, just north of the capital, ty Olympic Stadium was free of crowd Vladimir Darida. Mix Diskerud stripped Turkey 2 Denmark 1 against Azerbaijan in a 4-0 friendly win put the result beyond any doubt five Ukraine 1 Moldova 0 trouble. The Football Federation of the midfielder and dribbled right back Meanwhile, teenage defender Ozan in Moscow yesterday. Sergey minutes before halftime. Ignashevich, Ukraine put aside the country’s trou- Ukraine will meet FIFA and UEFA repre- at Cech. The goalkeeper made a diving Tufan scored his first goal for Turkey in Ignashevich and Vladimir Granat were who was making his 101st appearance bles to beat Moldova 1-0 in a friendly sentatives later this month in an stop, and the ball ricocheted to second-half stoppage time to give his also on target in Russia’s first game for Russia, scored his sixth international yesterday that served as a warm-up for attempt to resolve a conflict with the Bedoya, who scored on a left-footed side a 2-1 win over Denmark in their since their disappointing showing at goal with a header. Both sides made European Championship qualifying. Russian Football Union, which has shot for his second goal in 33 interna- friendly international in Odense yester- the Brazil World Cup, where they failed numerous changes throughout the Dynamo Kiev striker Roman Bezus absorbed clubs from the annexed tional appearances. —Agencies Makarova downs Azarenka to book US Open semi-final

NEW YORK: Ekaterina Makarova reached the first Grand Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon. Williams has Slam semi-final of her career yesterday with a 6-4, 6-2 victo- won all five of her career meetings with Pennetta, the most ry over former world number one Victoria Azarenka. “I’m recent a straight-sets win on the hardcourts of Cincinnati feeling amazing-finally I’m in a semi-final,” said the Russian where Williams claimed her fifth title of 2014. Pennetta is in left-hander, who had failed in four prior major quarter- her fifth US Open quarter-final, trying to match her semi- finals. “It’s a great feeling.” Azarenka, a two-time Australian final run of last year. She claimed the biggest title of her Open champion who was runner-up to Serena Williams at career in March at Indian Wells, and Pennetta bristled at the Flushing Meadows the past two years, gained the first break suggestion that she was virtually destined to lose to of the match for a 3-2 lead in the first set. Williams-even though she hasn’t taken a set off the But Makarova broke back immediately and broke the American since their first meeting in 2008. “Of course, she’s Belarusian again in the final game to pocket the set. better than me,” Pennetta said. “But I still believe I can beat Azarenka, slowed earlier this season by injury, was under her.” pressure throughout the second, facing break points in her first two service games before Makarova broke her for a 4-2 Williams wary of Pennetta edge.A testy bounce of her racquet earned Azarenka a Williams, stung by her Grand Slam failures this year, isn’t warning, and the release of tension did little good. taking anything for granted. “I think the older she gets, the Makarova broke her fading opponent again in the final better she plays,” Williams said of Pennetta-who like herself game, taking the match when Azarenka fired a forehand is 32. “We played in Cincinnati. I won. But she played well. wide. In the immediate aftermath of the tie, Azarenka’s This is a new week ... she’s going to come out ready to fire spokesman told reporters that the player had suffered food and play again.” Williams suffered an injury scare on Tuesday poisoning and had been vomiting in the run-up to the as she and sister Venus were knocked out of the doubles, quarter-final. Makarova will face either world number one taking a timeout to have her right foot and ankle taped but and five-time champion Williams or 11th-seeded Italian appearing unhindered by any discomfort after that. The Flavia Pennetta on Friday for a place in the title match. other women’s semi-final was set on Tuesday, with former Williams is trying to become the first woman since Chris world number one and 2009 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki, Evert in the 1970s to win at least three straight titles at the 10th seed, booking a meeting with unseeded Chinese Flushing Meadows. Peng Shuai. Peng, like Makarova, is in a Grand Slam semi- However, the American has faltered in the year’s first final for the first time, joining Li Na and Zheng Jie as the NEW YORK: Ekaterina Makarova, of Russia, returns a shot to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during the quarterfinals three majors, failing to get out of the fourth round at the only Chinese to make it so far at a major.- — AFP of the 2014 US Open tennis tournament yesterday. —AP