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Tuesday, November 29, 2016 Safar 29, 1438 AH FOOTBALLFOO Mourinho GULF TIMES facing more hot water SPORT PagePag 11

SNOOKER Pagett halts Advani’s run, to meet Vahedi in fi nal today Defending champion Wendy Jans of Belgium to take on Amee Kamani of India in the women's final

Wales' Andrew Pagett beat India's Pankaj Advani in the semi-finals of the IBSF World Amateur Snooker Championship yesterday. (LEFT) India's Amee Kamani

By Sahan Bidappa breaks of 71 and 51 in the second and Doha third games respectively. After hav- ing breezed into the knockout stage without even losing a frame in four aving retired from profes- matches, Advani was off colour. The sional snooker after dropping 31-year-old from Bengaluru unchar- off the main tour last season, acteristically scraped into the semis, Andrew Pagett had a lot to surviving some close encounters. Hprove coming into the IBSF World Am- Yesterday, Advani failed to fi nd the ateur Snooker Championship in Doha. footing, with Pagett creating the mo- The Welshman had endured a dif- mentum. Advani opened his account fi cult time at the professional level, in the fourth frame but Pagett main- where the margin for error is minus- tained his lead, with a 81-point break cule. The amateur game gives a player to win the fi fth. a breathing space. Advani kept a glimmer of hope when semis, The 27-year-old Vahedi edged frame, where Vahedi produced an dra- frame but wilted under pressure cre- India’s Kamani is the reigning na- But yesterday, Pagett was up against he won the sixth frame to make it 4-2, out Declan Brennan of Northern Ire- matic fi nish to enter the fi nal. ated by the four-time champion. Jans tional 6-Red snooker champion but defending champion Pankaj Advani in but Pagett won the next three with ease land in an edge-of-the-seat thriller. In the women’s fi nal, defending had been in a superior form, having she will have to be at her best to beat the semi-fi nals and he knew nothing to seal his place in the fi nal. The match wad decided in the last champion Wendy Jans of Belgium will eliminated two of her strongest oppo- the experienced Jans. other than his best would topple the It was Advani’s second loss in the frame, with Vahedi potting the pink take on Amee Kamani of India. This is nents going into the semis. Yesterday though, Kamani showed fancied Indian. And Pagett delivered Doha semis, having bowed out at and black to stun Brennan 63-52. the fi fth time Jans has made it to the fi - The 33-year-old had beaten former she can rise to the big occasion as she just that at the Al Sadd indoor arena the same stage at the Asian Snooker Vahedi had allowed Brennan back nal of the world championship, having European champion Tatjana Vasiljeva took a commanding 3-0 lead against yesterday. The 34-year-old put on a Championship in April. into game, having allowed a 4-1 ad- won the title on the previous four oc- of Latvia 4-1 in the last-16. She domi- Sukritthanes. The 22-year-old Thai masterful show as he outplayed Ad- Earlier, Advani had defeated Thai- vantage slip away. The 23-year-old casions. Yesterday, the Belgian lived up nated her quarter-fi nal against former bounced back to take the fourth and vani, the 15-time World champion in land’s Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon 6-5 Brennan, in fact, not only cut down the to her top billing as she trounced one of world champion, Ng On Yee of Hong fi fth frame with a break of 47 and 32 snooker and billiards, 7-2. in an exciting quarter-fi nal duel to guar- defi cit but took a 5-4 lead. But Vahedi the two Thailand players in the semis, Kong, with an identical score. and cut down the defi cit. But Kamani Pagett was in total control of the antee India a medal in the tournament. took the 10th and 11th frame to regain Nutcharat Wongharuthai, 4-1. Jans will be the favourite going maintained her composure to pocket a best-of-13 frames semifi nal, as he Pagett will face Iran’s Soheil Vahedi the advantage. The Brennan took the The 17-year-old Wongharuthai put against Kamani, who defeated Thai girl close sixth frame and with it a spot in opened up a 3-0 lead, which included in the best of 15-frame fi nal. In the match to decider winning the 12th up a fi ght in the fi rst two and the fourth Waratthanun Sukritthanes 4-2. her maiden world championship fi nal. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG FOR BARCELONA? Barcelona are off to their worst La far from the only key man to have support around him as Ivan Rakitic ($127 mn) in the summer transfer Liga start since Lionel Messi’s debut sat out some part of the season so has been forced wider on the right window in a bid to bolster their squad. season nine years ago. A 1-1 draw far. Andres Iniesta has been out for to protect the inexperienced Sergi So far to no avail as none of their six at Real Sociedad was described over a month, whilst his Spanish Roberto at right-back. recruits have established themselves in as a “miracle” by Barca boss Luis international teammates Gerard Enrique’s preferred starting XI. Despite Enrique in what he singled out Pique and Jordi Alba were also Tough start beating off Madrid to the signature of as the worst performance in his sidelined for a number of weeks. Andre Gomes, the Portuguese Euro Whilst Barca have failed to hit the 2016 winner has failed to make an three seasons in charge. Barca are heights of old, the gap between them already six points adrift of Real Busquets isolated impression in Iniesta’s absence, whilst and Madrid can also be explained by 30 mn euro striker Paco Alcacer has Madrid ahead of this Saturday’s El An often underrated pillar of Barca’s the diff ering challenges they have yet to score a goal. Clasico clash. A look at what has success in the past decade, Sergio faced to date. The Catalans have gone wrong so far this season for Busquets is in the midst of his most already made tricky trips to Sevilla, Messi dependent the Spanish champions... protracted dip in form since breaking Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo into the first team under Pep Guardiola and, despite their current struggles, A year ago whilst Messi was sidelined Key injuries hurt in 2008. It is no coincidence that Valencia, as well as Atletico Madrid for two months by knee ligament Busquets’ struggles have come for at home. Real’s 31-game unbeaten damage, Neymar and Suarez not only Messi rescued Barca from a fifth the first prolonged period in his career run will be put firmly to the test at ensured Barca didn’t lose ground consecutive defeat on their travels without retired legend Xavi or Iniesta the Camp Nou on Saturday, but other in the title race, but accelerated to San Sebastian, but Sunday’s draw by his side. His influence in terms of challenges await for the European past Madrid at the top of the table. was the first time Barca have dropped touches and passes completed has champions with four away trips in five Twelve months on and Barca’s Messi- points in the league this season when waned since Enrique took charge and games just as the Champions League dependence has re-emerged with the the Argentine has completed 90 favoured a more direct style to feed returns in February. Argentine scoring 10 of Barca’s last minutes. Messi’s presence has been a superstar front three of Messi, Luis 14 goals. Suarez has scored just once Barcelona’s dependence on Lionel Messi has re-emerged with the Argentine scoring sorely missed in defeats to Celta Vigo Suarez and Neymar more quickly. Summer signing busts in his last five outings, whilst Neymar 10 of the Spanish champions' last 14 goals. Luis Suarez has scored just once in his last and Alaves and draws with Malaga However, without the ball Busquets hasn’t scored from open play in La five outings, whilst Neymar hasn’t scored from open play in La Liga since September. and Atletico Madrid. However, he is is now being exposed by the lack of Barca splurged over 120 mn euros Liga since September. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, November 29, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT ALL IS WELL India’s Jadeja has no regrets about Ashwin’s triple missed hundred strike leaves England reeling ‘We’ve lost a few wickets this evening, which was not ideal, that was not the plan. They India’s Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his half century. have won today. I think up until this morning, it was evenly poised... they played well’ Reuters the ropes, only to be caught by Mohali Woakes in the deep. “They were bowling boring lines. It was only outside the off Scoreboard ndia’s Ravindra Jadeja had no stump, off -stump, off -stump England 1st innings 283 (J. Bairstow regrets after falling 10 runs and off -stump,” said Jadeja who 89, J. Buttler 43; M. Shami 3-63) short of a rare test century has never made a test hundred. by a number eight batsman “I was not running out of time. Iyesterday. In fact I had enough time. I just India 1st innings M. Vijay c Bairstow b Stokes 12 The 27-year-old all-rounder thought ‘let’s disturb the bowler P. Patel lbw b Rashid 42 had shown great restraint during by going outside off -stump’. C. Pujara c Woakes b Rashid 51 a partnership with Ravichandran There were only two fi elders V. Kohli c Bairstow b Stokes 62 Ashwin that swung the third test on the leg-side. That’s what I A. Rahane lbw b Rashid 0 against England India’s way, but was trying and luckily I got four K. Nair run out (Buttler) 4 he suddenly went on the attack boundaries in that over.” R. Ashwin c Buttler b Stokes 72 and perished trying to hit Adil Jadeja brought up his third test R. Jadeja c Woakes b Rashid 90 Rashid for six. fi fty in 104 balls, marking the J. Yadav c Ali b Stokes 55 “The shot that I got out to is my achievement with his trademark U. Yadav c Bairstow b Stokes 12 pet shot,” Jadeja told reporters. bat-swirling celebration. M. Shami not out 1 “I can hit six anytime with “It’s a traditional Rajput style. Extras (b8, lb4, w3, nb1) 16 that shot. I had the confi dence, I can’t bring a sword into the Total (all out, 138.2 overs) 417 but the ball came rather slow off ground, so have to make do with Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Vijay), 2-73 (Patel), the wicket and that’s why I didn’t the bat,” he said. 3-148 (Pujara), 4-152 (Rahane), 5-156 get the required impact. I am not Former India captain Sourav (Nair), 6-204 (Kohli), 7-301 (Ashwin), disappointed that I got out to a Ganguly is among those who be- 8-381 (Jadeja), 9-414 (J. Yadav), 10-417 shot like that.” lieve Jadeja is a better test bats- (U. Yadav) After 22 tests and constant man than his 23.5 average sug- Bowling: Anderson 21-4-48-0, Woakes speculation about whether he gests and the all-rounder does 24-7-86-0, Ali 13-1-33-0 (nb1), Rashid 38- was worth a place in the team, not lack self-belief. 6-118-4, Stokes 26.2-5-73-5 (w3), Batty Jadeja arrived at the crease with “It’s not that I consider myself 16-0-47-0 India in some trouble at 204-6. as a batsman, I am a proper bats- England attacked with a heav- man,” said Jadeja, the fi rst Indian England 2nd innings ily-packed off -side fi eld and he to hit three triple centuries in A. Cook b Ashwin 12 was largely content to nudge the fi rst-class cricket. J. Root not out 36 ball around until he got into the “I’ve been scoring runs in M. Ali c J. Yadav b Ashwin 5 70s when he went on the attack. fi rst-class cricket.... Of course J. Bairstow c Patel b J. Yadav 15 He moved outside his wicket this is my longest test knock B. Stokes lbw b Ashwin 5 to smash Chris Woakes for the but I knew I can play and pace G. Batty not out 0 fi rst of four boundaries in one my knock. I was not in a hurry. I Extras (b 4, lb 1) 5 over and charged down the pitch knew once I settle, I can acceler- Total (4 wickets; 38 overs) 78 to try to launch Rashid over ate after 50-60-70 balls.” Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Cook), 2-39 (Ali), 3-70 (Bairstow), 4-78 (Stokes) Indian captain Virat Kohli (R) celebrates after R Ashwin (C) dismissed England batsman Ben Stocks yesterday. Bowling: Shami 7-2-17-0, U. Yadav 1-0-7- SAME 0, Ashwin 12-3-19-3, Jadeja 12-4-18-0, J. AFP him going for reviews, fi rst by India and a heck of a lot of runs. There’s still a lot of Yadav 6-1-12-1 Mohali then by the batsman himself. batting within the shed.” To bat: H. Hameed, J. Buttler, C. Woakes, But he survived only to see his stumps Earlier India’s fi rst innings saw fi ve A. Rashid, J. Anderson Pakistan name shattered later on. half-centuries before the hosts, who re- avichandran Ashwin’s fi ne all- Ashwin kept up the pressure from his sumed the day on 271-6, were bowled out round performance put India end as he bamboozled Moeen Ali (5) with for 417 in the afternoon. er-order performance. unchanged squad fi rmly in control of the third Test a fl ighted delivery, causing the batsman “They have won today. I think up un- The left-handed Jadeja, who started yesterday, as he followed up a to give away a catch to mid-on. til this morning, it was evenly poised... the day on 31, took over responsibility for dominantR innings of 72 with three wick- Root sought to steady the innings with they played well this morning. Give them piloting the innings after the fall of his for Australia series ets to leave England reeling on 78 for four. Jonny Bairstow, but the wicketkeeper- credit,” said Bairstow. overnight partner Ashwin. The visitors, who conceded a 134-run batsman’s resistance did not last long. Ashwin’s wicket ended a 97-run sev- AFP Christchurch by eight wickets. fi rst-innings lead, trailed their hosts by 56 Off -spinner Jayant Yadav got Bairstow, BOWLERS FRUSTRATED enth-wicket stand between him and Karachi They were set a daunting 369- runs with six second-innings wickets re- who top-scored with a dogged 89 in Eng- Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with 90 Jadeja. run target by New Zealand in the maining at stumps on day three in Mohali. land’s fi rst innings of 283, caught behind while Jayant Yadav’s 55 — his maiden fi fty The pair had lifted India after the loss second Test in Hamilton yester- Joe Root (36) and nightwatchman Ga- for 15. in only his second Test — gave the Eng- of four wickets in the fi nal session on akistan resisted the day. reth Batty (0) were at the crease. An unrelenting Ashwin, the world’s land bowlers a frustrating two sessions Sunday. temptation to change Inzamam said a lot of names Root opened with Alastair Cook in top-ranked Test bowler, then trapped of play. “Any team will have a plus point if its and retained the same were considered but after con- the absence of teenager Haseeb Hameed Ben Stokes lbw for fi ve as the visitors Seam bowler Stokes claimed his third lower-middle order is contributing. If 16-man squad which is sultation with captain Misbah- with a hand injury. slipped further. Test fi ve-wicket haul while leg-spinner the last 7-11 (batsmen) can give 50 to 100 currentlyP on tour in New Zea- ul-Haq and coach Mickey Arthur He will bat later in the innings but “We’ve lost a few wickets this evening, Rashid took four wickets. runs extra for the team it’s a bonus,” said land for their upcoming series the same squad was retained. could miss the rest of the series, depend- which was not ideal, that was not the Jadeja, who registered his career-best Jadeja. in Australia, their chief selector Former Test wicket-keeper ing on what X-rays reveal. plan,” Bairstow told reporters. Test score surpassing his 68 at Lord’s in Skipper Virat Kohli (62) and yesterday. Kamran Akmal, Usman Salahud- Ashwin drew fi rst blood by getting “However, we still got Root out there 2014, fell 10 runs short of his maiden Test Cheteshwar Pujara (51) also contributed The two-Test series in New din and Asif Zakir were unlucky Cook bowled for 12. in the middle, we still got Jos (Buttler) ton. half-centuries. Zealand will be completed today, to not be in the squad after scor- The England skipper had been living to come, we still got Woakesy (Chris But his 80-run stand with Jayant Ya- India lead the fi ve-match series 1-0 and the Pakistan team will leave ing big in an ongoing domestic dangerously, with two lbw calls against Woakes) to come and (Adil) Rashid scored dav underpinned India’s impressive low- with one game drawn. for Australia a day later where tournament. they play the fi rst of three Tests Akmal, who played the last of — a day-night aff air in Brisbane his 53 Tests at Lord’s in London NEW ZEALAND VS PAKISTAN, 2ND TEST — from December 15. in 2010, has piled up 826 runs, Chief selector Inzamam-ul- while Zakir has 811 and Salahud- Haq said continuity is necessary. din 813. “We have kept the same The remaining two Tests will 16-member squad for the tour be played in Melbourne (Decem- of Australia because we believe ber 26-30) and Sydney (January in continuity and think that the 3-7). Taylor hundred gives Kiwis edge same team has done well in Eng- Pakistan will also play fi ve AFP two-Test series. tours as well as the fi rst Test land so it will do well in Australia one-day internationals in Aus- Hamilton, New Zealand The highest fourth-innings against Pakistan. as well,” Inzamam told AFP. tralia, a squad for which will be total on the ground is 344 for Taylor showed no sign of his Pakistan drew a four-match announced later. 6 by Sri Lanka in a drawn Test vision issues when he opened series 2-2 in England in August Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (cap- oss Taylor shrugged nearly 26 years ago. his account with a four off Imran this year, which briefl y lifted tain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, off his eye problems New Zealand skipper Kane Khan, setting the tone for an in- them to number one in the Test Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Asad to score a superb un- Williamson declared after a trade- nings that had 16 boundaries. rankings for the fi rst time in their Shafi q, Sharjeel Khan, Sarfraz beaten century as New mark cut to the boundary from He survived an lbw appeal history. Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, ZealandR set Pakistan a formi- Taylor took him to his century. on 16 in what was otherwise a However, they are in danger Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, dable 369-run target to win the Earlier Tom Latham laid the chanceless knock. of losing their fi rst Test series Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, second Test yesterday. Taylor foundations for the declaration Taylor said he had changed his against New Zealand in 31 years Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail fi nished 102 not out despite only with a battling 80 in a welcome technique to allow for his vision after failing the fi rst Test in Khan. being cleared to play two days return to form and Williamson problems and it paid off . before the Test after scarring on made 42. “I wanted to get a bit more his left eye threatened his vision. Pakistan made an early break- side on. I didn’t go out there to Scoreboard: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd Test New Zealand declared at 313 through when they dismissed play the cut shot any more than I for 5 and Pakistan were one Jeet Raval for two with the New have in the past. It’s just surpris- New Zealand first innings 271 Extras (lb6, w6, nb2) 14 without loss after facing three Zealand score on 11, but they ing how I was a little more side- (J. Raval 55, B. Watling 49 not Total (5 wkts dec) 313 overs before stumps. struggled to assert themselves on that shot came naturally.” out; Sohail Khan 4-99, Imran Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Raval), 2-107 Both sides vowed there would despite the wicket continuing to Latham lived on the edge. 3-52) (Williamson), 3-159 (Latham), be no holding back on the fi nal show life. He survived a runout appeal 4-219 (Nicholls), 5-254 (de day with Pakistan needing to win and had a moment of apprehen- Pakistan first innings 216 Grandhomme) to keep their world number two SIDE-ON SUCCESS sion when the big screen mis- (Babar Azam 90 not out, Sarfraz Bowling: Amir 22-4-86-1 (2w), ranking and New Zealand looking Williamson and Latham fell in takenly put up the word “out”. Ahmed 41; Southee 6-80, Wag- Sohail 17-2-69-0, Imran 20.3-4- to improve on seventh place. New Zeland’s Ross Taylor in action yesterday. the middle session, and Hen- On 41 he was dropped by Sami ner 3-59) 76-3, Riaz 19-3-53-1 (2nb), Azhar “All going well that last session ry Nicholls (26) and Colin de Aslam. But his luck deserted him 6-0-19-0, Shafiq 1-0-4-0 could be really entertaining,” said “Probably for the past year, our best to retain that,” he said. Grandhomme (32) went after the trying to fend off a Wahab Riaz New Zealand second innings Taylor, who was pleased he made for the fi rst fi ve to 10 balls of the “We will defi nitely try to go tea interval. bouncer and the ball looped off J. Raval lbw b Amir 2 Pakistan second innings the decision to play. innings I haven’t picked up the for the target. The fi rst session New Zealand, having won the his gloves to Sarfraz Ahmed be- T. Latham c Ahmed b Riaz 80 Sami Aslam not out 1 “There were defi nitely balls as I would have liked.” will be very important.” fi rst Test, need only a draw to beat hind the stumps. Williamson c Ahmed b Imran 42 Azhar Ali not out 0 thoughts going through my mind Pakistan quick Mohammad The tourists will have to bet- Pakistan for the fi rst time in 13 The wicketkeeper also R. Taylor not out 102 Extras 0 not to play so it was nice to draw Amir dismissed talk of playing ter the record fourth-innings Test series dating back to 1985. snapped up Williamson who Nicholls c Ahmed b Imran 26 Total: (0 wkts, 3 overs) 1 on a bit of experience — I’ve been for a draw. succesful run chase at Seddon Taylor and Latham had both feathered a good-length Imran Grandhomme c Azhar b Imran 32 Bowling: Southee 2-1-1-0, Henry in that situation before — and put “We like to be among the top Park of 212 for 4 by Australia in struggled for runs through re- delivery to break a 96-run stand B. Watling not out 15 1-1-0-0 the team in a good place. teams in the world and we will try 2000 to win today and save the cent South Africa and India with Latham. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 29, 2016 3 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS Questions remain despite Australia’s New-look Aussies victory in Adelaide ‘copped a lot’, says coach Lehmann ‘You feel sad for the blokes who missed out in this Test but the guys who came in did a really good job... a new young group going forward, really pleased for them’ Australia’s captain Steve Smith (L) and Usman Khawaja (R). Reuters a solid, if not spectacular, outing Sydney as the third seamer. Matt Wade, also recalled, raised the decibel levels behind ustralia’s new-look side the stumps but made four runs delivered the minimum with the bat as his predecessor as required with a victory wicketkeeper, Peter Nevill, made over South Africa in the a point of his own with 179 not deadA rubber third test on Sunday out for New South Wales in the but there was understandable Sheffi eld Shield. caution about proclaiming it the With a three-test home series dawning of a new era Down Un- against Pakistan coming up next der. month, a trip to India early next The Australians axed half their year and a home Ashes series in team and brought in three new 12 month’s time, it looks highly caps for the day-nighter in Ad- likely the selectors will stick with elaide after losing the series in their hand in the short-term. an innings and 80-run defeat in After Hobart, coach Darren Hobart, a fi fth straight test loss Lehmann said only Smith, open- that left captain Steve Smith er Dave Warner and the two pace ‘humiliated’. spearheads were assured of their But although Smith lauded the places in the side. “fi ght, resilience and character” To that quartet must now be shown by the team on Sunday, added Khawaja, who has been it was a masterful innings from a recalled and discarded with reg- 29-year-old batsman who made ularity over the last fi ve years. his debut fi ve years ago that laid Often criticised for his dif- the groundwork for the seven- fi dence in a team culture where wicket victory. the pugnacious Warner is of- Usman Khawaja’s 145 was his fered as the template, the elegant country’s only century of the lefthander’s seven-hour epic series and fi nally gave the un- was proof that there is more than doubtedly world class pace duo one way to show character on a of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazle- cricket pitch. wood something to bowl at. As far as South African skip- New cap Peter Handscomb hit per Faf du Plessis was concerned, a maiden half century in the fi rst Khawaja’s knock was the diff er- innings and the winning run in ence between the team that lost the second, while 20-year-old the fi rst two matches and the one opener Matt Renshaw, who had that won in Adelaide. gritted out an unbeaten 34 from “Hundreds is what changes 167 balls, was at the other end games for you,” he said. when the victory was clinched. “And that will be the challenge Middle order batsman Nic for the Australian team going File picture of Australia’s batsman Matt Renshaw (front) and teammate Peter Handscomb making the winning run against South Africa on the fourth day of the third Test. Maddinson failed to score a run forward. in his maiden innings and the re- If they can do that, they will be AFP whitewash. the older guys go — it makes it easier. “I’m just pleased for the players. called Jackson Bird took 3-111 in a good team.” Adelaide “I’m just pleased for the players. The “But then you’ve got diff erent condi- The players have copped a lot over players have copped a lot over the last few tions and blokes in and out of form. So the last few weeks and they’ve weeks and they’ve responded really well. you just have to sum it up along the way, responded really well. Obviously a PRAISE ustralia coach Darren Lehmann Obviously a change of players as well. but yeah it’d be lovely to do that.” change of players as well. said his players “copped a lot” of “You feel sad for the blokes who criticism before they emphati- missed out in this Test match but the ‘DAMNED IF YOU DO’ ODI series against New Zealand -- al- cally halted a run of Test defeats guys who came in did a really good job... Lehmann’s coaching role was under though he wasn’t sure if they would play Snail-paced Aussie againstA South Africa, adding that he’d love a new young group going forward, really the spotlight during the run of defeats, every game. to keep his new-look team together. pleased for them.” which prompted chairman of selectors “(They will) play. We get in trouble if Lehmann said he was delighted for the Lehmann said the door wasn’t closed Rod Marsh to step down calling for some we don’t play (them)... They’re going to opener Renshaw gets experimental side, which featured fi ve for the players who were dropped, but “fresh thinking”. play. At some stage,” he said. changes including three debutants, as added that he’d like to keep the new One key criticism was the decision to Lehmann added: “We gave them a Australia’s selection gamble paid off in group together — if that is possible, with rest fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and John break, didn’t we? So they should get Khawaja support the third Test against South Africa. varying playing conditions and peaks and Hazlewood for the 5-0 ODI defeat in through the (Australian) summer. The Australians ended a fi ve-Test los- troughs in form. South Africa, with Proteas skipper Faf du “But we got in trouble for that as well. AFP ing streak with a commanding seven- “You’d love to have continuity all the Plessis suggesting it gave his side a men- You’re damned if you do, damned if you Adelaide wicket victory over the Proteas, after be- time (but) in this day and age sometimes tal edge. don’t.” ing well beaten in the previous two games that’s not possible,” Lehmann said. In Adelaide, Starc and Hazlewood hit Straight-talking Lehmann also of the three-Test series. “But you’d love to keep a group togeth- form as they took 12 wickets between brushed off high performance manager ustralia’s Test hero “Well, we won,” he said, when asked er, a younger group especially with David them to bowl Australia to victory in the Pat Howard’s call for him to “reinvent”, Usman Khawaja said what the diff erence was compared to the Warner being our oldest at 30. day-night third Test in Adelaide. saying: “I was going to wear a suit to the young opener Matt fi rst two Tests, which left Australia on the “If you can keep the group together for Lehmann said there were no plans to press conference. I didn’t. Renshaw can change verge of their fi rst ever home Test series fi ve years or so, or whatever it is — until rest them for the upcoming, three-match “I chose not to.” gearsA and abandon his steadfast batting technique when required after guiding the team to an over- BOTTOMLINE due victory over South Africa. The English-born debutant, one of fi ve changes in the Austral- ian team, fi nished unbeaten on 34 from 137 balls as they ended a run of fi ve Test defeats with a seven- File picture of Matt Renshaw. wicket victory in the pink-ball Stand-in skipper Du Plessis is Test in Adelaide on Sunday. him take down some attacks, I’ve Despite displaying a resilience seen him come against a few spin- and determination previously ners and heave them for some big missing from Australia’s bats- sixes and change gears. men in the lost South Africa se- “He’s a 20-year-old playing S.Africa’s hero, Australia’s villain ries, the 20-year-old received Test cricket. He’s doing great some sarcastic cheers from the for a 20-year-old, he’d be doing Reuters spite the century but that in no “He’s been outstanding,” crowd over his snail-paced scor- great for a 25-year-old.” Sydney way diminished his pleasure at said the coach. “The team ing, including a stretch of 32 de- Renshaw said he was con- South Africa’s third straight se- supported him throughout liveries without a run. scious while edging Australia ries triumph in Australia, a feat and just the hundred that Renshaw’s dour style was also in towards victory of feeling some hat coach Russell Do- matched in the modern era only he got in this test match evidence during the fi rst evening agitation from the crowd, as fans mingo was forced to by the great West Indies sides of shows the person that he is of the day-night Test when he grew impatient with the team’s fi eld a question about the 1980s and 90s. and the character he has.” survived 12 overs against a strong meandering pursuit of the 127- the captaincy of the “Mission successful,” he told South African bowling attack with run winning target. TSouth Africa team in the wake of reporters in Adelaide. shows the person that he is and a new pink ball — key at a time “I was just trying to have fun the Adelaide day-night test was “The last four days wasn’t the character he has.” when it was sorely needed by his but once the crowd got going testimony to the impact Faf du planned but Australia fought Du Plessis was delighted with transitional side. that was the hard part. I had to Plessis had on the series. back nicely. We came here to win the way the pace bowling unit of But Khawaja, who was man just keep myself grounded and Standing in as skipper for the the series, which we did in Ho- Vernon Philander, Kagiso Raba- of the match for his near-eight not do something stupid,” Ren- injured AB de Villiers and with- bart. It was an incredible series da and Kyle Abbott had “stepped hour fi rst innings 145 spanning shaw said. out pace spearhead Dale Steyn to win it 2-1 and to do it three up” in the absence of Steyn. three days, says there is more to “It’s pretty hard when the for all but a day and a half of the times in a row is a huge eff ort.” Asked how he would remem- Renshaw’s game than just rock- crowd gets up and adrenalin gets campaign, the 32-year-old bats- Domingo confi rmed that the ber the series after all the furore solid defence. up. You want to play the big shot man delivered a 2-1 series tri- totemic de Villiers would return surrounding the ball tampering “He’s got a really good tempera- but you don’t want to get out.” umph that sent Australia plum- as skipper for the home series verdict, which he has appealed, ment, a really good head on him. While Renshaw was ultra- meting into crisis. against Sri Lanka if he has recov- du Plessis was clear. What you saw during this Test cautious, his skipper Steve Smith His contribution was not ered from his elbow injury but “I will remember it for win- match was one bit of Matt Ren- was out caught behind for 40 fi ve without controversy and he paid tribute to the contribution ning the series. That’s what we shaw’s game,” Khawaja told re- balls before the winning run was fl irted with being Australia’s South African captain Faf du Plessis (R) with Dean Elgar. of his temporary replacement. came here to do,” he said. porters after Sunday’s win. scored by Peter Handscomb, an- Public Enemy Number One “He’s been outstanding,” said “There was a little bit of huff “He’s got a very good temper- other Test newcomer. when he was found guilty of ball His retort to being booed onto nothing about his integrity but the coach. and puff over the last few days ament, a good defence, he plays Renshaw, with scores of 10 and tampering after being pictured the pitch at Adelaide, however, spoke volumes about his ability “The team supported him but to overcome what happened the ball well and plays it late. 34 not out, is expected to keep applying saliva to the ball with a was an innings of 118 not out, to deal with pressure. throughout and just the hundred and score that hundred is some- “Hopefully, you’ll also be able to his spot for the fi rst Test against mint in his mouth. a knock that might have said The Proteas lost the test de- that he got in this test match thing I will remember forever.” see the other part of him. I’ve seen Pakistan in Brisbane next month. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, November 29, 2016 FORMULA ONE

SPOTLIGHT Mercedes to confront Rosberg-Hamilton ‘anarchy’ ‘It’s very simple: anarchy does not work in any team and in any company. A precedent has been set’

AFP of the year were to get in the top-fi ve so Abu Dhabi as to emerge as the nearest challenger to Mercedes.” Things went far better than that. The ercedes’ celebrations over team ended “second in the constructors, Nico Rosberg’s fi rst world won two grands prix, in Barcelona, Max title have been overshad- the youngest ever winner in F1, Daniel owed by “anarchy” between achieving a one-two fi nish in Malaysia theM world champion and Lewis Hamil- plus 14 other podiums, it’s been an in- ton. credible year for us,” said Horner. Some reports have said the team “There’s no guarantees, Mercedes could even punish the Briton for slowing will be fi rmly the favourites next year, down the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sun- again, but we’re hoping to close that gap day in the hope that arch-rival team- down and hopefully during the course of mate Rosberg could be overtaken and next year take the challenge to them.” lose the title. The 2017 season will see heavier, fast- Hamilton twice rejected team in- er cars, by up to fi ve seconds a lap, with structions to speed up as Rosberg came wider wings and tyres. Many paddock under threat from Ferrari’s Sebastian observers believe this will give Red Bull’s Vettel. highly-rated designer Adrian Newey a Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said “It’s chance to create another race-winning very simple: anarchy does not work in machine. any team and in any company. A prec- Horner believes the changes will up edent has been set.” the pressure on Mercedes, who have “Undermining a structure in public won the last three drivers’ and con- means you are putting yourself before structors’ championships following an the team.” era of Red Bull domination when four- According to Wolff , Mercedes will time champion Vettel won his titles. “look at the overall situation and say Mercedes won 19 of this year’s record ‘what does it mean?’ Everything is pos- 21 races with Red Bull winning the other sible. two races, one by Dutch teenager Max “Maybe we want to give them more free- Verstappen, who became the young- dom next year, or go with the harsher side est race winner in history, and one from where we feel the values were not respected. Australian Daniel Ricciardo. I am not sure yet where my finger is going to But at the end of the year, Red Bull point or the needle is going to go.” Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit on Sunday. were nearly 300 points adrift of the Hamilton has said Mercedes should dominant Silver Arrows — a result that have just let the teammates race out “We were fi ghting for the champi- lenges next season when Formula One number one box offi ce attraction leaving changed. Red Bull boss Christian Horner hit hopes for a more competitive cham- their rivalry. onship, I was in the lead so I control ushers in a raft of rule changes and the champion team is not likely. has made clear he believes his team will pionship to stop the fall in television “I don’t think I did anything danger- the pace.” But Hamilton’s behaviour faster cars. Wolff may be more worried by the mount a serious title bid next year. viewing fi gures. Offi cial reports indicate ous, I don’t think I did anything unfair,” and future relationship with Rosberg With the sport now owned by US gi- prospect of a revived challenge from “It’s been an amazing season,” Horner the sport has lost 200 mn viewers since said Hamilton. will be only one of a host of new chal- ant Liberty Media, the prospect of its Red Bull and Ferrari after the rules are said. Our expectations at the beginning 2008.

WELL DESERVED Hamilton calm about ‘headmaster’ summons

AFP do anything to harm the team or the Rosberg stays focused to brand. Abu Dhabi “But we won the constructors’ championship so it was down to me ewis Hamilton insists he did and Nico today. However, they felt nothing wrong during the they still needed to make comments. celebrate sweet fi rst F1 title closing laps in Sunday’s Abu We will discuss it afterwards as we DPA dogged competitor over a more gifted Dhabi Grand Prix when he always do.” opponent. It was the triumph of the slowedL the pace to make life diffi cult Hamilton had left his disappoint- Abu Dhabi retriever over the greyhound, the tor- for title-rival Nico Rosberg. ment within minutes of the race and toise over the hare.” The defending three-time world joked during one television inter- ico Rosberg celebrated his There is, it added, “also an all- champion won, but his Mercedes view that he was looking forward to fi rst Formula One champi- round excellence to Rosberg’s game team-mate Rosberg fi nished second being called in “to the headmaster’s onship title into the early that is unusual. He has no important under intense pressure to claim the offi ce.” hours yesrterday in a tri- weakness, even if there is nothing championship. “Yeh, I’m looking forward to it umphN all the sweeter for coming very special either.” Rosberg put his “I don’t think I did anything dan- and I’ll go in there with a Tequila,” against his Mercedes teammate Lewis triumph partly down to a decision to gerous, I don’t think I did anything he said, as the Mercedes team party Hamilton. try to focus only on the next race and unfair,” said Hamilton. began all around him. Three-time champion Hamilton, not allow himself to be unsettled by “We were fi ghting for the champi- Hamilon needed to win and see the winner of the previous two sea- the rivalry with Hamilton. “For sure onship, I was in the lead so I control Rosberg fi nish off the podium to re- sons when Rosberg was runner-up, it’s a key ingredient as to why I’m the pace.... That is the rules.” tain his crown by winning a fourth was absent at the party in the Amber here now. It’s the approach I’ve tak- Hamilton twice ignored team in- championship. Lounge of the Yas Links golf club in en,” Rosberg said. structions to pick up the pace, fi rstly He had seemed to be annoyed Abu Dhabi, according to Germany’s “I’ve really learned to focus hard. from his race engineer and then from during the race when instructed to Bild newspaper. It takes a lot of sacrifi ce to stay so fo- Mercedes technical chief Paddy drive faster. The 31-year-old Briton is also cused for the whole year.” Hamilton Lowe, as he backed up the fi eld to “Right now, I’m losing the world likely to face sanctions from his team meanwhile left the circuit defending try and push Rosberg within reach of championship, so I’m not bothered after his “nasty” attempt to slow sec- his go-slow tactic at the front of Sun- Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari. if I win or lose this race,” he re- ond-placed Rosberg while heading to day’s race, in the hope rivals could Asked during a post-race news sponded. victory in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand overtake Rosberg behind him and conference if he was annoyed by the In the end, Hamilton’s tactics did Prix, Bild said. Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s German driver Nico Rosberg (C-R) celebrates in defi ance of team instructions to team instructions, he said: “Not re- not work and he lost the title by fi ve Rosberg, who needed to fi nish only with his wife Vivian Sibold and members of his team at the end of the Abu Dhabi step up the pace. “I don’t think I did ally. I don’t know why they didn’t points despite taking his 10th win of on the podium to win the title, is the Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday. anything dangerous today, or unfair,” just let us race. the year, the most by any driver not third German to win the title after Hamilton said. “There was never a moment where to be champion. Michael Schumacher and Sebastian has dual Finnish-German citizen- position (12-8) but had the less for- “We’re fi ghting for a world cham- I felt I was going to lose the race. It Hamilton added sincere praise for Vettel. He is also the fi rst driver to ship, although the fi ve languages he tune with mechanical stability. The pionship, I was in the lead of the is a shame that it is quite clear their Rosberg and congratulations. beat a champion in his own team to speaks fl uently don’t include Finnish. BBC’s F1 correspondent said the fact race, so I control the pace. That’s the thought process... and I don’t have “He has done a fantastic job and win the title since 1989 when Alain “I have a Finnish passport as well, that Hamilton “was badly aff ected by rules.” Mercedes motorsport chief much to say to be honest. it is a great feeling to win a cham- Prost overcame McLaren team-mate so I would love to know that every- reliability cannot be avoided when Toto Wolff said Hamilton had ignored “I was hoping he (Vettel) would pionship — I don’t want to do or say Ayrton Senna. body in Finland that was supporting seeking the answer” to the question the team’s rules of engagement, but close up, but his tyres were going off anything to reduce that for Nico,” he Rosberg meanwhile emulated his me is also very, very happy,” he said. of how Rosberg won the title. left the question of possible sanc- towards the end — and Nico drove said. Finnish father Keke Rosberg who won Rosberg’s triumph “is also a victo- At the same time “there is no doubt tions open. Undermining the team’s well to not make mistakes. “I did everything I could,” added the title in 1982. They are the sec- ry for perseverance and faith in one’s that Rosberg delivered the best sea- structure in public means putting “It was pretty chilled at the end. It Hamilton. “Obviously, Nico had a ond father-son champions follow- own strength. Rosberg has proved to son of his career,” he wrote, while yourself before the team, “and anar- may have been intense for you, but very clean year without any real is- ing Graham (1962, 1968) and Damon his critics that a champion is in him,” adding: “He is still not — and never chy doesn’t work within any team or not intense for me. sues to be honest. (1996) Hill. Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine will be — Hamilton’s equal as a rac- any company,” Wolff said. “For me, I am in a position where “That is why we sit in this posi- “Two Rosbergs are champions Zeitung said. ing driver.” On the other hand, it is hard to de- I had a lot of points lost during the tion right now. He did a fantastic job, now” Rosberg said. “It’s a really spe- In the end, fi ve points separated Britain’s Guardian said Rosberg’s mand of a driver of Hamilton’s cali- season so for me I am out there congratulations to him. It’s a great cial feeling.” Finland can also cel- Rosberg from Hamilton, who won fi rst Formula One championship was bre to go against his race instincts, he fi ghting and generally never try to feeling to win the championship.” ebrate a world champion as Rosberg more races (10-9) and had more pole “a classic victory for the diligent, added.

BOTTOMLINE Button and Massa make emotional exits AFP Button was forced into retirement after Massa drove 250 races for Sauber, Ferrari Abu Dhabi only 12 laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix won and Williams. by former McLaren team-mate and compa- Button, who came into Formula One aged triot Lewis Hamilton, for Mercedes. 20 in 2000, started 305 races and, like Massa, enson Button and Felipe Massa made Hamilton’s current Mercedes team-mate has been much admired for his easy-going emotional exits from Formula One on Nico Rosberg fi nished second to claim his fi rst personality. Sunday when they took part in their fi - drivers’ world title. “Our reliability is something we pride our- nal races of long and successful careers. Massa finished the race in ninth position selves on — we don’t have failures. It’s so unu- JBriton Button, the 2009 champion, and to score points in his final race for Williams, sual. It’s unlucky, but to be fair I don’t really Massa, who missed out on the 2008 title in the team with which Button started his ca- care,” he said on Sunday. dramatic circumstances after winning his reer. “But it doesn’t change any feelings of my home Brazilian Grand Prix, were both given “I am so proud and it is very emotional,” career and ending my career. I’m very content warm farewells by their teams, friends and said Massa. “I have enjoyed it all so much and with what I’ve achieved. Tonight’s going to be paddock regulars. will have wonderful memories of my time.” a hell of a lot of fun.” Gulf Times Tuesday, November 29, 2016 5 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT DETERMINED Beleaguered S Africa coach Coetzee won’t All Blacks coach stand down Hansen now turns focus to Lions tour

‘Sometimes you get the luxury of allowing players to go through the June series and South Africa’s head coach Allister Coetzee. getting them in the right condition. They have got to turn up in the right condition’ Reuters said Coetzee. Johannesburg “This now is a massive oppor- tunity for SA Rugby to not only plaster over the cracks, but to outh Africa coach Allister clean it up. Coetzee has defi ed calls “We’ve got six months until to quit after the worst we get back together again and year in Springbok history, need to spend that time wisely, sayingS yesterday he was deter- planning for how we’re going to mined to fi x the problem and see get back to the top,” he added. out his contract. Coetzee, appointed in April, “I’ve been appointed to 2019 was heavily criticised after South and I want to make sure that Africa lost 27-13 to Wales in Car- when I leave I do so with a fi rm, diff to end a dreadful tour, which concrete, tangible blueprint in included a fi rst ever defeat by Italy. place for how the Springboks “I feel dreadfully sorry for Al- must be run,” he told reporters lister because he is a decent guy as the team returned home after but better Springboks coaches a dismal tour of Europe. than him have been fi red,” said Having lost to England, Italy Nick Mallett, one of his pred- and Wales, South Africa slipped to ecessors and the country’s fore- sixth in the World Rugby rankings. most rugby analyst on television. It meant they fi nished with South Africa have not yet an- eight defeats in 12 tests this year nounced fi xtures for 2017 but are for the worst return in 125 years expected to host France for three of Bok rugby. tests in June before playing in “Sometimes things have got the Rugby Championship from to go as low as they can before August-October before ending they can go upwards again,” the year again on tour in Britain.

REQUIREMENT Hosting Olympics needs unwavering commitment: IOC

AFP Koike said that Tokyo wants Tokyo to introduce a spirit of avoiding New Zealand’s players perform the haka before the rugby union Test match between France and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. wastefulness by “drawing on ef- forts in Rio as well as the IOC’s Reuters He said he was planning a pre-season had proved extremely valuable for the okyo and other upcom- long experience, wisdom and Paris camp for about 40 players in January to coach ahead of the Lions tour and look- ing Olympic host cities knowledge”. assess fi tness levels. ing towards the 2019 World Cup in Japan. must make an “unwa- The debriefi ng came as nego- “It will allow them to go into Super The All Blacks’ 40-29 loss to Ireland Tvering commitment” tiations over options for moving fter wrapping up the season by Rugby in the best nick that we can pos- in Chicago, a 21-9 victory in the return to achieving a successful Games, some Tokyo 2020 venues inten- beating France to earn a 13th sibly get them into at that point,” added clash in Dublin before the season-ending the International Olympic Com- sifi ed. win in 14 matches on Saturday, Hansen. 24-19 win over a much improved France mittee (IOC) urged yesterday, as Tokyo is eyeing ways to save All Blacks coach Steve Hansen “Sometimes you get the luxury of al- had been just what his side needed. cost overruns plague the run-up money after warnings that costs immediatelyA turned his thoughts to next lowing players to go through the June se- “I think we got asked even more ques- to Tokyo’s 2020 event. could hit an eye-watering $30 year’s highly anticipated British and Irish ries and getting them in the right condi- tions (over the last four weeks),” he said. In a video message to a de- billion – four times the initial Lions tour of New Zealand. tion. They have got to turn up in the right “The key thing I’m happy with is that the briefi ng in the Japanese capital estimate and almost triple that A fi rst loss in 111 years to Ireland, who condition. leaders have stood up (and)... the charac- on the Rio Olympics, IOC chief of the 2012 London Olympics. also beat Australia, and the performances “We just can’t aff ord anyone to be be- ter the team showed at times. Thomas Bach hailed them as Options include relocating of an improving Scotland and an impres- New Zealand’s head coach Steve Hansen. hind the eight ball in June.” “We have lost Richie (McCaw), Con- “marvellous games” held in a venues for canoeing and rowing sive England under Eddie Jones on the Hansen said he was relatively pleased rad (Smith) and Ma’a (Nonu)... and those “marvellous city.” as well as volleyball, and scaling November end-of-season tours has un- mercurial backline, but Hansen said next with his side’s performances this year, guys in the pressure cooker of a test “Organising the Olympic back plans for a new swimming derscored the challenge his team will face year’s version would be incredibly tough especially after they lost so much expe- match have been ice cool and calm and Games is an intensive process that venue. next June. to beat. rience with the international retirements have allowed the team to come out the requires creativity, discipline and Koike and Bach agreed last Only one Lions side have been suc- “They are probably going to be the of six stalwarts following the 2015 World other side. collaboration with many people month to set up a working group cessful in New Zealand, with the Car- best Lions team to come down for a long Cup. “To lose them and still be able to do and stakeholders,” he said. to try to control costs. wyn James coached 1971 team enthral- time, with what they have got to select,” While they romped through their fi rst that the majority of the time, other than “Most importantly, it requires IOC offi cial Christophe Dubi ling crowds with a toughened pack and Hansen told reporters in Paris. 10 matches, the last four in November probably Chicago, has been satisfying.” unwavering commitment.” said earlier this month the row- The three-day debriefi ng ing and canoeing could take has drawn senior offi cials from place in Miyagi prefecture, 250 BOTTOMLINE the IOC and Olympic organ- miles (400 kilometres) north isers from Rio and Tokyo as of Tokyo, and the volleyball in well as the hosts of the Winter Yokohama south of the capital, Games in 2018, South Korea’s following recommendations Pyeongchang, and 2022, which from a Koike-appointed panel of are being held in Beijing. experts. Among others taking part But Tokyo offi cials have faced Jones has tarnished legacy in were Tokyo governor Yuriko resistance from 2020 organisers, Koike and Rio de Janeiro mayor who argue that moving some Eduardo Paes. events to Miyagi, which was Bach has previously praised badly hit by Japan’s 2011 tsuna- the Rio Games, which were gen- mi disaster, could actually cost Australia, says Cheika erally seen as successful despite more because the region lacks AFP you leave.” into them? I know what I do, Brazil’s political and economic the proper infrastructure. London Jones has already taken a pre- even in a country like Ireland crisis and security and attend- Dubi said Sunday in Tokyo match swipe at Australia by when I’m there, where I coached ance problems. that detailed options for mov- calling for a meeting with ref- for many years. Koike, now spearheading ing some Tokyo venues would be ngland head coach Eddie eree Jaco Peyper so he can raise “I didn’t coach the national a cost-cutting fi ght, told the presented at a meeting involving Jones has tarnished the concerns about the Wallabies’ team there, but that’s the choice meeting that she wants to learn the IOC, Tokyo 2020 organisers, legacy of his achieve- scrummaging. he wants to make and he thinks from Rio, where she said materi- the Tokyo metropolitan govern- ments with his native Cheika laughed off Jones’s is best for his team.” als for some facilities were recy- ment and the Japanese govern- Australia,E his Wallabies coun- remarks following Australia’s Cheika voiced an intention cled to build a school. ment today. terpart Michael Cheika said yes- 27-24 loss to Ireland in Dublin at to arrange a meeting with ref- terday. the weekend, but he believes the erees’ chief Alain Rolland over Cheika believes Jones went former Japan coach has taken his his side’s heavy penalty count German state TV won’t broadcast 2018-24 Games over the top in his attempts to mind games too far. against Ireland, but admitted he give England a psychological “I’m not 100 percent sure had yet to receive a reply from Germany’s public broadcast- with Germany’s ARD and ZDF edge during their tour of Aus- what’s gone on after Saturday, the Irishman. ers will not screen the Olym- had broken down, meaning tralia in June, when the tourists but I’m sure he’ll be into it,” said “That’s probably a little bit pic Games live for the first that the two public stations recorded a 3-0 series win. the former Leinster coach. where Australia’s at at the mo- time after they balked at the will not be screening the next Jones, who guided Australia “In June I sort of gave the ment,” said Cheika. huge rights deal demanded by four games. to the 2003 World Cup fi nal, ac- opportunity to see how a “We don’t have a lot of refe- US giant Discovery. Ulrich Wilhelm, who handles cused the Australian media of former Australian would deal rees on the panel. We’ve only got Eurosport, owned by Discov- sports broadcast rights at being disrespectful, but Cheika with it. It’s a bit like the goal- one on the panel. We don’t have ery Communications, paid ARD, said the broadcaster had believes his former Randwick scorer who scores against his any high-rollers at World Rugby 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion) sought to work towards an team-mates needs to have a look old team, you know? level, so we have very little say at for all broadcast rights in agreement. at his own behaviour. “I suppose it’s always diffi cult the moment in those areas. most of Europe for the games “But we have to recognise that “There was a lot of vitriol when you go back into a tour- “And we’ve got to improve, between 2018 and 2024. the demands from Discovery about Australia, his home na- nament where you’re playing that’s part of our thing. We’ve It has since been in talks with are beyond what we can tion,” Cheika told reporters at File picture of England head coach Eddie Jones. teams you’ve coached before. got to get more referees up there individual European broad- answer for,” he said, noting a press conference in London And you don’t really know how and involved at that level, be- caster to sub-licence the that the broadcaster depends ahead of Saturday’s clash be- the opportunities were given to “Personally, if you’re looking to play it. cause of the top-tier nations, we rights. on public licensing fees for its tween England and Australia. him to grow up as a coach and to leave a legacy somewhere, you “Do you stay reserved or do have the least representation at Yesterday, Discovery said talks income. “It’s where he coached, where play. don’t want to hit back at it when you go out there and get stuck the referees’ table.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, November 29, 2016 SPORT

NFL NBASPOTLIGHT Cavaliers Brady wins 200th rally to game, Chiefs rally beat 76ers AFP Results Los Angeles Cleveland ...... 112 PHILADELPHIA108 Denver ...... 120 PHOENIX ...... 114 eBron James delivered Sacramento ...... 122 BROOKLYN .....105 his third triple-double of Milwaukee ...... 104 ORLANDO ...... 96 the season as the Cleve- INDIANA ...... 91 LA Clippers ...... 70 past Broncos in OT land Cavaliers are off to Lone of the best starts in franchise Brady completed 30-of-40 passes for 286 yards, and became the fifth QB ever to surpass history with a 112-108 win over and they did,” 76ers coach Brett Philadelphia yesterday. Brown said. “We all felt it and 60,000 passing yards with an 18-yard completion in the second quarter to Julian Edelman. James and Kevin Love pow- saw it. I feel that’s the lesson we ered the off ence through three all learned since we’ve been to- quarters before Kyrie Irving took gether.” AFP over in the fourth for the defend- Philadelphia closed a fi ve- Los Angeles ing champion Cavaliers who im- game homestand at 2-3. proved to 13-2 on the season. “I think we’re getting better,” Irving scored 20 of his 39 Brown said. “I’m proud of their he New England Patriots squeezed points in the fi nal quarter, Love eff ort against the NBA champs.” past the New York Jets to give Tom had 25 points and 11 rebounds DeMarcus Cousins scored 18 Brady his 200th win on Sunday, and Cleveland rallied from an of his 37 points in the third quar- and Cairo Santos’ kicked a 34- early 14-point defi cit to win at ter and the Sacramento Kings yardT fi eld goal with no time left as Kansas 76ers’ Wells Fargo Center. snapped a seven-game road los- City stunned Denver. “When you have great play- ing streak to Brooklyn with a 122- Brady threw an eight-yard touchdown ers, it can come from any of us 105 win. pass to Malcolm Mitchell with 1:56 re- at any given moment,” said Irv- Cousins got off to a slow start maining as the Patriots rallied from an ing. “When one of us gets it go- by missing his fi rst three shots early 10-point defi cit to edge the Jets 22- ing, we always continue to go to and going zero of fi ve in the 17. that person. It can be anybody’s second quarter when the Kings Brady completed 30-of-40 passes for night. We’re always trusting each faced a nine-point defi cit. 286 yards, and became the fi fth quarter- other. But the centre helped Sacra- back ever to surpass 60,000 passing yards “That fourth quarter was just mento seize command by shoot- with an 18-yard completion in the second for me to be aggressive.” ing six of nine in the third. quarter to Julian Edelman. James added 26 points, 13 as- Rudy Gay added 22 points, He also earned his 200th career win, sists and 10 rebounds for an- eight assists and eight rebounds which ties him with the retired all-star other triple-double and Tristan for the Kings. Darren Collison Peyton Manning for the record by a quar- Thompson tallied 12 points and contributed 18 points for Sacra- terback. 12 rebounds. The Cavaliers have mento. The Patriots improved to 9-2 on the the top record in the Eastern Sean Kilpatrick led the Nets season and clinched their 16th straight Conference and are off to their with 22 points, but Brooklyn winning season, the longest such stretch best 15-game start in team his- was outscored 34-18 in the third in the NFL since the Dallas Cowboys had tory. quarter and lost its seventh 20 straight from 1966 to 1985. “Whoever has the hot hand, straight contest. The Patriots all-pro tight end Rob we want to continue to get it to In Phoenix, Wilson Chandler Gronkowski left the game in the fi rst quar- him,” James said. “Kyrie under- scored 25 points and Jameer Nel- ter due to a back injury and did not return. stands what needs to be done son added 21 to help the Denver Mitchell and Brady also joined forces for in order for us to win. He show- Nuggets outgun the Phoenix a four-yard score in the second quarter, cased that today.” Suns 120-114. while kicker Stephen Gostkowski booted Joel Embiid had 22 points and Emmanuel Mudiay had 19 three fi eld goals. nine rebounds, and Jahlil Oka- points and Kenneth Faried added NFL kickers earned their keep on Sun- for added 14 points and nine 14 points and nine rebounds for day, and no one did it more dramatically rebounds for Philadelphia, who the Nuggets. than Kansas City, who beat the Broncos lost to Cleveland for the eighth The backcourt of Eric Bledsoe 30-27 in overtime on Santos’ fi eld goal consecutive time. and Devin Booker combined for with no time remaining. Ersan Ilyasova and Gerald 65 points for Phoenix. Santos’ second fi eld goal of the overtime Henderson scored 13 points P.J. Tucker added 21 points pinballed off the left upright and stayed in each, Sergio Rodriguez had 12, and Tyson Chandler had 10 as the Chiefs gave their playoff hopes a Nik Stauskas contributed 11 and points and 15 rebounds, but the huge boost. Dario Saric added 10. Suns had to play from behind the Quarterback Alex Smith twice drove “They can go to another level entire game. the Chiefs to within fi eld-goal range in overtime and engineered the game-tying touchdown drive and two-point conver- sion in the fi nal moments of regulation. “None of these are gimmes, espe- cially in a situation like that. It has been windy all night. I am just thankful it went through,” said Smith. The Chiefs overcame a three-touch- down performance by Broncos quarter- back Trevor Siemian, including two scores in the fourth quarter, the last coming with three minutes left in regulation. The win gives the Chiefs an advantage on Denver in the race for a playoff spot. Kansas City took over sole possession of second place and remains one game be-

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws the ball as New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams (92) defends Results during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. PICTURE: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee ...... 27 CHICAGO ...... 21 hind the AFC West-leading Oakland Raid- to capitalize,” Smith said of the failed 62 injuring his right pinky while fumbling a BUFFALO...... 28 Jacksonville ...... 21 ers with fi ve games on the season. yard attempt. snap. BALTIMORE ...... 19 Cincinnati ...... 14 Denver attempted a 62-yard fi eld goal In Oakland, Sebastian Janikowski His 49-yard pass to wide receiver ATLANTA ...... 38 Arizona ...... 19 in overtime that was well short, giving the kicked a 23-yard fi eld goal with 1:45 left to Michael Crabtree set up the decisive fi eld NY Giants ...... 27 CLEVELAND ...... 13 Chiefs a fi nal chance. lift the Raiders to a 35-32 victory over the goal. NEW ORLEANS 49 Los Angeles ...... 21 Kansas City took over at the Denver 48 Carolina Panthers. In Atlanta, Taylor Gabriel ran 35 and 25 MIAMI...... 31 San Francisco ...... 24 with just over minute remaining in the Raiders quarterback Derek Carr had to yards for touchdowns on screen passes San Diego ...... 21 HOUSTON ...... 13 overtime. Smith quickly drove the Chiefs overcome an injured pinky as he marched from Matt Ryan, and the Atlanta Falcons TAMPA BAY ...... 14 Seattle ...... 5 down to the 16-yard line, setting up San- the Raiders 82 yards in 12 plays for Jan- toppled the Arizona Cardinals 38-19. OAKLAND ...... 35 Carolina ...... 32 tos’ winner. ikowski’s game-winner and Oakland’s Ryan completed 26-of-34 passes for LeBron James (No 23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket New England ...... 22 NY JETS ...... 17 “That kid has a big leg. They tried it. But fi fth straight win. 269 yards, and the Falcons maintained against TJ McConnell of the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter it gave us an opportunity and we were able Carr left the game at one point after their hold on fi rst place in the NFC South. at Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP)

NHL Hayes shines in Boston Bruins’ win over Tampa

Agencies the shutout, his second of the season and fourth Jamie McGinn scored the winning goal with New York of his young career. 3:44 left in regulation as Arizona continued its Hellebuyck blocked 20 shots in the third pe- mastery over Edmonton. riod, many of them from point-blank range. The victory extended the Coyotes’ run of immy Hayes notched his fi rst goal and The Jets gave the fans reason to make noise success against Edmonton to 25-straight games fi rst point in 36 games and Tuukka Rask when Drew Staff ord picked up a rebound from without a loss in regulation (21-0-4). came within 2:39 of a shutout to help the Jacob Trouba and wheeled around the net to Senators 2, Rangers 0 Boston Bruins end a three-game losing stuff the puck behind Predators goalie Juuse Craig Anderson made 33 saves as Ottawa de- streakJ with a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Saros for his fi rst of the season at 15:21 of the feated New York at Madison Square Garden. Lightning on Sunday. second period. Jean-Gabriel Pagueau and Mark Stone scored Hayes redirected a David Krejci pass past Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele put the game out for the Senators, who have won four straight. Ben Bishop to cap a three-goal second period of reach with his 12th goal of the season into an Antti Raanta made 18 saves for the Rangers, for the Bruins, who had scored four goals dur- empty net at 19:18 of the third period. Adam who have lost four of six and four straight at ing the losing streak. Rask stopped 30 Tampa Lowry followed 32 seconds later with his sixth home. Bay shots until Victor Hedman defl ected in a of the season with the Predators’ net still empty. Flyers 5, Flames 3 pass off the skate Boston’s Colin Miller to end Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2 Anthony Stolarz allowed a goal on just the what would have been Rask’s fourth shutout of Michael Leighton won his fi rst NHL game in second shot he faced but settled down to stop the season. almost six years as Carolina used a big second 29-of-32 shots in Philadelphia’s win over Cal- Dominic Moore and David Backes scored the period to rally past Florida at PNC Arena. gary at the Wells Fargo Center. fi rst two Boston goals. Viktor Stalberg, Jeff Skinner and Derek Ryan Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and rookie Jets 3, Predators 0 scored in a productive span early in the second Roman Lyubimov each picked up a goal and Winnipeg woke up in the second period and period as the Hurricanes won their fi fth home an assist for the Flyers, and Michael Raffl and it was enough to snap a fi ve-game losing streak. game in a row. Chris VandeVelde also netted goals as Philadel- Connor Hellebuyck stopped 42 shots in posting Coyotes 2, Oilers 1 phia halted a two-game losing streak. VERDICT Gulf Times Tuesday, November 29, 2016 7 SPORT

BASEBALL Dodgers are going against MLB’s debtor judgment The club is expected to reduce payroll for a second consecutive season, with the goal of cutting from about $300 million in 2015 to closer to $200 million in 2018

By Bill Shaikin he would prefer to work with the Dodg- Los Angeles Times ers so long as they work toward compli- ance. “I fi rmly believe that, over the long he Los Angeles Dodgers, who haul, they will be a club that will rou- have spent more than a billion tinely be in compliance with the debt dollars on player payroll in service rule,” he said. “I also believe it’s Tthe fi rst four seasons of Gug- important for the game not to have ma- genheim Baseball Management, face a jor dislocations in terms of people try- mandate to reduce debt in order to con- ing to get in compliance. We will con- form to Major League Baseball rules. tinue to work with them.” The club is expected to reduce pay- Kain declined to say if the team last roll for a second consecutive season, season had turned its fi rst profi t under with the goal of cutting from about Guggenheim ownership. $300 million in 2015 to closer to $200 “The business is as healthy as it’s million in 2018. ever been,” he said. The team says the reductions are un- Neither the league nor the team pub- related to baseball’s rules about debt, licly discloses fi nancial information. which demand clubs be in compli- Forbes magazine estimated the Dodgers ance within fi ve years of an ownership lost a total of $166 million from 2013- change. Rather, the Dodgers say they 15, the fi rst three full years of Guggen- spent heavily in the early days of Gug- heim ownership – almost $100 million genheim ownership in order to be com- more than the Philadelphia Phillies, at petitive as they rebuilt the organisa- $69 million. tion’s player development program and The Phillies since have slashed pay- infrastructure. roll commitments as part of a rebuild- So, while the Dodgers would have ing process. Forbes estimated that only to pay big in order to keep established one other team – the Toronto Blue Jays stars such as third baseman Justin – lost more than $6 million over those Turner and closer Kenley Jansen from three years. signing elsewhere as free agents, the Forbes also estimated last year that club says it otherwise is able to operate the Dodgers had debt of $400 million. more effi ciently because it has a minor “We’re not talking about, ‘Let’s reduce league system that is churning out the our payroll by $40 million and we’ll be young, relatively inexpensive talent compliant,’ “ said a person familiar with necessary to sustain a perennial con- the team’s fi nances but not authorised to tender. discuss them publicly. “They have hun- Commissioner Rob Manfred said he dreds of millions in debt.” did not believe fans should worry that When Guggenheim bought the ownership would diminish the Dodg- Dodgers for a record $2 billion in 2012, ers’ ability to win in order to satisfy the the new owners assumed $412 million debt rule. The Dodgers have won the in team debts as part of the deal. They National League West in each of the also funded the purchase in part with four full seasons under Guggenheim about $1.2 billion in investments from ownership, the longest streak in fran- Manfred said the Dodgers’ fi ve-year iture – close to $100 million in 2015 any future tax would be lower, poten- nancial offi cer and the managing direc- insurance companies controlled by chise history. waiver from the debt service require- alone – involved payments to players tially saving the team tens of millions tor of Guggenheim Baseball Manage- Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, as the “I think the Dodgers will be in a posi- ments was authorized by the collective no longer on the roster. The Dodgers bit of dollars. ment, said the team’s strategy is not Los Angeles Times reported in 2012. tion that they can comply with our ex- bargaining agreement in place at the that fi nancial bullet, they said, to accel- Under Andrew Friedman, the Dodg- driven by the need to reduce debt. Boehly said then that the companies pectations in terms of the debt service time of the sale. erate the fi nancial and roster fl exibility ers’ president of baseball operations “You have to have a pipeline of play- would be repaid for those investments rule, without any dramatic alteration “They’re doing what they can to set that would allow them to lower their the last two years, the Dodgers have not ers coming up,” Kain said. “You have to – over time, and with interest. in the kind of product they have been the team up for the future,” Fowler said. payroll while taking full advantage of a guaranteed more than $48 million to a be able to plug in a Corey Seager and The Dodgers since have signed a putting on the fi eld,” Manfred said. “Do I like it as a competitor? No. Do replenished minor league system. major league free agent. The Dodgers a Joc Pederson and have a rotation of record $8.35-billion, 25-year television The rule, designed to ensure teams they have the right to do it? Absolutely, The Dodgers could rebuild their likely would have to top that fi gure to young talent, and you’re not relying on contract for SportsNet LA, and they have the resources to meet their fi nan- yes. system so rapidly – Baseball America retain Turner or Jansen; they say they the down years of free agents to sustain have sold the most tickets of any major cial obligations, generally limits debt to “They’re expected to be in compli- ranked it as the best in baseball this would like to bring back both. success. league team in each of the last four sea- no more than 12 times annual revenue, ance. They have said, very publicly, that year – in part because of signifi cant Friedman would not say if the Dodg- “Financial dynamics totally aside, sons. Local television rights and ticket minus expenses. The Dodgers were they will be. They have done a very ef- spending in Latin America, where ama- ers’ owners discussed the need for the that is the right way – in our opinion – sales are the biggest drivers of revenue not profi table in any of the fi rst three fective job, and I say this with nothing teur players are not subject to the draft. team to get into compliance with the to build a long-term successful baseball generated by each team; the league full seasons under new ownership, co- but admiration, of setting themselves And, since the new labour agreement debt service rule when they recruited team.” splits revenue from national television owner Todd Boehly said last year. Their up to have a very strong team at the end might include an international draft, him from the Tampa Bay Rays. He said New owners are required to submit a and Internet rights equally among the debt is believed to be in the hundreds of of the fi ve-year period.” the Dodgers might have stocked up just the owners understood that an infu- long-term business plan to the league 30 teams. millions. For 2016, the Dodgers’ end-of-sea- in time. sion of young players – rather than a and can be exempted from the debt In addition, the Dodgers’ owners Guggenheim’s spending – from the son payroll – including salaries and The new labour agreement might reliance on free agents often past their service rule for as long as the fi rst fi ve could comply with the league rule by assumption of a quarter-billion in con- benefi ts for all players on the 40-man also raise the luxury-tax threshold prime – is a necessary building block years of ownership, according to the renegotiating some or all of the debts tracts to get Adrian Gonzalez in 2012 to roster – is about $250 million. That fi g- above the current $189 million. That for a consistent contender. collective bargaining agreement. to ensure team revenue is not used to the sport’s fi rst $300-million payroll in ure will trigger a luxury-tax payment of could put the Dodgers in position to re- “A big part of the reason I accepted “It’s to give clubs an opportunity to repay them or as collateral for them, 2015 – raised eyebrows throughout the about $30.5 million. duce or eliminate their tax obligations this job is that, philosophically, we get their feet on the ground,” Manfred according to the collective bargaining industry. The New York Yankees led the For the four full seasons under Gug- before bidding on the monster free- were very aligned,” Friedman said, “as said. “I think the Dodgers have always agreement. major leagues in payroll every season genheim, as the owners looked to jump- agent class of 2018-19, which could far as winning being the No. 1 thing, had a plan that would give them fi nan- Kain declined to discuss the Dodgers’ from 1999-2012, but the Dodgers have start the revitalization of the franchise, include Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper but appreciating what that means in cial stability over the long haul.” debt level or how they would reduce led in every full season under Guggen- the Dodgers’ end-of-season payrolls and Manny Machado. the near term and the long term. They Manfred has wide latitude to sanc- it, but he emphasized the team would heim ownership. have totalled $1.069 billion, with an- Under current rules, the tax rate in- have demonstrated over and over that tion teams that fail to satisfy the rule comply with the debt service rule. “The Dodgers blew past the Yankees other $112 million in luxury taxes. That creases are based on the number of desire to win, but it’s also their ability – among 16 options, he could order a “We understand all of our obliga- like Grant through Richmond,” said Ron adds up to $1.181 billion, or an average consecutive years a team has exceeded to understand the short term and the team to raise equity, require approval of tions and work closely with baseball,” Fowler, executive chairman of the San of $295 million per season. the threshold. If the Dodgers could get long term.” team expenditures or suspend owner- he said. “We’ll be in great shape with Diego Padres. A signifi cant portion of that expend- below the threshold even for one year, Tucker Kain, the Dodgers’ chief fi - ship and/or management – but he said baseball.”

BOTTOMLINE Derek Carr infuses clutchness into Raiders By Marcus Thompson II back to the team, like a 9-year- Down 32-24, the Raiders got the future, as they learn how to Oakland old who heard the ice cream the ball on their 25 early in the become elite, but the Raiders can truck, was enough to ease the fourth quarter. They totalled erase a lead better than they can anxiety of Raider Nation. Carr 43 yards on previous six pos- hold one. As frustrating as that hough the wheels were didn’t return like a quarterback sessions combined. But they reality might be for the Raiders falling off , the crowd who was done for the game, but marched 75 yards for the touch- coaches and fans, it is a comfort- erupted into a roar. like a hero ready to save the day. down, and the game-tying two- ing reality for the postseason. Raiders coach Jack Del And he did, righting the ship point conversion, like there was As long as they have Carr, the TRio didn’t see what was hap- with 11 points on the Raiders’ never any doubt. Raiders have shown they can fi nd pening, but he knew it was good. fi nal two drives to pull out a 35- When Carr followed by lead- a way to win. They may not win Had to be for that kind of reac- 32 win over Carolina. It was the ing an 82-yard drive for the a particular game, but it is be- tion. 10th game-winning drive of game-winning score, it felt like coming increasingly more likely “Only No. 4,” Del Rio said. Carr’s career. a failure the Raiders had to set- they will. That’s the benefi t of a “It’s either (Charles) Woodson, Sunday was his Willis Reed tle for a 23-yard fi eld goal. Most quarterback that gets better in and he’s in the booth now, or moment. But since it was 21 teams would play for the three the clutch. Derek Carr. Maybe Khalil Mack, years before Carr was born, points. This trait even bleeds over but I saw Khalil.” when the Knicks center famous- “He is a competitor,” receiver to the defense. It can get han- The roar was for Carr. He had ly hobbled back onto the court in Michael Crabtree said of Carr, dled all game and, just when left the game with the pinky fi n- Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, who caught two passes for 64 it looks like it couldn’t stop ger on his throwing hand dan- Del Rio’s mention of Reed went yards on the game-winning a Pop Warner offense, they gling like a broken twig. And the over Carr’s head at fi rst. drive. “He’s going to compete come up with a big play at the Raiders’ dream season precari- “I looked at him and said, with everything. I knew he was right time. Sunday, it was Kha- ously dangled right along with ‘Who?’ “ Carr said, recalling his going to come back into the lil Mack with the strip-sack of that pinky. Fans across the coun- reaction to Del Rio. “ What’s crazy game. I love that dude.” Newton on fourth down. Before try panicked at the sight. If Carr is I know who Willis Reed is. ... Carr now has fi ve game-win- that, it was Sean Smith forcing was seriously hurt, that’s a wrap. I was like, ‘Can you tell me that ning drives this season, match- Kelvin Benjamin out of bounds He is a candidate for NFL MVP story?’ He had to tell me and I was ing his total from last season. His just shy of the first down, forc- but he is certainly the Raiders’ like, ‘Oh. Nevermind. I got it.’ “ fi ve fourth-quarter comebacks ing a punt. most valuable. While invoking Reed was hy- feed on the tension, fi nd motiva- a black glove over his splinted Raiders defense looked helpless are second only to the seven by This is the greatest strength of Suddenly, Carr came running perbole on Del Rio’s part, it was tion in the pressure. pinky, he threw an interception to stop him. It was all shaping up Detroit’s Matt Staff ord. the Raiders: Not being deterred out of the locker room, emerg- symbolic of the Raiders’ spirit _ Sunday, they squandered a that led to the Panthers’ go- to be a massive choke job. And It is clear this isn’t luck, but by their weaknesses, not suc- ing from the tunnel and through of which Carr is the source. 17-point lead, gave up 25 straight ahead touchdown. yet, the closer the Raiders got a defi ning characteristic of this cumbing to their bouts with fu- a curtain of cheers to appear on The Raiders are 9-2 because points and trailed by eight. Even Reigning MVP Cam New- to losing, the more comfortable quarterback and this team. May- tility, always feeling like they can the sidelines. The way he ran they thrive in close games. They when Carr returned, wearing ton had found a rhythm and the they became. be it comes back to bite them in overcome. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, November 29, 2016 TENNIS

SPOTLIGHT Argentina beat Croatia to clinch maiden Davis Cup title Del Potro stages astonishing comeback against Cilic, Delbonis blows away Karlovic to complete Argentina’s comeback

Reuters a lion as he broke straight back Zagreb and forced the fi nal twist to seal the contest in four hours 53 min- utes, laying the path for Delbonis rgentina lifted their to fi nish the job. fi rst Davis Cup title “I started playing much bet- after Juan Martin Del ter in the third set, my forehand Potro and Federico got better and so did my baseline DelbonisA won Sunday’s reverse shots,” he said, still showing no singles to complete the South emotions after keeping a steely American nation’s spectacular gaze throughout the titanic tus- comeback in a 3-2 victory over sle with Cilic which lasted nearly hosts Croatia in the fi nal. fi ve hours. Del Potro fought back from “I was positive all the time and two sets down to beat Marin Cil- did not let my head drop after ic 6-7(4) 2-6 7-5 6-4 6-3 before going two sets down.” Delbonis swept aside Ivo Kar- His team mate did so superbly, lovic 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the decisive holding serve throughout his rubber, sparking wild celebra- one-sided contest with Karlovic tions among several thousand as he kept running the Croatian away fans in the Zagreb Arena. ragged with punishing baseline Argentina joined the list of shots. The Argentine fans, in- Davis Cup winners after losing cluding the country’s former all four fi nals they had previ- soccer World Cup winner Diego ously contested and their dismal Maradona in the VIP box, treated record in the title showdown ap- their team to a standing ovation peared set to continue when Cilic at the end of the tie as disap- came within a set of clinching pointed home supporters left the Croatia’s second title. Zagreb Arena in a hurry. The 2005 winners saw the Argentina coach Daniel Or- red carpet pulled from under sanic, who has Croatian roots, their feet, however, as a battling heaped praise on all his play- Del Potro launched a ferocious ers but singled out Del Potro’s comeback and played through heroics. “What Del Potro did the fi fth set with a broken fi nger was amazing. He represents his on his left hand. country with so much pride and “It happened when I tried to he also showed how good a play- Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer, Guido Pella, Federico Delbonis, Juan Martin del Potro and Daniel Orsanic pose with the Davis Cup trophy during the victory ceremony. (Reuters) catch a ball in the fi fth set,” Del er he is,” he said. Potro, who had struggled with “His achievement today bor- wrist injuries in recent years, ders on the impossible, while told a news conference before Federico played a perfect match rushing back courtside to watch and was on top of every ball Delbonis pick apart Karlovic. throughout the contest.” “This was an emotionally A delighted Delbonis added: exhausting match and one of “The team captain elected me to the biggest wins of my career. play the fi nal rubber but anyone Thanks to all those who prevent- on this team is always ready to ed me from retiring, I was very step up. close to never playing again and, “This is one of those dreams well, here I am.” that has come true. I tried to Having clinched the opening keep focused to do what I had set tiebreak, Cilic raced through to do, that’s all I could think the second set before Del Potro, because if I thought about any- who improved his record against thing else it would be a disaster.” the Croatian to 9-2 in all com- An overjoyed and emotional petitions, started his comeback Del Potro celebrated his success with a passing shot between his by presenting Argentine football legs. He broke Cilic’s serve in the icon Diego Maradona with the ninth game of the fourth set and racquet he used to beat Cilic. then held his own to draw level “Diego has my racket because but fell behind again at the start I will not play any more this of the fi fth, handing the initia- year,” del Potro said. “He came tive back to the home crowd fa- to see me and I said, ‘You’ll get vourite. what you want.’ I have a lot of memories of him, we went to see FINAL TWIST him (when he played football) Once again Del Potro showed and now he’s there encouraging nerves of steel and the heart of us.” Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro celebrates with supporters after winning the Davis Cup final singles match against Croatia’s Marin Cilic in Zagreb. (AFP)

FOCUS ‘It’s now or never for Scottish tennis academy’

By Kevin McKenna sale of house plots to the cost of York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium in The Guardian the academy. 2012 to see Murray winning the “This is not about develop- fi rst of his grand slam titles. ing elite tennis players,” she said. He said: “Despite my obvious hristmas for Scotland “This is about reaching out to all love of football, I am no less pas- came a month early this ages and backgrounds and pro- sionate about the new tennis and year and, having done viding accessible and low-cost golf facilities at Park of Keir. Judy so, decided to invite a coaching. Obviously, the more Murray has set out an amazing fewC others. This nation, which people who play tennis, the better vision for facilities that will help until 10 years ago had barely chance there is of fi nding another young people be active and love picked up a racquet, awoke one Andy Murray, but I want to get tennis with all of the passion morning last week to discover people playing and to gift Scotland that she does.” it was the proud owner of the a world-class coaching facility.” Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s No 1 tennis players in the world The establishment of a train- fi rst minister, is also a huge fan of at both the singles and doubles ing facility bearing the imprint what the Murrays have achieved. versions of the sport. of the Murray brothers and their Ministerial advisers still recall a And now the mother of both mother, a former Scottish cham- tense match en route to Andy’s players is battling to seize the pion, could not come at a more fi rst Wimbledon title in 2013 moment to establish Scotland as appropriate time for Scotland. that held up a strategy meeting a great tennis power. National statistics released in by almost three hours and had Andy Murray’s defeat of Novak September revealed that more Sturgeon walking to the other Djokovic in the ATP World Tour than a quarter of children are ei- end of the room at a critical mo- Finals ensured that he would ther overweight or obese. ment. start 2017 as offi cially the best Health inequality continues Last night her spokesman tennis player on the planet. Only to disfi gure the nation’s poor- said: “We would like to reach a a day earlier, his brother Jamie est communities. And it is to place where we could help Judy was confi rmed as the world’s Judy Murray with sons Andy (left) and Jamiey. these neighbourhoods that Judy Murray capitalise on the won- best doubles player when he Murray takes her Tennis on the derful legacy of achievement of partnered Bruno Soares to vic- Cup triumph. But it is the fam- ily’s success. She has been de- ball pitch and 19 luxury homes. something more personal than Road initiative, comprising one Andy and Jamie.” tory in the same tournament. ily home town of Dunblane that veloping a plan for a world-class The proposed development protecting the green belt. They van and a small group of helpers. Judy says that this has to “It will be a huge disappoint- is the focus of Judy’s ambition. coaching facility near Dunblane was turned down by Stirling range from merely semi-literate Travelling to remote or disad- be now and near Dunblane. ment if we don’t use Andy and If she prevails, the town will be- and expects to hear soon if the council a year ago after objec- to openly nasty. “I’m not a fan vantaged neighbourhoods, she “There’s no point in waiting un- Jamie’s success to grow our come the Scottish hub for tennis Scottish government will give it tions by what has been described of any of them”; “Domineering helps train local coaches with a til the boys retire: we have to do grassroots tennis participation,” excellence. She wants Scotland the go-ahead. as “a small group of organised mother methinks”; “He (Andy view to enabling as many young this in the next four years , while Judy Murray said. “We need in- to benefi t from the legacy of her Murray’s dream is focused on objectors”. A public inquiry was Murray) should keep well out of people as possible to take up the they are still at the top of their door facilities and we need them sons’ feats and is adamant she Park of Keir, a green-belt site held in September and a fi nal it.” game. game. I have 25 years of coaching soon. They are absolutely criti- can help deliver it. If there are to south of Dunblane with fast decision by the government is Murray believes she has met Andy and Jamie are right be- expertise and experience behind cal to the future development of be more Andys and Jamies, this transport links to most of Scot- overdue. Critics say the devel- all local objections: the develop- hind her plan to build on their me and desperately want to pass tennis in Scotland.” woman – a world-class coach – land’s main centres of popula- opment would erode an impor- ment takes up less than 15% of legacy and she also has the sup- that on from a centre of excel- The nation has basked in the will probably discover them. tion. As well as a multimillion- tant corridor of green between the site; it would be run as a not- port of the former Manchester lence in Dunblane, where it all refl ected glory of Andy’s three She feels the country has a pound tennis academy, the site Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. for-profi t charitable foundation; United manager, Sir Alex Fer- began. I don’t think I could go grand slam victories, two Olym- glorious, now-or-never oppor- would also include a six-hole Comments on a Facebook page the landowner is supportive and guson, who has followed Andy’s through another four years de- pic golds and improbable Davis tunity to capitalise on her fam- golf course, an all-weather foot- set up to oppose the plan suggest will donate the profi ts from the career closely. He was in New veloping this at another site.” Gulf Times Tuesday, November 29, 2016 9 SPORT

Fiji beat Qatar in friendly Rugby 7s match

Qatar Rugby Federation (QRF) president Yousef al-Kuwari (right) presents Fiji’s Sevuloni Mocenacagi Action from Rugby 7s friendly match between Fiji and Qatar which was played at the Aspire Warm-up track on Sunday. Fiji won 58-14. with the MVP award in the presence of QRF secretary general Ali al-Malki.

SPOTLIGHT FOOTBALL Koeman admits Soccerex Asian Forum Everton on the slide

AFP in Doha on Dec 5 and 6 Southampton onald Koeman admit- AIFF, UAE FA general secretaries to discuss major event hosting at the forum ted his growing concern at Everton’s decline in form after his side slumpedR to defeat at the man- ager’s former club Southampton. Charlie Austin’s goal, scored after just 41 seconds, secured Saints’ victory, leaving Koeman’s Everton with just one win in their last eight Premier League games. The promise of the opening weeks of the season has quickly disappeared at Goodison Park and Koeman admitted he was left frustrated at his side’s display. The opening seconds of the game highlighted a lack of or- ganisation at the back and while the Merseysiders improved in the second period, they did not mus- ter and attempt on target until added time. Koeman said: “I’m not wor- ried about results, worried about what I see on the pitch, how we start game, have diffi culties to be organised defensively and stop the opponents. I’m worried be- In cause the wake up call, how we played in fi rst half, and again to- day, and to concede goal after one UAE Football Association general secretary Mohamed Hazzam al-Dhaheri (left) and All India Football Federation general secretary Kushal Das.. minute — not what can happen.” Koeman conceded his for- By Sports Reporter dia has started to emerge on the foot- Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the bid- team rarely has. For the UAE, hosting Bashar AlKadhi, the CEO, MENA of wards must do better and admit- Doha ball scene with the rapid growth of the ding process. the FIFA Club World Cup enables the international PR fi rm Hill+Knowlton. ted he expected more from Ross Indian Super League over recent years. As one of the most well developed Champions of the UAE Arabian Gulf With 25 years experience in public Barkley and Romelu Lukaku. Kushal has been a huge part of this, and countries in the Asian region, the UAE League to compete against the likes of relations and media business across “Both could have done bet- ll India Football Federa- will talk about how the upcoming FIFA has all the resources to stage global Real Madrid will undoubtedly attract an the Middle East including countries ter, like everybody else,” said the tion (AIFF) general secretary tournament will continue to encourage tournaments, with state of the art sta- infl ux of media attention, not to mention such as Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain manager. Kushal Das and UAE Football growth and development of the sport in diums, viable transport methods, high millions of viewers around the world. and Egypt, Bashar will call on his sig- He added: “What can you say Association (UAE FA) gen- the country. quality hotels and the infrastructure The chance for the club to be seen by nifi cant regional insight and com- after you have the kick-off and eralA secretary Mohamed Hazzam al- For the UAE, hosting a major tourna- needed in order to host and grow the that many people creates huge growth munications expertise to drive the after 2 or 3 passes we lost the Dhaheri will head up a panel entitled ment is a more familiar responsibility game further within the country. opportunities for clubs, the league discussion. ball and we ended 1-0. You start ‘Breaking New Ground: Asia’s New than that of India, as the country has Both nations will also benefi t from and the country in general, boosting Hosted with the support of the Su- game to control the game and we Football Event Hosts’ at the upcoming previously held both the 2009 & 2010 the fact that a host nation participates infrastructure and creating a lasting preme Committee for Delivery & Leg- didn’t. We had bad defending for Soccerex Asian Forum in Doha on De- FIFA Club World Cup tournaments, in the tournament, meaning the coun- legacy. acy and the Aspire Zone Foundation, the cross and it makes it a very cember 5 and 6. and is preparing to host both the 2017 try has a real opportunity to raise the With both men pivotal to the hosting the Soccerex Asian Forum will feature diffi cult game. It is less than a year until the world’s & 2018 editions of the competition as profi le of the sport. With the whole of these events the Forum will provide expert insights from the top of the foot- “But the whole fi rst half second-most populous nation will be well as the AFC Asian Cup in 2019. world watching, these global competi- top level insight into major event deliv- ball industry and high-level network- wasn’t good. The positions in the hosting a FIFA tournament for the fi rst Mohammed has been instrumental tions provide countries such as India ery in Asia and the learning’s that can ing opportunities for delegates, giving midfi eld, we had some problems time when India take centre stage for in the securing of these tournaments and the UAE with the chance to show be taken forward into Qatar’s hosting them a chance to connect and mix with with the strikers. We need more the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup. for the nation, beating the likes of Iran, their abilities on the pitch in front of of the 2022 FIFA World CupTM. some of the key rights holders in the communication, we need to react A cricket loving nation at heart, In- China, Lebanon, Oman, Thailand, a home crowd, a chance the national The session will be moderated by business. faster.

TENNIS Qatar ExxonMobil Open online ticket sales from today By Sports Reporter “Over the years, the Qatar Doha Exxon Mobil Open has devel- oped to be one of the most sorts after tennis tournament in the nline sales of tickets region. We are very happy to for the 2017 Qatar welcome the world once again ExxonMobil Open, to Doha for the silver anniver- the 25th Anniver- sary edition of this prestigious saryO edition, will start today on tournament,” the tournament the organiser’s website www. director Karim Alami said. qatartennis.com. “Once again, lovers of ten- The event, which will be nis will have the opportunity held from January 2 to 7 at the of watching their stars, includ- Khalifa International Tennis & ing the recently crowned world Squash Complex, is attracting No.1 Andy Murray, play live and some of the biggest names in direct in Doha. This year’s event men’s tennis including world promises to be greater than the No. 1 Andy Murray, the de- previous and the fans will defi - fending champion and world nitely have a swell time,” he No. 2 Novak Djokovic, the 2012 said. champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga To purchase tickets and all and Tomas Berdych among other information please visit many others. www.qatartennis.org THE STAR ATTRACTIONS: World No. 1 Andy Murray (left) and world No. 2 Novak Djokovic. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, November 29, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS League Cup win reward for Walcott targets 10 goals Celtic players, says Rodgers

AFP before Christmas and Glasgow eltic manager Brendan Rodgers says winning the Scottish League Cup is a tangible reward for his players after their great start to the season. C The Hoops cruised to a 3-0 win over Aber- deen at Hampden on Sunday thanks to fi rst- coff ee machine present half strikes from Australian international Tom Rogic and James Forrest while in-form French striker Moussa Dembele added a second-half Arsenal player one short of double figures following Bournemouth goal penalty. It seals a trophy at the fi rst attempt for Rodgers, who joined the Glasgow giants in The Guardian May, and the Celtic manager is pleased with London the way the players have adapted since he ar- rived at Parkhead. “I’m very proud to sit here as manager of heo Walcott has set himself Celtic and bring a trophy to the people that I the target of 10 goals before love and the club that I support and for the Christmas, and the bonus players,” the former Liverpool manager said. of a coff ee machine from his “Everyone has talked about the good start Twife, if he can net one more before and the great football but you want something December 25 following his against to show for it. This was our fi rst chance and I Bournemouth at the Emirates on thought they were magnifi cent. Sunday. “For the players it is something to show Speaking after the Gunners’ lat- for the great work they’ve been doing. We’ve est Premier League victory, Walcott talked about how we need to improve the team explained: “I want to get 10 (goals) but of course you have to then have something so I can get a coff ee machine for to show for it and the players on the podium at Christmas from my wife. She said the end had something to show. ‘if you get 10 goals before Christmas “It is great for their confi dence and sets us I’ll buy you this coff ee machine’. So up really well now going on into the season.” I can’t wait for that and hopefully it The win saw Celtic claim the 100th trophy will happen. of their 128-year history and Rodgers said it “Coming from the wing as well, marked a major milestone for the club. I’m obviously delighted with my “It is a winning club. That’s what the great goals so far. But I’m more delighted history of this club has been based upon. where the team is, progressing from “Now we need to look to the next one and the fi rst disappointing game (the 4-3 start off the next century of trophies and that loss to Liverpool on the opening day, will be important for us and the club.” since when Arsenal are unbeaten in It is just six months since Rodgers signed on 19 games). There’s been a lot of ups at Celtic Park and the former Liverpool boss has and downs but hopefully this game given his side, who are unbeaten domestically can just make sure we’re back to the this season and top the Scottish Premiership by level we want to be at.” eight points, an air of invincibility in Scotland. “I sat down with the manager The Hoops remain on course for a fi rst domes- at the start of the season and said tic treble since 2000/01 and Rodgers declared where I want to play so now I don’t himself pleased with the progress that has been have to think about anything else,” made in such a short space of time. added Walcott. “It’s six months and a week to the day that “And with that experience in the I came in. We talked about what we wanted to central position, if I fi nd myself achieve and how we wanted to do it and we’re there hopefully I can tuck away the certainly well on our way to that. goals, which I have. I’m still working “I have to be pleased. We’re trying to im- hard in training, in the gym and on prove standards on and off the fi eld but you can the mental side of it. never become complacent. “And making sure I have time at “It’s still very early but we’re shaping up the home as well. Everything seems to team to play in a certain style and way. That’s be clicking. I just want to make sure going very well but there’s things that myself I’m the best I can be every day going and my staff can analyse to see where we can do into training. If I can stay fi t hope- better and where we can improve. fully it can be a good season, not just “I’ve got a huge job to do here in terms for me but for everyone else.” of sustaining this and building on it. But at Walcott celebrated the goal – only this moment in time after only six months of the second with his head in over 10 course it is a great achievement.” years in the Premier League – by It is the third defeat Celtic have infl icted cradling and rocking his arms, a ref- on the Dons – who have provided their main erence to the fact that his wife, Mel, challenge in recent years – this season and Ab- had given birth to their second child Arsenal’s Theo Walcott celebrates scoring their second goal against Bournemouth in London on Sunday. (Reuters) erdeen manager Derek McInnes admitted the on Friday. gap between the sides was becoming harder “I tried to see if I could meet up ond night [for the new baby],” said this moment in time,” he said. need to make sure we’re ready for “He even did an interview today to bridge. “Celtic will need to have a poor day on the morning of the game but the the delighted player. “At the start of the season we cre- Wednesday (against Walcott’s old in English, which he never does. for teams to beat them,” the Dons boss said. boss was adamant that he wants Walcott expanded on the inspi- ated a lot of goals for each other and club Southampton in the EFL Cup). I’ve been saying him ‘try and talk to “They will improve again in January and it will his players to come to the hotel. But ration Alexis Sanchez, who scored everything was happening. It may be a completely diff erent the guys when you can, try and give become more diffi cult but I certainly think we we compromised and I managed to the other two goals in the team’s 3-1 Now we’re starting to see signs team, who knows. But Alexis has them a bit of time’. Because his Eng- can compete with them over 90 minutes. come a lot later. I was very pleased win, brings to him. that a little bit was happening again defi nitely stepped up to making this lish is better than you think. I’m very “If we play them in the Scottish Cup fi nal at he allowed that so I had a lot more “Obviously me and Alexis are today. position. I think he’s enjoying it. I pleased for him and I’m really enjoy- the end of the season I still think we can beat time because this was only the sec- having a very good relationship at “We can’t dwell on the past. We can see the smile he’s playing with. ing playing football with him.” them as long as my team learn from this.”

BOTTOMLINE Pardew needs radical change to save job at Palace

By Dominic Fifield and ing to wear thin. Two of Palace’s ing a major chat about those goals Stuart James co-owners, the American ma- we conceded because we talked The Guardian jor-shareholders David Blitzer about it all week and I haven’t and Josh Harris, have witnessed had the response I wanted, if I’m only six Premier League victo- honest, in terms of a couple of he Crystal Palace co- ries since each bought an 18% those set-plays, so I need to ad- owners will need to stake in the club a little under a dress that. It might be I need to see evidence that Alan year ago, and will need convinc- change some of the team.” Pardew is willing to ing that the 55-year-old is the It was put to Pardew that his Tmake radical changes to his own man to haul the team out of their players lacked leadership on approach and to gauge the play- nosedive. All parties are acutely the pitch when it mattered and ers’ reaction in training this week aware of Sam Allardyce’s avail- “wilted” in injury-time, when before determining whether he ability as an alternative. Fernando Llorente scored twice still has a future as manager of The three major sharehold- from close range to capitalise on the ailing London club. ers had envisaged Pardew over- some woeful defending. Palace lost their sixth succes- seeing a critical trio of games “That’s a word you use,” re- sive league game, 5-4 at strug- against Swansea, Southampton plied Pardew. “In terms of my- gling Swansea City, on Saturday and Hull, matches which ap- self, the two situations we just to leave them outside the rel- peared to off er him a chance needed to defend better and you egation places on goal diff erence to revive the team’s form after have to put your heart and your only and Pardew’s stewardship their dismal run, but the chaotic body on the line at times and we hanging by a thread. Senior fi g- manner of Saturday’s surrender didn’t do that for those two goals ures at Selhurst Park were taking has put even more scrutiny on and there’s nothing more I can stock on Sunday after the latest his position. add. I am not going to hide from embarrassing defeat, the visi- The hierarchy, having been it. It is an awful defeat for us in tors’ 4-3 lead having been over- told the players have been drilled the position we are in.” hauled in the last six minutes at extensively on defensive duties To complete a thoroughly the Liberty Stadium. over the past few weeks, will miserable day for Palace, Con- The co-owner and chairman, seek evidence from Pardew that Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew with assistant manager Keith Millen. (Reuters) nor Wickham left the fi eld on a Steve Parish, has consistently more drastic steps are being tak- stretcher in the second half af- backed the manager, secured at en to tighten up a team who have further than Pardew’s intention The recruitment of a defen- to be seen. The board will also their past three games. ter twisting his knee and Pardew signifi cant expense from New- conceded 26 in 13 games this to hold clear-the-air talks at sive coach would appear to be seek evidence that the players Asked whether he would re- fears the worst. castle United almost two years season, and 17 in their past fi ve the club’s Beckenham training a priority, with Palace having are still receptive to the manag- spond to the latest chastening “It looks a serious injury. We ago. Although there is still a de- matches. Palace have not kept a ground, having accused some of shipped 13 goals from set pieces er’s instructions. Pardew has in- setback by punishing his play- will have to wait for the scan but sire within the set-up in London clean sheet in the top fl ight since his players of not putting their this season, including four at dicated the time may have come ers with extra physical work, he it doesn’t look good,” the Palace for Pardew to turn the situation mid-April. “heart and body on the line” to- Swansea. Where that would to make changes to his selection replied: “No good running them manager added. round and hoist the team back Those changes to the ap- wards the end of Saturday’s de- leave the current coaches, Kevin at the back after seeing his team into the ground. No benefi t in “His studs got stuck in the into mid-table, patience is start- proach would have to extend feat. Keen and Keith Millen, remains concede late goals in each of that. But I do see a benefi t in hav- ground and his knee twisted.” Gulf Times Tuesday, November 29, 2016 11 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Arsenal had to steady their nerves, says Wenger

AFP tra gear to be dangerous.” London Wenger said he knows keeping Sanchez is essential if Arsenal are to challenge for major silverware, even if rsene Wenger admitted Ar- performances like this mean he could senal had to conquer their demand a bigger salary. nerves before securing the Asked if Arsenal were any closer 3-1 win that thrust them back to tying up a contract extension with inA the Premier League title race. Sanchez, Wenger added: “It is impor- Wenger’s side had fallen six points tant, how important I don’t know. We behind leaders Chelsea after drawing won’t do that tonight. We have some three of their last four league games time. You (the media) like us to spend and they were in danger of another money, so you should be happy!” damaging setback at the Emirates Sta- Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe dium on Sunday. was frustrated that his team left emp- Having led through Alexis Sanchez’s ty-handed despite an enterprising dis- early goal, the Gunners were pegged play and he took a shot at Jones for fail- back by Callum Wilson’s controversial ing to award his team a second penalty penalty midway through the fi rst half. for a handball by Monreal. With the Arsenal faithful getting “We were well in that game, we restless, Wenger revealed he had tried created a number of chances. The 3-1 to calm his players down at half-time scoreline is diffi cult to take,” he said. as they wrestled with the anxieties “It’s diffi cult here, especially when you caused by three successive draws. are Bournemouth. A couple of things They responded to Wenger’s pep have gone against us. talk by scoring twice after half-time calm down at half-time and just focus at that point. namic. For me it’s not exactly the side scored 10 goals this season. “I’m not a fan of really soft penal- through Theo Walcott and Sanchez to on the game.” “My view is we should have had I wanted to play. They are a tricky side “Sanchez, even though he looks ties, but a bit of consistency seems to move within three points of Chelsea. Wenger was frustrated by referee a penalty on Sanchez and Bourne- and keep the ball well.” dead he is still alive. He fi nds the re- have gone out of the game. But we were “We started well but when they Mike Jones’ decision to award Bourne- mouth’s was a very soft one,” he said. Driven on by the irrepressible Sanchez, sources to win the ball and do some- without a number of players today and equalised we became nervous,” Wenger mouth’s penalty for an innocuous “It was shoulder to shoulder. I was Arsenal eventually fi nd their rhythm in thing special,” Wenger said. “He has there wasn’t much between the teams. said. “That is where the three draws collision between Wilson and Nacho really amazed he gave it. We became the second half and Wenger was quick to the guts. He has that conditioning The future of the team is good. I back were on our mind. It was down to us to Monreal and he was fearing the worst nervous and they became more dy- pay tribute to the Chile forward, who has which allows him to always fi nd an ex- us to be okay this season.”

SPOTLIGHT SHORT PASSES Barca left-back Alba not featured for United since Jose Mourinho took over from doubtful for Clasico Louis van Gaal this year. “I told Barcelona suff ered a fresh them that we should try to get injury blow yesterday as left- a big name in world football, back Jordi Alba is a huge doubt or at least send an invitation,” for Saturday’s showdown clash Dorival said after his team’s 2-0 Mourinho facing with Real Madrid after suff ering loss to Flamengo on Sunday. knee and ankle knocks. Alba “It was just a recommenda- battled on to finish the 90 min- tion... It won’t hurt us to try. utes in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Real We didn’t only speak about Sociedad despite suff ering the Schweinsteiger but other play- injuries before half-time. “The ers too. A player like that can tests carried out this morning obviously lift the level of the reveal that Jordi Alba has heavy team, but he has to come with more hot water bruising on his right knee and an objective and an appetite.” a strain of his left ankle,” Barca Schweinsteiger was made to ‘I think everyone saw his frustration was shown in that situation. It should have been a said in a statement. “How he train with the club’s reserves evolves will determine his avail- for large parts of the season free-kick for us and it ended with a yellow card for Paul and he is out of our next match’ ability for the next few games.” but was included in the squad Barca desperately need to end for United’s 1-1 draw with West Madrid’s 31-game unbeaten run Ham United on Sunday. The at the Camp Nou after falling former Germany captain, who Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho six points behind their eternal won eight Bundesliga titles and is sent to the stands by referee Jonathan rivals at the top of La Liga. the 2012/13 Champions League Moss during Sunday’s Premier League clash Should Alba not recover in time, with Bayern Munich, said in Au- against West Ham United. (Reuters) French international Lucas gust he would not join another Digne will deputise at left-back. club in Europe if he left United. The Catalans also hope to recover Samuel Umtiti and cap- Hazard expects tain Andres Iniesta from injury in time for Madrid’s visit. three-way battle for Premiership title France tops elite Chelsea forward Eden Hazard footballer exports expects Manchester City and France exports more players Liverpool to be the London than any other country to side’s main rivals in the Premier elite European leagues while League title race after the top Brazil has the most footballers three sides all enjoyed victories operating in Europe as a whole, on the weekend. “Man City a sports study has revealed. and Liverpool. They are both Barcelona’s Neymar is just good. If we want to be there at one of 469 Brazilians in the 31 the end, then we have to finish European League’s surveyed, above them,” Hazard said when with France next at 312 and asked which teams Chelsea will Spain third on 201, the Swiss- need to be most wary of in the based International Centre for title race. Chelsea, who finished Sports Studies (CIES) Football 10th last campaign, are in fine Observatory report said. When form, having scored 19 goals narrowed down to the elite and conceded just one during English, German, Spanish, Ital- their winning run and Hazard ian and French leagues, France admitted the absence of Euro- topped the export table with 116 pean football had given Antonio ahead of Brazil on 114, Argen- Conte’s side a vital advantage. tina on 97 and Spain on 66. “We have one week to prepare for the game and at the end of Wilfried Zaha switches the week, we know what to do when we play,” the 25-year-old allegiance to Ivory Belgian international added. Coast from England “Last year, we were just doing recovery so we weren’t always Crystal Palace winger Wilfried ready for the game but that’s Zaha has decided to switch not the case now. We’re concen- his international allegiance to trating on the opposition during Ivory Coast from England. The the week and give everything. 24-year-old was able to make We do lots of tactical work and the switch to Ivory Coast as video work, it depends who his two England caps came in we’re playing. We do everything friendlies, against Sweden in to be prepared.” 2012 and Scotland the follow- ing year. “The Ivorian-English Guardiola pleased AFP the Portuguese. games without victory. I don’t want him to be sent off . I have seen attacking midfielder Wilfried with City’s schedule Manchester A year on, against the same opposi- More worrying yet, United have now him. We didn’t talk about the mood but he Zaha has chosen to play for the tion and with the same referee, Mourinho recorded their worst start to a season, af- is a gentleman. I like him.” Elephants, under the colours management kicked a water bottle fully 20 yards to ter 13 games, since 1989-90, the season But the West Ham manager saw prom- of the Ivory Coast, his country ose Mourinho faces disciplinary ac- protest Taylor’s decision to caution Paul that saw Sir Alex Ferguson famously win ising signs of recovery in his team’s dis- of origin,” the Ivorian Foot- Manager Pep Guardiola is tion from the FA, and an almost defi - Pogba for simulation after 27 minutes, a the FA Cup after surviving strenuous calls play at Old Traff ord. “It is a diffi cult sea- ball Federation (FIF) said in a pleased with how well his Man- nite touchline suspension, after be- card that rules the French international for his dismissal from supporters. son and I am not trying to avoid saying statement. “In the presence chester City side have coped Jing sent to the stands by referee Jon out of United’s League Cup quarter-fi nal “We were the best team on the pitch,” that,” said Bilic, whose side is just a point of his father, of Augustin Sidy with their demanding sched- Moss during Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League tie – again with West Ham – at Old Traf- said Faria. “We didn’t have any tactical above the drop zone. Diallo (president of the FIF) and ule this season as they have home draw with West Ham. ford tomorrow. issues during the game. Defensively we “I am not happy with the position, we Michel Dussuyer (Elephants managed to stay close to the It is the third time in less than two “I think everyone saw his frustration were very compact. Off ensively we cre- are still paying the price for September, coach), he signed at the bottom Premier League summit despite months that the fi ery Manchester United was shown in that situation,” said assistant ated the chances to win. when we had injuries – lost against Wat- of the demand to change his their European commitments. manager will face disciplinary action from manager Rui Faria after Mourinho refused “We are showing that as a team we are ford, West Brom, Southampton, Middles- sporting nationality addressed City have not only progressed the sport’s ruling body. In late October, he to speak post-match. “It should have been a strong side and we can do very good brough. But recently there are really good to FIFA.” to the knockout stages of the was suspended for one game, and fi ned a free-kick for us and it ended with a yellow things. We create chances that in a normal performances from us. It is only a matter Champions League but are also 8,000 pounds (9,400 euros/$10,000), for card for Paul and he is out of our next match. way should be goals and the game should of time when we get the points. We could Santos interested well-placed to launch an assault an altercation with referee Mark Clatten- “So there are maybe reasons to express be in a comfortable way. It is not happen- have lost today but still I would say the of the league title, sitting third burg during a draw with Burnley. some frustration. After that, things that are ing. We get frustrated. The only thing we same thing,” Bilic added. in Schweinsteiger in the table on 30 points, one That incident followed a 50,000-pound part of the game and the referee took a de- need to do is keep working because then United centre-back Phil Jones defend- Santos head coach Dorival Jun- behind leaders Chelsea after punishment for comments made about the cision. But I think everything comes from a things will change for us.” ed Mourinho, saying it was just an indica- ior has said he held discussions 13 games. “To be honest (the decision to allow referee Anthony Taylor to decision that should be the opposite way.” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic sym- tion of his “passion”. “I think that’s just with the Brazilian club’s board title race) is Chelsea, Liverpool, offi ciate the game with Liverpool. The lat- By that stage Zlatan Ibrahimovic had pathised with his opposite number for passion,” said the England international. about the possibility of signing Arsenal, Tottenham (Hotspur) est fl ashpoint also involved a referee with equalised an early opening goal from Dia- his latest disciplinary problems. “I don’t “I like to see that from anyone – players, Manchester United midfielder and Manchester United. The whom Mourinho has recent history. fra Sakho. But, as has been the norm re- know if he deserved to be sent off , I don’t staff . It’s passion for the game and a will- Bastian Schweinsteiger. After league this year is unpredictable Last season, while in charge of Chel- cently, Mourinho’s team could not fi nd know the rules,” said Bilic. “I don’t want ingness to win. We all want to win just as making 18 Premier League and it’s going to be decided in sea, Mourinho had an altercation with the a winner as they recorded a fourth con- any manager, especially him, to be sent much as each other. We just need to stick appearances last season, the the last two or three months,” same offi cial in a game at West Ham which secutive home league draw – the fi rst off . It is hard to judge from our angle if it together, keep training well, keep creating 32-year-old Schweinsteiger has Guardiola said. resulted in a one-match stadium ban for time since 1990 they have gone four home is a dive or a foul so I can understand it but chances and we will get the goals.” Tuesday, November 29, 2016 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 PSG down Lyon to turn up pressure on leaders Nice AFP assaulting a police offi cer. lotelli against Bastia due to a calf injury Edinson Cavani scored a Paris They went in front at the Parc OL on but they went in front at the Allianz brace as PSG secured an the half-hour mark as Cavani netted Riviera when top scorer Alassane Plea impressive 2-1 win away from the penalty spot after Rafael was headed in his eighth of the season early to Lyon on Sunday. (AFP) aris Saint-Germain closed to penalised for kicking Thiago Motta in on. within a point of leaders Nice the area. However, struggling Bastia — who in Ligue 1 on Sunday as Edin- Lyon were poor in the fi rst half but had not won any of their previous six son Cavani’s brace secured an coach Bruno Genesio sent on Valbuena league outings — equalised on the hour Pimpressive 2-1 win away to Lyon. and Nabil Fekir at the restart and was as Enzo Crivelli followed up to score Cavani opened the scoring with a rewarded with an equaliser in the 48th after goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale had penalty only for Mathieu Valbuena to minute. come out and saved from Yannick Ca- equalise, but the Uruguayan headed in Rafael cut in from the right and huzac. the winner nine minutes from time for curled a shot off the far post, but the Nice still could have taken all three his 18th goal of the season in all com- ball fell to France midfi elder Valbuena, points but Malang Sarr headed against petitions. who converted for his fi rst Ligue 1 goal the post from a Jean Michael Seri free- Nice, who were held to a 1-1 draw at in more than a year. kick and Plea rounded goalkeeper Jean- home by Bastia earlier in the day, fi nish However, Paris showed great resolve Louis Leca only to hit the bar with his the weekend where they started it, on to go on and win the game, substitute shot three minutes from the end. top of the table, but they are now only Thomas Meunier breaking forward “We didn’t get the breaks that have a single point better off than in-form down the right with Aurier and cross- helped us before when we have not Monaco and Paris. ing for Cavani to head in at the back played so well,” admitted Nice coach “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy post. Lucien Favre. “We scored quite early here but we ended up winning. I think The Uruguayan now has 13 league on and then, maybe subconsciously, our experience made the diff erence,” goals this season and 99 goals in total we started to relax. All our matches PSG midfi elder Blaise Matuidi told Ca- for the club he joined from Napoli in against teams towards the bottom of nal Plus. 2013. the table have been diffi cult.” PSG had Serge Aurier back in the An improving PSG are unbeaten in Saint-Etienne won 2-1 at Angers side after he missed the midweek their last 11 games in all competitions earlier in the day to go eighth. Champions League trip to Arsenal as and are turning up the pressure on There is more action in France in British authorities barred the Ivorian Nice, as are Monaco, who beat Mar- midweek, with Monaco at Dijon today international from entering the United seille 4-0 on Saturday. before Nice visit Guingamp and PSG Kingdom due to a recent conviction for Nice were again missing Mario Ba- entertain Angers tomorrow evening.

LA LIGA COPA DEL REY A chance for lesser-known Barca slide further sides to shine

AFP Madrid

pain’s lesser-known sides are aft er failing to break dreaming of their day in the sun, but the return of holders Barce- lona and 18 other La Liga sides to theS Copa del Rey this week has a familiar fl at feel. Unlike England’s FA Cup, Spain’s knockout competition is a two-legged aff air until the fi nal and seeded in the Sociedad hoodoo early rounds. Whilst that secures a glam- our tie and some much-needed cash for those lowest down the pyramid lucky ‘The draw is positive because we take a point from a match in which it was practically impossible to enough to make it to the last 32, upsets are few and far between. take a point. As it almost always happens here, Real got the better of us and if someone was watching “We don’t have competition in the Cup,” La Liga president Javier Tebas the game without seeing the colour of the shirts they would think the other team was Barcelona’ has argued and admits reforms to the competition will be studied after a new three-year television deal runs out. AFP Barcelona haven’t been eliminated Madrid by anyone other than Real Madrid in six seasons. Yet, despite that record, even Barca boss Luis Enrique is in favour of a arcelona’s winless streak at change to the rules. “I would like a one- Real Sociedad stretched to off game in all ties of the Copa del Rey,” eight games as the Spanish he said last season. champions were outplayed in The record 28-time Cup winners be- aB 1-1 draw on Sunday that leaves them gin their defence at Hercules of the third six points adrift of La Liga leaders tier. However, with a hugely important Real Madrid. league meeting with Madrid to come in A sumptuous fi nish from Lionel La Liga on Saturday, the fans in Alicante Messi spared Barca’s blushes after Wil- are unlikely to catch a glimpse of the likes lian Jose had headed Sociedad into a of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez or Neymar. deserved lead just after half-time. And Hercules won on their last visit to the Barca were fortunate to escape without Camp Nou, shocking Pep Guardiola’s a fi fth consecutive league defeat in San all-conquering Barca side 2-0 in 2010. Sebastian as Carlos Vela hit the wood- But they have tumbled down the league work twice and Juanmi’s header was ladder since with two relegations in wrongly ruled out for off side. four years. “It is almost a miracle that we took “It is a great joy, especially for the fans a point,” Barca boss Luis Enrique said. that have suff ered a lot in recent years,” “Real Sociedad were infi nitely bet- said Hercules captain Paco Pena. ter than us with and without the ball. The fi nancially-stricken Hercules also They won all the battles.” hope to make 600,000 euros ($635,000) A point is enough to move Barca up through gate receipts and TV money to second, but they now desperately from the tie. need to beat Madrid in the fi rst El Cla- Real Madrid are already well on their sico of the season at the Camp Nou way to the last 16 as they host Cultural this Saturday. Leonesa at the Santiago Bernabeu tomor- Earlier, Atletico Madrid got back row boasting a 7-1 lead from the fi rst leg. to winning ways and moved back into Zinedine Zidane is expected to reserve the top four as goals from Diego Go- all of his star names with the Clasico in din, Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Car- mind, but Brazilian midfi elder Casem- rasco ensured a comfortable 3-0 win iro could come into contention for the at Osasuna. Camp Nou clash as he will start for the Barcelona still haven’t won in San fi rst time in two months after recovering Sebastian since 2007, but were grate- from a broken leg. ful for the point as Sociedad failed to Guijelo will be dressed to impress as cash in on their superiority. they seek to shock Atletico Madrid. The “Playing like this it will be very dif- municipality in the Salamanca province fi cult to win the league,” added Barca is famous for its Iberian ham and Gui- defender Gerard Pique. jelo will don a special shirt divided into Xabi Prieto headed a guilt-edged Atletico’s famous red and white strips chance wide, whilst Vela also fi red off and strips of ham. target when well-placed inside the Meanwhile, Sevilla will have to catch a area before the break. The visitors’ boat from Ibiza for their clash with For- fi rst eff ort on target came on 50 min- mentera, an island better known in foot- utes when Geronimo Rulli turned be- Real Sociedad players celebrate after Brazilian forward Willian Jose’s goal against Barcelona during their Spanish league match on Sunday. The game ended 1-1. (AFP) ball circles as a favoured holiday destina- hind Neymar’s free-kick. tion for Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Sociedad went in front fi nish from the rebound was wrongly target in the fi rst half and didn’t even the Spanish international confi dent rounded off the scoring with his eighth three minutes later when Pique, who ruled out for off side. make it into the Sociedad area until the he can’t shrug off the ankle injury first goal of the season in stoppage-time. played on in the second half with a se- Asier Illarramendi then cleared off 41st minute. picked up in a 0-0 stalemate with Ma- “It was a very important game for Fixtures verely strapped ankle, could only slash the line from Denis Suarez at the other However, Enrique insisted Barca’s laga last weekend. us for the way in which we ended up Last 32, First Leg Jose’s eff ort into his own net after end before Vela struck the woodwork league challenge is far from over with “I think so,” he replied when asked playing,” said Atletico coach Diego Playing Today: Leganes v Valencia, Al- Marc-Andre ter Stegen had blocked again with a low eff ort that clipped the just 13 games played and two meetings if he will be fi t to start. “In the fi rst half Simeone. corcon v Espanyol, Sporting Gijon v Eibar, Vela’s initial eff ort. post in a frantic fi nale. with Madrid to come. I felt the ankle again, but hopefully I Atletico leapfrog Villarreal, who Real Betis v Deportivo la Coruna Neymar started up front for Barca Enrique lamented what he de- “That performance has happened I will be okay for Saturday.” earlier lost 2-0 at home to Alaves, into Playing Tomorrow: Formentera v despite suff ering a minor car acci- scribed as the worst display of his time think once in my time at Barca,” add- Atletico had suff ered back-to-back fourth and move back to within nine Sevilla, Toledo v Villarreal, UCAM Murcia dent in his Ferrari on Sunday morning. in charge of the Catalan giants. ed the man who has steered Barca to La Liga defeats for the fi rst time in four points of Real Madrid. v Celta Vigo, Guijelo v Atletico Madrid, And the Brazilian fi nally kickstarted a “The draw is positive because we back-to-back La Liga titles. years at the hands of Sociedad and “Oblak was decisive with the pen- Granada v Osasuna, Cordoba v Malaga, lame Barca display six minutes later take a point from a match in which it “It is the fi rst time I have the seen Real Madrid in recent weeks. However, alty save and after Godin’s goal we felt Hercules v Barcelona as he burst down the left and crossed was practically impossible to take a the team clearly inferior to the op- they never looked in danger after Jan more comfortable,” added Simeone. Playing on Thursday: Valladolid v Real for Messi to apply a characteristically point,” Enrique said. ponents. The positive thing is we will Oblak had saved Roberto Torres’ pen- “In the second half we were a lot Sociedad, Gimnastic v Alaves, Huesca v clinical fi nish for his 19th goal in 16 “As it almost always happens here, fi ght for this league until the end and alty with the scores still level at 0-0. more organised and had more of a col- Las Palmas, Racing Santander v Athletic games this season. Real got the better of us and if someone we have to improve on this display Godin nodded home Koke’s corner lective eff ort which allowed us to kill Bilbao Sociedad were cruelly denied 14 was watching the game without see- without doubt because it is impossible nine minutes before half-time and off the game.” Last 32, Second Leg minutes from time when a wonderful ing the colour of the shirts they would to play worse.” almost straight from kick-off Angel Granada, meanwhile, remain win- Playing Tomorrow: Real Madrid v hit by Vela came back off the under- think the other team was Barca.” Barca should at least be able to Correa released Gameiro to double less and rooted to the bottom after a Cultural Leonesa (Real Madrid lead 7-1 on side of the bar and substitute Juanmi’s Barca failed to muster a shot on count on Pique for the Clasico with Atletico’s lead. Substitute Carrasco 3-1 defeat at Celta Vigo. aggregate)