Chris Woakes does the star turn as England score stunning win over Pakistan at Old Trafford page 12

SUNday, AUGUST 9, 2020

Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Rufaa QNB Stars League teams show support for Lebanon scores third consecutive win Al Rufaa, owned by Al Shaqab as his jockey tried to settle him Al Rufaa could well be heading Racing, has barley put a foot with cover. There was a reason- into Stakes company for the wrong in 2020. He won his ably steady pace in this 8-run- second half of the season. This third consecutive race of the ner race. Coming under pres- colt is by leading sire Kingman season in the Betway Handicap sure at the 500-metre mark, he and was bred in France by Jean- at Newmarket’s July course joined the leaders in the final Pierre Dubois, one of France’s on Saturday. Partnered by his 200 meters. He then pulled top breeders. He was bought regular rider Robert Havlin over clear easily, winning by two at the Arqana August Yearling the 1,400-metre race, he was lengths for trainer John Gos- Sale from Haras des Capucines a little keen in the early stages den. Improving with every race, in 2018. (TNN)

Al Rufaa on way to winning the Betway Handicap at Newmarket’s July course in UK on The players of QNB Stars League teams and Al showed their support for Lebanon, the people of which are trying to recover from Saturday. the trauma of enormous explosions that occurred at Beirut port and killed over 150 people and left several injured last Tuesday, ahead of their (Pic: Racingfotos) crucial Round 20 #QNBstarsleague fixture on Saturday. The Al Sadd and Al Duhail players held up Lebanon’s flag as they lined up prior to the start of the match at the Al Janoub Stadium. Lebanon’s national anthem was also played as a mark of solidarity. (TNN) Tabata strikes as Al Sadd dent Duhail’s title hopes

In the second half, Al Do- Brazilian scores sari was forced into a save by Bayern Munich’s Polish forward a brilliant Almoez header, Robert Lewandowski (top) cel- his first goal in while Han could only shoot ebrates after scoring during the straight at Dosari when he UEFA Champions League second- his second stint should have done better as Al leg Round of 16 match vs Chelsea for the Wolves Sadd held on for a slim win. in Munich on Saturday. (AFP) In Saturday’s earlier Tribune News Network match Umm Salal and Al Ahli Lewandowski played out a drab 1-1 draw at the AL Janoub Stadium. fires Bayern Al Duhail’s title hopes took a Rasul Bezerra’s put Umm significant blow on Saturday Salal ahead on the stroke of past Chelsea as the league leaders fell to half time, but an own goal by defending champions AL Sadd Rami Fayez, 18 minutes before to set up 1-0 at the Jassim Bin Hamad time ensured Al Ahli managed Stadium. Rodrigo Tabata to steal a point despite umm Barca clash scored the lone goal in the Salal’s industrious play. 24th minute as Al Sadd earned Umm Salal are now in AFP their third straight win which 10th place with 17 points, Munich (Germany) puts them four points behind one point ahead of Al Khor, Al Rayyan in second and five while Al Ahli are eighth with Robert Lewandows- behind Al Duhail. 20 points. ki bagged his Champions The league leaders have League-leading 12th and 13th been inconsistent all season goals this season as Bayern despite losing just one match Results Munich set up a quarter-final before Saturday’s defeat. clash with Barcelona after a A win for the Red Knights Umm Salal 1 (Raul 4-1 home win over Chelsea in would have made it easier to Becerra 45’) Al Ahli 1 Saturday’s last 16 second leg. win the title next weekend Leading 3-0 from the first with a victory over Al Khor. (Rami Fayez 72’ OG) leg at Stamford Bridge in Feb- However, with this result and Al Sadd 1 (Rodrigo ruary before the coronavirus Al Rayyan’s win on Thurs- pandemic halted the compe- day, Duhail would need to Al Duhail players attempt to check Al Sadd’s Rodrigo Tabata during their QNB Stars League match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday. Tabata 24’) Al Duhail 0 tition, treble-chasing Bayern win their last two matches to Tabata scored winner in the 24th minute as Al Sadd moved to third place in the standings with a tally of 41 points. underlined their dominance to claim the Falcon Shield. progress 7-1 on aggregate. Al Sadd though, still have Despite Duhail’s posses- The Bundesliga and Ger- a slim chance of retaining the sion, Tabata scored the lone man Cup champions will meet title but would need both Al goal 25 minutes slotting in a Barcelona next Friday in Lisbon Duhail and Al Rayyan to lose rebound. Hassan al Haydos’s for a place in the semi-finals. their last two matches while Al shot was punched out by Mo- Lewandowski netted a Sadd ensure maximum points hammed al Bakri onto the penalty with just 10 minutes from theirs. path of Baghdad Bounedjah, gone at the Allianz Arena. A cagey first half saw few and then Tabata, who made no Winger Ivan Perisic then dou- chances created, and Duhail mistake from close range. bled Bayern’s lead before Eng- were without Yousef Msekni; Bounedjah should have land striker Tammy Abraham hence Almoez Ali and Mo- made it two before half time, tapped home a loose ball to hammed Muntari were left but the Algerian’s shot flew give Chelsea brief hope. to carry the goalscoring load. harmlessly wide. However, replacement Han Kwang-Song marked the Almoez headed over midfielderCorentin Tolisso put opening of exchanges with a the bar in the 44th minute the result beyond doubt when shot straight at goalkeeper in a rare first-half chance he fired home aL ewandowski Saad Al Dossari. for Duhail. pass with 14 minutes to go. This was a world-class dis- play from Lewandowski who QNB Stars League Standings played a hand in all four goals, adding a late header to his pair Pos Club M W l D GF GA GD Pts of assists. 1 Al Duhail 20 14 2 4 36 16 20 46 After a ruthless display in 2 Al Rayyan 20 13 1 6 37 15 22 45 the first leg, Bayern picked 3 Al Sadd 20 13 5 2 49 28 21 41 up where they left off six 4 Al Gharafa 20 9 6 5 32 28 4 32 months ago. 5 Al Arabi 20 6 7 7 28 27 1 25 They took the lead when 6 Al Sailiya 20 7 9 4 21 25 -4 25 Serge Gnabry, who scored 7 Al Wakrah 20 6 8 6 27 29 -2 24 twice in London, spotted the run into the box of Lewan- 8 Al Ahli 20 5 10 5 24 34 -10 20 dowski, who was tripped by 9 SC 20 4 9 7 18 25 -7 19 Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Ca- 10 Umm Salal 20 3 9 8 18 36 -18 17 ballero. The Poland striker 11 Al Khor 20 3 10 7 23 32 -9 16 was initially flagged offside, 12 Al Shahania 20 2 9 9 22 40 -18 15 Action from the Umm Salal and Al Ahli match played at the Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday. but VAR ruled otherwise. 12 Sunday, August 9, 2020 Sports

Scoreboard Sydney makes pitch to Pakistan (1st Innings): 326 England (1st Innings): 219 Pakistan 2nd Innings (Overnight: 137-8) host Boxing Day Test Shan Masood c Buttler b Broad 0 Abid Ali c Woakes b Bess 20 Azhar Ali lbw b Woakes 18 AFP grounds, acting as hubs and Babar Azam c Stokes b Woakes 5 Sydney hosting multiple Tests. Asad Shafiq run out (Sibley) 29 Mohammad Rizwan lbw b Stokes 27 Cricket Australia’s interim Shadab Khan lbw b Broad 15 Sydney made a pitch Satur- chief executive Nick Hockley Yasir Shah c Buttler b Broad 33 day to host the money-spin- said Melbourne retaining the Shaheen Afridi c Burns b Stokes 2 ning Boxing Day Test against Test depended on whether fans Mohammad Abbas not out 3 Naseem Shah b Archer 4 India as its traditional home were allowed. Extras: (b4, lb5, nb4) 13 Melbourne battles a surge in “It comes down to if we Total: (All out, 46.4 overs, 223 mins) 169 coronavirus cases. can get a crowd at the MCG, Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Masood), 2-33 (Abid), 3-48 The fate of the marquee we’ll play at the MCG,” he (Babar), 4-63 (Azhar), 5-101 (Shafiq), 6-120 (Rizwan), 7-122 (Shadab), 8-137 (Afridi), 9-158 fixture is uncertain with no live told reporters on Saturday. (Yasir), 10-169 (Naseem) sport currently in Melbourne “We are full steam ahead Bowling: Anderson 9-2-34-0 (1nb); Broad 10-3- as it struggles with hundreds of with the planning (for Boxing 37-3 (1nb); Archer 6.4-0-27-1 (1nb); Bess 12-2- new daily infections, in contrast Day at the MCG) in the an- 40-1; Woakes 5-1-11-2; Stokes 4-1-11-2 (1nb); to Sydney which continues to ticipation that we’ll be back England 2nd Innings (Target: 277) see only a handful of cases. to some level of normalcy by R. Burns lbw b Abbas 10 Reports have suggested that point in time.” D. Sibley c Shafiq b Yasir Shah 36 Adelaide is the frontrunner to But he conceded that “cer- J. Root c Babar b Naseem Shah 42 B. Stokes c Rizwan b Yasir Shah 9 host the December 26-30 clash tainly we’re looking at contin- O. Pope c Shadab b Afridi 7 if Melbourne is not able to, but gency planning across the en- J. Buttler lbw b Yasir Shah 75 Sydney Cricket Ground Trust tire summer”. C. Woakes not out 84 chairman Tony Shepherd said “Not necessarily specific to S. Broad lbw b Yasir Shah 7 D. Bess not out 0 they too were keen. certain matches, but our entire Extras: (lb2, nb5) 7 “We’d be very happy to host events,” he added. Total: (For 7 wkts, 82.1 overs, 363 mins) 277 it because it’s a major event and Currently, four Tests Did not bat: J Archer, J Anderson. Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Burns), 2-86 (Sibley), 3-96 it’s good for Sydney, and peo- against India are pencilled in (Root), 4-106 (Stokes), 5-117 (Pope), 6-256 ple like coming to Sydney, and for Brisbane, Adelaide, Mel- (Buttler), 7-273 (Broad) we have the capacity to host it bourne and Sydney from early England’s Jos Buttler walks back to the Bowling: Afridi 15.1-1-61-1 (4nb); Abbas 16-4-36- if that’s what Cricket Australia December, with Perth hosting 1 (1nb); Naseem 13-4-45-1; Yasir 30-2-99-4; pavilion after losing his wicket for 75 as Shadab 8-0-34-0 want to do,” he told the Sydney Afghanistan. Pakistan players converge on the fourth Result: England won by three wickets Morning Herald. The lucrative India series day of the first Test at Old Trafford in Player of the match: Chris Woakes (ENG) If that occurred, it would is seen as critical for the finan- Manchester on Saturday. (AFP) Series: England lead three-match series 1-0 mean a double-header in the cial health of Cricket Australia, Toss: Pakistan. 2nd Test: Aug 13-17 at Ageas Bowl, Southampton. city with the usual Sydney Test which has been hit hard by the ordinarily played after Mel- pandemic with its hosting of bourne. the Twenty20 World Cup this Shepherd said the large In- year postponed until 2022. dian diaspora in Sydney would On Friday, New South relish the extra opportunity to Wales state Deputy Premier Woakes leads England to stunning see their national team live. John Barilaro said he had writ- “They would love both ten to sports stakeholders and events, a double-header would officials in Victoria, whose cap- be fabulous,” he said. ital is Melbourne, offering Syd- Other possibilities sug- ney as host for major events as win over Pakistan in first Test gested include Adelaide and a backup. Perth, which have largely es- That could include the new ball, England needed just 13 270-odd,” Buttler Only twice has a team chased caped the coronavirus and Australian Open tennis Grand All-rounder shares more runs to win at a sun-drenched told BBC Radio’s more than 200 to win in the fourth have hotels adjacent to their Slam in January. Old Trafford. Test Match Special. innings of a Test at Old Trafford, 139-run stand with But there was still time for Eng- “I know it’s not with England making 294-4 against land to lose their seventh wicket good enough as an New Zealand in 2008 and 231-3 Buttler to spoil when, with four more needed, Stuart international wick- against the West Indies in 2004. Broad was plumb lbw on the sweep etkeeper...If I am Five teams ready to visitors’ big hopes to Yasir. going to continue to Collapse Woakes, however, finished the be a wicketkeeper in Earlier, England lost four wick- appeal Racing Point AFP match with an edged boundary off this team, I’m going to ets for 31 runs in slipping to 117- Manchester Afridi down to the third man rope have to be better,” he 5, with captain Joe Root and Ben ‘pink Mercedes’ decision as England went 1-0 up in a three- admitted. Stokes both falling in the collapse. Chris Woakes match campaign. But whether it was Root made 42 before he nicked hit an unbeat- Victory meant England had won cover-driving leg-spin- Naseem to Babar Azam in the slips. AFP ($471,000) but permitted to en 84 as Eng- an opening Test for the first time in ner Shadab Khan or Stokes had guided England to Silverstone continue using the car. land came six series. pulling teenage paceman an astounding one-wicket win over Teams were given 24 from behind Defeat was tough on Naseem Shah for an- Australia from a seemingly hopeless Twenty-four hours af- hours to give notice of in- to beat Pakistan Yasir, who took eight other boundary, But- position with a brilliant century in ter the verdict of a stewards’ tention to appeal and, on by three wickets wickets in the match. tler put the pressure the third Ashes Test last year. inquiry was announced, five Saturday, Renault, Ferrari, in the first Test Wicketkeeper But- back on Pakistan with But there was no repeat of his Formula One teams filed no- McLaren and Williams joined at Old Trafford on tler had a poor the bat. Headingley heroics on Saturday tice on Saturday of their in- Racing Point in doing so, the Saturday. game in the Buttler, whose father when he fell for just nine, with wick- tent to appeal the outcome of key issue for the first four be- England were was admitted to hospital Friday etkeeper Mohammad Rizwan hold- Racing Point’s copying scan- ing a belief the sanctions were struggling in pursuit of but has since been released, told ing an excellent catch after Stokes dal - including both original too lenient and the probe into a victory target of 277 af- Sky Sports: “We (England) turned got a thin glove to a Yasir googly that protagonists. copying needed to go further. ter collapsing to 117-5 on the field, up today still with a lot of belief.” bounced. The FIA stewards pub- Racing Point believe they fourth day. twice Pakistan captain Azhar Ali Ollie Pope then received a brute lished their verdict early have done nothing wrong and But Woakes, who had helped missing Shan praised Buttler and Woakes by say- of a delivery from Afridi that lept off on Friday, more than three should have avoided a sanction. drag England back into the match Masood on 45 ing: “They changed the momen- a length, the ball ballooning to Shad- weeks after Renault’s initial A spokesperson for the with 2-11 in just five overs late Fri- during the Pa- tum of the game and unfortunately ab as he ran forward from gully. protest in a sequence of three ruling International Motoring day, and fellow World Cup-winner kistan opener’s we couldn’t reply to whatever they Pakistan had resumed on 137-8, complaints at the legality and Federation (FIA) said: “We Jos Buttler turned the tide with a 156 that was threw at us.” a lead of 244. originality of Force India’s have received notices of in- stand of 139. instrumen- Buttler’s fiftycame off just 55 Yasir struck a quickfire 33, with 2020 car, dubbed the ‘pink tention to appeal the Renault Nevertheless, with just 21 more tal in leaving balls, with seven fours, with Woakes Pakistan adding 32 in 16 balls Satur- Mercedes’ because of its Protest Decision from the fol- runs needed, Buttler was lbw for 75 England with no slouch in a 59-ball fifty he com- day before they were all out for 169 similarity to the 2019 title- lowing Competitors: Ferrari, after trying to reverse-sweep leg- a first-innings pleted by cover-driving Naseem for in their second innings. winning vehicle. McLaren, Racing Point, Re- spinner Yasir Shah. deficit ofthe eighth boundary of his innings. But it turned out not to be The decision focussed fi- nault and Williams.” By the time Pakistan left-arm over a hun- It was Woakes’s highest Test enough to compensate for Pakistan nally on the legality of Rac- All five have until Tuesday fast bowler Shaheen Afridi took the dred runs. score since his hundred against In- losing four wickets late on Friday. ing Point’s brake ducts, which morning to confirm their in- “If I dia two years ago. England will now try to complete were adjudged to be illegal tention to take the case to the England’s Chris Woakes celebrates after take those Although Woakes is known to their first series win over Pakistan and contrary to the sporting sport’s International Court scoring the winning runs on the fourth day of chances, be vulnerable to the short ball, Pa- in 10 years with victory in the sec- regulations of Formula One. of Appeal, where it would be the first Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford we’re not kistan did not pitch short to the all- ond Test at Southampton starting Racing Point were docked 15 heard by a panel of independ- in Manchester on Saturday. (AFP) chasing rounder until he was well set. on Thursday. points and fined €400,000 ent judges.

Bottas pips Hamilton for 70th Anniversary pole at Silverstone

AFP expected ‘slip’ to second. Norris 10th for McLaren. Starting grid for Sunday’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix Silverstone “I wasn’t that great, but After two days of political Front row: Valtteri did a great job and he intrigue surrounding the Rac- Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) Valtteri Bottas outpaced his deserves pole.” ing Point copying scandal, it 2nd row: Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Racing Point-Mercedes), Max Verstappen (NED/ Mercedes team-mate and world Nico Hulkenberg, standing was a relief for many when Q1 Red Bull-Honda) championship leader Lewis in for coronavirus victim Ser- began with an early lap from 3rd row: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault), Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) Hamilton by the finest of mar- gio Perez with the Racing Point Kevin Magnussen’s Haas to set 4th row: Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda), Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) gins on Saturday to claim a dra- team, was third, securing his the mark. 5th row: Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda), Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren- matic for the 70th spot with an impressive perfor- In windy and cooler condi- Renault) Anniversary Grand Prix. mance only 10 days after receiv- tions than those on Friday, the 6th row: Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari), Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) The Finn clocked a fastest ing a late call-up while eating a air temperature was 27 degrees 7th row: Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari), Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) lap in one minute and 25.154 pastry in a Cologne cafe. and the track was 44 as Hulken- 8th row: George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes), Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri- seconds to beat the six-time “It’s been a crazy last week,” berg, Hamilton and Verstappen Honda) world champion by only 0.063 he said. took over on top before Mer- 9th row: Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari), Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams- in the final seconds of an en- “Q2 was tricky and I made cedes found their rhythm. Mercedes) thralling qualifying session. life hard for myself - and it is def- Out went Daniil Kvyat who 10th row: Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari), Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/ It was the Mercedes team’s initely going to hurt tomorrow, went off at Stowe in his Alpha Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas gets out of his car after Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 67th front row lockout. not having had the experience Tauri, Magnussen, Williams taking pole position during the qualifying session of the F1 70th Note: Esteban Ocon penalised three places on grid. “It feels good,” said Bottas last week.” rookie Nicholas Latifi and the Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone on Saturday. This weekend’s who was securing the 13th pole He failed to start last Sun- two Alfa Romeos of Antonio race will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the inaugural world of his career 48 hours after sign- day’s British Grand Prix at the Giovinazzi and Kimi Raik- championship race, held at Silverstone in 1950. (AFP) Red Bull surprised many by both Red Bulls and Ricciardo ing a new contract to keep him circuit after an engine problem. konen. putting Verstappen on ‘hards’ chose mediums. at Mercedes next season. Max Verstappen took fourth “I think something on the split with Leclerc fourth and the Italians’ move failed, the four- for his final run, on which he Predictably, however, He added: “We have im- for Red Bull ahead of Daniel Ric- floor broke,” said Kvyat, hav- luckless Sebastian Vettel strug- time champion qualifying a was ninth, a move that means it was Hamilton who set proved the set-up and the car ciardo of Renault, Lance Stroll ing bumped along the kerbs at gling to survive in 11th. dismal 12th. they start Sunday’s race on the the pace on his first run in since last week. Mentally, when in the second Racing Point, Chapel before re-joining. In what seemed to be an This meant the German most durable rubber and will 1:25.284, a tenth quicker than you start on pole, you can only Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri and Bottas then threw down a act of desperation, Ferrari sent was eliminated along with Es- have tactical flexibility. Bottas, with Ricciardo taking aim to win the race - and the down in eighth Charles Leclerc gauntlet at the start of Q2 with a Vettel out on softs to secure a teban Ocon of Renault, Carlos Norris, who leads Sainz third ahead of Hulkenberg be- starting point is good! It is so in the leading Ferrari. lap in 1:25.785, more than four- top-ten shootout spot as Hulk- Sainz of McLaren, Romain 4-1 in their intra-team quali- fore, after more tyre talk, the nice to drive this amazing car.” Alex Albon was ninth in tenths faster than Hamilton enberg jumped to second and Grosjean of Haas and Wil- fying scrap, was first out in final flying laps with Mercedes Hamilton explained his un- the second Red Bull and Lando in second, while Ferrari were split the Mercedes - but the liams’ George Russell. Q3 on softs while behind him duelling for pole. Sports Sunday, August 9, 2020 13 Juventus call time on Sarri experiment after Champions League flop AFP pitch after leading Chelsea to paid the price as Juve failed to Zinedine Zidane and former ‘Scudetto’ in a row. Ronaldo’s contract ex- Juventus into the quarter-fi- Milan the Europa League trophy. reach the Champions League Tottenham manager Mauricio Financially the Champions pires in 2022, but Agnelli in- nals last season with a hat-trick The Italian champions quarter-finals for the first Pochettino. League exit is not good news sisted the Portuguese forward against Atletico Madrid. Maurizio Sarri’s reign as were looking for a new direc- time since 2016. for Juventus, who paid 100 was “a pillar of Juventus” and But time is running out Juventus coach ended on Sat- tion to transfer their domestic “Sarri Out!” headlined Ronaldo a club ‘pillar’ million euros would stay despite the bitter for 35-year-old Ronaldo to urday after just one season, league dominance into a first Turin sports daily Tuttosport Although Sarri gave the ($115 million) disappointment at missing turn Juventus’s domination at the veteran manager paying for European title since 1996. on Saturday morning, with team orders, he adapted to to bring Ron- out on the last eight in his na- home into the European suc- the Italian team’s premature The stakes were high for Corriere Dello Sport writing: Juve and Ronaldo, who scored aldo to Italy, tive Portugal. cess they crave. Champions League exit. Juventus who spent big to “Adieu Maurizio.” 37 goals in total this season, a on a reported The top scorer in the his- “Not to take away from the Cristiano Ronaldo scored bolster their supporting cast The chain-smoking Sar- club record for a player in a sin- salary of 30 tory of the Champions League ninth consecutive Scudetto but twice in a 2-1 home win around five-time Ballon d’Or ri, who worked his way up gle campaign. million eu- with 130 goals and a winner of this club can aspire to much on Friday night, but Juve winner Ronaldo. through the lower leagues in Juve were rarely bril- ros a five titles across spells at Man- more,” said 30-year-old Bos- crashed out on away goals to Ronaldo was poached Italy to win his first league title liant and often disap- year. chester United and Real Ma- nian teammate Miralem Pjanic. Lyon, who finished seventh in in 2018 from Real Madrid, with Juventus, was an odd fit. pointing, losing in two fi- drid, Ronaldo carried the team “We must not belittle what Ligue 1 this season. while former Ajax captain His predecessor Massimil- nals, the Italian Cup and in Europe. we have done because winning Juventus president An- Matthijs de Ligt signed last iano Allegri won five league the Italian Super Cup. In the last two years, the is never easy and this club must drea Agnelli said the club summer -- the pair joining titles in as many seasons and They won just only Bianconeri goals in the continue to do these extraordi- would “take a few days to from teams that knocked the reached the Champions League two of their final knockout rounds have been nary things. make assessments”, but the Italians out of Europe the final twice. eight league games, Ronaldo’s seven. “In Europe we have to do axe fell swiftly. previous two seasons. Allegri is being touted as finishing the sea- He single-handedly lifted much more.” Sarri, 61, took over on a But the former Napoli one of the possible successors son just one point three-year deal last season boss in the end never man- along with Lazio coach Si- ahead of Inter Mi- Juventus’ Italian coach Maurizio Sarri during his team’s match against promising a revolution on the aged to impose his style and mone Inzaghi, Real Madrid’s lan, to seal a ninth Olympique Lyonnais at the Juventus stadium in Turin on Friday. (AFP) Thiago Silva determined to go out on a high at PSG

AFP Paris first-leg deficit by beating Borussia ‘Big opportunity’ Dortmund 2-0. Silva has loved life in France so Juventus’ Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo.( AFP) Thiago Silva’s eight years as a Paris That game was played behind much that he has gone on to take Saint-Germain player are about to closed doors too but the PSG play- French nationality but he was told in come to an end and the Brazil- ers celebrated their victory with the spring that he had no future at the ian centre-back has one piece thousands of fans who had gath- club beyond this season. Maestro to Mister: of unfinished business to ered, somewhat irresponsibly, out- The Brazilian international will contend with as the Qatar- side the ground. be 36 next month and Leonardo, the owned club head to Lis- However, the outpouring of emo- club’s sporting director, is looking to Italy legend Pirlo bon targeting Champions tion was understandable after the rebuild. League glory. disappointments of previous years, Edinson Cavani, PSG’s all-time That is something including the astonishing exit at the record scorer, and Belgian right-back replaces Sarri that has so far eluded hands of Barcelona in 2017 despite Thomas Meunier were also told they Silva and PSG. winning the first leg 4-0. could leave. AFP A collapse against “The game there (in Dortmund) Both have already departed, with Milan Manchester United last was very difficult, we lost and Meunier joining Dortmund. But Silva season meant a third thoughts went back to what hap- accepted the offer to extend his con- Former Italy and Juventus From today he (Andrea consecutive last-16 exit, pened last year against Manchester tract – which initially expired in June star Andrea Pirlo was on Satur- Pirlo) will be THE coach for but this time they are United, and our three consecutive – by an extra two months to feature in day named as the Italian cham- everyone at Juventus. through to a first quarter- eliminations before the quarters,” the Champions League ‘Final Eight’. pions’ new coach, just hours Today’s choice is based on final since 2016 and faceA tal- Silva said. “I don’t know the context for after Maurizio Sarri’s sacking. the belief that Pirlo has anta in Lisbon on Wednesday. “That was difficult to stomach Meunier and Cavani but for me it Sarri, 61, leaves Juventus “I have seen everything here. This but we knew what we wanted to do, was important to finish the season after just one season, a day after what it takes to lead. competition is so important, for the to turn it around and qualify for the here,” Silva added. the Turin giants crashed out of Juventus players but also for the club. Win- fans even though they weren’t in the “I also know the players here and the Champions League in the ning it was the objective when I stadium.” this year I feel we have a big opportu- last 16 to French club Lyon. came here,” Silva, whose con- Silva joined from AC Milan in nity to go all the way. The 41-year-old Pirlo, ventus, as the club has decided tract is about to expire, said 2012. He has been a cornerstone ever “The desire and the quality in the who has no previous top-lev- to entrust him with the techni- in an interview with AFP. since in a side that has completely squad gives me that feeling. If I start el coaching experience, has cal leadership of the first team, The game is being played dominated French football, winning something I want to finish it. I might signed a two-year contract un- after having already selected as a one-off tie behind closed seven of the last eight Ligue 1 titles. win or lose but I will give everything to til June 2022. He had recently him for Juventus Under 23. doors in the Portuguese cap- Last weekend Silva played as finish it well.” been appointed coach of the “Today’s choice is based on ital after UEFA were forced PSG beat Lyon on penalties to win If PSG beat Atalanta they will Juventus U23 side, who play the belief that Pirlo has what to rethink the tournament the League Cup and secure a fourth meet either RB Leipzig or Atletico in the third division. it takes to lead from his debut format due to the coronavi- domestic treble in six seasons. But Madrid in the semi-finals. The final is “Pirlo has had a legend- on the bench, an expert and rus pandemic. European success has not come so on August 23. Beyond that, Silva has ary career as a player, winning talented squad to pursue new PSG secured qualifica- easily. been linked with a return to Italy – he everything from the Champi- successes.” tion just before football “It’s not easy to stay in Paris for spent three years at Milan – or a move ons League to the World Cup Pirlo began his playing ca- ground to a halt in mid- eight years. I am really happy with to Everton, coached by Carlo Ance- in 2006,” Juventus said. reer at Brescia in 1995 and went March, as they everything I have done here, how the lotti, under whom he played when he “In his four years at the on to play for Inter, AC Milan overturned supporters have come to respect me. arrived in Paris. centre of the Juventus mid- and Juve from 2011 before mov- a 2-1 It’s magnificent,” he said. But you sense that he would still field, Pirlo won as many league ing in 2015 for two seasons with “I hope to end the adventure by love to stay where he is. titles, a Coppa Italia and two New York City FC in the MLS. winning the Champions League, “That depends on the club, it’s not Italian Super Cups. During his four seasons with Ju- that’s the dream.” down to me,” he said. “Today, begins a new ventus he won Serie A four times chapter of his career in the and one Italian Cup. Capped 116 world of football, as it was times for Italy, Pirlo was a key Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva has one piece of unfinished business to contend with as said almost a week ago: from figure in the team that won the the club head to Lisbon targeting Champions League glory. PSG face Atalanta in Lisbon on Wednesday. (AFP) Maestro to Mister. 2006 World Cup. He also won “From today he will be two Champions Leagues and THE coach for everyone at Ju- two league titles with Milan. Wawrinka, Svitolina pull out of US Open ‘Recluse’ Serena says she’s AFP the US Open will be tough,” he “The situation around court tournaments in Rome Geneva added, referring to the Italian COVID-19 is still so worrying and Paris,” Bertens said, indi- ready for Flushing Meadows Open which starts a week af- that the health of everyone cating that she could play at the Former champion Stan ter the conclusion of the New comes first and control of this French Open, which is due to AFP would happen to me. Wawrinka has confirmed that York event. virus is obviously a priority,” start in Paris on September 27. Los Angeles “I am sure I would be okay he will not play the US Open Roland Garros, delayed Bertens said. but I don’t want to find out. citing “the health situation in from May-June, will then start Bertens said she was heed- Karolina Pliskova eager Serena Williams said on “I have like 50 masks that New York” as the Grand Slam in Paris on September 27. ing Dutch government warn- to play: report Saturday she is pressing ahead I travel with, I don’t ever want event took another hit. “Finally, there are all ings while Svitolina said she Meanwhile, world number with plans to play in the US to be without one. Wawrinka, the US Open the uncertainties related to did not want to risk travelling. three Karolina Pliskova said Open despite a wave of player “With health concerns I winner in 2016, was already the quarantine issue. There Svitolina thanked the she was looking forward to withdrawals from the upcom- am super careful with what I missing from the entry list are still many questions and US Tennis Association and playing at the US Open. ing Grand Slam event over have been doing and everyone along with four-time cham- doubts about the holding of WTA “for giving the players a “Even though I keep think- coronavirus fears. in the Serena bubble is really pion Rafael Nadal. the US Open.” chance to play.” ing the situation is changing The 23-time Slam winner protected. Now, the 35-year-old will Earlier Friday, top 10 “I understand and respect every day, nobody knows what returns to tennis next week at “It is cool to play tennis, instead focus on Roland Gar- women’s players Elina Svito- all the efforts they are putting will come, but I really believe the inaugural Top Seed Open the future, as tournaments got but this is my life and my ros where he won his second lina and Kiki Bertens said they to make it happen in a safe en- we will play,” Pliskova told the WTA event in Lexington, Ken- cancelled I was just like, ‘Let health, so I have been a little career major in 2015. were skipping the US Open. vironment, but I still don’t feel Czech News Agency. tucky, relaunching her season me just work on today and see bit neurotic but that is how I “There is the health situa- World number one Ash- comfortable to travel to the US Pliskova has a special after a six-month hiatus caused what happens.’” have to be right now.” tion which is particular in New leigh Barty has also opted not without putting my team and fondness for the New York by the COVID-19 pandemic. The former world num- Williams revealed that York. I did not want to go the to play. myself at risk,” wrote Svito- event where she reached the Williams, who was one of ber one said she has spent the she had been practicing on US under these conditions,” Svitolina and Bertens, both lina, a semi-finalist at theU S final in 2016, her bestG rand the first players to commit to past six months at her home her own court, built with the the world number 17, also the ranked in the women’s top 10, Open last year. Slam result to date. the US Open despite the pan- in Florida, sheltering from the same hardcout surface used 2014 Australian Open cham- also cited concerns about cor- Bertens announced her de- “The worst-case scenario demic, said her plans remain threat of the coronavirus. at the US Open. She has also pion, told RTS in Switzerland. onavirus. cision after the Dutch govern- would be if we left and they unchanged, adding that she Williams has a history of stayed fit with construction of Players at the US Open, “Considering all aspects, ment tightened health meas- sent us back. We’ve already was tentatively planning to go pulmonary embolisms which a home gym. which starts on August 31, will I have decided not to play the ures on Thursday. had this experience,” said the to Europe for the rescheduled have restricted her lung capac- “I had to make a gym and be subject to tight health con- US Open,” Svitolina, a Ukrain- “Our prime minister also 28-year-old Czech. French Open. ity, a factor which she said had my husband made a court trols to avoid the spread of the ian ranked number five, wrote indicated yesterday that we In March, Pliskova trav- “I see myself doing it all if it prompted her to be a “little bit for me. The gym is not quite coronavirus. on social media. should be quarantined for two elled to the United States happens,” Williams said when of a recluse” this year. done. The tennis court is fun, It will also be played be- Bertens, a Dutchwoman weeks after coming back from only to find out the Miami asked about her schedule dur- “I started social distancing I go there and it is my own hind closed doors. ranked seventh, said on Insta- the States,” she said. and Indian Wells tourna- ing a virtual press conference in early March,” she said. sanctuary. It’s like, ‘Why “And the sequence of tour- gram that she made her decision “This would hinder the ments were scrapped over on Saturday. “I don’t have full lung ca- haven’t I done this 20 years naments which follows after after a “long consideration.” preparation for my beloved clay the virus outbreak. “But I am not planning for pacity so I’m not sure what ago?’,” she said. 14 Sunday, August 9, 2020 Sports Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab Round 10 Celtics rip Raptors as Nets, Magic grab NBA playoff spots

AFP but the Philadelphia 76ers ral- Miami lied in the second half to beat the Magic 108-101. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Instead, the Magic reached Tatum powered the Boston the playoffs when Washington Celtics to a 122-100 rout of de- lost to New Orleans 118-107, fending NBA champion Toron- leaving the Wizards (24-45) to on Friday, keeping the Rap- the only winless bubble team tors from clinching the Eastern and too far back to threaten Or- Conference second seed. lando. Brown scored 20 points, Cameroonian star Joel Em- Tatum added 18 and Kemba biid had 23 points and 13 re- Walker added 17 for the Celtics bounds for the 76ers while To- Omar Al Mannai, Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee of Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour 2019-20, with the podium finishers of the Big Tour (left) and with Open Class (46-23), who pulled within 3.5 bias Harris added 23 points and winner Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (right) at the Qatar Equestrian Federation on Saturday. games of second-place Toronto 15 rebounds, Al Horford scored and three ahead of fourth-place 21 and reserve Alec Burks con- Miami. tributed 22. “We’re getting there,” Tat- The Magic began the fourth um said. “I don’t want to put a quarter with a 3-for-17 shooting Faleh Al Ajami showjumps his way cap on it, say where our ceiling slump from the floor and the is, but we’re improving every 76ers, missing Australian star day and we don’t want to stop.” Ben Simmons due to a left knee The Celtics, who boasted injury, went on a 9-1 run over seven double-figure scorers, 4:30 for a 97-87 edge to seal it. ahead in Hathab with Big Tour title never trailed against the NBA’s Sixers coach Brett Brown second-best defensive squad, liked Embiid boosting his game jumping ahead 52-37 at half- in the second half. time and outscoring the Rap- “I loved his physical ap- Results tors 39-20 in the third quarter. proach. The team needs that Open Class | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 | “I don’t think it’s a surprise and feeds off that,” he said. 115/125cm | Prize-Money QAR 15,000 when your offense is dialed in “There was a physicality we like that,” Celtics coach Brad didn’t show much of in the 1. Rider: Hamad Nasser Al Qadi; Horse: Gibria-B; Faults: 0; Time: 56.71secs; Prize:QR3,750 Stevens said. first half.” 2. Nasser al Ghazali; What A Pleasure; 0; 59.00; QR3,000 Fred VanVleet led Toronto 3. Mohammed Saeed Haidan; Quick Step; 0; 60.16; QR2,250 with only 13 points, but the Celt- Grizzlies halt skid ics and Raptors could face each The Memphis Grizzlies, Big Tour | Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, other in the second round of the clinging to eighth in the West- Art. 238.2.2 | 130/145cm | Prize-Money QR35,000 playoffs and both sides know it ern Conference, snapped a four- 1. Faleh Suwead Al Ajami; Ulano; 0; 78.12; Jump-Off: Faults:7; Time: 44.01secs; Prize: QR9,625 could be much different. game restart losing skid by rout- 2. Cyrine Cherif; Collezione Cesaro Mikimoto; 0; 73.59; ret; QR7,000 “They are a good team,” ing Oklahoma City 121-92. Tatum said. “We’ll probably see Memphis guard Dillon 3. Hamad Nasser Al Qadi; SIEC Lonnie; 4; 71.73; QR5,250 them again.” Brooks scored a game-high 22 The Brooklyn Nets and Or- points while Morant and Jonas top podium place. added to the closeness of the lando Magic clinched the last Valanciunas each had 19 points. The 34-year-old Ajami, battles to be fought in the re- two berths in the East playoffs Oklahoma City, without who has competed at the 2010 maining legs. in different fashions. New Zealand center Steven Ad- World Championships and the Cyrine Cherif, riding Brooklyn, led by 22 points ams due to a left leg injury, led Asian Games, and achieved a Collezione Cesaro Mikimoto, from Caris LeVert and 21 from by as many as 18 points in the Team Silver medal position had made it to the jump-off Joe Harris, routed Sacramento first half but a 70-41 Memphis at the 2011 Pan Arab Games, along with Ajami but she had 119-106. The Nets (33-36) en- run produced a 95-78 lead en- made the most of the absence to retire in the jump-off. She, sured ninth-place Washing- tering the fourth quarter. of Big Tour leader Salman Mo- however, had done well enough ton could not pull within four The Grizzlies, 33-37, hammed Al Emadi who was to claim the runner-up spot. games to force a play-in series finish season games by facing earlier eliminated in this leg’s Hamad Nasser Al Qadi on under NBA restart rules. the East’s three top teams — competition. SIEC Lonnie finished third. Orlando (32-38) had a Toronto, Boston and NBA wins Al Emadi has been leading Earlier in the day, Hamad chance to win and seal a berth leader Milwaukee. the Big Tour with 172 points Nasser Al Qadi on his mount while Ajami was fourth with Gibria-B won the Open Class 163 points when the Hathab Table A, One round against series was intervened by the the clock (115/125cm) event coronavirus pandemic enforc- clocking 56.71secs faultlessly. Faleh Suwead Al Ajami in action on his mount Ulano during the Big Tour competition of Longines Qatar ing a four-month long break. Nasser al Ghazali on What Equestrian Tour Hathab-10 at the Qatar Equestrian Federation on Saturday. Today’s show may well see A Pleasure (59 secs) was Ajami topping the charts. Two second while Mohammed Tribune News Network Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab national equestrian team, more rounds remain and the Saeed Haidan on Quick Step Doha 2019-20 as he claimed the Ajami astride bay gelding eventual winners of the series (60.16secs) was third. 10th leg of the 12-round an- Ulano was a bit jittery in the are chosen on the basis of their Omar Al Mannai, Vice- Faleh Suwead Al Ajami nual series which concluded at jump-off of the round against best seven overall results from Chairman of the Organising showjumped his way into the Qatar Equestrian Federa- the clock with jump off, Art. the twelve rounds. Committee of the champion- reckoning for the top sport in tion on Saturday. 238.2.2 | 130/145cm event Al Emadi could well make a ship, crowned the podium A TV grab showing Kemba Walker during Boston Celtics’ match the Big Tour class of Longines A member of the Qatar but did enough to ensure the comeback but Ajami has surely finishers. against defending NBA champion Toronto on Friday. Zarco surprises in-form Quartararo for Czech MotoGP pole in Brno AFP race and to fight for the podi- Brno (Czech Republic) um so we will do our best for tomorrow and it will be a total- claimed a sur- ly different race from Jerez.” prise pole for this weekend’s Czech MotoGP on Saturday ‘Bad news’ for Rossi three hundredths of a second Starting Grid Yamaha’s Rossi, who is eyeing ahead of championship leader his 200th career podium, also Grid for Sunday’s Czech MotoGP: . Front row: 1. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Avintia), 2. bemoaned the weather condi- Team Jumbo-Vismarider Belgium’s Wout van Aert celebrates after The Ducati-Avintia rider Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT), 3. Franco tions. winning the one-day classic cycling race Milan-San Remo in San shut out his French compa- Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) “Unfortunately the tem- Remo on Saturday. (AFP) triot who won the opening two Second row: 4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/), 5. perature rose a lot in the after- Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha), 6. Pol Espargaro rounds of the coronavirus- (ESP/KTM) noon and the asphalt was also curtailed season from pole for Third row: 7. (RSA/KTM), 8. Danilo 10 degrees hotter than yester- Belgium’s Van Aert sprints Yamaha’s satellite SRT team. Petrucci (ITA/Ducati), 9. (ESP/Suzuki) day, and we suffered because Fourth row: 10. (ITA/Yamaha), 11. Zarco, 30, who left KTM in Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki), 12. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/ of this,” he told his team’s to maiden ‘Monument’ the middle of last season due Honda-LCR) website. to poor results, claimed his Selected: Sixth row 18. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/ “I will have to start from AFP Aert, who also finished third in sixth career MotoGP pole and Ducati). P10. This is bad news for to- Milan the Milano-Torino this week. his first since 2018. morrow’s race, because eve- “Today is a special day as “I can’t believe it that I got rybody is strong and starting Belgium’s Wout Van Aert I won my first Monument. It pole position,” he said. from further down the grid won a sprint finish to clinch has been a beautiful restart of “Beginning of qualifying, will be very hard. the Milan-San Remo, his first the season for me.” the first tyre, with the warmth, “But my pace is good, so I victory in one of cycling’s He added: “On the Poggio it was a bit too much and I will have to start well and try ‘Monument’ one-day classic (hill), I was at the limit, the ef- couldn’t go as fast as I did this to ride a good race and recover races on Saturday. fort was horrible for my legs. morning. On the second tyre I some positions,” he added. The Jumbo-Visma rider “Alaphilippe attacked finally managed better my gap World champion Marc pipped last year’s winner Ju- earlier than I expected and with the rider I was following. Marquez continues to be ab- lian Alaphilippe of France I couldn’t hold his wheel so I “I’m just so happy. I need to sent as he recovers from an- on the line after the gruelling had to go and chase him down. use this good position to start other bout of surgery on the 305km race in hot and sunny “He played it very well. well tomorrow,” he added. arm he broke in a first race conditions through north- Luckily I just had enough pow- Quartararo’s team-mate crash of the campaign. western Italy. er left to beat him on the line.” will start Ducati-Pramac’s Franc- Van Aert crossed the finish “As a Belgian, the Tour of in third for Sunday’s race in esco Bagnaia also misses the line on the Italian Riviera after Flanders and Paris-Roubaix Brno with seven-time cham- Esponsorama Racing´s French rider Johann Zarco in action during the qualification of the Moto GP Czech race after fracturing his leg 7hrs 16min and 09sec in the are on top of my list,” added pion Valentino Rossi in 10th Grand Prix at Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, on Saturday. (AFP) on Friday. saddle, just a week after winning Van Aert of the two races in and Andrea Dovizioso back Youngster Quartararo his first major one-day race, the October. “I climb quite well in 18th. sius in Brno played a key role unfortunately Cal crashed in was really bad, the tarmac. We leads second-placed Maver- Strade Bianche, in Tuscany. and I have a good TT (time tri- The 21-year-old collided in his result. front of us,” he told MotoGP’s know that it’s the first lap of ick Vinales, who starts fifth “It’s unbelievable to win al). Everything except Grand with LCR’s Cal Crutchlow “Really happy in the end, website. the tyre or it’s gone. at the Masaryk Circuit, by 10 Milan-San Remo after Strade Tour victories should be with- early on in the second run and the most important thing was “We know in these times “It will not be an easy race, points in the championship Bianche,” said 25-year-old Van in my capabilities.” said the heat of 30 degrees cel- to be on the front row but in these conditions, the track we know we have the pace to standings.