Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017

Morata saves Spain in Colombia thriller

MURCIA: Alvaro Morata came off the bench to salvage were also left on the bench. Colombia boss Jose turned home by Silva despite the best efforts of Julien Lopetegui’s unbeaten record as Spain in Pekerman gave James Rodriguez and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina. Rodriguez looks set an entertaining 2-2 draw with Colombia in Murcia on the chance to bounce back from their Champions to leave this summer, but the top scorer at the Wednesday. After Edwin Cardona had cancelled out League final disappointment. Rodriguez was left out of 2014 World Cup gave a glimpse of his quality with a ’s opener for the hosts, ’s the Real squad, whilst Juventus’s Cuadrado was sent-off lovely turn and shot with the outside of his left foot first international goal for two years had Colombia on just 17 minutes after coming on as a substitute. that curled just wide. Colombia were gifted a route course for a famous win. However, Morata made his Cuadrado had the first serious effort on goal as his long- back into the game when their equaliser arrived five case to start Sunday’s World Cup qualifier away to range shot was spilled by on a night to for- minutes before half-time, though, as a mix-up Macedonia with a towering header three minutes from get for the Napoli goalkeeper, but Falcao was flagged between Reina and Cesar Azpilicueta allowed time to save Spain’s blushes. offside as he attempted to mop up the rebound. Cardona to loop into an unguarded net. Lopetegui Lopetegui ran the risk of an adverse result as Nacho Spain went ahead with characteristic panache on replaced the experience of Silva and Andres Iniesta was the only Real Madrid player to start for Spain after 22 minutes when Silva finished off a brilliant team with Saul Niguez and at the break, the giants’ Champions League final heroics in move to score his seventh international goal in both of whom who will take their places in Spain’s defeating Juventus on Saturday to retain the trophy, Lopetegui’s short reign. freed Pedro under-21 squad for the European Championships later whilst , and Diego Costa Rodriguez down the right and his low cross was this month in Poland. — Agencies

Man City complete move for goalkeeper Ederson

LONDON: City have completed the signing of Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson from Benfica, the club announced yesterday. The announcement came a week after Benfica said they had agreed to sell the 23-year- old to City for 40 million euros ($45 million, £34.7 million), making him the second most expensive goalkeeper ever. Ederson will officially become a City player on July 1. City did not disclose the length of his contract. “I like everything about Manchester City,” Ederson said in quotes published on the City website. “This is a great club, they have amazing fans and they play splendid football. I have always had the dream to play in English football and now I’m going to make it true. “With , City are growing more and more. He is putting in place a young team for the future. Those were important factors in making my decision.” In signing Ederson, City manager Guardiola hopes to have put an end to the goalkeeping saga that plagued his first season at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola allowed to join Torino on loan, but Hart’s replacement, , proved inadequate and back-up goalkeeper ended the campaign as City’s number one. Ederson becomes the most expensive goalkeeper since Gianluigi Buffon joined Juventus from Parma for 53 million euros in 2001. He began his career with BEIJING: Barcelona’s Argentinean forward (centre R) poses for a photo with Chinese fans during a press home-town club Sao Paulo and spent time in Benfica’s youth conference at a hotel. — AFP system before launching his senior career with Portuguese club Ribeirao. After a three-year spell with Rio Ave, he returned to Benfica Sampaoli banks on Messi in 2015. Ederson only became Benfica’s first-choice goalkeep- er last season and helped the club to a league and Portuguese Cup double. He is uncapped at senior level, but was named in Brazil’s squad for their upcoming friendlies against Argentina for World Cup revival and Australia in Melbourne. “We are delighted to bring Ederson to Manchester City,” MELBOURNE: New manager says he is look- Never a friendly said City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain. “He is one of ing to superstar Lionel Messi to revive Argentina’s World Cup But Inter Milan striker , recalled to the the best young goalkeepers in Europe and he is an important fortunes starting with today’s friendly with Brazil in Argentine squad for the first time since 2013, is in doubt for addition to the squad for next season and the coming sea- Melbourne. Sampaoli has been installed to kick-start the two- Friday’s match with a thigh injury. Sampaoli said he was keen sons.” Ederson is City’s second major signing of the close sea- time world champions’ ailing South American campaign for Icardi to at least play a few minutes “but unfortunately the son following the £43 million ($55.7 million, 49.6 million where they lag outside the automatic qualifying positions in doctor is not on the same page”. “So it doesn’t matter how euros) capture of Portuguese playmaker Bernardo Silva from fifth spot with four games left. Argentina will square off with strongly we want him to play if the medical advice is to the French champions Monaco. Caballero, , Bacary Brazil before a capacity 100,000 crowd at the Melbourne contrary. We’re hoping for a miracle in the next 24 hours for Sagna, Gael Clichy and Jesus Navas have all been allowed to Cricket Ground ahead of their crucial next qualifier in Uruguay him to be able to play at least a few minutes.” leave as Guardiola reshapes a squad that finished 15 points on August 31. Despite the match being classified as a friendly, the former below champions Chelsea in third place. Sampaoli, who is Argentina’s third coach during the current Sevilla manager said his players were committed to show how World Cup campaign after and Edgardo well they can play, particularly against their arch-rival. “They Costa: Conte ‘doesn’t want me’ Bauza, said he valued Messi’s commitment to get his country want to play very strongly to demonstrate that they really val- Elsewhere, Diego Costa insists he will look for an exit to next year’s World Cup finals in Russia. “I’m very thankful ue coming here as a team and there’s also the aspect of play- route out of Chelsea after being told by manager Antonio that the best player in the world cut short his vacation in ing a very strong rival team,” he said. Conte he is not in the Italian’s plans for next season. Costa China and was able to travel here for a friendly,” Sampaoli told Brazil, who have already qualified for next year’s World was an integral part of Chelsea’s Premier League winning reporters yesterday. “He has the will to participate and drive Cup, are without their talisman but Manchester City campaign this season, scoring 22 goals. However, he claims Argentina to the World Cup, so he’s very much involved Fernandinho said they were hellbent not to lose he has no option but to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming toward these goals. their edge against Argentina. “Brazil and Argentina is never a months after being told by Conte he has no future with the “The things that he’s done for the team, especially this time friendly, everybody wants to win and we know how impor- English champions. round, are really valuable. “I really hope that the abilities that tant this is being a classic,” Fernandinho said. “We need to “I am going to be honest, the other day I got a message he shows as a leader and as a player will help Argentina continue in our rhythm, but Argentina has a new coach and from the coach, Conte, that I am not part of his plans,” Costa improve.” Sampaoli wants to use the Melbourne match to see he had really good work with and Sevilla. This is more told reporters after Spain’s 2-2 draw with Colombia on Messi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria work together. motivation for them. “To lose would be different for us Wednesday. “Right now I am a Chelsea player because I have “They are very good players, individually, and these friendly because we haven’t lost under (coach) , but we are pre- a contract, but if the coach doesn’t want me there then I games give us the opportunity to test their compatibility and pared if we do.” Apart from Fernandinho, his teammate and have to leave.” Costa said last month that he would only con- see how well they can work together,” Sampaoli said. “They’re rising star Gabriel Jesus, Liverpool’s , Paris template a move back to Atletico Madrid, from whom he both great players and we have great expectations. I believe Saint-Germain’s and Chelsea’s David Luiz are in joined Chelsea in 2014. — AFP that they will be able to help the team.” the Brazil squad. — AFP