SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2020 11

Messi fires to WC qualifying win over Ecuador Nadal sweeps into 13th final cruise into final after brushing aside Diego Schwartzman

Nadal’s victory moves him• to within one win Lionel Messi of Argentina controls the ball past Moises Caicedo of Ecuador of equalling ’s record haul of KNOW WHAT AFP | Buenos Aires 20 crowns ionel Messi put his Barce- Llona troubles behind him AFP | Paris Nadal was beaten by to fire Argentina to an opening Schwartzman a little 1-0 victory over Ecuador in 71 welve-time champion over two weeks ago on World Cup qualifying. international goals have Rafael Nadal reached his the claycourts in Rome The 33-year-old great has been scored by Lionel T13th French Open final but the 12-time French been in open conflict with his Messi yesterday with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 club but it had no detrimental (7/0) win over Argentina’s Die- Open champion showed effect on his form as his 13th go Schwartzman, setting up a he was still the undis- minute penalty was the differ- potential blockbuster title clash puted king of Roland ence in a tight encounter. looked in danger of another against . Garros as he notched up The six-time Ballon d’Or shock defeat. Twelve-time champion Rafael a 10th win in 11 meet- winner unsuccessfully tried The hosts predictably domi- Nadal reached his 13th French Rafael Nadal hits a return ings over the Argentine to force his way out of the Cat- nated possession but struggled Open final yesterday with a 6-3, alan giants in the close season to break down an organized 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) win over Argenti- him in Rome last month. was broken again in the fourth although he remon-strated with but he seemed much happier and physical Ecuador outfit na’s Diego Schwartzman, set- “I played a couple of bad game. himself for squandering three in the light blue and white jer- that proved a different propo- ting up a potential blockbuster points in the third set but Diego The Argentine saved a cou- break points that would have sey of his country. sition to the one dispatched 6-1 title clash against Novak Djok- is a very tough player. He prob- ple of set points but dumped left him serving for the set. And Argentina needed him in a friendly a year ago. ovic. ably makes more breaks on the the third one in the net and the That was his last chance as to be on top form in a bid to The breakthrough came For 34-year-old Nadal, it was a tour than others. opener was Nadal’s after 65 Nadal stormed through the tie- avoid slipping up at home after a reckless challenge by 99th win at Roland Garros since “It was difficult until the end minutes on court. breaker. to Ecuador for the second Pervis Estupinan sent Lucas his 2005 debut and put him just but it was a positive match for Nadal was comfortably the The Argentine was left to re- suc-cessive time in an open- Ocampo sprawling in the box, one victory away from equalling me.” stronger, breaking in the third gret his 48 unforced errors and ing World Cup qualifier having with Messi stepping up to lash Roger Federer’s all-time record Nadal fought off two break and ninth games for a two sets converting just three of his 12 lost 2-0 to the same opponents home his 71st international of 20 Grand Slam titles. points in a marathon 14-minute lead. break points. four years ago. goal. He is also into his 28th final at opening game. With the match and his spir- “It’s different playing against In the surreal atmosphere Ocampos was presented the majors and has not dropped The world number two then it seemingly drifting away, Djokovic, Federer, Rafa, these of an empty Bombonera -- the with a glorious chance to dou- a set in the tournament this year. broke for 2-0 but Schwartzman Schwartzman dropped serve guys. Is not easy playing them iconic stadium in Buenos Aires ble the lead early in the second “It’s always incredible to play retrieved it immediately. again to go 3-1 down in the five sets because you have to that is usually bouncing from half but goalkeeper Alexan-der here and this is a very special It was a brief respite for the third. play your best maybe for the passion of fervent fans was Dominguez dived full length moment,” said Nadal after a 5ft 6in (1.68m) player affec - But he rallied as Nadal slipped three, four hours, five hours. left barren by coronavirus re- to keep out his low shot from 10th win in 11 matches against tionately known as “El Peque” into passivity and by the 11th Physically it’s very hard,” he strictions -- Argentina never eight yards. Schwartzman who had shocked (“shorty”), as the 28-year-old game he was on back on serve admitted.

Scotland survive Israel shootout as Ireland miss out on Euro 2020 Fog wipes out Eifel Grand Prix practice sessions Scotland won their AFP | Nurburgring first• ever penalty re-ceiving hospitals due to It its another step fog. shootout to beat Israel forward to hopefully oth practice sessions at the “Even though we have the BEifel Grand Prix were can- broadcast helicopter -- that’s making a bit of history celled yesterday when thick flying only around the circuit Slovakia beat the for the country. Republic• of Ireland on fog prevented the use of a med- -- to go from here to any of Qualification is still in ical helicopter at the Nurbur- the hospitals, should some- penalties to reach a our hands. We know gring circuit. thing happen, is not possible Euro 2020 playoff final we’ve got a tough game Consistent rain and low and therefore, from a safety against Northern Ireland but it is one that we’ll temperatures combined with perspective, we can’t start the look forward to a thick low mist to prevent any sessions.” on-circuit action at the track in According to the regulations AFP | Paris STEVE CLARKE the Eifel mountains, delivering of the sport’s ruling body, the the first complete washout of a International Motoring Fed- cotland won their first ever upstaged Norway’s Erling Haa- single day since the 2019 Japa- eration (FIA), the nearest Spenalty shootout to beat Is- land by scoring twice in a 2-1 nese Grand Prix. hospital to a venue hosting a rael in the Euro 2020 semi-final Scott McTominay of Scotland heads the ball during the match against Israel victory for the visitors in Oslo. Race Director Michael Masi Grand Prix should be within a playoffs, but there was spot-kick The Lazio midfielder’s first said: “Dampness is fine, it’s 20-minute drive of the circuit heartbreak for the Republic of “I can feel there is something chance of the game when he effort was cancelled out by just that the medical heli - or, if not, within a similar time Ireland as they lost out to Slo- building. It’s another game un- headed wide when com-pletely Mathias Normann two minutes copter is not able to fly to the by helicopter. vakia. beaten and you can feel the ela- unmarked from a corner just be- from time to send the game to Northern Ireland will host tion in the dressing room.” fore half-time and Liam Coop- extra-time. But Milinkovic-Sav- the Slovaks next month for a Clarke’s preparations were er’s header hit the post with the ic’s incredibly deft chip from a place at the postponed tourna- thrown into chaos on Wednes- last action of extra-time. narrow angle proved a worthy ment next summer after they day when three key players However, McTominay re- winner. too prevailed on penalties after were ruled out. deemed himself in the shootout Ireland failed to capitalise on a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Stuart Armstrong tested pos- as all five of Scotland’s penalty Slovakia’s own problems with Herzegovina. itive for coronavirus, while Ki- takers found the net, while Da- coronavirus absentees as Ste- Scotland are now one game eran Tierney and Ryan Christie vid Marshall saved from Eran phen Kenny’s men were left to away from their first major tour- were forced into self-isolation Zahavi. rue a host of huge chances after nament in 22 years when they for being in close contact with “Saving the first penalty a 0-0 draw in Bratislava. travel to Serbia on No-vember the Southampton midfielder. breaks them a bit and gave us Allan Browne and Totten - 12, but were pushed all the way The goal-threat and creativity confidence,” said Marshall. ham’s Matt Doherty then failed after neither side could find the offered by Armstrong and Chris- “The last four penalties from to score from the spot and the net in 120 minutes at Hampden. tie was badly missed as Scotland us were a real high standard – Slovaks made no mistakes to “It its another step forward to laboured to break-down an Is- the lads have practiced every win 4-2 in the shootout. hopefully making a bit of history raeli side that has won just one day. It’s more relief than any- “It’s a hard one to take at the for the country,” said Scotland of their last 10 internationals, thing.” minute and it is heartbreak- boss Steve Clarke. “Qualifica- including a 1-1 draw when they ing,” said Ireland captain Shane tion is still in our hands. We visited Hampden in the Nations Haaland upstaged Duffy. know we’ve got a tough game League last month. Serbia stand between Scot- Northern Ireland upset the but it is one that we’ll look for- Manchester United’s Scott land and a place at the Euros odds by coming from behind to ward to. McTominay spurned the best after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic beat Bosnia.