15 Sports Tuesday, July 28, 2020 Man Utd, Chelsea seal top-four spots as Watford, Bournemouth relegated Leicester, in fifth spot, will play in the Europa League LONDON: Manchester United and Chelsea sealed slid home. A top-four finish and a Cup final in his first Champions League places on Sunday as season in charge is a coup for Frank Lampard, who Bournemouth and Watford fell through the trapdoor had to cope with a transfer ban and the loss of Eden on a dramatic final day of the longest Premier Hazard to Real Madrid last summer. League season. Liverpool were crowned champions “There were a lot of unknowns when I came in, last month but there was much to play for in the final could we move forward without Eden Hazard?” 90 minutes of a campaign that started on August 9 Lampard told Sky Sports. last year and was interrupted by a three-month coro- “We knew we had lost a massive player. We’ve a navirus shutdown. real spirit within the group now and it’s a real team United finished third after a nervy 2-0 win in a effort now. “Myself and the staff want to improve Champions League every time — the challenge shootout against Leicester, now is to see what more while Chelsea ended in we can do next season.” fourth spot after beating United, whose form has Wolves by the same score- dipped in recent weeks line at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea after they pulled them- At the other end of the selves back into contention table, Bournemouth and come good for the Champions League, managerless Watford fol- were locked at 0-0 at half- MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling shoots towards goal during the lowed already-relegated time at the King Power English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad Norwich down to the Stadium. Stadium in Manchester, north west England. — AFP Championship while Aston But they finally broke Villa fans breathed a huge the deadlock in the 71st sigh of relief. Leicester, in fifth spot, will play in the minute, when Bruno Fernandes scored from the them.” Bournemouth beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Europa League next season where they will be penalty spot after Anthony Martial was upended. ‘INCREDIBLY PAINFUL’ Park but needed West Ham to beat Aston Villa to sur- joined by Tottenham, who drew 1-1 with Crystal Jesse Lingard scored late to seal the win. Two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and vive. Andriy Yarmolenko equalised after Jack Palace to leapfrog Wolves. The result is a huge lift for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a strike by Kieran Tierney gave Watford, who sacked Grealish’s late goal for Villa but the away side held Wolves still have two routes to qualify for whose team were 14 points behind the Foxes at the Nigel Pearson earlier this month, an almost impossi- on, sending Eddie Howe’s side down after five sea- European competition next season — either into the start of the year, but is a bitter blow for Brendan ble task at Arsenal. sons in the Premier League. Champions League by winning the Europa League Rodgers, whose side have been camped in the top A Troy Deeney penalty and a Danny Welbeck “It’s incredibly painful — we always believed we next month or into the Europa League if Chelsea four for almost the entire campaign. strike gave them hope but it was not enough and the were capable of a last-minute escape,” Bournemouth beat Arsenal in next week’s FA Cup final. “I’m delighted,” said Solskjaer. “We’ve come from Hornets were relegated after five years in the top- boss Eddie Howe told the BBC. An early goal by Harry Chelsea required just a draw at Stamford Bridge way, way behind teams and gone past them. We’ve flight following their 3-2 defeat. “This is a reflection Kane put Tottenham in front against Crystal Palace. to seal their place in the top four, but won all three shown that we’ve got the consistency, the right men- of the whole year,” Deeney told Sky Sports. “Not Palace equalised early in the second half through points in first half stoppage time as Mason Mount tality. We’re building a group and a performance cul- quite been good enough. Heartbreaking for the peo- Jeffrey Schlupp but the point was enough for Jose whipped in from a free-kick before Olivier Giroud ture here that we can be proud of.” ple who work behind the scenes and we feel sorry for Mourinho’s men to finish in sixth position. — AFP Marlins postpone flight, Ohtani shelled in Oakland Ayew gives Swansea LOS ANGELES: The Miami Marlins Mattingly told reporters. “We’re play-off lead were forced to delay their travel plans going to have to be adjustable, we’re out of Philadelphia on Sunday after- going to have to be flexible, we’re noon after several players were going to have to be patient.” against Brentford reported to have tested positive for Meanwhile, Japanese two-way the coronavirus, US media reported. player Shohei Ohtani would like to The Marlins decided to stay an forget his return to the mound LONDON: Andre Ayew fired Swansea to a 1- extra night after right-handed pitcher Sunday after the Los Angeles Angels 0 victory against 10-man Brentford in Sunday’s Jose Urena, first baseman Garrett sensation failed to record an out in Championship play-off semi-final first leg as Cooper and outfielder Harold his 2020 pitching debut. the Ghana striker recovered from missing a Ramirez all tested positive, Ohtani, who pitched for the first penalty to grab the late winner. ESPN.com reported. time in 20 months, raised alarms Ayew saw his spot-kick saved by On Friday, catcher Jorge Alfaro about his ability to play two positions Brentford keeper David Raya in the second also got a positive test result. this season by giving up three singles half at the Liberty Stadium. But the former Manager Don Mattingly said the and walking three batters in a 6-4 Marseille and West Ham star shrugged off Marlins had decided to wait until loss to the Oakland Athletics. that blow to score with a superb strike nine Monday to leave Philadelphia. They “He just didn’t throw the ball very minutes from full-time. plan to arrive in Miami hours before well,” Angels manager Joe Maddon Brentford had Rico Henry sent off for a their home opener against Baltimore. said. “I can’t sit here and make excus- studs-up lunge on Swansea right-back Connor OAKLAND: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the The tests results likely means that es for him. I’m not gonna do that. The Roberts soon after Ayew’s penalty miss. “We’re Oakland Athletics in the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on some players will remain in fastball wasn’t coming out, there was playing two games for promotion to the July 26, 2020 in Oakland, California. The 2020 season had been postponed since Philadelphia and miss the home no deception in his pitches.” Premier League and £170 million,” Brentford March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. — AFP opener. “The guys that tested positive Ohtani said he felt ready to play boss Thomas Frank said. are quarantined here in Philly,” and he needs to throw more pitches “People need to be really sure when they Mattingly said. in a competitive atmosphere. and 20 homers in an MLB season. “Then his mask broke midway though make decisions. “I can’t understand why we The Marlins’ decision to postpone “I just have to get that feel for the Mitch Keller also pitched five solid (our argument), so I wanted to make can’t have VAR in these games. It was their flight home was made because game back,” Ohtani said. “Today I innings, and manager Derek Shelton sure that my mask stayed up and he absolutely not a red card.” Steve Cooper’s side of family concerns. “We were more just felt like I was throwing the ball engaged in American baseball’s first was great.” will take their slender lead to Griffin Park for comfortable flying as a group later,” rather than pitching.” Restricted to a socially distanced argument with an Arguments between managers and the second leg on Wednesday. Mattingly said. designated hitter role last season, umpire as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat umpires are a tradition in American “It was an eventful game. I’m pleased, it’s a “We’re talking about these guys Ohtani belted 18 home runs with a St. Louis 5-1 on Sunday. baseball, with the dust-ups usually small advantage. But it is only an advantage if travelling back home to their families batting average of .286. In the third inning, Shelton donned ending with the manager being sent we use it well,” Cooper said. “Andre brushed and their kids, and it’s the reason we Ohtani was the 2018 American his face mask and left the dugout to to an early shower in the clubhouse. off the disappointment of the penalty and want to be safe.” League Rookie of the Year after bat- argue with Jordan Baker after the But Baker allowed Shelton to vent didn’t let that affect him. That’s what he does, Urena was supposed to pitch in ting .285 with 22 home runs, 10 stolen plate umpire threw Pirates pitcher from a safe distance before order was step up in the big moments.” Sunday’s series finale at Philadelphia, bases and 61 runs batted in plus a 4-2 Derek Holland out of the game for restored and the game continued.