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Home , Alison Cerutti, Amit Mishra, Axar Patel, Basil Thampi, Deepak Hooda, Ishant Sharma

Liverpool savour remarkable Champions League comeback PAGE 18 THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

Sarri fears transfer ban will ruin EUROPA LEAGUE SEMIS Chelsea’s title hopes next year PAGE 18 VALENCIA VS ARSENAL SAMBA GETS SET FOR

Achieving the ‘three-peat’ Qatar’s ace 400m in Shanghai 12 months ago left McLeod overwhelmed with hurdler will line emotion. “The appreciation and re- up against Rai spect they have for hurdlers Benjamin at IAAF here is really special to me,” said McLeod. “I always want Diamond League to go out there and do my very best just for the fans, to show on May 18 my appreciation for the appre- ciation they show for me.” IAAF The Jamaican’s first SHANGHAI Shanghai victory came in 2016 when he clocked a world- TWO of the three fastest men leading 12.98 to grab the title in history will clash in the ahead of two world champions 400m hurdles in Shanghai and the world record-holder. when Abderrahman Samba He went on to claim Olympic lines up against Rai Benjamin gold in 2016 and added world at the IAAF Diamond League outdoor gold to his collection meeting on May 18. in in 2017. Samba, the world No.1 at McLeod will clash with 400m hurdles, is looking to Ortega again on 18 May when extend an unbeaten streak battle resumes for the 2019 that stretches back to the crown with the Spaniard seek- IAAF World Championships ing his first victory after finish- London 2017 where he was ing runner-up in 2015, 2017 seventh. and 2018. Since then he hasn’t lost Others aiming to wrest the a race at his specialist event, crown from McLeod’s grasp winning all of his races in his include 2015 world champion 2018 IAAF Diamond League Sergey Shubenkov and 2012 campaign and lowering the Olympic champion and world Asian record three times, cul- record-holder Aries Merritt, minating with a 46.98 clock- who is seeking a first Shanghai ing in Paris to move to second victory on his eighth appear- on the world all-time list. Rai ance at the meeting. Benjamin had been sharing Merritt will be joined by the second spot on the world US compatriot Devon Al- all-time list with Ed Moses af- Abderrahman Samba on way to winning the Doha Diamond League meeting in 2018. len, world indoor champion ter running 47.02 to win the Andrew Pozzi and European NCAA title last year, but he 19.99 last year and started his Yasmani Copello, Olympic fourth successive victory in successful athlete ever in the his third straight title in 13.16. indoor Milan Trajkovic of was bumped down one place 2019 outdoor campaign with finalist Annsert Whyte of Ja- Shanghai. meeting’s traditional blue More significantly, he Cyprus. on that list after Samba’s run a 400m PB of 44.31. The race maica and Feng Zhiqiang of The Jamaican sprint hur- riband contest. moved ahead of his boyhood China’s hopes rest with in Paris. in Shanghai will be Benjamin’s China are also in the line-up. dler made history last year The 25-year-old shrugged hero, Liu Xiang, who enjoyed Asian champion Xie Wenjun, Benjamin hasn’t contested first IAAF Diamond League In the 110m hurdles, world when he completed a hat- off injury niggles to beat two crowd-pleasing victories who hopes to repeat his 2014 a 400m hurdles race since appearance. and Olympic champion Omar trick of Shanghai hurdles Spain’s Olympic silver medal- at his home-town meeting be- victory after missing last year’s then, but he ran a 200m PB of World silver medallist McLeod will be targeting a wins to become the most list Orlando Ortega and claim fore his retirement in 2012. meeting with injury. survive Sunrisers scare SCOREBOARD

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD c b 8 Martin Guptill c b ...... 36 c S Rutherford b Keemo Paul .... 30 b Ishant ...... 28 Vijay Shankar c b Trent Boult ...... 25 c Axar b Keemo Paul ...... 20 ...... 4 c Rishabh Pant b Paul ...... 0 ...... 1 among favourites to Extras: (2lb, 1nb, 7w) ...... 10 TOTAL: (20.0 overs) ...... 162-8 Fall of : 1-31 Saha, 2-56 Guptill, 3-90 win World Cup: Pandey, 4-111 Williamson, 5-147 Shankar, 6-160 Nabi, 7-161 Hooda, 8-161 Khan. : Boult 3-0 -7-1 (1w), Ishant 4-0-34-2, Axar AFP 4-0-30-0, Mishra 4-0-16-1, Paul 4-0-32-3 (5w, NEW DELHI 1nb), Rutherford 1-0-11-0 (1w). c Vijay Shankar b ...56 FORMER Kapil Dev st Saha b Deepak Hooda ...... 17 on Wednesday pegged India as Shreyas Iyer c Saha b Khaleel Ahmed ...... 8 Rishabh Pant c Nabi b ...... 49 one of the top three favourites to lbw Rashid Khan ...... 14 win the World Cup, which starts Axar Patel c Saha b Rashid Khan ...... 0 later this month, saying their c Nabi b Bhuvneshwar ...... 9 pace bowling would come good Keemo Paul Not Out ...... 5 Right balance Amit Mishra Obstructing Field ...... 1 in seaming English conditions. Extras: (1b, 5w): ...... 6 India open their campaign India has the combination of TOTAL: (19.5 overs) ...... 165-8 against on June youth & experience. They have Fall of Wickets : 1-66 Dhawan, 2-84 Iyer, 3-87 5 in Southampton with an eye Shaw, 4-111 Munro, 5-111 Patel, 6-151 Rutherford, the right balance in four fast 7-158 Pant, 8-161 Mishra. on clinching their third title in bowlers, three spinners and two Bowling: Bhuvneshwar 4-0-42-2 (2w), Nabi 4-0-29- the 50-over showpiece event. 0, Khaleel 2.5-0-24-2 (1w), Rashid Khan 4-1-15-2 “Winning team looks like big names in and (1w), Basil Thampi 4-0-41-0, Hooda 1-0-13-1 (1w). India, England and Australia (M.S.) Dhoni. and surprise package can be 1983 World Cup winning by paceman Ishant Sharma New Zealand,” the Indian for 28, but Vijay Shankar and World Cup-winning skipper captain Kapil Dev Mohammad Nabi helped ac- told reporters at a promotion- Delhi Capitals’ Parthiv Shaw (centre) and other team members celebrate after winning the Eliminator against at the celerate the scoring in the last al event in New Delhi. “They are fantastic, very Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. (AFP) four overs to take them to a “India has the combina- good. English conditions will challenging total. tion of youth and experience. help them. They can swing Shankar hit two fours and They have the right balance in the ball,” said Dev, known as Shaw, Pant help Capitals set up Qualifier 2 clash with as many sixes in his 11-ball 25 four fast bowlers, three spin- “Haryana Hurricane” during while Nabi made 20 from 13 ners and two big names in Vi- his playing days for his pace. REUTERS Delhi rode on aggressive boundaries and two sixes before dismissed for obstructing the balls. Delhi all-rounder Keemo rat Kohli and (M.S.) Dhoni,” “They have Bumrah and VISAKHAPATNAM knocks by Shaw and Pant to Pant took Delhi close to victory. field by getting in the way of Paul finished with figures of he said. Shami who can bowl 145 edge a thrilling game with a Wicketkeeper-batsman a throw at the stumps, before 3-32 from his four overs, includ- India’s pace battery is led (kmph) plus. So we have swing, PRITHVI Shaw’s half- ball to spare. Pant, who was left out of they sealed a famous victory. ing two wickets in the final over. by , the world’s we have pace. That’s a very and Rishabh Pant’s 21-ball 49 Delhi face Chennai Super India’s World Cup squad, Earlier, Hyderabad’s top-or- The West Indian was also top bowler in the one-day for- good combination to have.” helped Delhi Capitals seal a Kings in another playoff on smashed five sixes and two der failed to convert starts into involved in a controversial mat, and includes Mohammed Dev, who led India to their two- win over Sunris- Friday to determine who meets boundaries but missed out on big scores with Martin Guptill run out on the penultimate Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar maiden World Cup in 1983 ers Hyderabad in their Indian three-times champions Mum- a well-deserved half-century dismissed for 36 while Manish ball of the Hyderabad in- and . when his side beat two-time Premier League (IPL) playoff bai Indians in Sunday’s final. when he was caught attempt- Pandey perished for 30. nings, after Deepak Hooda Bumrah has been hailed champions West Indies to take on Wednesday to move a step Indian opener Shaw laid ing one too many big shots. Hyderabad were 111 for was caught short of his crease for his ability to bowl the trophy at Lord’s, said it closer to the final. the platform with a blistering Delhi survived a nervy final the loss of four wickets after having collided with him in at the death, while Shami and was the “belief” which sepa- Chasing 163 for victory, 56 off 38 balls that included six over in which Amit Mishra was Kane Williamson was bowled the middle of the pitch. Kumar have also impressed. rated winners from the rest. Sports Thursday, May 9, 2019 17 Qatar’s two pairs to feature in worlds It is a third time for Younousse to take part in the worlds TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK credible run of victories and DOHA are still playing together. The Dutch pair will be QATAR’S two pairs got a rare among the 96 teams (48 per opportunity to figure in the gender), while the likes of April FIVB Beach Volleyball World Ross, Alison Cerutti and Phil Championships 2019, which Dalhausser have won the title is scheduled in Hamburg, Ger- before, they did so with former many from June 28 to July 7. partners. Cherif Younousse and At the moment, the FIVB Ahmed Tijan qualified for has declared 45 pairs each for the prestigious champion- the men and women cham- ship on the strength of their pionships. Three wild cards world ranking, while Assam would be announced later on Mahmoud and Tamer Ab- May 27 when the entry list is delrasoul made the cut as one confirmed. of the top four teams in Asia. World number ones An- Barring Younousse, re- ders Mol and Christian Sørum maining three players will play from Norway lead the field in Ahmed Tijan (left) and Cherif Younousse of Qatar: Hoping to get good results in the world championship. Assam Mahmoud serves as Tamer Abdelrasoul watches on during the in the worlds for the first time. the men’s section. Led by second Katara Open in Doha this year. Younousse featured in two and the United States, 90 men’s Central America and Carib- qualified for four berths per women gained four spots and worlds with Jefferson Santos and women’s teams from 38 bean) confederations. gender, but only three men’s the men one berth via the FIVB 2017 title together in . this past weekend in Kuala Pereira in 2015 and 2017. In countries representing all five Brazil secured their four and four women’s pairs fin- World Tour entry list. Nils Evandro is now teamed with Lumpur, Malaysia to earn the the Vienna, Austria in 2017, confederations have qualified men’s and four women’s berths ished among the top teams on Ehlers and Lars Fluggen were 2015 FIVB World and 2016 fourth and final spot for a Bra- he and Pereira were ninth and for the Hamburg meet. after finishing among the top the FIVB World Tour entry list. awarded a host country spot Rio Olympic champion Bruno zilian men’s team. Alison also two years before in The Hague, The list of 45 players per 23 teams per gender on the The fourth American men’s as the second German men’s Oscar Schmidt while Andre is captured a gold medal with they had made a dazzling de- gender includes the top men’s FIVB World Tour entry list. team of Billy Allen and Stafford team in the 2019 FIVB World currently paired with George at the 2011 but, getting the fifth spot. and women’s teams from the Points on the entry list are cal- Slick qualified via the NORCE- Championships. Wanderley. World Championships. Currently, Younousse and FIVB World Tour entry list culated by combining points of CA continental process. Leading the Brazilian bri- Alison Cerutti, who was , who placed Tijan are world-ranked sixth along with the continental each player’s best four finishes Germany secured six gade are reigning champions Bruno’s partner at the 2015 third at the 2015 FIVB World and share the spot with Dutch quota qualifiers from the Asian among his or her last six events berths for Hamburg as the Evandro Goncalves and Andre Worlds and 2016 Olympics, Championships in the Nether- and Rob- (AVC), African (CAVB), Euro- played on the international cir- European hosts stage their Loyola Stein, who are play- also qualified with Alvaro lands with Evandro, also quali- ert Meeuwsen, who had won pean (CEV), South American cuit. second worlds after holding ing with different partners Filho. Alison and Alvaro used fied with new partner Vitor the title in 2013 with an in- (CSV) and NORCECA (North, The United States also it in 2005 in . German this season after winning the a gold medal performance Felipe. Smith slams 89 as Warner Hamilton favourite flops in World Cup warm-up AFP for Spanish GP in BRISBANE (AUSTRALIA) hit an attractive unbeaten 89 but David Warn- er was out for a duck as Aus- tralia made 277 for six against a New Zealand XI in a World big test for Ferrari Cup warm-up on Wednesday. and were also REUTERS among the runs, scoring 56 BARCELONA and 52 respectively, but it was former skipper Smith who was LEWIS Hamilton is favourite the star attraction. to win the Spanish Grand Prix After being dismissed for for a fourth time, and third in a 22 in his return to Austral- row, on Sunday and retake the ian colours on Monday after a Formula One world champion- year-long ban for ball-tamper- ship lead from Mercedes team ing, he made the most of his mate Valtteri Bottas. opportunity in the second of Needless to say, Ferrari three “unofficial” one-dayers have another script in mind for in Brisbane. a race seen as something of a lit- Smith came to the crease mus test for their title prospects. when was out Sebastian Vettel and Charles for 28 and was in fine touch, Leclerc dominated pre-season stroking an array of fours and Australian player Steve Smith bats during the second of three warm testing at Barcelona’s Circuit de sixes, in a major boost for Aus- up matches against New Zealand in Brisbane on Wednesday. (AFP) Catalunya amid excited talk of tralia ahead of their World Ferrari ending Mercedes’ five- Cup defence in England. a catch to cover without scor- months of cricket with a mus- year stranglehold on the sport. Warner, who made 39 on ing, lasting just six balls. cle tear, but was recalled for They return reeling from his return from the “Sandpa- Meanwhile, pace spear- his first game since the Sri four successive Mercedes one- pergate” scandal, didn’t fare head will make Lanka Test series. two finishes, an unprecedented as well. his long-awaited bowling re- Australia won the first start to the season by any team, He opened the innings turn as New Zealand attempt of the three-match practice and hoping an engine upgrade with , rather than to chase down 278 at Allan series, where games are not -- brought forward by two races Khawaja, but was soon back Border Field. counted as full one-day inter- -- will swing things their way. on the sidelines after spooning Starc has missed three nationals, by one wicket.

If Mercedes are again quicker at such a bench- mark circuit, where the Australian paceman Richardson champions have won four times in the last five years, the writing will be ruled out of World Cup on the wall for Ferrari. Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton arrives on the red carpet for the 2019 Met Gala, the annual benefit for REUTERS “Jhye will continue with his more chances of getting injured They need to step up a the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York, USA on Tuesday. (EPA-EFE) SYDNEY rehabilitation and we will look again,” Hassan said in an inter- gear and start turning to resume bowling in the com- view on the Afghan board’s Fa- things around. SPANISH GP FACTFILE teringly quick in winter testing, AUSTRALIAN pace bowler ing weeks,” Beakley said. cebook page. so the Spanish Grand Prix will has been Australia’s first match in “Every player has to retire Statistics for Sunday’s Spanish Formula One Grand RACE WINS be anything but easy.” Bottas ruled of his maiden Cricket their World Cup title defence is one day... I think it is better to If Mercedes are again Prix at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, the fifth * Hamilton has 75 victories from 233 races and is leads five times world champi- World Cup by a shoulder in- against Afghanistan in Bristol retire when a player is perform- race of the season. closing the gap to Schumacher’s record 91. He has also quicker at such a benchmark won 53 of the 104 races in the V6 turbo hybrid era that on Hamilton by a single point, jury and was withdrawn from on June 1. ing well and before he becomes circuit, where the champions Lap distance: 4.655 km. started in 2014. with both men on two wins, by the squad for the tournament a burden for the team. have won four times in the last Total distance: 307.104 km (66 laps) * Vettel, third on the all-time list, has 52. virtue of the Finn’s fastest lap in in England and Wales on Revised squad: “Therefore, I decided to five years, the writing will be on 2018 pole: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes Ferrari have won 235 races since 1950, McLaren 182, the Australian season opener. Wednesday. Aaron Finch (captain), Usman Khawaja, David step aside form ODI cricket 2018 winner: Hamilton Williams 114, Mercedes 91 and Red Bull 59. Former Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn the wall for Ferrari. They need Race lap record: Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull, champions McLaren and Williams have not won since British bookmakers Wil- The 22-year-old, who made and continue playing T20 to step up a gear and start turn- 2018. One minute 18.441 seconds. 2012. liam Hill have Hamilton as race his one-day international de- Maxwell, , , Pat cricket for a few more years.” ing things around. * Hamilton has won three times in Spain (2014, 2017, favourite at 6-4, with Bottas but in January last year, will Cummins, Mitchell Starc, , Hassan, who underwent two Both teams have been talk- 2018). Kimi Raikkonen (2005, 2008), Sebastian Vettel POLE POSITION on 9-4 and Vettel and Leclerc be replaced by namesake Kane Nathan Coulter-Nile, , knee surgeries in 2012, ex- (2011) and Max Verstappen (2016) are also past win- * Hamilton has a record 84 career poles, Vettel 55. , . ing up the other’s chances. ners. Only one race has been won from pole so far this sea- priced at 9-2. Richardson after failing to re- pressed his gratitude to the “The last four races, on av- * All but three of the last 18 Spanish Grands Prix have son, by Bottas in Azerbaijan. Barcelona has also been a cover from a shoulder disloca- board and the team manage- erage, we were not quite there been won from pole position. happy hunting ground for Red tion he suffered playing against ment for recalling him for the so I think we are not the favour- * The only drivers to win in Barcelona from off the front PODIUM Bull, with Max Verstappen be- Pakistan in March. Fast bowler Hassan to World Cup. row are Michael Schumacher (third on the grid in * Hamilton has 138 career podiums and needs to fin- ites going to Barcelona,” said 1996), Fernando Alonso (from fifth in 2013) and ish in the top three in every race this year to equal coming the sport’s youngest “This is obviously very dis- quit ODI after WC “I’d also like to tell fans that Vettel, winner with Red Bull Verstappen (fourth in 2016). Schumacher’s record of 155. Vettel has 113. winner there in 2016. appointing news for the team Recalled Afghanistan quick I have proven my fitness (to) in 2011, after finishing third in * McLaren’s Carlos Sainz is now the only Spanish driver Former Red Bull team mate and for Jhye, who has been Hamid Hassan will quit one earn my place, having worked on the grid. MILESTONE Azerbaijan. * Ferrari are the most successful team at the Circuit de Mercedes have won the first four races of the season Daniel Ricciardo, now at Re- exceptional throughout his day cricket after a last hurrah at hard for the last six months Team principal Mattia Bi- Catalunya with eight wins. Since the first Spanish Grand with one-two finishes, the first team to do that. nault, has a three-place grid rehabilitation process,” team the World Cup in England and in various fitness and training notto agreed: “Obviously Mer- Prix in 1951, the Italian team have won the race 12 Ferrari, in 1952, won their first four races one-two but drop as punishment for a bi- physiotherapist David Beakley Wales, the 31-year-old has said. camps. cedes are very strong at the times. did not compete at Indianapolis, which was included as zarre collision with Toro Ros- said in a news The Afghan selectors “It’s been a long gap... I moment. I’m pretty sure they The circuit is out of contract after this year. a round of the championship. so’s Daniil Kvyat in Baku. release. sprang a surprise last month hope I’ll be able to perform well will be very strong as well in A Brazilian-Austrian flag “After his most recent as- when they recalled the right- in the World Cup and repay the Barcelona. “The results seem to paint a will be displayed on the podi- sessment and attempting to arm paceman, who played the faith that fans and the board “Many teams will bring Flattering relatively clear picture, but the um in tribute to the late triple bowl in the nets, it was clear last of his 32 ODIs against Ire- have shown in my ability.” aero package or car develop- Mercedes principal Toto truth is that they’re too flatter- champion Ayrton Senna and that Jhye was not progressing land in July 2016, to share new Afghanistan will play ODIs ments, so that will be again a Wolff dismissed Vettel’s por- ing. The performance has fluc- Roland Ratzenberger who died as fast as required and there- ball duty with Dawlat Zadran. against Scotland and Ireland different balance compared to trayal of Ferrari as underdogs tuated in the first four races,” at Imola in May 25 years ago. fore, in consultation with selec- “When a player goes before beginning their World what we’ve seen so far in the for the first race of the Euro- said the Austrian. Sunday’s race is the first since tors, we made the decision to through so many injury and Cup campaign on June 1 against season,” he added. pean season. “Our opponents were blis- the anniversary. withdraw him from the squad. recovery processes, there are holders Australia in Bristol. 18 Thursday, May 9, 2019 Sports ‘Giants’ Liverpool savour remarkable Champions League comeback

son Becker made an important Stand-in striker save from Luis Suarez before Wijnaldum sent Anfield into Origi and raptures twice in a matter of Wijnaldum both minutes. Firstly, the Dutch mid- scored twice fielder was found by Trent Al- exander-Arnold’s low cross and as Messi’s side drilled under Ter Stegen. And from Liverpool’s next threw away a attack, Xherdan Shaqiri picked out Wijnaldum to head home 3-0 first leg lead at the Kop end. Valverde desperately tried AFP to salvage the match, replac- LIVERPOOL ing former Liverpool player Philippe Coutinho with Nelson LIVERPOOL manager Jur- Semedo. gen Klopp said his team had Barcelona’s Lionel Messi reacts during his team’s loss to Liverpool at The change briefly had an the “mentality of giants” af- Anfield.(EPA-EFE) impact, but a sluggish Barca ter they pulled off one of the were made to look foolish when most remarkable turnarounds football. It’s so nice.” has made a habit of scoring they were caught napping by in Champions League history, Wijnaldum admitted he important goals in Liverpool’s a quickly-taken Alexander- thrashing Lionel Messi’s Bar- had been smarting at being challenge for a first Premier Arnold corner that picked out celona 4-0 to reach the final for forced to start on the bench and League title in 29 years and Origi completely unmarked to the second year running. felt he had a point to prove. he notched his first ever in the fire high into the net, sparking Stand-in striker Divock “Once again we showed Champions League on seven extraordinary celebrations. Origi and substitute Georginio that everything is possible in minutes, pouncing on the re- “There have been glorious, Wijnaldum both scored twice Liverpool striker Divock Origi (right) celebrates wtih teammates after scoring the winner against football,” the Dutchman said. “I bound after Marc-Andre ter entirely improbable games in as Lionel Messi’s side threw Barcelona during their UEFA Champions league semi-final second leg match at Anfield in Liverpool on was really angry at the manager Stegen had denied Jordan Liverpool’s European history, away a 3-0 first leg lead and Tuesday. (AFP) that he put me on the bench but Henderson’s initial effort. including the mind-bending crashed out at a frenzied An- I had to do something to help Messi, who had dominated highs of Istanbul,” the Guard- field. stage will now culminate in a Liverpool went into the talented giants. It’s unbeliev- the team when I came on. the first leg with two goals, had ian newspaper said. “But this The nature of Liverpool’s final against either Ajax or Tot- match deprived of two of their able,” he told BT Sport. “We believe it from the quickly and uncharacteristi- was something else, an effort victory was quickly compared tenham in Madrid on June 1 most potent attacking weapons “The whole game was too start. People from outside (the cally been rattled by Liverpool of will that, frankly, took the to the 2005 Champions League when they could become kings in Mohamed Salah and Rob- much. Winning is difficult but club), they thought it was not defender Andy Robertson, breath away.” final in Istanbul when they of Europe for a sixth time. erto Firmino due to injury. with a clean sheet, I don’t know possible, but we still managed wagging his finger in the Scots- And while Liverpool are came back from 3-0 down to For Barcelona, the crushing However, Origi and Wijnal- how they did it. to do this.” man’s face. dreaming of also grabbing the beat AC Milan on penalties. defeat was the second consecu- dum stepped up magnificently, “It means so much to all of Origi would almost cer- Liverpool were seemingly Premier League title this week- A season that threatened tive year they had surrendered leaving Klopp to marvel at his us. There are more important tainly not have started the dealt another injury blow as end, Valverde’s future could be to end with Liverpool being a commanding first-leg lead players in a joyous outburst things in the world. But creat- match had Salah -- the Premier Robertson could not continue bleak. pipped to the Premier League in this competition -- and the laced with profanities. ing this emotional atmosphere League’s top scorer this season after half-time. But his replace- “I do not know how it’s go- title by Manchester City this scale of the capitulation leaves “It’s 10 past 10, most of together is so special. It’s all with 22 goals -- and Firmino ment, Wijnaldum, was to have ing to affect me,” Valverde said. weekend and exiting the Cham- coach Ernesto Valverde facing your children are probably in about the players. been fit. a dramatic impact. “But here we are, the coach has pions League at the semi-final the sack. bed but these boys are f*****g “It shows what’s possible in But the 24-year-old Belgian Liverpool goalkeeper Alis- to take responsibility.”

Sarri fears transfer ban will ruin Al Rayyan out of ACL after loss AFC.COM Chelsea’s title hopes next season DOHA TWO goals in five minutes AFP tract next year, Sarri could be helped Al Ittihad reach the LONDON forced to sell a player he would 2019 AFC Champions League prefer to keep rather than risk knock-out stage with a 2-0 MAURIZIO Sarri said Chelsea losing him for nothing when his win over Al Rayyan at Jas- have no chance of competing deal expires. sim bin Hamad Stadium on with Manchester City and Liv- That would further weaken Matchday Five on Tuesday. erpool next season unless their his options, but the Italian re- Al Rayyan had suffered two-window transfer ban is mains intent on staying with their joint-heaviest AFC overturned. Chelsea next term. Champions League defeat Chelsea were hit with the The former Napoli manager in the reverse fixture, falling ban for breaches of the inter- insists he would be able to sur- to a 5-1 humbling by Al Itti- national transfer rules on mi- vive without new signings at had in Jeddah on Matchday nors and FIFA threw out their Chelsea next term, despite the One. They needed a win on appeal against the decision on obvious impact on his team’s home soil to stand a chance Wednesday. development. of grabbing one of the two The Blues will take their Asked if he would be ready Round-of-16 tickets. fight against the transfer em- Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri speaks during a press conference at to promote youth talents to the The hosts threatened bargo to the Court of Arbitra- Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham on Wednesday. (EPA-EFE) senior squad next term, Sarri through Abdulaziz al Ha- tion for Sport (CAS), but it was said: “I like to play with young sia whose seventh-minute Action from the AFC Champions League match between Al Rayyan the worst possible news for unable to sign the players he only one, two players, otherwise players, so for me it’s not a big touch of Mohammed Ala and Al Ittihad in Doha on Tuesday. Sarri ahead of Thursday’s Eu- believes are needed to fight City it’s very difficult to improve im- problem. Eldin’s cross was not strong ropa League semi-final second and Liverpool in the Premier mediately. “At the moment, we spoke enough to direct it goalward. pass and drilled an effort eran finished first-time into leg against Eintracht Frankfurt. League. “I think we are a very good one month ago about the pre- Al Ittihad responded a few from a narrow angle that the bottom corner to open Having booked a place “It’s very difficult to cover team, so we need only one, two season, the program of the next minutes later as Nasir al was saved by Al Ittihad goal- the scoring for the visitors. in next season’s Champions the gap at the moment; we need players, no more.” season. But we didn’t speak Shamrani stabbed Abdul- keeper Fawaz al Qarni, while A swift display of pass- League after securing a top four to work, probably we need to do FIFA confirmed it has “par- about the market, also because lah al Amar’s cross wide off Abdulaziz al Bishi shot high ing deep into Al Rayyan’s finish in the Premier League, something from the market,” tially upheld” Chelsea’s appeal, at the moment we don’t know target. and wide for the Saudi side half was followed by another Chelsea are bidding to win the said Sarri, whose third-placed but only in allowing the club if we’ll be able to go into the A quick succession of as the first half ended goal- Muwallad assist, setting up first trophy of Sarri’s reign in team are 24 points behind lead- to sign European players aged market. Every month I have passes at the edge of the Al less. Romarinho to finish from a the Europa League. ers City. under 16. The ban on signing a report, about the players on Rayyan penalty box saw Car- Al Ittihad came out a tight angle in the 67th min- They are favoured to reach “So it’s not easy, because the over-16s remains in place, leav- loan, we have 45 or 46 players los Villanueva slip a through different side in the second ute, doubling Al Ittihad’s the final after drawing 1-1 in level of the top two is very, very ing Chelsea unable to make on loan. Of course, we need to pass for Shamrani who half and were soon in front lead. Frankfurt in the first leg last high. As we can see in Europe so changes to Sarri’s squad unless consider who is ready. watched his outside-of-the- through Shamrani’s 32nd The visitors survived a week. But Sarri is concerned it’s not easy. Of course, we have they win the CAS appeal. “Two or three of those boot finish tipped by the leg AFC Champions League goal. late scare as Lucca Borges that a potentially uplifting to work and we have to try. In With Real Madrid expected players are very interesting of of goalkeeper Fahad Younis. Fahad al Muwallad sent struck the woodwork from end to hs troubled first season my opinion we can reduce the to make a move for Blues star course. But we need to consider Hasia latched onto a through pass for Shamrani a curled free-kick in added would be erased if Chelsea are gap. I think that we have to buy Eden Hazard, who is out of con- the level.” Ahmed al Saadi’s through inside the box and the vet- time. Nadal makes light work of Auger-Aliassime in Madrid opener Stage set for 2020 AFP here in the first round. ment for the first time after she MADRID Aside from some late resist- eased past Belarusian Aliaksan- AFC U-19 qualifiers ance, however, that saw a nerv- dra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3. RAFAEL Nadal made the per- ous Nadal broken when serving Osaka pulled out of the fect start to his bid for a sixth for the match, Auger-Aliassime semi-finals in Stuttgart last AFC ceive automatic qualifica- Madrid Open title on Wednes- struggled to cope with his oppo- month with an abdominal in- KUALA LUMPUR tion. day by beating Canadian teen- nent’s power and spin on one of jury but has said she is no long- The MAs that have been ager Felix Auger-Aliassime in his favourite courts. er feeling discomfort during ASIA’S rising stars will learn selected as the hosts of the straight sets. Nadal has not arrived in matches. their opponents for the AFC Qualifiers will be drawn into Nadal has endured a turbu- Madrid without winning in ei- “The ab injury was always U-19 Championship 2020 separate groups. The West lent few weeks after slipping to ther Monte Carlo or Barcelona sort of in the back of my mind, Qualifiers in the official draw hosts are; Bahrain, Iraq, surprise defeats in both Monte since 2015 and, after also pull- but that was more in the first ceremony at the AFC House Islamic Republic of Iran, Carlo and Barcelona last month ing out of Indian Wells due to round and now I feel fine, so on Thursday. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Ta- before then being hit by a stom- a knee injury in March, con- that’s great,” Osaka said. A total of 46 Member As- jikistan. Cambodia, Chinese ach bug on Sunday. cern was growing ahead of the Rafael Nadal in action during his second round match against Felix “I’m at a really good place sociations (MAs) will battle it Taipei, Indonesia, Myanmar But there was never much French Open later this month. Auger-Aliassime at the Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday. (EPA-EFE) right now. I feel like I’m having out in the Qualifiers divided and Vietnam will be the East sign of an upset in the Spanish The 32-year-old, who will fun playing tennis again which into 2 zones of WEST (West zone hosts. capital, where the world num- be chasing his 18th Grand Slam reached 12 Grand Slam semi- Wawrinka, meanwhile, beat is always a good thing for me. + South + Central) with The Qualifiers will be ber two began with a 6-3, 6-3 title at Roland Garros, will now finals between them. Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-3, I always play well if I have that 25 teams and EAST (East played on November 2-10, victory. The 18-year-old Auger- face another young talent in It took Nishikori just over 6-4, with a break in each set mentality.” +ASEAN) with 21 teams. 2019. Aliassime is enjoying some- America’s Frances Tiafoe. two hours to win 7-5, 7-5 against proving enough for the three- In the last eight, the two- The 11 group winners Saudi Arabia clinched thing of a breakthrough year Nishikori and Wawrinka Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien, time Grand Slam champion. time major champion will face and four best second-placed their third AFC U-19 title in after beating Borna Coric, Fabio will meet in the third round who saved seven set points dur- World number one Naomi Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic teams among all groups shall 2018, for the first time since Fognini and Stefanos Tsitsipas, on Thursday, an early show- ing a fightback from 5-1 down in Osaka is through to the quarter- who beat Ukrainian qualifier qualify to the Finals along- 1992, after defeating Korea as well as Denis Shapovalov down for two players that have the opening set. finals of the women’s tourna- Kateryna Kozlova 6-0, 6-2. side the hosts, who will re- Republic 2-1 in the final.