Sport FRIDAY 25 JUNE 2021 CaptainCapt Williamson expresses relief as NNew Zealand win a final at last It was the first official world Test championship, that’s a reallreallyy good feeling. Both teams knew coming into the last day ththereere wwere three possible results -- win, lose or draw and we sassaww tthath things could happen quickly. KaneKaK Williamson Sport |11 TENNIS: EASTBOURNE LAST 8 - L. Sonego bt A. Bublik 6-1, 7-5; M. Purcell bt A. Seppi, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; K. Soon Woo bt I. Ivashka 6-4, 7-5. UEFA scraps Gutsy Palestine crush Comoros 5-1 away goals FAWAD HUSSAIN successful side in the Gulf. They rule in all club THE PENINSULA won AFC Asian Cup title as hosts in 1980 and are the most deco- competitions Palestine produced the best rated team in Arabian Gulf Cup show of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 history, winning the title 10 times. qualifiers so far as they came However, both the teams REUTERS — LONDON from behind to thrash Comoros are entering the match after 5-1, sending their fans into failing to qualify for the next European soccer’s governing raptures at the Jassim Bin year’s FIFA World Cup, hoping body UEFA said yesterday it Hamad Stadium, yesterday. to seal berth in the Arab Cup. had approved a proposal to After conceding an early “We are disappointed remove the away goals rule goal, Palestine scored two goals because of our exit from the from all its club competitions in the first half and added three World Cup qualifiers and we involving men’s, women’s and in the final session to storm into want to make amends and youth teams, beginning with Group C of the Arab Cup where qualify for the Arab Cup,” the qualifying phase of the there will face Morocco, Saudi Bahrain coach Hélio Sousa told 2021-22 campaign. Arabia and Jordan. a virtual news conference . The away goals rule, intro- Moussa Djoumoi took “The two teams know each duced by UEFA in 1965-66, has Comoros ahead in the fifth other well and this match is been applied when the score minute and following a calm going to be tough,” he added. of a two-legged tie is level on display in the next half hour, Palestine players and officials celebrate For Kuwait coach Thamer aggregate after 180 minutes, Palestine opened the floodgates after the victory yesterday. Enad, tonight’s match is going with the team scoring more with a ruthless performance. to be a battle of nerves. goals away from their home Layth Kharoub found “The match will be more venue declared winners. equaliser in the 35th minute fol- Comoros reach. Islam Batran The winner of the match will maiden titles in 2019 within the psychological than technical. But it came under scrutiny lowing a free kick before Oday completed the drubbing nine enter Group A which also includes space of five months – the West The two teams are similar but last season with some matches Dabbagh scored a stunning left- minutes before time after taking hosts Qatar, Iraq and Oman. Asian Football Federation Cham- Bahrain will enter the match being held at neutral venues footed shot seven minutes later, advantage of lax defending. Ranked 98 in the world, pionship in Iraq and the Arabian having better chance of without spectators due to the leaving no chance for goal- Thrilling action on the Bahrain, who are 50 places Gulf Cup in Qatar - have enjoyed winning,” he said yesterday. COVID-19 pandemic. keeper Moyadh Ousseni. cards in Bahrain, Kuwait clash above Kuwait in the FIFA good progress at international Tonight's match will cap Instead, two 15-minute Palestinians entered the The final play-off tonight standings, will start as stage in recent years. seven-match qualification, periods of extra time will be second half with more confi- will pit Gulf rivals Bahrain and favourites but much will depend On the other hand, the first completing the line-up for the played at the end of the second dence, with Tamer Seyam Kuwait as they seek a place in on which side click in the Arab country from Asia to first FIFA Arab Cup that will be leg, followed by a penalty scoring a brace (56’ and 72’) to the main round of the first FIFA match. qualify for a World Cup in Spain played from November 30 to shoot-out if the teams are still take proceedings beyond Arab Cup. Bahrain, who won two in 1982 – Kuwait – are the most December 18 in Qatar. tied. Copa America: Late goal gives Brazil Portugal’s Cristiano controversial 2-1 win over Colombia Ronaldo celebrates after the match RIO DE JANEIRO REUTERS — in the 100th minute of the against France. Brazil’s Roberto match Casemiro headed home Brazil went behind for the first Firmino celebrates from a corner to give Brazil the time in eight games but after scoring a goal. win. responded with a controversial Brazil have already qual- equaliser before netting a ified for the quarter-finals and dramatic winner deep into will be joined by three other stoppage time for a 2-1 victory teams from the group, with over Colombia in the Copa Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and America. Venezuela vying for the spots. Brazil had won their pre- Peru recover from two vious nine games coming into goals down to draw 2-2 with Belgium unconcerned about the match in Rio de Janeiro, all Ecuador bar one of them without con- Meanwhile, Peru scored drawing Portugal in last 16 ceding a goal, but they went two goals in the second half to behind in the 10th minute rescue a 2-2 draw against REUTERS — BRUSSELS on Sunday. But a late German thanks to a wonder strike from Ecuador in the Copa America equaliser in Munich pushed Luis Diaz. on Wednesday. Belgium have no qualms about Portugal down to third and Juan Cuadrado swung in a Ecuador scored twice in the having to face holders Portugal eliminated the Hungarians. cross from the right and Porto opening 45 minutes with in the next round of the “I think they (Portugal) are midfielder Diaz leapt acrobat- Renato Tapia putting through European Championship, a very difficult team to beat, ically to volley an overhead kick his own goal midway through defender Toby Alderweireld they have a lot of quality, the past a helpless Weverton. the first half and Ayrton Pre- said yesterday, suggesting team is very compact, they Brazil were forced to chase ciado finishing off a free kick easier opponents might have know how to play big games in the game and they had most of seconds before the break. dampened their aggression. big tournaments. And they have the ball and almost all the However, Peru stormed “I don’t think you can be a lot of experience as well, so I chances, though Colombia did back into contention in the pleased or displeased about an think we are going to have to an excellent job of closing them second half with Gianluca opponent,” he told reporters be top to beat them," ” Alder- down in the final third. refereed the 2018 World Cup with 111 appearances. The Lapadula scoring after 49 after Portugal finished third in weireld said. The hosts eventually got final, allowed play to Colombian players were minutes before setting up Andre Group F after last-gasp drama “Of course, everyone talks an equaliser with 12 minutes continue. incensed but the goal was Carrillo to equalise five minutes at the conclusion of the group of Cristiano Ronaldo, he is one remaining, though it came in Brazil took full advantage allowed to stand, even after a later. phase on Wednesday. of the best in the world but they controversial as Roberto Firmino headed check by the Video Assistant The result means both With Hungary leading have not only him but also a lot circumstances. home a cross from the left, with Referee. teams can still progress into the Germany and Portugal level of quality around him, who With Brazil on the attack the goalkeeper David Ospina letting And worse was to come for last eight of the tournament. with France, going into the create chances for him.” ball hit referee Nestor Pitana the ball squirm through his the visitors. With one game left for each, closing stages of both Group F But Alderweireld insisted and as Colombia’s players hands on the night he tied Their protests after the Ecuador have two points from games, Belgium were on course top-ranked Belgian were “very paused expecting him to order Carlos Valderrama as Colom- equaliser led to 10 minutes of three games and Peru have to meet Hungary rather than hungry and desired to achieve” a drop ball the Argentine, who bia’s most capped male player stoppageage time being added, and four. Portugal in the last 16 in Seville success at the Euro 2020. Murray picked for British team to Wrist injury forces Thiem defend gold at Tokyo Olympics to pull out of Wimbledon AP — LONDON highlights of my career. Going to willll partnerpartner with Neal Skupski,Skupski, REUTERS — LONDON that tests found a “detachment a second Olympics as defending andd Murray will playplay with Joe of the posterior sheath of the Two-time defending champion champion is exciting and I’m Salisburylisbury in doubles. World number five Dominic ulnar side of the right wrist” Andy Murray will attempt to win looking forward to the HeatherHeather WatsonWatson andand AAus-us- Thiem has pulled out of an injury that will not allow his third consecutive Olympic challenge.” tralian-bornalian-born JJohannaohanna Konta Wimbledon due to a right him to compete on the circuit gold medal after being named to Murray is the only men’s wereere selected to play singles, wrist injury that will keep him for several weeks.