THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 SPORTS

Far-flung minnows give Russia’s elite travel nightmare

MOSCOW: When SKA Khabarovsk the Russian football elite, which lives in Founded in 1946, FC SKA has long SKA were beaten 2-0 by Italian Roberto choice between a lengthy flight and a secured their first-ever promotion to dread of the long-haul visit to the club’s lived in the shadow of the city’s more Mancini’s Zenit. train journey lasting more than five days. Russia’s Premier League last May, there 15,000-seater Lenin stadium located famous bandy and ice hockey teams. “I’d like to attend every away game of was no time to dwell on the loud groans 8,300 kilometres away from Moscow. But now the club can look forward to ‘EXTEND FAIRYTALE’ Spartak (Moscow) but I just cannot afford emanating from Moscow and St Khabarovsk is an eight-hour flight from dates with Russia’s most storied clubs, After the game the Zenit captain and to buy the plane tickets to Khabarovsk Petersburg, some seven time zones the Russian capital and even further even if the feeling is far from mutual. Mancini’s compatriot Domenico Criscito and back,” 29-year-old Sergei Trofimov, a away. from St Petersburg. “The hopes of our supporters came branded the flight to Khabarovsk as “the supporter of one of the country’s most Instead, fans of the far-eastern club, “Few people believed we would be true. They have finally received a chance worst in my life”. Khabarovsk is not the celebrated clubs told AFP. whose ground is roughly 20 kilometres successful as Orenburg are a far more to watch the country’s top teams live,” most easternmost team to have com- “It’s too expensive. And I will definite- from the country’s border with China, wealthy club than we are,” Yury Sobeshchuk said. “And our first Premier peted in Russia’s top flight, however. ly never dare to go there by train. “Of were busy basking in an unlikely Sobeshchuk, SKA’s press spokesman, League match with Zenit (St Luch Vladivostok and Okean course SKA are not to be blamed for achievement. The far-flung minnows told AFP by telephone. “Many of the Petersburg), which was sold out in just Nakhodka, who played in the country’s their city’s distant location but it will be reached Russia’s top division following a country’s small clubs’ representatives few hours, showed the serious rise of elite division in the early 1990’s, are both much more convenient without them in nail-biting shootout victory over expressed their gratitude to us, saying interest in football in Khabarovsk.” based 100km further east of the club. the Premier League.” Fans of Russia’s big Orenburg in the relegation play-offs. they were pleased money doesn’t yet The season-opener marked an inaus- For fans of Zenit and the Moscow clubs, hitters might well see their wishes ful- Now the club is the curse of much of decide everything in our football.” picious start to life in the big time as an away trip to Khabarovsk means a filled come the end of the season. —AFP

Man City summer spending spree not over: Guardiola

LOS ANGELES: Pep Guardiola has con- agers. “The competition (Premier League) firmed Manchester City are “still looking” to starts on the 12th (of August) and the mar- add to their £200 million summer spending ket is still open. That is not good for all the spree, although he refused to comment on clubs. “We will see until the end of the the possibility of hijacking Real Madrid’s transfer window.” Mendy became City’s lat- move for Kylian Mbappe. est signing earlier this week when the left- City have been the major shoppers in back arrived from Monaco in a £52 million the transfer market after splashing out a ($67 million, 58 million euros) deal. The 23- Premier League record total of £200m (223 year-old is still around a fortnight from fea- million euros, $260 million) to bring turing in a City shirt due to injury, but Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Guardiola is delighted to have brought in a Walker, Ederson, Danilo and Douglas Luiz defender who made such an impression to the Etihad. during Monaco’s Champions League cam- But it remains likely that they will con- paign last season. tinue their haul after being strongly linked “He can attack inside and outside,” with moves for Arsenal frontman Alexis Guardiola said. “He’s a young player so Sanchez and Monaco teenage striker sometimes you have to pay a bit more for Mbappe. Mbappe has been on City’s radar them. “But we have one guy for the next throughout the summer, although there five or six years.” Bringing in younger play- have been strong suggestions in Spain that ers at the back was clearly on Guardiola’s Real have agreed a fee of £160 million mind this summer after jettisoning the 30- ($210 million, 180 million euros) for the 18- something quartet of Pablo Zabaleta, Gael year-old. Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Ahead of yesterday’s International Kolarov to bring in fellow full-backs Mendy, Champions Cup encounter against Real Danilo and Kyle Walker. Madrid, in Los Angeles, Guardiola wasn’t City spent £130 million ($169 million, 145 being drawn on either. “They are Monaco million euros)on that trio alone, yet and Arsenal players, so nothing to say,” he Guardiola believes they will offer long-term said. But he did confirm that City were still value for money. “Manchester City didn’t looking at options in the market, albeit he invest in their full-backs for six or seven years UTRECHT: Germany’s midfielder Lina Magull (C) vies with Russia’s defender Anna Kozhnikova (L) and Russia’s defender during was coy on whether another striker was on and all four were 30-31 years old,” he said. the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 football match between Russia and Germany at Galgenwaard Stadium in Utrecht on Tuesday. — AFP the agenda. “We decided to make the squad younger “We have the two exceptional forwards and we tried to get the best full-backs possi- in Gabriel (Jesus) and Sergio (Aguero),” he ble. “Dani Alves was free but decided to go to SOCCER said. “We will see. “The market finishes on . Kyle, Mendy and Danilo were the best August 31, which is not good for the man- options we had.” — AFP Germany, into Roma withstand Tottenham fightback in friendly win women’s Euro q-finals HARRISON: Roma withstood a dramatic, the lead on 12 minutes through Perotti’s late Tottenham comeback to send the penalty. Carter-Vickers was adjudged to Premier League team to their first defeat of have handled a Radja Nainggolan cross and DOETINCHEM: Holders Germany beat Russia 2- a stoppage-time shot stopped by Lindahl. Dahlkvist breathed life into her team. this pre-season in a bad tempered affair although referee Hilario Grajeda was initial- 0 to set up a women’s Euro quarter-final clash “I’m disappointed the way it turned out,” said Italian coach said could which ended 3-2 in remarkable fashion. ly unsure, his assistant indicated the Spurs with Denmark while Sweden also advanced to Sweden coach . “(But) at the end of build on the result which he hailed as “a very Tackles were flying in all over the pitch player did indeed handball in the area the knockout phase despite losing 3-2 to Italy on the day we reached the quarter-final and I’m important victory”. “I’m happy for the girls and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino allowing Perotti to step up and steer past Tuesday. In Utrecht, Babett Peter scored from the happy about that,” she said, praising her team for because they promised they would give every- was livid with match officials in the second Michel Vorm. spot on 10 minutes and captain Dzsenifer 25 minutes after the break when Rolfo and thing on the pitch and they did.” — AFP half, although much of his anger would The English side, cheered on by a strong Marozsan converted another penalty in the 56th have been directed at his players who bad- contingent of supporters, failed to get into minute to hand a dominant Germany victory. ly underperformed at Red Bull Arena. their stride and it wasn’t until the 24th Peter converted her second penalty in two Bayern won’t join transfer Diego Perotti put the Italian team ahead minute that a chance finally fell their way. games after brought down with a penalty on 12 minutes. On 69 min- Mandy Islacker in the box, while Marozsan pun- utes, Eusebio Di Francesco’s side doubled KANE LEFT FURIOUS ished Margarita Chernomyrdina’s foul on Sara bidding war ‘madness’: Hoeness their lead as sub Kevin Vimmer’s cross fell Harry Kane was inches away from a Dabritz. In Doetinchem, put SINGAPORE: Bayern Munich will not enter edly has a deal in principle to buy French to Turkish midfielder Cengiz Under, whose cross before Mousa Dembele hit the bar Italy ahead on four minutes after Sweden into a bidding war for star footballers, the attacker Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for 180 goal appeared to have sealed the win. from close range. Kane, the striker, defender knocked down a cross German champions’ boss Uli Hoeness said, million euros. But Harry Winks reduced the arrears on had been very quiet but he sprung into life for her inside the box. describing skyrocketing transfer prices as The record transfer fees have been 86 minutes when he prodded home from on 36 minutes, powerfully holding off his equalised from a penalty follow- “madness”. bankrolled by sky-high television rights, and a four yards, and when Vincent Janssen scored marker before unleashing a shot from 20 ing a foul on by Federica Di “I don’t want to buy a player for 150 or 200 growing appetite in emerging leagues includ- in stoppage time, the Premier League team yards which was well saved by Roma’s Criscio, but Sabatino gave Italy the lead again million euros, I don’t want to join in such mad- ing China which are seeking to lure stars away looked to have gained a draw that would keeper Alisson. before half-time when she volleyed home a ness. That’s something that we will refuse with spectacular sums. have sent the International Champions Cup Pochettino removed the three young cross from . Blackstenius totally at Bayern,” Hoeness told AFP’s sports In comparison, Bayern has been conserva- friendly to a penalty shoot-out. hopefuls at half-time with only Walker- equalised for Sweden two minutes after the subsidiary SID in Singapore, where the club is tive in the transfer market. Among newcomers Moments later, however, Marco Peters impressing, yet three minutes after break, firing in a cross from half-time substitute on tour for exhibition matches. are James Rodriguez, who has arrived on loan Tumminello scored in dramatic fashion to sink the re-start Kane was left furious after Fazio Fridolina Rolfo, but forced in a The five-time Champions League winner with a buy option. The club has also recruited the Londoners once and for all. On the day brought him down in the area only for the cross from five minutes from is even willing to lower its ambitions. 22-year-old French midfielder Corentin Tolisso that Daniel Levy, the Tottenham owner, referee to dismiss his penalty claims. the end. Hoeness said the Bundesliga giant “could not for 47.5 million euros, bonus included. stressed his lack of transfer activity this sum- The striker’s anger spilled over soon Sweden still progressed as runners-up set as a goal” a victory at the Champions Hoeness sounded a warning against a mer is irrelevant because of the club’s thriving after when he smashed into Kostas despite the defeat and will face hosts League as long as “such madness is gripping backlash if the inflationary trend continued in youth academy, manager Mauricio Pochettino Manolas, leaving the Roma defender Netherlands for a place in the semi-finals. the transfer market”. the transfer market. “I wonder if spectators will fielded a number of younger players. sprawled out on the turf. Manager Germany put Russia under heavy pressure early “Our goal is to be German league champi- accept this in the long-term and managers too Central defender Cameron Carter- Pochettino then became embroiled in a on as newcomer Sara Doorsoun-Khajeh tested ons and to go as far as possible in the German should ask if all this is reasonable,” noted the Vickers, left back Kyle Walker-Peters and lengthy argument with the fourth official, Russian goalkeeper Tatiana Shcherbak with a Cup. And to play in the Champions League. Bayern boss on the sidelines of an SAP event. midfielder Josh Onomah all started for a who appeared to try and send the long-range blast in the build-up to the penalty. We are among the three, four best teams in Hoeness added that the club would unveil Spurs team who arrived in New York with a Argentine off before relenting and allowing Bayern Munich midfielder Dabritz had two Europe and any of these three, four teams can the name of its new sport director “in coming spring in their step following Saturday him to continue sitting on the sidelines. good chances in the first half but Shcherbak win the Champions League,” he said. weeks” to fill the post left vacant after Mathias night’s 4-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in “It was a situation that we were talking foiled her the first time before she shot narrowly According to media reports, Paris Saint- Sammer departed a year ago. German media Orlando. in Spanish, not in English,” Pochettino said. wide of the target. The 19-year-old Shcherbak Germain is seeking to poach Brazilian for- report that former Dutch international Mark Roma, who lost their previous game to “But I believe it was a chat that ok, we were also tipped Peter’s header onto the crossbar on ward Neymar from FC Barcelona for 222 mil- van Bommel and ex-star attacker for Germany, the French champions on penalties, fielded talking and started to speak louder. But for half an hour. lion euros ($256 million). Real Madrid report- Miroslav Klose, are likely candidates. —AFP a near full strength side with former me then I said to him, ‘I apologise’. Maybe a In the second half, Anja Mittag flicked the ball Manchester City player Edin Dzeko and bit nervous for some situation on the pitch. just past the post while Marozsan’s volley was Aleksandar Kolarov both renewing But he wanted send me off, but I said ‘come repelled by a diving Shcherbak. Peter said she acquaintances with the Premier League on we were talking in Spanish and nobody was happy that Germany had made it to the club. And the Italians controversially took could understand us’.—AFP quarter-finals. “We are group winners with seven points and that was our goal from the start,” she said. “We had a lot of chances today. Against Denmark there might be less chances, but we will have to try to convert them then.” Russian coach said the game may have been more interesting without the penalties. “Germany had most of the ball possession and that meant that we were not able to attack and create much danger in front of their goal,” she added.

SUNDHAGE ‘DISAPPOINTED’ Sweden were trying to impose themselves, but Italy were more dangerous on the counter- attack, with Bonansea first going close and then seeing her curling strike excellently clawed away by . Playing her last international game, fired into Lindahl and Sabatino then missed with a rebound. In the second half, Sweden stepped up their pressure, with another half-time substitute first having her header cleared off the goalline and then steering a low shot wide. Sembrant headed wide, while Blackstenius HARRISON: Lukasz Skorupski #28 of Roma stops a shot by Georges-Kevin Nkoudou SINGAPORE: Bayern Munich players warm up during their official training session in slammed her header into the upright on 78 min- #14 of Tottenham Hotspur but is unable to stop the rebound as Harry Winks of Singapore yesterday, ahead of the International Champions Cup football match between utes. After Girelli’s goal, Sweden were lucky to Tottenham Hotspur scored on the play during the International Champions Cup on Bayern Munich and Inter Milan today. — AFP Tuesday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. — AFP see Bonansea fail to add a fourth and then have