SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 SPORTS ‘Rome not built in a day’, says Inter boss

MILAN: Embattled Inter Milan coach Frank The Dutchman said he accepts the flak, winners in 2010 when they completed the on Sunday would dent morale ahead of a some points. Already, I’ve seen improve- De Boer has called for patience amid a but, following the disruption of the inter- treble under former coach Jose Mourinho, crucial week that could see De Boer either ments that I’m satisfied with and I think frustrating start to the campaign that has national break last week, insists he needs have struggled in recent seasons. vilified, or revered by fans. we’ve taken a couple of steps forward.” already dented hopes of contending the more time to get the ‘Nerazzurri’ firing on Even the return of Mancini, who led the The former Ajax manager, who could Mario, fresh from winning the Euro 2016 Serie A title. Inter kickstart their Europa all cylinders. “The criticism is normal, I’m club to seven trophies including three con- hand former Sporting Lisbon midfielder title with Portugal, is “ready”, added De Boer- League campaign against Hapoel Beer- the new coach and I’ve come in here from secutive league titles in 2004-2008, failed Mario his Inter debut, is relishing the chal- although the Dutchman was tight-lipped on Sheva on Thursday but first face a tricky a different country,” De Boer told media to provide the spark after he was drafted in lenge-even if time to work fully with the where exactly the midfielder would play. trip to league newcomers Pescara today, a yesterday. “But you have to look at the big by the club’s former owner, Indonesian squad has been at a prime. “He’s ready, so he’ll travel with us tomorrow week before hosting Serie A champions picture, I only arrived here a few days Erick Thohir. A recent takeover by the “We’re looking forward to the next (Sunday),” added De Boer. “He’s a complete Juventus. before the opening game of the season so Chinese Suning Holdings Group, and a three games. The only downside is the fact midfielder that we can use in various posi- After a shock opening defeat to Chievo I need some time. “Rome wasn’t built in a subsequent summer spending spree that we haven’t had the chance to train all tions whether in the centre of the park or and a limp 1-1 draw at the San Siro with day. This is Inter Milan, the pressure is nor- helped lure Joao Mario from Sporting together. A lot of the players were on inter- out wide. That’s a big advantage for us.” Palermo last time out, De Boer is under mal but for me it’s not a problem. I’m sure Lisbon and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ from Brazilian national duty so I only had seven players Ahead of the weekend fixtures, Inter sit in pressure less than a month after succeed- we’ll find success soon.” side FC Santos, has injected fresh hope. on the pitch,” he said. “But the squad is 17th place with one point, five shy of league ing sacked Roberto Mancini. Inter, Italy’s last Champions League But anything less than a win at Pescara determined to improve and start collecting leaders Genoa after two games. — AFP Dustin Johnson sets course record, ties for lead at BMW

CARMEL: US Open champion Dustin lion reasons” why he wants to win, other Johnson doesn’t care about the physics rewards are available. He already is regard- behind his new putter. Seeing more putts ed a favorite for PGA Tour player of the drop is enough for him. year, and he is likely to move ahead of Johnson made two eagles in a span of Jason Day in the Vardon Trophy race for the seven holes, shot 31 on the back nine and lowest scoring average. Castro opened a set the course record at Crooked Stick on big lead early with three straight birdies on Friday with a 9-under 63 that gave him a the front nine, and for the longest time, it share of the lead with Roberto Castro in the looked as though no one could catch him. BMW Championship. Johnson holed out a bunker shot for eagle Johnson didn’t even know he set the on No. 9, narrowly missed a 45-foot eagle course record until Tony Pancake, the golf putt on the 11th hole and then surged into director at Crooked Stick, congratulated the lead. He made a 10-foot birdie putt on him on the way to the clubhouse. “I guess the par-3 13th, rolled in a 30-foot birdie no one was ever better than 63,” Johnson putt on the next hole and then made an said with a shrug and a smile. Castro was eagle putt from 25 feet on the 15th. the first player to reach 14-under 130 on Johnson has 11 victories on the PGA the rain-softened course. He kept bogeys Tour, including a major and a three World off his card, rolled in a pair of 30-foot putts Golf Championships. Castro has gone 125 and had another 65 in his last-minute bid starts on the PGA Tour without a victory, to get to the Tour Championship at East and he doesn’t hit nearly as long as Johnson Lake, just 15 minutes from his house. - not many do. Crooked Stick is renowned Castro is at No. 53 in the FedEx Cup and for favoring big hitters, whether it was John only the top 30 make it to the FedEx Cup Daly at the 1991 PGA Championship or finale at East Lake and a shot at the $10 McIlroy four years ago after a week of rain million bonus. Paul Casey, who had the 54- that made the course even longer. That did- hole lead last week at the TPC Boston until n’t seem to faze Castro. finishing two shots behind Rory McIlroy, “It’s a big course. It keeps your attention, had a 66 and was three shots behind. which I think helps me,” Castro said. “I think Johnson has one of the most consistent if you look at the tour, it sure helps to be years with 12 finishes in the top 10, along long. But the guy who is striping it usually with victories in the US Open and a World wins. Couple of my best weeks have come Golf Championship at Firestone. Even so, on really long golf courses.” NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland returns a shot to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their Men’s Singles Semifinal Match on Day Twelve of frustration began to set in when the putts J.B. Holmes, who finished 10th in the the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Friday in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New stopped falling, so he switched to the Ryder Cup standings and is in need of a York City. — AFP TaylorMade Spider. “I was just struggling to captain’s pick to make his second U.S. team, get the ball to come out on the line I was shot 30 on the back nine and made a seeing,” Johnson said. “No matter what I strong run at Castro until he was slowed by Wawrinka outlasts Nishikori did, how much I practiced, training aids, a bogey on the par-3 third hole and at the whatever. It just wasn’t working. So just par-5 ninth. He wound up with a 65 and decided to switch it up.” was four shots behind, along with Chris to reach first US Open final Kirk. Two-time Masters champion Bubba FAVORITE Watson also needs a pick, and he delivered When asked about the physics involved, a 67 to at least get in the top 10. NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka spent the first set of ranked Dan Evans before prevailing in five sets. between points, trudging slowly to his chair on Johnson said, “I don’t go into that stuff - as McIlroy stalled with three bogeys on his his US Open semifinal letting Kei Nishikori push But the 31-year-old started to look more like a changeovers. Still, he wouldn’t go away. Down a long as it goes where I’m looking.” That said, back nine for a 71. Jordan Spieth shot 72 him around the court. On an evening so humid two-time major winner in his quarterfinal victory break in both the third and fourth sets, he broke he did point out he took physics in high with four bogeys and a double bogey his racket slipped out of his hand during one over 2009 champ Juan Martin del Potro. back each time. But he just didn’t have enough school. “I got an ‘A,’ too, bud.” when he pulled a shot into the creek on the swing, Wawrinka never panicked. Down a set Nishikori came into Friday’s match with an left to pull ahead and couldn’t take advantage of Johnson already was virtually assured of 14th. He bounced back with an eagle on and a break Friday, he upped the pressure and eye-popping 5-0 record against top-10 players enough openings on Wawrinka’s serve. Nishikori being among the top five going into the the next hole, but there were too many handled the big points better, emerging with a at the US Open, the only Grand Slam at which he was 4 of 15 on break-point chances. Tour Championship, meaning he only has mistakes. They were at 4-under 140, 10 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 victory. has made the semis. He reached his lone major “That’s really disappointing, especially second to win at East Lake to win the FedEx Cup. shots out of the lead. Day, the world No. 1, “I had to wait,” Wawrinka said. “I had to fight.” title match in 2014 at Flushing Meadows, losing set,” Nishikori said. “That was the biggest mis- Along with what he described as “10 mil- joined them after a 67. That describes his career, too. A player who to fellow first-time finalist Marin Cilic. take. After that he was playing better.” didn’t make his first Grand Slam semifinal until The sixth-seeded Nishikori rallied to upset Even the closure of the roof over Arthur Ashe age 28 will now seek his third major title in as Andy Murray in five sets Wednesday, and he Stadium didn’t help Nishikori this time. Against many years. The third-seeded Wawrinka faces picked up where he left off at the outset of the Murray, that seemed to swing momentum No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday in a rematch of semifinal. But with Wawrinka saving six straight toward Nishikori, making the conditions more the 2015 French Open final. break points during one stretch in the second favorable for his game. But after rain forced the Wawrinka upset the top-ranked Djokovic that set, Nishikori’s legs started to go. roof to shut midway through the third set Friday, day, just as he stunned a top-ranked Rafael “I just tried to little by little play a little bit bet- it was Wawrinka who would go on to break in Nadal for the 2014 Australian Open champi- ter, a little bit faster, a little bit heavier,” Wawrinka the final game - just as he did in the second set. onship. He’s 2-0 in Grand Slam title matches and said. “I tried to make him run.” He acknowledged He celebrates by pointing to his temple, a has won his last 10 tournament finals overall. that he, too, “was suffering on the court.” But reminder that “sometimes I don’t find always The later the round, the better he seems to Wawrinka knew he couldn’t show it. myself comfortable on the court - I have to fight play. That’s certainly been the case this year at “It’s important to not spend energy by being with myself.” “That’s when I’m happy with myself Flushing Meadows. Wawrinka needed to save a negative and show the opponent that you’re and proud of myself,” Wawrinka said, “when I stay match point in the third round against 64th- struggling,” he said. Nishikori was flexing his legs strong with what I want to do.” — AP Dembele bags hat-trick as Celtic rout Rangers

GLASGOW: Moussa Dembele grabbed a hat- Rangers’ hopes appeared to be slipping away and came close to an equaliser when Barrie trick on his debut as Celtic thrashed 10 men but they pulled a goal back from nowhere on McKay curled an effort inches wide of Dorus de VIGO: Atletico Madrid’s forward Fernando Torres (L) vies with Celta Vigo’s defender Rangers 5-1 at Parkhead in the first der- the verge of half-time. ’s cross Vries’ far post. However, it was the Hoops who Sergi Gomez during the Spanish league football match RC Celta de Vigo vs Club by in four years. was headed back across goal by increased their lead through Sinclair. Dembele Atletico de Madrid at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo yesterday. — AFP The French striker, only playing due to an and Garner leapt to nod the ball over the line split the Rangers defence as he slipped the ball injury to top scorer , became the from close range for his first goal for Rangers. through for the former Manchester City winger Antoine Griezmann leads first player to score a hat-trick in the fixture since The visitors started the second half with more who calmly slide the ball past Foderingham and Ally McCoist’s treble in the 1983 League Cup energy as replaced Niko Krancjar in off the post. — AFP Atletico Liga lift-off final. He opened the scoring with a header in the 34th minute before firing home a fine solo MADRID: Antoine Griezmann kickstarted It was in the heat of the moment, but I am finish to double Celtic’s advantage eight minutes Atletico Madrid’s La Liga campaign with two very happy with what we did as a team today. later. Rangers pulled one back in the 45th goals and an assist as a 4-0 rout at Celta Vigo “I am still getting back into my rhythm (after minute through Joe Garner but Dembele then gave them a much-needed boost on the Euros) and still have a way to go, but I am set up to make it 3-1. Saturday. It was their first win of the current giving my all and I’m very happy to get the The former Fulham forward then sealed the La Liga season after being held by promoted goals and the assist.” first Celtic hat-trick in an Old Firm league fixture Alaves and Leganes in their opening two Celta are still to pick up a point this season since 1966 in the 84th minute after Rangers had league games. And they were outplayed for after finishing sixth last term, but just as in been reduced to 10 men as Philippe Senderos’ the first-half in Vigo yesterday too, as Josep losing out narrowly to Real Madrid two weeks picked up a second booking for a deliberate Sense and Theo Bongonda missed great ago, they again paid for not taking their handball. chances. But Atletico’s luck turned when chances in a promising first-half. Sense fired Substitute finished the Koke met Griezmann’s fine cross eight min- into the side-netting after bursting through scoring in stoppage time to continue Celtic’s 100 utes into the second-half to give the visitors the Atletico defence and rounding Jan Oblak per cent start to the season as they move four the lead before Euro 2016’s top scorer just nine minutes in. Bongonda’s pace was points clear of Rangers with a game in hand Griezmann headed home his first two goals also causing Diego Simeone’s men serious against their Old Firm foes. Off the pitch the of the season in the final 20 minutes. problems and the Belgian should have atmosphere was electric as the two sets of fans Angel Correa added a fourth two minutes opened the scoring when he dragged his introduced themselves to each other following a from time. Champions Barcelona and Real shot wide with just Oblak to beat. four year absence in the . Madrid will attempt to continue their 100 per- Griezmann took charge after the break first However, the entertainment on it was limited cent starts to the season at home to Alaves with a brilliant in-swinging cross for Koke to until Celtic grabbed the opener. The Rangers and Osasuna respectively later. slot home the opener with Atletico’s first shot defence switched off and Dembele was allowed In an uncharacteristic outburst Griezmann on goal. Yannick Carrasco had claims for a a free run to head home Sinclair’s corner in off claimed Atletico would be “fighting against penalty waived away and Kevin Gameiro the post. The Celtic striker has been living in the relegation” rather than challenging Barca and somehow fired wide with an open goal to aim shadow of goal machine Griffiths since the start Madrid for the title if they continued to play at as Atletico grew in confidence. of the season but the French forward grabbed his like in their opening two games after a 0-0 However, it was Griezmann who sealed opportunity and fired the Hoops further in front. stalemate at Leganes two weeks ago. the points with a towering header from However, he apologised for those com- Saul Niguez’s cross. Griezmann added his DEFENCE ments after coming alive in the second-half in second of the afternoon with another head- Kiernan’s slack pass was intercepted by Bitton FREIBURG: Freiburg’s Nicolas Hoefler, left, and Moenchengladbach’s Lars Stindl challenge for Vigo. “We needed a game like this,” ed effort 10 minutes from time before who slid a pass through for Dembele and the the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Griezmann told BeIN Sports Spain. “I apolo- Correa fired home at the near post to seal a French striker turned Senderos before clipping Moenchengladbach, in Freiburg, southern Germany, yesterday. — AP gise, I shouldn’t have said what I did publicly. second-half rout. — AFP the ball past Wes Foderingham.