SPORT Monday 24 December 2018 PAGE | 09 PAGE | 10 Finch says finger One-horse would need to races dominate be cut off to miss club football third Test in 2018 Qatar beat Jordan 2-0 in home friendly

Qatari skipper Hassan Al Haydos (left) vies for the ball possession with a Jordanian player during their friendly match played at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Al Moez Ali (30) and Ahmad Alaa (90) scored as the hosts won 2-0. RIGHT: Qatar’s Al Moez Ali (right) celebrates with team-mate Abdulrahman Mustafa after scoring a goal.

AFC Asian Cup: First match crucial, says Palestine coach Ali

THE AFC DOHA

Palestine coach Noureddine Ould Ali reckons his team’s first match in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 against Syria will prove key to their progress in the tournament. Palestine will be playing at this level for only the second time and a January 6 clash in Sharjah against the Syrians could prove decisive for qualification to the knockout stage from a group which also includes reigning champions Aus- tralia and Jordan. “The first game in a tournament is always the most difficult,” Ali told the-AFC.com in an exclusive interview. “When you start a tournament, you are Tottenham’s Harry Kane scores their sixth goal against looking for rhythm. The rhythm in training or Everton at the Goodison Park in Liverpool, Britain, yesterday. during a preparatory match is not the same as the rhythm you are supposed to have in a proper match situation,” Ali added. The Palestinians have been in Doha since early December training hard for the Conti- nental showpiece that gets under way on Kane and Son shine as January 5 with a match between hosts UAE and Bahrain at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. They are high on enthusiasm and confi- dence, especially after a string of encouraging Spurs hit Everton for six results in recent matches. Last month, they drew 1-1 against China in AFP in a top of the table clash in ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE STANDINGS produced a technically an international friendly in Haikou with the LIVERPOOL their next three games over perfect controlled volley Chile-based Yashir Pinto, one of Palestine’s the festive period, Tot- RANK CLUB P W D LOST POINTS from the edge of the box to several foreign-based players, scoring the Tottenham Hotspur showed tenham have the oppor- 1 Liverpool 18 15 3 0 48 make it 4-1. equaliser in the second half. why manager Mauricio tunity to haul themselves 2 Manchester City 18 14 2 2 44 Three minutes later Ever- They beat Pakistan 2-1 last month in Pochettino is a wanted man into a three-way title race if 3 Tottenham Hotspur 18 14 0 4 42 ton’s deficit was back to two another friendly and in October, won a rare by thrashing Everton 6-2 at they maintain the standards 4 Chelsea 18 11 4 3 37 as Gylfi Sigurdsson dribbled international title when they beat Tajikistan Goodison Park on Sunday to set at Goodison. 5 Arsenal 18 11 4 3 37 across the whole Tottenham 4-3 on penalties in the final of the Bangabandhu close to within six points of Kane had chipped into the 6 Manchester United 18 8 5 5 29 defence before firing back Cup in Bangladesh. Premier League leaders side-netting and Jordan 7 Watford 18 8 3 7 27 across Hugo Lloris. They had an unbeaten run in the six-nation Liverpool. Pickford produced a fine save 8 Bournemouth 18 8 2 8 26 Yet, any hope of a tournament, beating Nepal and Tajikistan in Spurs have had to cope to deny England team-mate 9 Leicester City 18 7 4 7 25 fightback was extinguished the group stage before accounting for hosts with the unwanted attention Kieran Trippier in the early 10 Wolverhampton Wanderers 18 7 4 7 25 just after the hour mark when Bangladesh 2-0 in the semi-finals. of Pochettino being linked stages. Son’s fine control cushioned “We have had good results in our past five with the Manchester United But it was Everton who Erik Lamela’s pass before he or six matches and that has led to some great job following Jose Mourinho’s struck first in a wildly open The England number one Premier League golden boot finished through the legs of team spirit in the team,” said Ali. sacking this week. contest when Theo Walcott rushed from his goal but and showed his predatory Pickford. “We are Palestine and we don’t need any But they showed no signs stabbed home at the near post only succeeded in getting in instincts to side-foot into an It was announced this extra motivation to do well. In that way we are of being distracted as they from Dominic Calvert- the way of his own defender empty net after Trippier’s fine week that the South Korean exceptional. Everything about us is exceptional,” roared back from a goal down Lewin’s cross. Kurt Zouma and Son took free-kick came back off the will go to the Asian Cup in the Algerian added. thanks to doubles from Son Marco Silva’s men could advantage with a wonderful post three minutes before January despite already rep- Palestine first participated in the Asian Cup Heung-min and Harry Kane even have been 2-0 up had finish from a narrow angle. half-time. resenting his country at the in 2015 when it was held in Australia, but it with Dele Alli and Christian Calvert-Lewin not been Once back on level Both teams face the least World Cup and Asian Games didn’t end well for them as they lost all their Eriksen also on target. penalised for a push on Dav- terms, Spurs were relentless rest time of any Premier this year. three group matches and crashed out. Fatigue may yet still derail inson Sanchez when heading as Pickford denied Son a League side over the festive And Son showed why he “Obviously we were not experienced at that Tottenham’s bid to win a first home moments later. second but Alli charged into period with another three will be missed by his club in level then but then again it was a new expe- trophy under Pochettino with But Spurs looked as if they the box to sweep home the games to come between now January once more with an rience! We learned many lessons. We figured Spurs still involved in four could score with almost every rebound to turn the game and New Year’s Day. inch-perfect cross for Kane out the problems and developed solutions. competitions. attack and were soon on level around. Kane is now just one However, there was no to slide in for his second of the “Now we are fully focused. The players But with Liverpool facing terms with the aid of a goal behind Pierre Emerick- let up in the pace of the game afternoon 16 minutes from know they can make history. They are ready Arsenal and Manchester City Pickford error. Aubameyang in the race for the after the break as Eriksen time. to take on any team.” 08 SPORT MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2018

WADA’s integrity on Jerebko shines in Warriors test in Russia: Rodchenkov win; Bryant lifts Wizards lawyer AFP AFP LOS ANGELES NEW YORK

Jonas Jerebko was an unlikely The attorney for Russian catalyst as the two-time doping scandal whistleblower defending NBA champions Grigory Rodchenkov said on Golden State held off the Dallas Saturday that restoring Russia Mavericks 120-116 in Oakland, to World Anti-Doping Agency California, on Saturday. compliance after being On a team that features the denied key lab data would superstar quartet of Stephen destroy WADA’s integrity. Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay The move came a day Thompson and Draymond after the Canada-based sport Green, it was Sweden’s Jerebko doping watchdogs announced receiving a massive ovation as a five-member panel would he departed in the fourth quarter return from Moscow empty- having scored 23 points in 21 handed after not being minutes with three assists and allowed to retrieve data from six rebounds. a suspended Russian Anti- Durant led the Warriors with Doping Agency (RUSADA) 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight laboratory. The data had been assists, but Jerebko’s relentless required to complete Russia’s energy was crucial to the War- controversial September riors victory. reinstatement to sports by “He shot the ball really well, WADA after revelations of a but he got a lot of offensive state-backed doping boards, too,” Warriors coach Golden State Warriors forward program. Steve Kerr said. Jonas Jerebko (21) shoots during “(WADA president) Craig “He had several plays that the match against Dallas Mavericks Reedie is Nero, playing his got the crowd into it with his centre DeAndre Jordan (6) during fiddle while Russia burns hustle. He gave us a huge lift.” the third quarter at Oracle Arena clean sports to the ground,” Jerebko scored nine points in the on Saturday. attorney Jim Walden said. fourth quarter -- contributing a “The time for half measures tip-in, a dunk and a three- and appeasement must finally pointer as the Warriors powered come to an end. If RUSADA is to a 111-96 lead. Angeles Clippers. Salt Lake City, where Paul in NBA history in which a player Ben Simmons added 26 points not now banned, the last He was back on the bench as Danilo Gallinari and Tobias George scored 43 points to lead made at least 14 baskets without with 12 rebounds and eight measure of WADA’s integrity Golden State saw their lead cut Harris scored 21 points apiece the Thunder in a 107-106 victory a miss and the first since Gary assists, while Jimmy Butler con- will vanish.” to one point. for the Clippers, who snapped over the Utah Jazz. Payton did it almost 24 years tributed 12 points, seven Rodchenkov, whose tes- Dallas forward Harrison the Nuggets’ four-game winning Bradley Beal’s first career ago. rebounds, seven assists and three timony unveiled the elaborate Barnes’ three-pointer with 33.5 streak. triple-double and an historic “He was the MVP of the steals. Russian doping scheme for seconds left bounced off the rim “I just thought our tempo set night for center Thomas Bryant game,” Beal said of Bryant. “Eve- The Houston Rockets held off the 2014 Sochi Winter and Durant drained a three- the tone,” Clippers coach Doc propelled the Washington rybody wants to talk about my the San Antonio Spurs 108-101 Olympics, is in hiding in the pointer to seal the win. Rivers said. “Our pace tonight, Wizards to a 149-146 victory triple-double... TB was by far the with the help of 39 points from United States in the wake of The victory saw the War- maybe as good as I’ve seen. We over the Phoenix Suns in a triple- MVP tonight.” reigning NBA Most Valuable death threats after the Rus- riors, who have struggled to find never stopped.” Serbian forward overtime thriller. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Player James Harden. sians were punished, the same dominance they dis- Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with Beal’s 40 points included 10 76ers wore down injury- Houston used a big third including a ban from this played in their past two cham- 19 points before he was tossed in the third overtime. He added depleted Toronto, beating the quarter to take a 17-point lead, year’s Pyeongchang Winter pionship seasons, improve to in the third quarter when he 15 assists and 11 rebounds for his league-leading Raptors 126-101. but San Antonio battled back to Olympics. 22-11, just a shade off the received two quick technicals for first triple-double -- reaching The Raptors arrived in Phila- lead 97-96 with 3:03 remaining. WADA gave the Russians Western Conference lead shared arguing a foul call. double digits in three key statis- delphia minus three of their top Undaunted, the Rockets kept a conditional release from the at 21-10 by the Denver Nuggets Jamal Murray added 18 tical categories. Bryant con- players in all-star Kawhi firing from three-point range, ban in September but one of and Oklahoma City Thunder. points and Monte Morris chipped nected on all 14 of his shots from Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Jonas retaking the lead on a three- the requirements was full Denver had a one-game lead in 15 for the Nuggets, who hadn’t the field and three of three from Valanciunas, and the Sixers took pointer from Harden and pulling access to data at the Moscow heading into the day, but suf- lost by more than 10 points this the free throw line on the way to full advantage. away for the victory despite the lab and that did not happen fered their biggest defeat of the season. a career-high 31 points. Joel Embiid scored 27 points absence of injured point guard this week as a WADA team season in a 132-111 loss to the Los It came down to the wire in It was just the seventh game and pulled down 11 rebounds. Chris Paul. had expected. NHL: Marner shines as Leafs rattle Rangers REUTERS to give him 18 multi-point NEW YORK games this season, moving into a tie for the league lead with Mitch Marner had two goals and Mikko Rantanen and Nathan an assist in the third period and MacKinnon of the Colorado the Toronto Maple Leafs held on Avalanche. to defeat the visiting New York Kings 3, Sharks 2 Rangers 5-3 on Saturday. Ilya Kovalchuk scored two Patrick Marleau, Morgan goals in his return from an ankle Rielly and Andreas Johnsson also injury, including the game- scored for the Maple Leafs, who winner 2:29 into overtime, as vis- scored four times in the third iting Los Angeles pulled off a period en route to their third win second consecutive surprise in a row. victory by topping San Jose. John Tavares and Johnsson Alex Iafallo also scored a goal each added two assists. for the Kings, who defeated a Kevin Hayes and Neal Pionk Sharks team that entered as the each had a goal and an assist for fifth best in the Western the Rangers, and Chris Kreider Conference. added a goal. The victory came four days Maple Leafs goaltender Fre- after a strong 4-1 victory over the derik Andersen made 25 saves. Western Conference-leading Alexandar Georgiev stopped 31 Winnipeg Jets. shots for New York. The Kings entered last in the Jets 1, Canucks 0 conference and their minus-28 Mark Scheifele’s goal with goal differential was second 1:32 left in the third period gave Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) skates worst. visiting Winnipeg the victory with the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Coyotes 6, Avalanche 4 over Vancouver as goaltender Matt Murray (30) at PNC Arena. Brad Richardson scored two Laurent Brossoit made 40 saves third-period goals, including the for the first shutout of his career. game-winner with 3:39 He has won eight of the nine remaining, as Arizona snapped games that he has started this a three-game losing streak with season. The Jets swept their a victory over Colorado in three-game season series with Byron took a pass from Max Radulov’s shot, off a pass Lightning 6, Oilers 3 goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy Glendale, Ariz. the Canucks and have now won Domi while cutting in front of the from John Klingberg and an Steven Stamkos and Tyler made 25 saves. Richard Panik and Derek 11 of their past 13 games overall. net and beat Marc-Andre Fleury assist from Mattias Janmark, Johnson each scored twice as Sabres 3, Ducks 0 Stepan each had a goal and an Vancouver goaltender Jacob with a backhand shot through his found a hole under the glove of Tampa Bay extended its points Linus Ullmark made 40 assist and Conor Garland and Markstrom posted 23 saves on pads to give Montreal its first Minnesota goalkeeper Devan streak with a win against host saves for his second NHL shutout Christian Fischer also scored for 24 shots. He suffered his first loss overtime win in six tries this Dubnyk on the short side near Edmonton. and host Buffalo shut out Arizona. Adin Hill finished with in seven games. season. the post to allow the Stars just Nikita Kucherov added a goal Anaheim as Rasmus Dahlin, Jeff 24 saves. Canadiens 4, Golden Stars 2, Wild 1 their second win in their past and four assists and J.T. Miller Skinner and Conor Sheary scored Alexander Kerfoot scored Knights 3 Alexander Radulov scored seven games. also scored for the Lightning, for the Sabres. two goals, and Gabriel Paul Byron scored at the 1:59 the game-winning goal with 10 Jamie Benn broke open a who are 11-0-1 in their past 12 Buffalo ended a two-game Landeskog and Nathan mark of overtime for his second seconds remaining in overtime scoreless tie just 1:58 into the games, the longest points streak losing streak and swept the MacKinnon also scored for consecutive game-winning goal and Ben Bishop turned away 30 third period when he camped in in the NHL this season. season series against the Ducks Colorado, which rallied from a and Phillip Danault scored his shots as visiting Dallas won a the crease and poked home a Tampa Bay wrapped up its for the first time since the 2011-12 4-1 third-period deficit to tie it. first career hat trick to lead Mon- thriller over Minnesota in St. Radulov pass from behind the four-game Western Canada trip season. J.T. Compher and Matt Nieto each treal over Vegas in Las Vegas. Paul, Minn. net past Dubnyk. by going 3-0-1. Lightning Jack Eichel had two assists finished with two assists. MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 09 Boxing Day Test: Ashwin doubtful as Shastri demands openers step up AFP MELBOURNE Archie, 7, ‘added’ Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remains an injury doubt to Australia squad! for the third Test against Aus- tralia, India coach Ravi Shastri THE PENINSULA said yesterday as he demanded MELBOURNE his opening batsmen step up to ease pressure on Virat Kohli. Seven-year-old Archie Schiller yesterday was announced Ashwin was sidelined with as the ‘15th member of the Australian Test squad’ for an abdominal strain for the the Boxing Day Test against India. second Test in Perth and was Archie’s inclusion is the result of a move made pos- sorely missed as Australia, led by sible by the Make-A-Wish Australia Foundation, details off-spinner Nathan Lyon, won showed yesterday. by 146 runs to level the series 1-1. When Archie’s father asked him once what he would Shastri revealed Ashwin is like to do when he grows up, cricket-mad Archie said racing the clock to be ready for he wants to captain the Australia. the crunch Boxing Day Test in Recently the foundation learned Archie’s heart con- Melbourne, where the stakes are dition and worked back stage to get his wish fulfilled. high in the four-Test series. Australian skipper Tim Paine confirmed the news “As far as Ashwin is con- during the a meet-the-fans gathering attended by Aus- cerned, we are going to take a tralia and India players, a report in Times of India said. look and evaluate over the next The kid was informed about his inclusion news via 48 hours,” Shastri said. a phone call from Australian coach Justin Langer. Left-arm off-spinning all- Archie, 7, has spent much of his short life in hos- rounder Ravindra Jadeja is also pital as he battles a life-threatening heart condition. At carrying a niggle, but experi- just three months old, he had his first open heart surgery enced batsman Rohit Sharma, - with 12 further surgeries since then. who also missed Perth after Much of Archie’s day-to-day life consists of hospital hurting his lower back, is fit India’s captain stays and specialist visits, resulting in many missed days again. Virat Kohli (left) of school and playing with friends. His wish journey is giving him something positive “He has made a very good and his Australian to focus on and build the emotional resilience he needs improvement but then again we counterpart to continue fighting. have got to see how he pulls up Tim Paine are Langer was quoted in the report as saying: “He tomorrow. But he looks good as interviewed during of today,” said Shastri. (Archie) has been through some times... we can help to a meet the fans put a smile on his face, it’s the very least we can do.” India go into the Melbourne event in Melbourne Test with Kohli and Cheteshwar Archie also trained with the Australian cricket team yesterday. Archie during a team training session in Adelaide. Pujara in fine form, effectively Schiller is also seen carrying their team during the The Boxing Day Test starts on December 26 at the standing next to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Adelaide and Perth games. But Kohli and Paine. the opening pair of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have struggled for runs and Shastri said that needed Agarwal called up to the squad cerned, he is an absolute gen- to change. as a replacement for injured tleman,” he said. “It’s a big concern,” he said young opener Prithvi Shaw, who Shastri also denied India’s Finch says finger would need when asked about the failure of has been ruled out of the series. morale had taken a hit by losing the openers to get a big score. It’s Superstar captain Kohli in Perth after their tense victory obvious and that responsibility scored a battling century in Perth in Adelaide -- their first Test win to be cut off to miss third Test and accountability has to be but he came under criticism for on Australian soil in a decade. taken by the top order. his sledging and heated “Absolutely not. 1-1 in a series “They’ve got the experience, exchanges with Australian coun- in Australia and we know we had REUTERS they’ve got the exposure over terpart Tim Paine. our chances in Perth as well. MELBOURNE these last few years to get out His animated wicket celebra- They’re ready,” he said. “It’s not there and deliver. It’s about how tions were also frowned upon, often that we’ve been in a Australia opening batsman Aaron Finch (pic- strong you are in the mind.” but Shastri said he didn’t have a position where we’ve won one tured) has declared himself fit for the Boxing There is no guarantee that problem with his skipper. (on an overseas tour). It’s 1-1. The Day Test against India in Melbourne and said his Rahul and Vijay will retain their “What’s wrong with his boys know what they can do, injured finger would need to be cut off to prevent places with in-form Mayank behaviour? As far as we are con- what they’re capable of.” him from playing in front of his home state’s fans. Finch’s right index finger suffered a nasty blow when he was struck in the glove by a AUSTRALIA vs INDIA Mohammed Shami delivery in the second test in Perth, forcing him to retire hurt during Australia’s VENUE: Melbourne Cricket Ground - Capacity: 100,000 second innings. DATE: Dec. 26-30. Play starts at 1030 local time (2330 GMT) AUSTRALIA: (World ranking: fifth) Squad: Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus He came back to face only one more delivery Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim before being caught behind off the same bowler Paine (captain), Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc. Coach: Justin Langer but it mattered little as Tim Paine’s Australia went INDIA: (World ranking: first) Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar on to claim a rousing 146-run win to level the The rookie opening pair then shored up their Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, Ravichandran four-match series at 1-1. places in the squad with a 59-run stand in Aus- Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit As a one-day specialist, Victoria batsman Finch tralia’s second innings. Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal. Coach: Ravi Shastri has played to huge crowds at the MCG, including Compared to India, who have injuries HISTORY: Previous Australia v India Tests in Melbourne the World Cup triumph against New Zealand in 2015. nagging both their top spinners and major form Matches: 12 Australia wins: 8 India wins: 2 But Finch has yet to savour a Boxing Day test at the concerns over both their opening batsmen, Aus- YEAR WINNER MARGIN ground, one of the game’s biggest carnivals. tralia head into the Wednesday’s Boxing Day test 1948 Australia 233 runs “With a Boxing Day test, being from Victoria, in a relative state of calm. 1948 Australia Innings and 177 runs it’s going to have to be cut off (to not play),” Finch Australia are unlikely to tweak their attack 1968 Australia Innings and 4 runs joked to reporters at the MCG before training for the MCG, and only middle order batsman 1978 India 222 runs yesterday. “It’s going to be a catch and bat today Peter Handscomb is really sweating on his place 1981 India 59 runs and reassess, but it feels like it’s improved 100 after managing only 68 runs from his four 1985 Match drawn per cent over the last couple of days. innings. 1991 Australia 8 wickets “I got sent some new bats, so I’ve been Seam-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh 1999 Australia 180 runs walking around the lounge room and waving could replace Handscomb and offer support for 2003 Australia 9 wickets them around. It feels OK. If anything changes in Australia’s pacemen on a drop-in wicket that did 2007 Australia 337 runs the next couple of days, we’ll have to sit down little for the bowlers in a dull draw against 2011 Australia 122 runs and chat about that but, at this stage, it’s still England last year. But selectors would be 2014 Match drawn business as usual and I plan to field at slip and replacing one out-of-form player with another. SERIES do whatever else is needed.” Marsh has managed scores of 11, 21, 30 and First Test (Adelaide) India won by 31 runs. After twin failures in the first Test defeat in six from his last four innings for Western Aus- Second Test (Perth) Australia won by 146 runs. Adelaide, Finch scored 50 in the first innings in tralia in the Sheffield Shield, and was dismissed Fourth Test: Jan. 3-7 Sydney Cricket Ground Perth in a vital 112-run opening partnership with for three on Thursday in his last knock in the Victoria team mate Marcus Harris. local ‘Big Bash’ Twenty20 competition. WI captain Brathwaite slams BD umpires

AFP innings, Bangladesh umpire Tanvir Ahmed West Indies, who made 190, were DHAKA called a no-ball against West Indies charged up after the incident and bowled paceman Oshane Thomas when batsman out Bangladesh for 140 in 17 overs with West Indies Twenty20 skipper Carlos Liton Das spooned a catch to Shimron medium-pacer Keemo Paul picking up 5-15. Brathwaite blasted the match umpires for Hetmyer at mid-off. A television replay “The rule is that if a no-ball is called it giving “50-50 decisions” to Bangladesh even showed the delivery had been legal, and cannot be reviewed or reversed. But if it isn’t though his side won the third Twenty20 Brathwaite and his teammates were furious called, it can be reversed checking the video. international to wrap up the series. after seeing the big screen images in the “Everyone saw that it was not a no-ball,” West Indies, who won Saturday’s match Dhaka Stadium. Brathwaite said after the game. by 50 runs, were victims of an erroneous Brathwaite asked for a review and ran to “I didn’t think the 50/50 decisions were no-ball call that could not be overturned by the boundary for talks with match referee Jeff going in our favour. Those decisions went West Indies cricket captain Carlos Brathwaite (right) argues with the review and Braithwaite was critical of the Crowe, halting the game for around 10 minutes. for Bangladesh,” he said. match referee umpire Jeff Crowe (second right) during the third T20 umpiring throughout the tour though he The match officials had to uphold the decision “I never ever want to accuse someone cricket match between Bangladesh and West Indies in Dhaka on Saturday. insisted he was not alleging “cheating”. despite a clear mistake as the rules do not allow of cheating. I will stop short of that. They In the fourth over of the Bangladesh a review against an on-field no-ball call. are professionals as well.” 10 SPORT MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2018 France triumph as World Cup raises pulses

REUTERS A thrilling tournament LONDON undoubtedly got the final it deserved as France, Any fears that the 2018 World spearheaded by Antoine Cup in Russia would be over- Griezmann and Kylian shadowed by political antag- Mbappe and moulded onism were completely smashed as the June-July extravaganza set into a coherent unit by pulses racing and ended with a coach Didier Deschamps, young, exciting France team dazzled in a 4-2 victory clinching the title. over a technically gifted A thrilling tournament Croatia. undoubtedly got the final it deserved as France, spearheaded by Antoine Griezmann and The Netherlands, who had Kylian Mbappe and moulded into not qualified for the World Cup, a coherent unit by coach Didier were resurgent under coach Deschamps, dazzled in a 4-2 Ronald Koeman and heaped victory over a technically gifted more misery on Joachim Loew’s Croatia. Germany by beating them 3-0 The tournament, dubbed the at home in October. “greatest World Cup ever” by Virgil Van Dijk’s stoppage- FIFA President Gianni Infantino, time equaliser in the return had kicked off in style with the fixture last month then secured hosts’ 5-0 thrashing of Saudi their progress to the final-four Arabia. stage of the competition next That set the tone for a World year where they will play Cup that not only provided England. entertainment by the bucketload Finals hosts Portugal will but also turned a number of face Switzerland in the other tie. expectations on their head, Lower down the chain, before ending with a fourth con- Gibraltar secured their first ever secutive triumph for a European competitive victory by winning side. 1-0 away to Armenia. Stanislav Cherchesov’s It was a similar story for Russia certainly surpassed Kosovo, who were relishing expectations by reaching the playing among teams of similar quarter-finals, seeing off 2010 French players celebrate with the trophy after winning the FIFA 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, in this July 15 file photo. stature in League D, eventually winners Spain in the last-16 on topping Group 3 to gain penalties. promotion. Tipped as one of the While there were some success, making crucial decisions helping to award a penalty to That competition was intro- favourites, Spain had imploded superb individual performances, and overturning injustices, while France, a record 29th in the tour- duced to replace stale and While there were some days before their first match, notably by Portugal’s Cristiano adding an extra layer of drama nament, scored by Griezmann. uncompetitive international superb individual sacking coach Julen Lopetegui Ronaldo and Croatia’s Luka to proceedings. Gareth Southgate’s young friendlies in Europe, but its four- after he had agreed to become Modric, the star of the tour- The playacting antics of Bra- England side also defied gloomy league, four-group format left performances, notably Real Madrid manager after the nament was arguably not a zil’s Neymar could not escape the World Cup expectations and put many observers scratching their by Portugal’s Cristiano tournament, replacing him with player, but the video assistant camera’s forensic lens, while years of misery behind them by heads. Ronaldo and Croatia’s Fernando Hierro. referee (VAR). Germany’s fate was sealed when reaching the semi-finals. Yet whether it was a feeling Luka Modric, the star Spain at least fared better Many had greeted FIFA’s the VAR correctly overturned an They were prevented from of World Cup nostalgia, or the of the tournament was than defending champions decision to approve the tech- offside decision in the lead up to featuring in only their second fact that players were still in arguably not a player, Germany, who were dumped out nology for the tournament back a South Korean goal. ever final by Croatia, but would their early energetic days of the in the opening round for the first in March with a degree of VAR even made an inter- have a small measure of revenge season, the Nations League but the video assistant time since 1938 following a 2-0 scepticism. vention in the highest scoring a few months later in the inau- began with a series of pulsating referee (VAR). defeat by South Korea. Yet VAR went on to be a final in the tournament’s history, gural UEFA Nations League. and compelling ties. One-horse races dominate club football

REUTERS Paris Saint-Germain’s The match captured the ZURICH imagination and, after a 2-2 draw (PSG) Brazilian forward at Boca’s Bombonera stadium, it Club football played second fiddle Neymar (second, left) was all set for a memorable to the World Cup in 2018 and that celebrates with second leg on a perfect spring was probably just as well given French forward afternoon in front of a global its utter predictability. audience. Four or the five major Kylian Mbappe (left) Instead, Boca’s team bus was European domestic leagues, and team-mates pelted with objects as it which concentrate nearly all the in this file photo. approached River’s Monumental top players and most of the sport’s PSG made it five stadium, injuring several players. wealth, turned into one-horse Chaos ensued as organisers races in the latest demonstration titles out of the last said the match would go ahead of the growing gulf between the six. In yet another but, after twice postponing the biggest clubs and the rest. lopsided contest, the kickoff, rescheduled it for the fol- Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Qatari-owned lowing day. City wrapped up the English That was also called off and, Premier League with five games French club after several days of indecision, left, eventually amassing a record amassed 93 points CONMEBOL ignored protests 100 points to finish 19 points from 38 games, from both teams and decided to clear. stage the match at Real Madrid’s 13 more than The many records they set in Bernabeu stadium. the process included the most second-placed River came from behind to consecutive Premier League wins AS Monaco. win 3-1 in a gritty, passionate (18), the most goals scored (106), match but, while they celebrated, the best goal difference (79) and many observers wondered if a the most passes in a Premier The exception was Serie A finally ended, though not in the River Plate and Boca Juniors, of the Copa Libertadores, the precedent was set by staging the League game (902). where Napoli pushed Juventus all way the Frenchman would have the Buenos Aires neighbours who equivalent of the Champions final on the ‘wrong’ continent and There was no denying the the way but there was still a sense wanted with his team missing out share arguably the fiercest rivalry League, for the first time in its could be repeated to feed the quality of the football, arguably of inevitability that the Turin side on this season’s Champions in football, both reached the final 58-year history. sport’s commercialisation. the best ever played in the would win a seventh title in a row League after finishing sixth. Premier League, yet the contest which they did. Another major coaching itself was effectively over by The Champions League pro- move saw former Chelsea, Real Barcelona Christmas. duced some memorable ties in Madrid, Paris St Germain and forward Lionel In Spain, Barcelona won La the knockout stages but ended in Bayern Munich manager Carlo Liga for the third time in four familiar fashion with Real Madrid Ancelotti return to Italy after a Messi (right) seasons with a 14-point winning the trophy for the fourth nine-year absence to coach kicks the ball to advantage and 99 goals scored, time in fifth seasons, beating Liv- Napoli. Luiz Felipe Scolari, Brazil score against Club with one defeat all season. erpool 3-1 in the final in Kiev. coach when they won their fifth Atletico de Madrid There were no surprises in Real’s celebrations where World Cup in 2002 and also in Germany, either, where Bayern short-lived as coach Zinedine charge of the side humiliated 7-1 during a Spanish Munich notched a sixth straight Zidane then resigned and Cris- by Germany at the finals on home League football Bundesliga title after recalling tiano Ronaldo left for Juventus, soil in 2014, led Palmeiras to the match in this file Jupp Heynckes for his fourth stint having scored a club record 451 Brazilian title at the age of 70. photo. Barcelona as coach, or in France, where goals and won 16 trophies during Palmeiras, seventh when ‘Big Paris St Germain made it five nine seasons. Phil’ took over in July and eight won La Liga for titles out of the last six. Zidane’s replacement Julen points off the lead, won 16 of their the third time In yet another lopsided Lopetegui lasted only three next 22 league matches and drew in four seasons contest, the Qatari-owned months before being fired to six, conceding just nine goals to with a 14-point French club amassed 93 points make way for Santiago Solari. triumph with a game to spare. from 38 games, 13 more than Lopetegui’s appointment South America has managed advantage and second-placed AS Monaco. made him Real’s 20th coach since to avoid the predictability and 99 goals scored, What should have been the 1996 -- while Arsenal had one gentrification of European club with one defeat game of the season, when they during the same period. football although it sometimes hosted the principality team, Arsene Wenger’s remarkable veers too far towards the other all season. turned into a 7-1 rout. 22-year spell with the Gunners extreme. MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 11 Messi, Dembele protect Barca’s lead AP “Any injury (to a teammate) BARCELONA hurts us, but an injury to Iago hurts even more.” Lionel Messi ensured Barcelona Antoine Griezmann scored a reached the Spanish league’s second-half penalty to help winter break atop the standings, Atletico eke out a 1-0 win at playing a part in both goals of a home over Espanyol, keeping the 2-0 win at home over Celta Vigo team coached by Diego Simeone on Saturday. right behind defending champion Messi scored Barcelona’s Barcelona. second goal to take his league- Espanyol started well as leading tally to 15 in 17 rounds, Borja Iglesias drew two saves including six goals in his last from goalkeeper Jan Oblak three matches, as Barcelona before Leo Baptistao hit the post stayed three points ahead of in the first half hour. Atletico Madrid. But Atletico tightened up its “Our goal was to finish the defense and got the goal it year as leaders, and with the needed from Griezmann. same advantage we had going Griezmann drove in a rising into the round,” Barcelona coach shot from the penalty spot in the Ernesto Valverde said. 56th after Jorge “Koke” Resur- Messi helped to set up reccion was fouled by Esteban Ousmane Dembele’s opener Granero in the area. when he received a pass from Espanyol, which had risen Jordi Alba and took a shot that to the upper part of the table was saved by goalkeeper Ruben earlier in the season, fell into Blanco. The rebound fell to 12th place after a sixth consec- Dembele to drive between the utive loss. legs of a defender to take the With its game from this 10th-minute lead. round postponed so it could play Messi made it 2-0 in the 45th the Club World Cup, Real Madrid after Jordi Alba found him successfully defended its world arriving to the center of Celta’s Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (centre) tries to force his way past a couple of Celta Vigo players at the Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain on Saturday. title by beating Al Ain 4-1 in Abu box completely unmarked to fire Dhabi on Saturday. in a left-footed shot. Alba said about his role in After yesterday’s games the second half. The Spain striker muscle in his right thigh and Barcelona’s win left fourth- “On the first goal I looked for both goals. Spanish league stops play for two walked gingerly off the pitch to expects him to be sidelined for a placed Madrid eight points back (Messi) like always, and on the “And Leo never misses.” weeks. the applause of the Camp Nou month. with a game in hand that it will second goal Luis (Suarez) and Third-placed Sevilla trails Bar- Celta lost top scorer Iago crowd, which included former “Iago is for us like Messi is for recover on Jan. 3 when it cuts its Dembele made runs to pull away celona by six points before vis- Aspas - fourth in La Liga with 10 Barcelona star Andres Iniesta. Barca,” Celta defender Hugo vacation short to visit defenders and left Leo alone,” iting Leganes. goals - to a leg injury early in the Celta said Aspas hurt a Mallo said. Villarreal. Solskjaer makes instant impact Mandzukic on as Man United thrash Cardiff target for Juve

AFP Neil Warnock. “We expected AFP CARDIFF that from the teamsheet.” MILAN Pogba was at the heart of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted United’s best work and having Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal for Juventus to dump further having “good players” was the been fouled for the free-kick hurt on crisis club Roma and keep the champions unbeaten and key to his instant impact as leading to Marcus Rashford’s on track for an eighth straight Italian league title. Manchester United caretaker opener, his intelligent pass The Croatian World Cup runner-up headed in the winner 34 manager in a 5-1 thumping of picked out Ander Herrera, minutes into the match in Turin to put Juventus back eight points Cardiff on Saturday. whose shot flicked off Greg Cun- clear of Napoli. Not since Alex Ferguson’s ningham to loop over the The defeat could have been harsher but for Roma goalkeeper final game in charge in 2013 had helpless Neil Etheridge to make Robin Olsen denying Cristiano Ronaldo, with Douglas Costa having United scored five goals in a it 2-0 inside half an hour. a late goal ruled out following a video assistant referee check single Premier League game and If Solskjaer’s side were for- because of a foul in the build-up. the Red Devils looked a side tunate then, it was Cardiff who “We are doing good things, we have reached the Champions transformed from the turgid got a break nine minutes later League last sixteen and we’re winter champions,” said coach Mas- football of Jose Mourinho’s final when the assistant referee similiano Allegri, referring to the name given to teams top before days in charge. adjudged Rashford to have Christmas. “They are very good players, handled rather than control the Serie A is however holding a round of fixtures on December talented players, they’ve ball with his shoulder inside the 26 and 29, before pausing for three weeks. Manchester United’s caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer approached the game properly area. Victor Camarasa’s per- “We haven’t won anything yet,” added Allegri. “The important celebrates after the English Premier League match against Cardiff and worked hard. A Man Utd fectly-taken penalty could have thing is to be a few points ahead of Napoli on the 29th of December.” team should never be out- City at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on Saturday. sparked a collapse for a team Juve -- who have only dropped points against Genoa -- travel worked,” said Solskjaer. short on confidence in recent to Atalanta and host Sampdoria in their final two matches before The Norwegian has been put full 90 minutes from the bench happy that the first game of the times. Instead, United responded the end of the year. in charge until the end of the last weekend as Liverpool manager starts like this,” said resoundingly with a fantastic Roma, after finishing third last season, are now 25 points behind season after Mourinho was inflicted the final blow to Mour- Pogba. team goal as a quick interchange Juventus and drop to 10th after their eighth defeat in as many trips sacked on Tuesday and could not inho’s time in charge with a 3-1 “It’s important now to carry of passes between Pogba and to the Allianz Stadium. They have won just twice in the league since have asked for a better start in win that left United 19 points off on like that. Jesse Lingard freed Anthony the end of September. Napoli are way behind Juve but consolidated the Welsh capital. the top after just 17 games. “We can not play like this Martial to score his ninth goal of second place when Raul Albiol headed his first goal of the season As well as getting Solskjaer The French World Cup- and win with five goals and then the season. from a Dries Mertens corner against to beat struggling SPAL. off to a flying start, victory also winner was restored from the the next game lose.” Lingard took responsibility “Thinking of Juventus is likely to demotivate us,” said coach sees United crucially close the start for the first time in four The visiting fans enthusias- from the spot just before the Carlo Ancelotti. gap on the Premier League top league games and looked far tically chanted Solskjaer’s name hour mark after another soft “We have to think about ourselves because this team can do four to eight points thanks to more like the player United throughout and were enjoying penalty was awarded for a foul more, we have room for improvement and I say it after today’s Chelsea’s 1-0 home defeat by splashed a then world-record their side moving the ball around by Sol Bamba on the England match, which was not amazing.” - Inter stumble - Inter Milan were Leicester earlier in the day. £89m on in 2016 than the one with a speed and accuracy more international. held 1-1 at bottom club Chievo to fall eight points behind Napoli, “We’re eight points behind, that clashed with his former boss reminiscent of his days as a And Lingard was the bene- with the two clubs going head-to-head in the San Siro on December so our job is to take one game at off the field and disappointed on player at Old Trafford when ficiary of another defence- 26. a time,” added Solskjaer. it for much of the past two United dominated English splitting pass from Pogba a Inter looked set for victory when Ivan Perisic scored the opener “We always play well in the seasons. football. minute from time as he rounded six minutes before the break, but the evergreen Sergio Pellissier, second half of the season.” Paul “The performance of the “It’s nothing like they have Etheridge and slotted into an 39, gave his side an early Christmas present when he lobbed Inter Pogba was forced to watch the team was great and we are been playing,” said Cardiff boss empty net. goalkeeper Samir Handanovic a minute into injury time. Mbappe scores winner for PSG against Nantes

AP league scoring charts with previous weekends saw a Henry after losing at home PSG forward Kylian PARIS 13, and ensured PSG heads spate of postponements due to last-placed Guingamp Mbappe (left) jokes into the winter break to widespread anti-gov- 2-0. Since taking charge in with team-mate Two days after celebrating unbeaten in domestic ernment protests around the October, Henry has won Presnel Kimpembe at his 20th birthday, Kylian competitions. country. only three out of 14 matches the end of the Ligue 1 Mbappe grabbed Paris PSG is 13 points ahead Saint-Etienne was the overall. match against Nantes Saint-Germain’s winner of second-placed Lille, big winner on the night, Monaco was in 19th at the Parc des Princes against Nantes in a scrappy which lost at home to Tou- moving level on points with place and only two points Stadium in Paris on 1-0 home result on louse 2-1 and has played two Montpellier after a com- ahead of Guingamp, which Saturday. Saturday. games more than PSG. fortable 3-0 home win scored in the second half With PSG heading Third-placed Lyon against Dijon. Saint- through forwards Marcus toward a third straight closed the gap on Lille to Etienne’s front line worked Thuram and Nolan Roux. French league draw, two points as forward Nabil well, with Kevin Monnet- Thuram is the son of Mbappe slid in at the back Fekir netted for the third Paquet, Wahbi Khazri and France great Lilian Thuram, post to stab home Angel Di straight game in a 1-1 draw Robert Beric all scoring. Henry’s teammate when Maria’s corner from the at fourth-place Montpellier. At the other end of the France won the 1998 World right in the 68th minute. Lyon has a game in hand on table, the pressure was Cup and the European It took France’s World Lille, and Montpellier has mounting on beleaguered Championship two years Cup star to the top of the one in hand on Lyon after Monaco coach Thierry later. MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 07 They’ve (India’s opening pair of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay) got the experience, Indian coach FOOTBALL they’ve got the exposure over these last Ravi Shastri TURKISH SUPER LIG few years to get out there and deliver. It’s Akhisarspor vs Konyaspor

about how strong you are in the mind. ACTION Antalyaspor vs Fenerbahçe TODAY’S

Roger Federer Benintendi’s match-winning won a point at the US Open without getting catch voted ‘Play-of-the-Year’ the ball over the net, Tiger Woods walked down the AP Andrew Benintendi of the Boston Red NEW YORK Benintendi, the Sox dives to take the catch during 18th fairway as left fielder for the Game 4 of the AL Championship a winner again, This was a year of moments. Boston Red Sox Series against Houston Astros in this Justify won the Triple October 18 file photo. USA beat Canada Crown. The US beat Canada in made a diving in a shootout for a shootout for gold in women’s grab to end gold in women’s hockey at the Pyeongchang Game 4 of the AL Olympics, and John Shuster hockey at the pulled off a curling shot of all- Championship Pyeongchang time to win another gold for the Series, a huge red, white and blue. Stefon Olympics, and Diggs engineered a miracle in play on his Minneapolis to win a playoff team’s run to John Shuster game for the Vikings. Roger the World Series pulled off a curling Federer won a point at the US shot of all-time Open without getting the ball title. Benintendi over the net. Tiger Woods snared the ball to win another walked down the 18th fairway just above the gold for the red, as a winner again. Loyola Chicago became the darlings of grass and the rest white and blue. college basketball during the is now Red Sox Still, none of them NCAA Tournament, fuelled by lore - as well as a penchant for dramatics at the made the list of buzzer. the play of the the Plays of the All of them spectacular. year. Still, none of them made the Year. list of the Plays of the Year. These come from some of the biggest events of the year - Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson (right) celebrates to cap a 69-yard touchdown LeBron James (right) capped his the Stanley Cup Final, the with team-mate right wing TJ Oshie in this file photo. that beat New England 34-33 64th career triple-double to help World Cup, the Super Bowl, the on the final play. the Cavs top the Timberwolves AL Championship Series and 140-138 on February 8. the women’s Final Four. One 2. ARIKE’S TWO MIRACLES was from a volleyball player Saying Notre Dame’s Arike using her feet, another was a Ogunbowale had a flair for the quarterback who made a dramatic at the women’s Final winning throw but didn’t touch Four doesn’t even come close a football. And they all stood out to doing what she did justice. a bit more than most. She broke ties, and broke the hearts of Connecticut and Mis- THE BEST PLAYS IN sissippi State. Against UConn, SPORTS FOR 2018: Ogunbowale’s jumper with 1 second left put Notre Dame 10. HOLTBY SAVES THE ahead to stay in the national CAPS semifinals - and two nights Washington goalie Braden later, in the national-title game, Holtby might have turned the she went to the right and let fly Stanley Cup Final around with with a wild, high-arcing 3 that one save. dropped at the buzzer for the Alex Tuch had a chance to win. tie Game 2 of the series with about two minutes left in reg- 1. A DIVE INTO RED SOX ulation. Alone in the slot, he LORE took a pass and had tons of 7. BUMP, KICK, SPIKE and rejected Butler’s shot with Andrew Benintendi may open net to shoot at from right The pass from Kailey Elrod ease. And moments later, James never make a better catch. The on the doorstep - only to be wasn’t perfect, and all Talia outdid himself - again. After a left fielder for the Boston Red denied by Holtby, who stabbed Watson could do was get her timeout, James delivered Sox made a diving grab to end his stick at the air and just foot on the ball and flick it Cleveland a win over Minnesota Game 4 of the AL Champi- managed to find the puck. skyward. By the way, this when he took an inbounds pass, onship Series, a huge play on “Thank God he’s our goalie,” wasn’t soccer. This was vol- turned and swished a fadeaway his team’s run to the World Caps star Alex Ovechkin said. leyball. The Cedar Crest College over Butler to help the Cavs top Series title. Boston led 8-6 in The Capitals went on to win the Falcons of Allentown, Pennsyl- the Timberwolves 140-138. Game 4, up 2-1 in the series, but series. vania, had match point against the bases were loaded in the College of Staten Island on 4. TUA FOR THE WIN Houston and the crowd at 9. HARDEN BREAKS ANKLES Sept. 6, and Elrod’s bump from This has to be the best Minute Maid Park was roaring. Poor Wesley Johnson. Poor, the baseline was low. Watson second-and-26 play in football Alex Bregman hit a liner that poor Wesley Johnson. All he got her foot on the ball - yes, it’s history. Down by 3 in overtime, was sinking fast, and if it had was trying to do was guard legal - to extend the point, and in the national championship gotten past Benintendi the Houston star James Harden, eventually she had a more con- game, one play after taking a Astros would have likely scored and he ended up on the ground ventional set to set up a kill that very bad sack for a 16-yard loss, three runs to win. But Benin- as an unwitting participant in capped Cedar Crest’s 3-0 Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa con- tendi dove perfectly, snared the a highlight for the ages. victory. nected with DeVonta Smith on ball just above the grass and the Harden crossed Johnson a 41-yard toss on what became rest is now Red Sox lore - as over and caused him to stumble 6. SLING AND A PRAYER the final play of the Crimson well as the play of the year. to the floor - it’s called Julian McGarvey is a quar- Tide’s 26-23 win over Georgia. “breaking ankles” in basketball terback at Marist College, and Tagovailoa took over for Jalen vernacular - and it only got his best throw of 2018 had Hurts at the half and threw for worse from there for the Los nothing to do with football. three TDs as Alabama finished Angeles Clippers guard. Harden Down by two with time running off its fifth national champi- stared at him, held the ball for out in New York state’s Section onship in the last 10 seasons. nearly three seconds, then 1 Class A boys basketball cham- made a 3-pointer. pionship game, McGarvey 3. PATRIOTS POSTERISED intercepted a long pass, - TWICE 8. MESSI, IN A FLASH stumbled, gathered himself - The two most memorable Argentina’s Lionel Messi, some angles show that he didn’t plays of 2018 in the NFL have even in a full sprint, simply does travel, either - and heaved a much in common - they were things that hardly anyone else 70-foot desperation try that touchdowns against the New in the soccer-playing world can dropped to give Ardsley a 52-51 England Patriots, went viral pull off. win over Tappan Zee. Ardsley immediately and got cool He took a long pass in a went on to make the state names to boot. The Philly World Cup game against championship game, before Special was Nick Foles catching Nigeria, controlled it with his eventually falling. a touchdown pass from Trey left thigh, then tapped it Burton late in the first half of forward with his left foot - the 5. LEBRON SAVES THE DAY the Philadelphia Eagles’ win in ball hadn’t hit the ground yet - Jimmy Butler tried a layup the Super Bowl over the Pats, then stutter-stepped his way to with about three seconds left in and the Miami Miracle was the Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) and Nigeria’s the ball and delivered a right- overtime, only to have it Dolphins connecting on a pass John Obi Mikel vie for the ball during their footed strike into the far side of swatted away by LeBron James and two laterals before Kenyan FIFA 2018 World Cup Group D football the net. who tracked the play perfectly Drake darted into the end zone match in Saint Petersburg in this June 26 file photo.