27 Sports Thursday, September 20, 2018 Super sub Firmino hands Liverpool flying Champions League start over PSG Sturridge and a penalty put the hosts in command

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool left it late but showed Paris Saint-Germain have plenty of work to do if they are to STURRIDGE SHINES challenge for a first-ever Champions League title as Up front, Firmino’s absence opened the door for struck a stoppage time winner in a 3-2 Sturridge to make his first Champions League start for victory at on Tuesday. the club. “It is great to contribute to the team today,” Despite the late drama, victory was well deserved said Sturridge. “It is a team here and everybody is for last season’s finalists who dominated throughout going to add to the wealth of the club.” and bounced back from blowing a 2-0 first-half lead to The Englishman has been dogged by injury and lack take the early advantage in Group C. of form during Klopp’s nearly three years in charge, but Daniel Sturridge and a James Milner penalty put the took his chance on the big stage by powering home a hosts in command before Thomas Meunier reduced pinpoint curling cross from Andy Robertson to open PSG’s arrears. Having kept Kylian Mbappe and the the scoring on the half-hour mark. world’s most expensive player Neymar quiet for almost “I told him this is the best shape (you are in) since I the entire match, Liverpool seemed set to pay a heavy know you physically, and you have to use that,” said price for one poor pass by Mohamed Salah as Mbappe Klopp. “He played a super game, (scored a) super swept home seven minutes from time in front of a goal.” Six minutes later, PSG’s deficit was doubled stunned Kop. But Firmino, who started on the bench when Juan Bernat tripped Georginio Wijnaldum inside due to an eye injury suffered against Tottenham on the area and Milner slammed the resulting penalty into Saturday, had the final say as he twisted and turned the bottom corner. before firing into the far corner to stretch Liverpool’s However, the visitors were handed a lifeline through perfect start to the season to six games. right-back Meunier, rather than one of their famed “You can bring Bobby Firmino on and that helps a front three, as the Belgian skilfully readjusted to volley lot,” said Klopp after the Brazilian celebrated by cover- home Robertson’s miscued clearance. ing his injured left eye. “I loved his .” Klopp was annoyed at his side for having to survive PSG crumbled on their Champions League travels to a nervous finale at Wembley on Saturday after passing Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the past up a series of chances to put the game to bed. And it two seasons and their ability to challenge for the com- looked like this time they would pay as Salah had a goal petition under new boss Thomas Tuchel was again ruled out for a foul by Sturridge before the latter head- LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the UEFA Champions questioned as they struggled to contain Liverpool’s ed a glorious chance into the arms of Areola. League group C football match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in Liverpool, north west greater speed and power in midfield. Seven minutes from time, Salah’s slack pass was England on Tuesday. — AFP “Never at any point did we lose our confidence. We intercepted and quickly fed into Neymar, with Van played with bravery and strength,” insisted Tuchel. “But Dijk’s tackle on the Brazilian only rebounding into the this is Anfield. This is what Liverpool do and when they path of Mbappe to fire home. Shaqiri as Liverpool instantly went in search of a win- back off the woodwork before they finally got their press you it is difficult.” Klopp responded by replacing Salah with Xherdan ner. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected free-kick came reward when Firmino powered home. — AFP

Griezmann, Costa Matches on TV combine as Atletico (Local Timings) UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE undo Monaco 2-1 Besiktas v Sarpsborg 19:55 beIN SPORTS HD 8 KRC Genk v Malmo 19:55 beIN SPORTS HD 9 MONACO: Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Sevilla v Standard de Liege 19:55 Monaco 2-1 in their Champions League Group A open- beIN SPORTS HD 6 er on Tuesday with star strikers Diego Costa and Akhisar Belediyespor v Krasnodar 19:55 Antoine Griezmann detonating the fightback. beIN SPORTS HD 7 The visitors had fallen behind against the run of play Olympique Marseille v Eintracht Frankfurt 19:55 beIN SPORTS HD 1 in the 18th minute when winger Samuel Grandsir forced Lazio v Apollon Limassol 19:55 the ball home in a goalmouth scramble after good work beIN SPORTS HD 5 from Radamel Falcao. Villarreal v Glasgow Rangers 19:55 But Costa then ran onto a wonderful flick-on from beIN SPORTS HD 3 Griezmann to fire a snap-shot low and hard past Rapid Wien v Spartak Moscow 19:55 Monaco’s onrushing Swiss stopper Diego Benaglio to beIN SPORTS HD 4 PAOK v Chelsea 19:55 level the scores on the half-hour. Jose Maria Gimenez- beIN SPORTS HD 2 remembered for crying on the pitch when France beat MOL Vidi v Bate Borisov 19:55 Uruguay 2-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals in Russia- beIN SPORTS HD 10 then headed home a corner in first-half stoppage-time Stade Rennais v Jablonec 19:55 to take the wind out of Monaco’s sails at a key moment. beIN SPORTS HD 13 EN “It’s always difficult to win the first match of the Dynamo Kyiv v Astana 19:55 beIN SPORTS HD 12 EN Champions League away from home,” said Atletico AEK Larnacav Zurich 22:00 coach Diego Simeone. “Griezmann is growing every MONACO: Monaco’s French defender Djibril Sidibe (L) vies for the ball with Atletico Madrid’s French forward beIN SPORTS game. He’s a decisive player. He did well in the right Ludogorets Razgrad v Bayer 04 Leverkusen 22:00 Antoine Griezmann (R) during the UEFA Champions League first round football match between AS Monaco and moments and his link-up with Costa was good.” The beIN SPORTS HD 5 pitch cut up worryingly and groundsmen scrambled at Atletico Madrid at the Stade Louis II, in Monaco, on Tuesday. —AFP Leipzig v Red Bull Salzburg 22:00 half-time to pound in sods of detached turf. beIN SPORTS HD 9 Celtic v Rosenborg 22:00 “The game was difficult, the pitch was not good for four-game touchline ban, the visitors were marshalled 66th minute and lashing a shot just wide moments later. beIN SPORTS HD 12 EN both teams, there was a danger of injury for the play- by the menacing bulk of his brooding assistant German Glik saw a last-gasp header go just wide with the fans Kobenhavn v Zenit St. Petersburg 22:00 ers,” said Simeone. Former Monaco striker Thierry Burgos prowling the line. on their feet, but Atletico were otherwise untroubled in beIN SPORTS HD 10 Henry and ex-coach Didier Deschamps were in the Monaco’s Polish defender Kamil Glik appeared to be the latter stages. France international forward Thomas Slavia Prague v Girondins de Bordeaux 22:00 stands where just 12,000 fans showed up and amongst relishing his role, keeping tabs on Costa and apart from Lemar was back at the Stade Louis II after his close- beIN SPORTS HD 8 them a mere 80 Atletico supporters. Trnava v RSC Anderlecht 22:00 the goal did a solid job on the Atletico target man. season switch to Madrid and came on late as Atletico beIN SPORTS HD 1 Atletico have had a stuttering start to their La Liga Falcao never stopped searching for an equaliser sweated out the final minutes to clinch three precious GNK Dinamo Zagrebv FenerbahÁe 22:00 campaign, and with Simeone on the final match of a against his old club, almost earning a penalty in the away points. — AFP beIN SPORTS HD 6 Sporting v Qarabag Agdam 22:00 beIN SPORTS HD 7 Arsenal v Vorskla Poltava 22:00 beIN SPORTS HD 2 China’s ‘Maradona’: Dudelange v Milan 22:00 beIN SPORTS HD 4 Olympiacos v Real Betis 22:00 ‘Soccer Nut’ still beIN SPORTS HD 3 going strong at 63 Former winners Red HANGZHOU: Friends call him “Maradona” and Chinese media have dubbed him “Soccer Nut”-Zhao Chongshan is 63 but he still plays football three times a week and has no Star frustrate Napoli plan to hang up his boots. Zhao looks like any other doting grandfather with his on group stage debut gentle manner and warm smile, but he is something of a celebrity in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang because of his enduring fitness and undying love for football. BELGRADE: Former European Cup winners Red Star Zhao’s strong legs and broad shoulders hint at the pro- Belgrade held Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli to a creditable fessional player that he once was, even if he is carrying a 0-0 draw Tuesday as the Serbian club made their debut little bulk around his waist these days. “I will keep playing in the Champions League group stage. as long as I can, I feel I have no problem playing three Lorenzo Insigne rattled the crossbar in the first half games per week now,” he said. for Napoli, while Red Star defender Milan Rodic made “One of my motivations is that this is my hobby and I a vital goal-line clearance to deny Jose Callejon in the like it. Another is that I hope I can be a role model for the Group C encounter. Home goalkeeper Milan Borjan younger generation.” “Honestly, it is not easy playing at my also produced a sharp stop to keep out an effort from age,” he added. Poland international Arkadiusz Milik, as Red Star were The impact of football on Zhao’s life cannot be under- restricted to a late attempt from Richmond Boakye. estimated. He began playing as a young boy on the streets, TONGLU: This photo taken on September 15, 2018 shows Zhao Chongshan, 63, taking part in a training session “We didn’t do much wrong, we controlled the game and as a 15-year-old was good enough to join the profes- in Tonglu in China’s eastern Zhejiang province. Friends call him “Maradona” and Chinese media have dubbed sional side representing northern China’s Shaanxi but the finishing was lacking,” said Ancelotti, who took him “Soccer Nut” — Zhao Chongshan is 63 but he still plays football three times a week and has no plan to province. over at Napoli in the summer. “It’s difficult to play against Had he not been part of the team, he would have been hang up his boots. — AFP a defence like that of Red Star. Our forwards were alone sent to the countryside along with millions of other youths in front of the goalkeeper several times but we didn’t have as part of Mao Zedong’s disastrous Cultural Revolution. Zhao was a right winger in his pomp but now plays in landmark, according to the Chinese method of counting that bit of luck. I think we could have won.” Then a pacy winger, Zhao played for Shaanxi until he was midfield or defence after his mobility drainedaway. From birthdays-he played the first half against the much fitter Red Star last appeared in Europe’s premier club 27, when the family moved to the city of Hangzhou, in there he can dictate play and is equally comfortable with and younger women’s team. competition in 1991-92, the season after they defeat- Zhejiang, where he lives today. his right or left foot, a skill which still eludes many top The game often passed Zhao by, but the quality was ed Marseille in the final on penalties in Bari to lift the Zhao said there is no secret to his good health-he is players. still there even if the agility was not, only giving the ball trophy. Red Star players from that title-winning side clearly a born sportsman and still also plays basketball and On Saturday, in the stifling humidity of a town outside away once and playing simple, first-time passes. Zhao, who performed a lap of honour before kick-off at a rau- table tennis. Not to be outdone, his wife Peng Qiaoyun- Hangzhou, Zhao’s amateur side of mostly middle-aged men is devoted to his only grandchild and takes her to and from cous Stadion Rajko Mitic, with Ancelotti-a three- remarkably, they were born on the same day in February were thrashed 8-0 by Zhejiang’s professional women’s school, would prefer to play against people closer to his time European champion as coach-in the opposing 1955 — is a dance coach. team. Wearing the number “65” on his jersey-Zhao’s next age-if only there were some.—AFP dugout.—AFP