Goal-Hungry Al Sadd Target Win Against In-Form Al Nassr

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MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 NadalN not interested in excuses after Rome exit WeW can find excuses, but I didn’t play well enough. It was not my ninight. He played a great match, I think, and I didn’t. TheseTh things can happen. After such a long time without com- pepeting, I played two good matches, and now I played a bad one agagainst a good opponent.

Spain's Rafael Nadal Sport |10

TOUR DE FRANCE FINAL STANDINGS: 1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) 87:20:05, 2. Primož Roglic (SLO) +59, 3. Richie Porte (AUS) +3:30, 4. Mikel Landa (ESP) +5:58 Table Tennis: Qatar to host Asian Championships in 2021

THE PENINSULA – DOHA that the new generation of Qatari table tennis players would benefit Qatar will stage the 2021 Men’s and from this historic hosting. Women’s Asian Table Tennis Cham- “I am confident that our youth will pionships, it was announced come into contact with the best- yesterday. ranked players in the region,” Al The Qatar Table Tennis Associ- Mohannadi, who is also the First Vice ation (QTTA) yesterday confirmed the Presidents of the Asian and Interna- much-sought after event will be held tional Table Tennis Federations, said. in Doha in September next year. “Also, it will be another oppor- The new decision has been con- tunity for Qatar to host yet another firmed following the withdrawal of world-class event. We have top-notch China and India who were part of the which was held via video South Korea. So it will be like a mini- sporting infrastructure in Qatar,” he bidding race. conference. world championship.” added. Qatar hosted the same event in President of QTTA and Arab Table He added: “We are very happy Al Mohanndi confirmed Doha will 2000 and will now stage the Asian Tennis Federation, Khalil bin Ahmed with the honour that the State of Qatar also host the next Annual General championships for the second time. Al Mohannadi, said: “We will have the has been chosen as the hosts for the Assembly of the ITTF during the same QTTA yesterday said the Asian honour to host the best players of the second time. I thank the members of week. Table Tennis Union (ATTU) chose region especially the ones from East the General Assembly for choosing us Doha has been hosting the annual President of QTTA and Arab Table Tennis Qatar to host the championships at Asian countries like China, Japan, after China and India quit the race.” Qatar Open table tennis event for Federation, Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi their ATTU Executive Office meeting India, Hong Kong, China Taipei and Al Mohannadi expressed the hope more than two decades. ACL: Xavi’s men eye spot in Round of 16 Holders Al Hilal SFC seal berth in ACL Goal-hungry Al Sadd target knockout stage

AFC – DOHA win against in-form Al Nassr Reigning champions Al Hilal SFC confirmed their place in the 2020 AFC Champions League Round of 16 with a 0-0 draw against FAWADA HUSH SSAIN “AAl NaN sssr hah vev a goood defeencce anand Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shahr Our goal is to win and THEH PENINSSULAULL tht eye hava e nonot coconcn eeddedd anyy goalsls Khodro FC on Matchday Five of to qualify for the next heree so faf r.r. Butu we hahaveve a goood ata tat ckk Group B yesterday. round. We have to QQataar fof ottbaall giai ntn s AlA Saddd wiwilll be ana d ouo r aaim iss to ssccorore moorere goalsls When the two teams met YESTERDAY’S RESULTS givegive our best and we aimim ngng to secuurer theeir plaacec in ththe thana ouurr oppp ono ene tt.. Thaat isi ourr wayy. earlier in the year, Andre Carillo GROUP B Rounnd of 16 tooday when they clasa h Thheyey arere gooood inin defefeence, wew are and Bafetimbi Gomis found the Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 0-0 Shahr Khodro (IRN) cannotcannot relaxrelax,, wiw thh Saua dii Ararabib a’a s Al Nassrs in ththe ggoodd in ata ttackk. WWe waannt toto dominnate,e net in a 2-0 Al Hilal win, and especiallyespecially againstagainst GROUP A AFA C ChC ama piionons Leagueu (ACCL). crreeate chances to score. Thehe plal yerss Shahr Khodro have lost all their Esteghlal FC (IRN) 1-1 Al Shorta (IRQ) thesethese kindkind ooff teams.teams. The WoW lvveses – placec d second in arre coomfm ortablb e withh this wwayy,” heh games since. GROUP B ItIt coucouldld be oonene ofof ththee Grouup D wiw th 8 pointn s beb hiindd Al saaid. A severely depleted Al Hilal Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 0-0 Pakhtakor (UZB) bestbest games in the Naasss r (10 popointss) - willl entter theheiir “The challenge for us iss to sccoro e side with only three substitutes, TODAY'S FIXTURES hoh mem turf at Jassis m BiB n Haammaad annd also take care of defeennce.e Thihis is two of whom were goalkeepers, competition.competition. GROUP C StStada iuium seeeke ing vivicttory too advvaanncece whwhat happened in the seecond gaamme took to the pitch and looked Persepolis FC (IRN) vs Al Duhail SC (QAT) too the Rouo ndn of 166 with thhe SaSauddi aga aainst Al Ain. The prrobblelem isis not lively early on as they created At Education City Stadium (18:00) XaviXavi HernandezHernandez siided lookiing to contntinnue theh irr doomm- wiitth the defence, thhe reespsponnsis bbilil tyy chances in the first 20 minutes Al Taawoun FC (KSA) vs Sharjah (UAE) Al SSaddadd cocoachach ini atatioon in theh grooup afterr connfif rmining ooff not conceding lies withh thhee enntire without converting. At Education City Stadium (21:00) tht eir sps ot in tht e knoco kout stat ge. teteaam,”, Xavi added. It took 38 minutes for the GROUP D AlA Nasa srsr havve non t concn ededd a goaal MeM anwhile, Al Nassr hheeada cooachh first big chance to come, which Al Sadd SC (QAT) vs Al Nassr (KSA) sincce the coc ntn innentat l evvent resusumem d RuRui VVitoria yesterday saaidd hisi teeaam fell to Shahr Khodro but At Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (18:00) ini Qata ar and theh y arre thhe seecoondn sidde wwiilll look to continuue winnnninng rurun inn Madallah Al Olayan intercepted Sepahan FC (IRN) vs Al Ain FC (UAE) too cononceded lese s gooalals (3( ) inn thih s yey arar’ss today’s match. and headed away their shot At Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (21:00) edditi ioi n beehih nd Al HiH laal (2). Al Sadddd, “We have sealed qualiifficcaatioonn, but from the left flank, conceding a onn theh other hana d,d arere thee higi heh sts AlA Sada d still needd a ressulult heherer to corner. sccorinng teamm in thhe coompete ittioon wiithth qualify,y thoh uggh both teaammss arree in a Instantly after, Mansour Al Bishi missed a sitter after Nasser a doozez n ofof goaalsl , alalrereaddy.y sos mewhw at simmilaar poso iti ioonn. We wantt Al Dawsari regained the ball high up the field and a conse- All Sada d heh add coaoachh Xavavi Hernn- to keep winnini g to proovee ourur quaalil tyy quent string of passes ended when Hatan Bahebri intelligently ananded z raated Al Nasssr as ono e ofo theh top ana d mmeentn allitty,y ” sas id Vitororiiaa. cut the ball back to Al Bishi, who with the slightest of touches sidees inn Asiia, sayinng hih s teeam will haavee “TTheh game wiill be didifficcullt put it over the net from a few yards out. to be focuused too wiin theh matatchh. becausu e off the oppposittionn’’s quq alitty.y Shahr Khodro almost got their first ever AFC Champions “OOur goaal iss to wiw n and to qualiiffy WeW havve ququala ity too,o so wew cann League goal when Mohammad Khalatbary received a short foor the neextt roundnd. WeW havve to givive exexpep ct a goood gamem . We arer awaarer corner and lifted a cross over the penalty area which was met our beests and we cannn oto rellax, ese pee- ofof theeirir indndivividuaual and teeamm by a rising Farshad Faraji, but the latter headed high. cic allly agaaini stt theh ses kinnd ofo teae mss. Itt atattrtribi utu ese , sos we wiw lll enjoyy the gama e Bahebri missed a golden chance to put his team ahead coulu d bee onen of tht e beb st gammess in the annd hopefullly geet a gogoodo ressulult. Our and add his second of the tournament 20 minutes from time, coc mpm etittion,n ” saaidd Xavi aheae d of thhee phphililosopo hih eses do non t chchangee, bub t wew when Carillo received a ball on the edge of the area and mamatcch.h. mamakke minnoror tweeakks ttoo couunterr diff- dribbled inside before tapping it gently for the Saudi interna- “WWe arre sppeae kiing of a sts rongn teaam feferrent oppppossititioon.n ” tional who lashed a stinging shot at Mohammad Kia, but the ththata is cacapap blle ofo reaachchinng the “BBoth teeamams arre bibig,g boto h hah vev young keeper parried away. semi-finnalal, ana d sos we muusstt ssoomeme reaallly ggooodod pllayey rsrs, and bobothh The result sees Al Hilal through to the Round of 16, while beb wele l prprepeparreded,”, he sasaiid hhaavee a winnniningg menntaalil tyy. AlA l mym Shahr Khodro, already eliminated on Matchday Three, took bebeforee addd inng that hiss teeaam ppllayere s arre rereadady,y andn theh linne-e upup willl their first ever point in their AFC Champions League history. wiw lll hava e tot coonntitinun e bbee deccidedd as wee seee fitit tecchnici ala lyy,”” In other matches yesterday, Amir Arsalan Motahari can- plp aya inng atattat ckkiing fofoottbaallll. hhee addddeded. celled out Mazin Fayyadh's opener as Esteghlal FC and Al Shorta played to a 1-1 draw in Group A while Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Pakhtakor settled for a goalless draw in Group B. Regragui upbeat as Al Duhail take on Persepolis in crucial tie CHINTHANA WASALA with all our strength to win full points “Unfortunately, the referees deci- players in the team. Players suffered a hands which is what drives us and gives THE PENINSULA and guarantee a place in the next sions affected on us in the previous lot in the last two seasons from injuries us the fighting spirit that will round,” Regragui said during a press matches , as in our first match against that kept hitting them, but we are undoubtedly help us achieve victory,” Al Duhail head coach Walid Regragui conference, yesterday. Sharjah team which ended with our always able to get ooutut from these Afif said. yesterday expressed trust in his players “We know that all the clubs have the victory the referee decided a penalty crisescrises ususinging oour u r Persepolis’Persepolis’ IrIraqiaq midfielder Bashar and said a win against Persepolis in desire to achieve victory, which makes that was not correct, and also in our fightingf ighting ResanResan toldtold IrIraniananian media that the con- today’s AFC Champions League Group all the matches difficult but I trust the second match the referee dismissed spiritspirit aandnd frontation will nonott be an easy one for C match is the ‘only option’ for his side. team’s players and their abilities to Mehdi Benatia. That was not a suc- strongs trong thethe visitors.visitors. The QNB Stars League champions achieve the required from them.” cessful decision which greatly affected determi-determi- “When“When we ccameam to Doha, our target suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Group C is widely open as just three the course of the match,” Regragui said. nation.nation. was to ggetet six ppointsoin from the first two Sharjah last Friday, and are currently points separate leaders Persepolis and Meanwhile, Al Duhail star Ali Afif WeWe will matchesmatches aandnd tthishis is what we did. But placed third in their group with two bottom placed Sharjah. asserted that his team is ready for qualifyqualify to nownow the grgroupoup is wwide open, especially wins and equal number of defeats. Their Al Duhail overcame Persepolis on today’s clash the nextnext after Al Duhail lostlost to Sharjah. hopes of a place in the knockout stage Match Day 1 in Doha in February when “We are ready for our match against roundround ooff tthehe TheThe IrIraniananian teamtea beat Al Taawoun will highly depend on a win against the Edmilson Junior and Mario Mandzukik Persepolis Iranian team and we will competitioncompetition 1-0 thanks to Resan’sRes penalty in their Iranians today. powered the Qatari giants to a 2-0 win. seek to return to our known level and andand uuntilntil nownow firstfirst Group C match in Doha. “We will enter tomorrow’s (today) Players and the referees were in we have the complete desire to achieve our “We“We expect a difficult match with one choice which is victory, heated moments during the previous victory and cross to the next round of mamatchtc against them (Al and we know that the Iranian team will match, but the Moroccan tactician said the competition,” Afif said. Duhail),Duh especially since enter the stadium with the same choice. he doesn’t want to talk about the ref- “We will miss the efforts of Mehdi destiny theyth will be playing at They are a good team but we will work erees decisions. Bentia and he is one of the important Al Duhailisi head coach stillstWalidill in ouourRegraguir home,”h Resan said. MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 SPORT 11 Premier League: Son hits four as Tottenham crush Southampton Liverpool’s Mane sinks 10-man Chelsea

AFP — LONDON blunder from Kepa, who was PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS from Real Madrid seven years dropped twice by Chelsea after he left the north London Sadio Mane tormented Chelsea manager Frank Lampard last Chelsea 0 Liverpool 2 (Mane 50, 54) club. as the Liverpool forward struck season despite his status as the Newcastle 0 Brighton 3 (Maupay 4-pen, 7, Danny Ings put South- twice after sparking Andreas world’s most expensive keeper. Connolly 83) ampton ahead in the first half,

Christensen’s dismissal in the Lampard will be relieved Southampton 2 (Ings 32, 90-pen) Tottenham but Son equalised before the champions’ 2-0 win, while Son that Chelsea are reportedly 5 (Son 45+3, 47, 64, 73, Kane 82) break and scored three more in Heung-min scored four as close to signing Rennes’ Senegal the second half, with each of his Tottenham crushed South- international Edouard Mendy goals coming from Kane assists. ampton 5-2 yesterday. as he looks to replace Kepa. “Chelsea were the dominant Kane, who hit the back of Mane was involved in the “It was a clear mistake and side without goals but then a the net twice in the first half turning point at Stamford Kepa accepted that,” Lampard massive game-changer which only to have them ruled out for Bridge as the first clash between said. was good for us,” Liverpool offside, capped a swaggering Premier League title contenders Thiago Alcantara made his coach Jurgen Klopp said. display with his second goal of this season swung Liverpool’s Liverpool debut at half-time “After the red card, the the season. Neal Maupay’s way. after his move from Bayern second half is a different game. quick-fire double inspired In first half stoppage-time, Munich, but the Spain mid- We kept the ball rolling, let Brighton’s 3-0 win against Jordan Henderson picked out fielder conceded a 74th minute them run, scored the goals. Eve- Newcastle as the Seagulls Mane’s run behind Christensen penalty with a foul on Timo rybody had a hand in the result.” claimed their first Premier and the Denmark defender Werner. At St Mary’s, Jose Mourinho League victory of the season. responded by rugby-tackling Alisson Becker came to Thi- hailed Son and Harry Kane after Graham Potter’s side raced the Senegal star to the ground. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (right) celebrates his first goal with ago’s rescue as he saved the pair destroyed into a two-goal lead after just Referee Paul Tierney ini- Trent Alexander-Arnold, yesterday. Jorginho’s spot-kick. Southampton. seven minutes at St James’ Park tially booked Christensen, but After their chaotic 4-3 win Just 24 hours after Tot- thanks to the brace from French VAR told him to consult the as he met Roberto Firmino’s Arrizabalaga made a hash of over Leeds on the opening tenham signed Gareth Bale, Son striker Maupay. pitchside monitor and he cross with a thumping header trying to play out from the back, weekend, this was a return to delivered a virtuoso display that Aaron Connolly grabbed the changed his decision to a red after eluding Reece James’ slack allowing the Liverpool forward the kind of dominant display showed Mourinho’s side already third for Brighton, who had card. marking. to intercept and slot into the Liverpool produced so often en have plenty of firepower. Yves Bissouma sent off after his Mane grabbed his first goal Mane was gifted his second empty net. route to their first English title Bale has returned to Tot- raised boot caught Jamal Lewis of the season in the 50th minute goal as Chelsea keeper Kepa It was the latest costly for 30 years last season. tenham on a season-long loan in the face. Spurs' Kane shows Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1: Mbappe shines as French forward Kylian there’s more to his Mbappe looks on during the Ligue 1 match against Nice at the PSG hit top gear in Nice Allianz Riviera Stadium game than goals in Nice, yesterday. REUTERS — NICE Angel Di Maria’s strike before crisp one-touch passing. Marquinhos headed home the Mbappe blasted his spot-kick REUTERS — SOUTHAMPTON Spurs manager Jose France forward Kylian third in the second half. into the roof of the net after Mourinho was equally fulsome Mbappe marked his return to “I was just happy to put the he was fouled by Khephren Harry Kane has been in his praise. action with a vintage jersey back on because here Thuram and Nice goalkeeper Tottenham Hotspur’s leading “In the second half, Harry performance and a goal as in Paris when you miss a Waller Benitez could only marksmen for the last six Kane killed the game, the way champions Paris St Germain game, it’s like you’ve missed parry the forward’s crisp low seasons, but after becoming the he connected the game, the rediscovered their form with 10,” Mbappe told Canal Plus shot for Di Maria to sweep first Englishman to make four way he was dropping, he an impressive 3-0 win at Nice television. home the rebound on the assists in one Premier League allowed Son Heung-min into in Ligue 1 yesterday. “I spent the last few days stroke of halftime. match at Southampton attacking spaces,” Mourinho Mbappe, who missed the watching television and I The visitors missed a string yesterday, the Spurs skipper said. opening three games after couldn’t wait to come back. It of chances in the second half showed there is more to his “His performance was contracting the coronavirus, was nice to score but we are with striker Mauro Icardi game than goals. amazing. fired PSG ahead with a 38th- still going through a compli- hitting the post, before Mar- With Gareth Bale signed to “He is man of the match for minute penalty and cated period and it’s not easy quinhos added the third with provide further competition for what he did for the team. had a big to live with. a glancing header from a Di places in the forwards Sometimes people think part in “It was a stylish victory Maria cross. department at Spurs, the strikers just score goals, but he and getting back to winning Ander Herrera also hit the current strike force made a real creates a whole new dynamic ways is perfect.” woodwork with a deflected statement in the 5-2 win at St that they (Southampton) could PSG made a sluggish start shot in the first half while the Mary’s. not resolve,” he to their campaign as they lost home side were denied by Son Heung- said. the opening two matches and acrobatic goalkeeping from min will grab Four amazing assists Before the eked out a last-gasp 1-0 Keylor Navas. The result lifted the headlines from Harry, he deserves trip to South- home win over Metz on PSG to seventh place on six for his four-goal ampton, Kane, Wednesday but they points from four games, with haul and a first the man of the match for all his bril- tore Nice apart with Nice slipping to 10th also on Premier League award: Son Heung-min liance in front sublime skill and six points. hat-trick, but of goal, had the quality of provided only the service eight Premier deserves also high praise. League assists in the last three Real forced to Each Kane assist was seasons. impressive in its own right, In comparison to other Bundesliga: Leipzig make switch planes with the final pass for Son’s leading central strikers in the fourth the pick of the bunch as Premier League -- Sergio after technical he clipped a curling cross into Aguero (17), Jamie Vardy (14) winning start sans Werner Son’s path on the run without and Pierre-Emerick Aubam- even looking. eyang (11) -- that assist return REUTERS — BERLIN problem “Four amazing assists from was not impressive. Harry, he deserves the man of However, with Son in RB Leipzig eased past Mainz 05 REUTERS — MADRID the match award,” Son said. red-hot form on one side, and 3-1 in their Bundesliga opener “We have been working for Bale determined to make an yesterday to enjoy a successful Real Madrid were forced to five season together now. We impression on his return to the start to league life without change travel plans for their first know what we like and work Premier League on the other, striker Timo Werner. La Liga game of the season after hard on our relationship on and Kane’s creative talents could Werner joined Chelsea in a technical problem with their off the pitch. Hopefully, there become a more regular feature the close season and missed aircraft, a club spokesman said are many more goals to come.” of Tottenham’s play. their run to their Champions yesterday. League semi-finals in August The Spanish champions but Leipzig had little trouble were due to fly from Madrid finding the back of the net to San Sebastian in northern against Mainz, striking twice in Spain for the match against four minutes. Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg (centre) Real Sociedad last evening Emil Forsberg converted a celebrates with his team-mates when the plane’s hydraulic 17th-minute penalty for a foul Yussuf Poulsen (right) and Dani system malfunctioned. on Dani Olmo and Yussuf Olmo, yesterday. The Real squad switched Poulsen rose high to drill in a aircrafts and flew to Vitoria, header for the second goal. before continuing the journey With Mainz struggling to the post. Mainz cut the deficit finish. Any hopes of a comeback by coach to San Sebastian, find ways of stopping Leipzig, three minutes after the restart lasted only three minutes, which is 76.5km to the north. Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min celebrates Forsberg almost scored again when Quaison threaded a ball however, with Amadou Haidara “There was a small tech- with Harry Kane (right) after scoring his and on the half hour mark when he through the entire Leipzig tapping in a Forsberg assist in nical problem with the plane, their third goal against Southampton, yesterday. dribbled past two opponents defence for Jean-Philippe the 51st to restore Leipzig’s two- but we diverted to a different but his clever flick bounced off Mateta to score with a fine goal cushion. flight and the team will make it to San Sebastian in plenty of time before the kickoff." Real Madrid were due to arrive in San Sebastian at 3pm Mourinho played a role in Spurs return, says Bale local time and the game will start as scheduled at 9pm.

REUTERS — LONDON Bernabeu. Mourinho said he coming back here,ee, he’s es a foroaestsot Wales this month, is Wales camp so I need to get on tried to sign Bale when he was household nameme andand a winnwinner.er. likely be matcmatchh fit the training pitch,” he said. Tottenham Hotspur forward in charge of Real from 2010 to He’s the perfectct fit for ToTot-t- aafterfter tthehe OctoOctober “Hopefully, I can hit the There was a small Gareth Bale is relishing the 2013. The Wales international tenham. We needeed to win ttro-ro- internationalinternational breakb ground running in my first technical problem with opportunity to work with was also regularly linked with phies and he knowsnows how to do andand is eexcitedxcited aabout game, whenever that may be,” the plane, but we manager Jose Mourinho a move to Manchester United that better thann ananyone.yone. the prospect of he said. diverted to a different (pictured) who had unsuccess- when the Portuguese was in “I know everyery Tottenham llinkinginking up witwithh Son “Harry’s done incredibly flight and the team will fully tried to sign the Welshman charge at Old Trafford. fan is desperatee for a trophy Heung-minHeung-min and well since he burst onto the in the past. “He’s spoken to me about a and we’ll be tryingtrying as HHarryarry KKane. scene and scored a lot of goals. make it to San Bale completed a loan move few positions that he would like hard as possibleble in ““II hhaven’tav To play with him and Son is an Sebastian in plenty of from Spanish champions Real me to play and obviously I’m every competitiontion ttrainedrai exciting prospect for all of us. If time before the kickoff: Madrid back to his former club happy with that,” Bale, 31, told to do that.” Bale,e, sisince we’re all pushing in the same Real Madrid spokesman Spurs on Saturday, ending BT Sport. who injured hiss tthe direction it could be a very seven-year stay at the “He was a big reason for me knee playing exciting season.” 10 SPORT MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 Top seeds Djokovic, Halep into Italian finals

AFP – ROME moments of an intense match, to the “I’m not playing Svitolina so I have delight of the fans. a plus,” said Halep. Nadal not interested in Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Simona The 33-year-old next playsy either “I have jjust to manageg it a little bit Halep both advanced to the finals of Argentine eighth seed DiegoDieggo betterbetter thanthan prppreviousevious the Italian Open yesterday as fans Schwartzman or Canadiann DeDenisnis years.yearss. excuses after Rome exit returned to the stands at the Foro Shapovalov, the 12th seed. “But“BBut nnowoww Italico for the first time this week. Schwartzman shocked nine-timenne-ttimme I’II’mm moremom rre REUTERSREUUTERS – RROMEOMEE opponentopppop neentn hehe hadhah defeated nine World number one Djokovic Rome winner Nadal, the two-timewwoo-ttimme mamature,atut re, I straightstraraigighth ttimesimmese hheadingeeaad into Saturday’s booked a place in a 10th Rome final defending champion on Saturday.urdrdaayy. rereallyalally think.thih nkk. RafaelRaRafaele NNadalaadal refusedrefefusused ttoo mammakeakek eexcusesxcusu es encounterencoouunnter inn tthehhee IItaliant capital. with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Norway’s Wimbledon champion Halepallepp hheldeld Soo let’slete ’’ss hhopeopo e forfor hishis shshockhocck defeatddeefef ata byby DiegoDiiege o “We“We ccacanan fifindnndd eexcuses,x but I didn’t Casper Ruud. off a fightback from her Spanishishh rival.rivvaall. ththatat I cancaann bbee SchwartzmanSSchwwarttzzmam n in thethhee qquarter-finalsuauarttere -ffininala s playplaay wellwele l enough.ene oouuggh. Then we have to The Serb could win a record 36th After pulling level at a set-all,t-alll, ththee bebettere ttterr ofof tthehhe IItaliantataliliana OOpen,peenn, iinsistingnsisi ting tthathaat hihhiss thinktht innk ininternally,nteernnaalllyly, ‘‘W‘Why? How I can fix Masters title yesterday. He is currently ninth seed slumped 5-1 downwn inn tthehe totomorrowmomorrr owow aandndd focusfoocuus isi nownowo onon fine-tuningfiinene-t-tuunning hishis gamegaamem it?’”itt?’? ” thetthe 34334-year-old4--yyeeaarr- Spaniard told tied on 35 with Rafael Nadal, who fell third, before pulling out a ststringtrir ng ooff too winwinn iit.”tt.” aheadahheeaad ofof tthehhee FFrenchrer ncch OpOOpenenen wwhichhih chh reporters.reeppoortrtere s.s ““NowNNow iiss not the moment to in the quarter-finals. winners to draw the match backbackk toto beginsbebegig nsn SSeptembereptet mberr 227.77. findfindd eexcuses.xcx uuseess. It’sItt’ss jjustu to accept that I “I don’t take anything for granted, 4-5. TheThhe nine-timenniinnee-ttimme RomeRoRomee championchaampion didn’tddidndn’tt pplayllaay wwewellelll eenough.”n even after 15 years on the Tour, I still Serving to stay in the mmatch,ata chch, lookedlookokeded wellwelll offoff thethhe pacepap cee inin hishih s 6-2,6-6-2,2 “It“IIt wwawasas nnonotot mmyy night. He played a enjoy it,” said Djokovic, a four-time though, she hit successive ddoubleouubblle 7-57-7 5 losslolossss too ttheheh 115th-ranked5th-h raankkeded greatgrgreeaat mmamatch,atctch,h, I think,th and I didn’t. Rome champion who lost to Nadal in faults to hand Halep victory. Argentine,AArggeentntiinne,e, TheseThhesese thtthingshinggss cancaann hhappen. After such last year’s final. “In my opinion, she’s onee off ana n a lollongongn ttimeimme wwiwithouttthh competing, I “I still have a hunger for the titles the best players in the world,rlld,d, playedpplayyedd ttwowwoo ggoodooood mmatches, and now I and putting myself in a position to even if she’s out of top 10 now.oww. playedplp ayyeded a bbadaadd oonen against a good fight for the title is exactly where I Doesn’t matter,” said Halep. opponent.opppoponneenntt. want to be.” Romania’s Halep earlier “It’s always tough to playayay “That’s“TThhaatt’s howhhow iti is. I just want to won the battle of former French Open against her.” Halep extendededd congratulatecoconngrarattuullaa Diego and I’m champions against Garbine Muguruza her winning streak this seasononn goingggooinng ttoo kkeep working.” 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in the final tune-up on to 13 consecutive victories. NNadal, who skipped clay before Roland Garros in a week’s She won the Dubai title ini tththehe US Open in New time. February, before the corona-a- YorkY due to “It’s been nice to see people in the virus lockdown, coming backk to COVID-19 con- crowd, even if they were not sup- claim victory in Prague last monthonntthh cerns, said he porting me at all today,” said Halep. having skipped the US Open. would regroup “They were with Muguruza. But I The 2018 French Open winnerwininner beforeb heading to was happy to see them and I felt the will meet either Czech defendingfenndiingg Paris,PPaar where he will energy.” Italy’s government from yes- champion Karolina Pliskova,ovava, theththe bidbbid forfofor a rrerecord-extendingeco 13th terday allowed up to 1,000 spectators second seed, or Marketa Vondrousovadrooussoovva title.tit tle.e at open-air sports events for the first for the title. “It’s““IIt’t s a completelycoommpple special and time since the coronavirus lockdown. The 28-year-old lost her ttwowow ppre-re- unpredictableunnpreddictaabble yyeyear.ar I probably will go Djokovic was pushed in his first vious finals in 2017 and 220180118 to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his backbackk hhomeomme anandd tthenh let’s see what’s meeting with 34th-ranked Ruud, but Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, whoho eexitedxited semi-final match of the ATP Masters 1000 - Italian Open goinggoiing on,”onn,” thethhe 19-time19- Grand Slam knew how to tighten his game at key in the quarter-finals this year.r. against Norway’s Casper Ruud yesterday. championchhampiion said.said. Dhoni praises All-round Stoinis Buttler to miss Chennai Rajasthan’s ‘Dads Army’ leads KXIP to opening game after IPL win victory over DC AFP – NEW DELHI England’s Jos Buttler will miss the over Mumbai in super over opening game for Rajasthan Royals in IANS – DUBAI the Indian Premier League due his quar- AFP – NEW DELHI antine after arriving in the United Arab A brilliant all-round effort from Marcus Stoinis along Emirates. Chennai Super Kings skipper with sharp bowling from Kagiso Rabada in the Super Buttler has to undergo a six-day iso- Mahendra Singh Dhoni has heaped Over helped Delhi Capitals beat Kings XI Punjab at the lation after joining Royals following the praise on the experienced players in Dubai International Stadium yesterday. end of England’s limited overs series his side after they toppled defending Both sides ended their respective 20 overs on 157/8 against Australia on September 16 in champions Mumbai Indians in the after which KXIP managed to score just two runs batting Manchester. opening match of the Indian Premier first in the Super Over. “I’m unfortunately going to miss the League. DC took three balls to go past that total and get off first match for Rajasthan because I’m South African veteran Faf du to a winning start in the season. going to be doing my quarantine period Plessis smashed an unbeaten 58 to Stoinis was the star of the day for DC as he picked because I’m here with my family,” he guide Chennai to a five-wicket win, two wickets off the last two balls of the match before said on Instagram. chasing Mumbai’s 162 in Abu Dhabi which he smashed 53 off 21 balls to take an otherwise “It’ll be a huge help in lockdown as glitzy Twenty20 tournament struggling DC past the 150-run mark. having my family here with me.” Buttler, started months late because of the KXIP were tottering at 55/5 at the start of the 11th along with fellow Englishman Ben Stokes coronavirus pandemic. over of the match after which opener Mayank Agarwal and Jofra Archer, and Australia’s Steve Once labelled “The Dads Army” turned things around for them. Mayank scored 89 off Smith, is a key part of the Royals team, by the media, Chennai have a 60 balls and his innings turned the tables to the extent which has Shane Warne as their mentor. number of players over the age of that KXIP needed one run to win off the last three balls. Stokes is expected to miss the first 35, including Dhoni, Australia’s But, he holed out at sweeper cover off the penultimate few games for Royals, who won the inau- Shane Watson, du Plessis and South ball before Chris Jordan hit it straight to square leg. gural IPL in 2008 under Warne’s cap- African Imran Tahir. Earlier, DC were on 127/7 at the end of the penul- taincy, as he is in New Zealand with his But Dhoni said that kind of expe- timate over of the innings at the Dubai International ailing father, who has been diagnosed rience would always be an asset to Stadium after which Stoinis smashed 26 runs off Chris with brain cancer. any team, with the perfect side Jordan in the final over. Additionally, the over included Meanwhile Royals capitan Smith needing the “right mix of youngsters a wide and a dramatic final ball in which Stoinis was trained with the team ahead of their first and the experienced players”. run out after taking a run but Jordan had overstepped. game against Chennai Super Kings on “What really helps youngsters in Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada ran two runs off the Tuesday in Sharjah, brushing aside con- (the) IPL is the fact senior cricketers free-hit to make 30 runs off the over. cussion fears he carried from the England (come) from... different countries and Marcus Stoinis gestures BRIEF SCORES: Delhi Capitals 157/8 (Marcus Stoinis series. they have their own experience,” after scoring a half 53, Shreyas Iyer 39; Mohammed Shami 3/15) beat Kings Smith was struck on the side of the said Dhoni, who retired from inter- century. XI Punjab 157/8 (Mayank Agarwal 89, KL Rahul 21; R helmet during training and was ruled out national cricket last month. PICTURE: TWITTER/@IPL Ashwin 2/2, Rabada 2/28) in Super Over of the three England one-day games with “So that way we are blessed to signs of concussion. have the senior cricketers who are part of the team.” Dhoni added that players with more than 300 Mumbai Indian one-day internationals under their skipper Rohit belt have built up the kind of expe- IPL stars pilloried for ‘healthy Sharma during a rience that is difficult to practice session. accumulate. PIC: TWITTER/ “You need a number of years to waistlines’ in tournament opener @MIPALTAN play those,” said the Indian star. “And now with three ODIs a AFP – NEW DELHI series, 300 ODIs is a dream for I have never played more than gully cricket anybody to play.” Du Plessis Leading cricketers from Mumbai Indians and but I am pretty shocked to see some players smashed six boundaries in his Chennai Super Kings have been slammed for their in the #IPL2020 looking so unfit. 44-ball stay including a 115-run “healthy waistlines” during the opening match of Former India field hockey captain partnership with 34-year-old the Indian Premier League in Abu Dhabi. on Twitter. Ambati Rayudu, who hit 71, to help Some players were returning to professional Viren Rasquinha the three-time IPL winners chase cricket for the first time in six months after global the target with four balls to spare. sport was put on hold amid the spread of the coro- I can’t think of another physical sport where England’s Sam Curran smashed navirus pandemic. players at the highest level could cope with 18 off six balls after the 22-year-old The virus-delayed Twenty20 tournament was these fitness levels. all-rounder was sent ahead of postponed and then moved to the United Arab Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle Dhoni in a move that surprised Emirates, with India’s cricket-crazy fans watching many. Chennai outplay Mumbai on Saturday on their tel- But Curran’s hitting affirmed evisions and mobile phones. Dhoni’s faith in him. Many expressed surprise at seeing top players Social media users joked that the cash-rich IPL “That’s one thing we haven’t including Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma, batsman was now the “India Paunch League”. done,” Dhoni said, referring to Saurabh Tiwary and Chennai spinner Piyush Chawla “Indian Paunch League (IPL) looking at all the experimenting with the batting sporting a post-lockdown paunch. bulging waistlines..looks like a veterans series order. “I have never played more than gully cricket match..,” one user tweeted. “At some point... we need to give but I am pretty shocked to see some players in Meanwhile, Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh (Ravindra) Jadeja and somebody like the #IPL2020 looking so unfit,” former India Dhoni stood out with his bulging biceps on his return Sam to express themselves.” The field hockey captain Viren Rasquinha wrote on to the cricket field after more than a year on the 53-day IPL is being held in the Twitter. sidelines. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, who United Arab Emirates this year “I can’t think of another physical sport where retired from international cricket last month, last because of concerns about the players at the highest level could cope with these played for India in their semi-final loss to New spread of the coronavirus in India, fitness levels.” Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle Zealand in the 2019 World Cup. which has the second-highest tweeted that there were a “couple of healthy waist- Fans swooned at their idol’s body, with one user number of known infections in the lines today”. tweeting: “Dhoni looks WWE ready”. world. MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 SPORT 09 Stunning Pogacar claims Wolff steals show at US maiden Tour de France title Open, leads REUTERS - PARIS Team UAE Emirates rider Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar Tadej Pogacar became the first Slovenian to win the Tour de wearing the overall by two shots France after he retained the leader’s yellow jersey yellow jersey in the 21st stage rides on the Champs yesterday, a day after he pulled Elysees avenue with the REUTERS – MAMARONECK, NY, off a major coup to take the Arc de Triomphe in the overall lead. background during the Matthew Wolff, playing in only his second major, stole the While Sam Bennett won the 21st and last stage of show at an unforgiving Winged Foot with a scorching start final stage, the day belonged to the 107th edition of the and steady finish to grab an unlikely two-shot lead over big- Team UAE Emirates rider Tour de France cycling hitting Bryson DeChambeau after the third round on Saturday. Pogacar, who will celebrate his race, 122 km between Wolff, 21, began the day four shots behind overnight leader 22nd birthday on Monday and Mantes-la-Jolie and Patrick Reed but erased that deficit in seven holes en route to is the youngest man to win the Champs Elysees Paris, a five-under-par 65 that tied the low round of the week and race since Henri Cornet in 1904. yesterday. brought him to five under overall. Pogacar, who claimed the “I like to go out there and do what I feel comfortable with, yellow jersey from a stunned rip dog and see how it goes from there,” said Wolff, who will Primoz Roglic with a monu- look to become the first player to win the US Open in his tour- mental performance in Satur- nament debut since Francis Ouimet in 1913. day’s time trial, also won the “I feel comfortable with every part of my game so I don’t white jersey for the best like to shy away from things when I’m feeling confident, and Under-25 rider and the polka I’m probably going to do the same tomorrow.” dot jersey for the mountains The front nine at Winged Foot is one of the more daunting classification. stretches in golf but a steadfast Wolff came out firing lasers at Roglic ended up second, 59 tricky pin positions and reached the turn with a blistering five- seconds behind, with Australian under 30 after five birdies. Richie Porte taking third place, Wolff, who hit just two of 14 fairways, made his lone bogey 3:30 off the pace. at the par-four 16th but responded in style with a birdie at the “This is an incredible 2012. “I want to thank all those in recent Tour history, leaving out of contention in the Jura last after sticking his approach shot to 10 feet. feeling, standing here in Paris who made it happen. It was Roglic’s dominant Jumbo- stage to the Grand Colombier, It was another difficult day of scoring at Winged Foot as on the top of the podium. It was three memorable weeks on the Visma team wondering what pulling out a few days later with only seven players managed to break par on a layout renowned an amazing three weeks, an French roads, with incredible went wrong. back pains. for its narrow fairways, thick rough and wildly undulating and incredible journey,” said crowds. I won’t find the words “We didn’t see it coming,” They recovered some pride speedy greens. Pogacar after the first one-two to express my feelings.” said Roglic’s team mate and later on, however, as Michal Among those who struggled under the tough conditions for one country since Bradley Pogacar also won three former Tour runner-up Tom Kwiatkowski, their unsung hero and faded from contention were former world number ones Wiggins finished ahead of stages in one of the most bril- Dumoulin. Bennett became the for five years, claimed an emo- Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm after matching 76s. fellow Briton Chris Froome in liant individual performances first Irishman since Sean Kelly tional stage win -- although that DeChambeau (70), who began the day one shot back of in 1989 to win the green jersey was certainly not enough for a Reed, made a bogey-bogey start but leaned on his power to for the points classification, team who had won seven of the chase down Wolff and squandered a chance to finish within Pauline Bourbonnaud, a 22-year-old podiatry student, said it was ahead of Peter Sagan who was previous eight editions. one shot of the lead when he two-putted from six-feet for a nothing short of “an exploit, enormous” that the Tour succeeded in looking to claim it for a record- It was an anti-climatic closing bogey. keeping riders virus-free. At previous Tours, she’d been roadside extending eighth time. finale on the Champs-Elysees “Tomorrow I’ve just got to make sure my speed is a little when they zoomed through her region in central France. But this Bennett was the strongest as only 5,000 fans were bit better than it was starting out the round and hitting the year’s postponement to September, when she was back in Paris for at the end of the 122-km ride allowed on the famous avenue driver in the fairway,” said DeChambeau, who finished in a her studies, allowed her to soak in the finish for the first time. from Mantes-la Jolie yesterday, as a precaution against the share of fourth at last month’s PGA Championship. beating world champion Mads coronavirus. “Today was pathetic and it needs to be better than that to “It’s important to have events like this that are diverting. People Pedersen, with Sagan coming Reaching the Champs- win a US Open.” needed the Tour after a year like this,” she said. home third. Elysees was, however, a relief Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (68) was One of the most enthusiastic backers of the pandemic-defying Swiss Marc Hirschi, the for organisers, who had alone in third place, four shots back of Wolff, while Hideki Tour was also its most powerful: French President Emmanuel former Under-23 world imposed strict sanitary rules to Matsuyama (70), Xander Schauffele (70) and Harris English Macron. With his government trying to revive France’s COVID- champion was voted the most protect the race ‘bubble’. (72) were each a further shot adrift. battered economy, Macron praised the race as “the pride of the aggressive on the race after The bubble did not burst as Four-times major champion Rory McIlroy was six shots country” and an example of how it must learn to live with the virus notably taking a brilliant win in only four team staff members back of the lead. the longest stage of the 107th tested positive and were World number 10 Reed (77) drained a nine-foot birdie at and the restrictions it imposes. edition. removed from the race, pre- the ninth to share the lead but fell apart over a nightmarish “Even in September, the Tour de France is magic!” Macron Ineos-Grenadiers had a venting a spread that could inward nine during which he made six bogeys and a double- tweeted after Pogacar relegated Roglic to second overall. Tour to forget as defending have stopped the Tour. bogey to fall into a share of 11th place, eight shots back of Wolff. champion Egan Bernal dropped No rider tested positive. “Well, I got all my bad shots out of the way,” said former Masters champion Reed. “You know, it was just one of those days. I couldn’t find a fairway, and from there trying to guess Vinales cruises away to GP out of the rough all day, it was just hard. It was brutal.” win as Mir impresses in Italy

AFP - MISANO ADRIATICO, ITALY Vinales was able to defend the lead comfortably, finishing Spaniard Maverick Vinales on more than four seconds clear, a Yamaha won the Emilia- because Espargaro and Quar- Romagna MotoGP yesterday to tararo had tyre troubles which Matthew Wolff move up to within one point of allowed Mir to pass both. looks over his putt the championship lead. “I am really tired, because I on the first green Joan Mir was second on a had to give everything today, at during the third Suzuki and another Spaniard each lap,” said Mir. “At the end, round of the US Pol Espargaro (KTM) promoted I saw that I could see a highway Open at Winged a place to third after Frenchman to the podium.” Foot Golf Club - Fabio Quartararo of the Espargaro said that after West on Saturday. Yamaha-SRT satellite team racing on medium tyres the crossed the line behind Mir but week before on the same track was penalised for straying off he had opted for softs because the track. “I wanted to enjoy my race” 120th US Open scores Andrea Dovizioso finished adding that he expected NEW YORK: Third-round scores on Saturday from the 120th US Open eighth to cling to the champi- problems near the end. “It paid Golf Championship at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York (USA onship lead, one point ahead of off, thanks also to the penalty unless noted): Quartararo and Vinales. of Fabio.” Vinales started from pole Quartararo, battling 205 - but soon lost the lead to Espargaro strayed onto the Matthew Wolff 66-74-65 207 - Francesco Bagnaia. green out-of-bounds paint Bryson DeChambeau 69-68-70 209 - The young Italian led by a several times, and having a Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 67-74-68 210 - second and a half at one stage Winner Monster Energy Yamaha’ Spanish rider Maverick Vinales warning on his dashboard Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-69-70, Xander Schauffele 68-2-70, and was still on course for a first (right) and second placed Suzuki Ecstar’s Spanish rider Joan Mir received a three-second Harris English 68-70-72 211 - victory for himself and Ducati- celebrate on the podium after the Emilia Romagna MotoGP Grand penalty. Furious, he returned Rory McIlroy (NIR) 67-76-68 212 - Pramac when he leant a bit too Prix at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli yesterday. to his pit without making any Zach Johnson 70-74-68, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 71-71-70, Rafa far unto a corner with seven comments. Cabrera Bello (ESP) 68-70-74 213 - laps to go and slid off. “After he made the mistake my tyres well at the start and I The big disappointment of Alex Noren (SWE) 72-74-67, Lucas Glover 71-71-71, Webb Simpson Vinales grabbed his chance I tried not to make a mistake was able to attack when I had the day at the Italian track was 71-71-71, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 68-73-72, Thomas Pieters (BEL) 66-74- to become the sixth winner in and take the points,” he said. to”, said Vinales. “We have a big local hero Valentino Rossi who 73, Patrick Reed 66-70-77 seven MotoGP races this “We had prepared really potential for the rest of the crashed at the beginning of the 214 - Adam Long 71-74-69, Will Zalatoris 70-74-70, Billy Horschel 72-70- season. well, I was very fast, I preserved season.” race and retired. 72, Justin Thomas 65-73-76 215 - Paul Casey (ENG) 76-70-69, Dustin Johnson 73-70-72, Lee Westwood (ENG) 67-76-72, Tony Finau 69-73-73, Bubba Watson 72-69- Grand Prix Results - Collated 74, Brendon Todd 68-72-75 216 - Lanto Griffin 71-74-71, Thomas Detry (GER) 71-72-73, Renato MISANO ADRIATICO, ITALY: Results from the Emilia-Romagna Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 80, 5. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 64, Paratore (ITA) 71-72-73, Jason Kokrak 68-71-77 motorcycling Grand Prix at Misano Adriatico yesterday: 6. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 64, 7. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/ 217 - Charles Howell 73-72-72, Daniel Berger 73-70-74, Jon Rahm (ESP) Honda-LCR), 8. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM Tech-3) 59, 9. Valentino 69-72-76 MotoGP Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 58, 10. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 57 218 - Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 70-76-72, Rickie Fowler 69-77-72, 1. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 41 min 55.846sec, 2. Joan Moto2 Matt Wallace (ENG) 70-75-73, Im Sung-jae (KOR) 70-75-73 Mir (ESP/Suzuki) at 2.425sec, 3. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 4.528, 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Kalex) 9min 50sec, 2. Luca Marini (ITA/ 219 - Adam Scott 71-74-74, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 72-73-74 4. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/SRT Yamaha) 6.419, 5. Miguel Oliveira Kalex) at 0.509sec, 3. Xavi Vierge (ESP/Kalex) 0.775, 4. Marco 220 - Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 72-74-74, Lucas Herbert (AUS) 72-74-74, (POR/KTM Tech-3) 7.368, 6. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) Bezzecchi (ITA/Kalex) à 0.798, 5. Fabio di Giannantonio (ITA/ Romain Langasque (FRA) 71-74-75, Michael Thompson 70-75-75, Taylor 11.139, 7. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda) 11.929, 8. Andrea Dovizioso SpeedUp) 0.994, 6. Marcel Schroetter, (GER/Kalex), 7. Sam Lowes Pendrith (CAN) 71-74-75, Erik van Rooyen (RSA) 70-74-76, Stephan (ITA/Ducati) 13.113, 9. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 15.880, (GBR/Kalex) 1.417, 8. Jorge Navarro (ESP/SpeedUp) 1.716, 9. Jake Jaeger (GER) 71-70-79 10. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 17.682 Dixon (GBR/Kalex) 1.969, 10. Aaron Canet (ESP/SpeedUp) 2.029 221 - Brian Harman 74-72-75, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 73-72-76, Tyler Duncan 73-71-77 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 222 - Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 74-72-76, Patrick Cantlay 70-76-76, Jason 1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 84, 2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/ 1. Luca Marini (ITA) 132 points, 2. Enea Bastianini (ITA) 120, 3. Day (AUS) 72-74-76, Sebastian Munoz (COL) 71-74-77, Cameron Smith SRT Yamaha) 83, 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 83, 4. Joan Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) 98 (AUS) 71-73-78 Sport MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 08

Gordon Boston Celtics strike back with Hayward 117-106 win over Miami Heat AFP — MIAMI second before the Heat surged back. The Boston Celtics hit back, Miami, led by Herro’s 16 leading wire-to-wire in a points in the period, twice cut 117-106 victory over the the deficit to three points Miami Heat that cut the gap before the Celtics reasserted in the NBA Eastern themselves to take a 62-50 Conference finals to two lead into halftime. Celtics’ Hayward games to one. “There’s some great guys Jaylen Brown scored 26 in that locker room,” Brown won’t leave bubble points and Jayson Tatum said of the Celtics’ unity. “A added 25 points and 14 lot of emotion, a lot of for baby’s birth rebounds for the Celtics, who passion, but we’re a family avoided falling into an 0-3 and we’re here for each other. hole from which no NBA “We exemplified that REUTERS — MIAMI team has rallied to win a when we came out together best-of-seven play-off series. and stayed together during Before the NBA restarted the season After their 17-point lead some tough moments. They in July, Boston Celtics forward Gordon slipped away in a game-two made a big run I think at the Hayward told the team he planned to loss on Thursday -- the end of the second quarter, leave the bubble near Orlando for the second straight game they Tyler Herro made some big birth of his fourth child. surrendered a double-digit plays. But between the Celtics being in a lead in defeat -- Celtics “We didn’t hang our battle with the Miami Heat in the players could be heard Jaylen Brown (right) of the Boston Celtics drives the ball during Game Three of the Eastern heads, we kept our will high Eastern Conference Finals and the exchanging heated words in Conference Finals against Miami Heat. and persevered to win this time he already spent away from the their locker room. game.” team to treat a sprained ankle, But they were all on the emphasis to come out tonight who played 30 minutes off Celtics coach Brad Hayward has had a change of heart. same page on Saturday, dis- and play 48 minutes, and we the bench and scored six Stevens acknowledged that Instead, he said after the Celtics’ playing a sense of purpose in did.” Down 0-2 in the series, points with five rebounds and his team was challenged 117-106 win in Game 3 of the series the NBA’s quarantine bubble Center Bam Adebayo led we played some games four assists in his first game emotionally by the two tough on Saturday night that he and his wife, in Orlando, Florida, and the Heat with 27 points, 16 we thought we should in more than four weeks. defeats in the first games of Robyn, decided he should remain in maintaining their poise as the rebounds and three steals. have played better. We “The first five minutes I the series. Florida and not leave for the imminent Heat narrowed a 20-point Rookie Tyler Herro scored 22 was gassed,” admitted Game three, he said, “was birth of the baby. fourth-quarter deficit to five points for Miami and star wanted to make it an Hayward, adding that he was more about what are we “Robyn could be having a baby at with less than a minute to forward Jimmy Butler scored emphasis to come out feeling it in the right ankle he going to show ourselves to be. any point in time,” Hayward said. play. 17. But Boston outscored tonight and play 48 sprained in game one of the “The first time we were “It’s probably something I’ll be Marcus Smart, a perfect Miami 60-36 in the paint and minutes, and we did: Heat’s first-round series pushed to more emotions that here. By the time I get back, I might 10-for-10 from the foul line, held the Heat to 38.8 percent Jaylen Brown against Philadelphia. challenged us, we got better,” miss the birth if she goes in and she produced a string of clutch shooting from the floor. Hayward left the bubble Stevens said. “And that’s rushes to the hospital. We discussed free throws and the Celtics “They came out, Boston to rehabilitate the injury, encouraging.” it and we prayed about it. I think it’s hung on for the win. did, with great force in this returning and going through The Celtics will try to probably best if I stay here and help “Down 0-2 in the series, game,” heat coach Erik were on our heels most of the quarantine before he could level the series in game four our team.” we played some games we Spoelstra said. “You do have game.” return to the court. on Wednesday. Brown could The Celtics trail the Heat 2-1, and thought we should have to credit them for that. “They The Celtics were buoyed Boston led 31-22 at the barely wait. “Looking Jayson Tatum said the team got a played better,” Brown said. sustained it for the better by the return from injury of end of the first quarter, and forward to the next game,” he needed jolt from Hayward’s return. “We wanted to make it an majority of the game. We playmaker Gordon Hayward, were up by 12 early in the said. “We all are.”

MLB: Yankees New York Yankees starting pitcher JA Happ pitches during the first rout Red Sox inning against the Boston Red Sox. Stars down Lightning 4-1 for 10th in Stanley Cup final opener straight win AFP — LOS ANGELES their way into the playoffs and his own rebound at 12:30 of the REUTERS — MASSACHUSETTS now have a chance to add a second, and Kiviranta stretched The Dallas Stars struck hard second NHL title to the one they the lead to 3-1 with 27.4 seconds JA Happ struck out nine batters against the Tampa Bay captured in 1999. left in the second. Dallas held over eight innings as the visiting Lightning on Saturday, winning The Stars had the luxury of Tampa Bay’s leading playoff New York Yankees recorded the opening game of the Stanley four nights’ rest after com- scorer Nikita Kucherov without their season-high 10th straight Cup final 4-1 in Edmonton. pleting a five-game Western a shot until the third period, but win on Saturday with an 8-0 Joel Hanley, Jamie Oleksiak Conference final win over the Stars goaltender Anton Khu- victory over the Boston Red and Joel Kiviranta scored for Vegas Golden Knights on dobin worked hard in the third, Sox. the Stars in the first two periods. Monday. making 22 of his 35 saves as Clint Frazier homered Jason Dickinson added a late Tampa Bay had just one day Dallas were out-shot 22-2. among his three hits and drove goal, and Dallas held off Tampa off after playing back-to-back Game two will be played in three runs for the Yankees, Bay’s third-quarter rally bid to overtime games in their Eastern today in Edmonton, one of two who have won 10 in a row for take a 1-0 lead in the best-of- Conference final win over the quarantine “hub cities” used by the first time since June 8-18, seven championship series. New York Islanders. the NHL when they resumed 2012. New York has won 12 It seems an unlikely run for Hanley opened the scoring play in August and host of both straight over Boston dating a Stars team that had lost six at 5:40 of the first, taking a pass conference finals and the back to last season. games in a row before the coro- from Roope Hintz and beating Stanley Cup final. Happ (2-2) recorded his first navirus pandemic forced the Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Cup itself was on outing of at least eight scoreless NHL to pause its season in Yanni Gourde pulled the display on Saturday -- a break innings without a walk since March. Lightning level seven minutes from tradition, which usually June 27, 2009. The 37-year-old Semien, was able to pick They were out-scored 10-5 later on a flukey goal after the sees it brought to an arena only left-hander scattered four hits JA Happ strikes out nine Donovan Solano off third base in the round-robin when play puck hit the skate of Gourde when a team has a chance to in 113 pitches to improve to 13-4 batters over eight innings to end the threat after he’d resumed in August -- but made and Hintz. Oleksiak scored off clinch the title. in his career against the Red as the visiting New York rounded the bag too far. Sox. Meanwhile, Tim Anderson Luke Voit and Kyle Yankees record their hit two of Chicago’s five solo Higashioka each had an RBI season-high 10th straight homers and Dallas Keuchel single and Gio Urshela had a win with an 8-0 victory grinded through four innings in pair of sacrifice flies for the over the Boston Red Sox. his return from the injured list Yankees. DJ LeMahieu extended as Chicago cooled off host his hitting streak to 12 games Cincinnati, which had its six- with a single off Chris Mazza game winning streak snapped. (1-2) to lead off the first inning. American League West. With Anderson, Yasmani Grandal He advanced to third on a pair second-place Houston’s win and Jose Abreu hit back-to- of walks before scoring on over Arizona later Saturday, the back-to-back home runs in the Urshela’s first sacrifice fly. magic number stayed at one. eighth to break open a two-run Athletics 6, Giants 0 Jesus Luzardo (3-2) took a no- game. Luzardo combined with three hitter into the fourth and then Keuchel, who dealt with relievers on a six-hitter and caught a break when the Giants back spasms and most recently Jake Lamb broke open a tight pieced together three singles in started on Sept. 6, was far from game with a two-run home run the inning. dominant, but was good enough as host Oakland once again beat The third of the three was to make it through 75 pitches Bay Area-rival San Francisco. an infield single by Mauricio while allowing four hits, Action during Game One of the The win lowered the magic Dubon, but A’s first baseman walking three and striking out 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final number for the first-place A’s Matt Olson, after taking a late seven against the Reds, who are at Rogers Place in Edmonton. to one for clinching the throw from shortstop Marcus back in play-off contention.

Team Toyota celebrates Toyota make it three in a row at Le Mans after winning the 88th 24 Hours of Le AFP — LE MANS the grid at the famed endurance five laps adrift. Toyota’s other again looked on target to win Mans endurance race, race’s La Sarthe circuit. car driven by Briton Mike before a puncture with an hour yesterday. Toyota claimed their third Hartley, a winner with Conway, Japanese Kamui to go gifted victory to his consecutive Le Mans 24 Hour Porsche in 2017, was stepping Kobayashi and Argentine Jose- team-mates. title yesterday, the 88th edition in for Fernando Alonso, the Maria Lopez, had set out from In fourth, and last place in of the motorsport classic staged two-time Formula One pole and was looking good for the elite LMP1 race’s five-car without its usual quarter of a champion who skipped the hat- victory at the half way point. grid came Rebellion’s other car, million diehard fans due to trick bid to concentrate on his But a half an hour pit stop with the Enzo of Tom Dillmann, COVID-19. return to F1 next season. during the night for a turbo Bruno Spengler and Oliver Kazuki Nakajima, sharing The Rebellion of American change ruined their race. Webb retiring after 97 laps. the driving with Swiss Sebastien Gustavo Menezes, Frenchman Kobayashi made his frus- As the only constructor in Buemi and New Zealander Norman Nato and Ayrton tration clear as he climbed out the compact grid, Toyota were Brendon Hartley, took the Senna’s nephew Bruno put up of his car in the pits. The Jap- hot favourites to prevail in a chequered flag at 1230 GMT, a stoic fight but were unable to anese driver has finished race that was first run in 1923, precisely one day and 387 laps match the Toyota’s power, the second at Le Mans in each of 14 years before the first Toyota after setting off from third on private entry coming in second, the last three years. In 2019 he saw the light of day.