27 Sports Sunday, August 19, 2018 Kane ends August drought as Spurs enjoy ‘home’ comforts Leicester see off Wolves 2-0 despite Vardy red card LONDON: Harry Kane ended his hoodoo of failing to find over with the majority of their stars enjoying barely a the net in August as Tottenham made themselves at home week of pre-season training after their efforts in Russia. at Wembley by beating Fulham 3-1 yesterday to move top But it was two of England’s World Cup heroes who pro- of the Premier League. Bournemouth are the only other duced the goods as Kieran Trippier curled home a won- side to so far take maximum points from their opening two derful free-kick before Kane finally ended his wait to games as Eddie Howe’s men came from behind to win 2-1 score in the opening month of the season at the 15th at West Ham. Everton’s £50-million signing Richarlison attempt in the Premier League. “We dominated the first continued to quieten queries of 30 minutes and created a lot his price tag with the winner as of chances, but in the Premier Southampton were defeated 2-1 League if you drop your level at Goodison Park, while it can let in the other team,” Leicester saw off Wolves 2-0 Pochettino said. despite a red card for Jamie “Overall we were much Vardy. The game of the day Everton thump better and deserved the three sees London rivals Chelsea points, but we still need to and Arsenal face off at Southampton improve. “We conceded too Stamford Bridge in an early- many chances. In possession season test for new managers we played well, but we need to Maurizio Sarri and Unai be more focused without the Emery. After becoming the first ball.” In contrast to Spurs, Premier League side since the West Ham splurged nearly introduction of the summer transfer window to fail to £100 million in the transfer market to back new manag- sign a player, Spurs were dealt another blow off the field er Manuel Pellegrini but still have no points to show for in midweek with the news their new 62,000-capacity it after a second-half surrender to Bournemouth. Marko stadium won’t be ready until at least October. Arnautovic’s penalty gave the hosts a half-time lead. Mauricio Pochettino’s men will therefore host another Two goals in six minutes turned the game on its head, two home fixtures against Cardiff and Liverpool at though, as Callum Wilson and Steve Cook made it two Wembley. But after a slow start at their temporary home wins from two for the Cherries. LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (right) shoots to score their third goal during the last season, Tottenham have a good record at Wembley Everton’s revolution under Marco Silva gained more English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham yesterday.— AFP and picked up another three points despite being fully momentum at Goodison with Richarlison scoring his tested by newly-promoted Fulham. Lucas Moura curled third goal in two games. A well-worked free-kick freed man Leicester. A spectacular own goal from Matt both registered their first point of the season in a drab home his first Premier League goal to give Spurs the up Theo Walcott to open the scoring before the Doherty and a deflected James Maddison strike put the 0-0 draw in the Welsh capital in a missed opportunity lead, but Aleksandar Mitrovic deservedly headed Fulham Brazilian headed home a Walcott cross to double Foxes in command. for both sides. The visitors played the final half-hour level early in the second half. Everton’s advantage. Wolves shared the points in a four- However, victory came at a cost for Leicester as with 10 men after Isaac Hayden was dismissed, but still goal thriller with Everton last weekend, but despite England international Vardy was shown a straight red had the best chance to take all three points when World Cup stars shine much hype and expectation after a summer of heavy card 20 minutes from time for a late lunge on Doherty Kenedy’s 96th-minute penalty was saved by Neil Tottenham may still be suffering a World Cup hang- investment, they remain winless after losing 2-0 at 10- and now faces a three-game ban. Cardiff and Newcastle Etheridge.—AFP Amaju Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, FIFA sanctions for government or court interference in Nigeria face football confirms that it has been given back effective control of NFF affairs but have previously always backed down. the NFF and its offices,” said FIFA. Pinnick’s long-stand- Ghana were also warned on Tuesday but their govern- ing rival Chris Giwa took control after a recent court ment has quickly climbed down over a proposed legal bid ban; deadline looms case recognized him as the NFF president at the end of a to wind up the country’s football association (GFA) over Al-Osaimi praises protracted legal protest of the 2014 election results. corruption allegations. They have agreed to work togeth- Giwa was handed a five-year ban by FIFA for breach- er “to offer leadership in reforming football administra- DURBAN: Nigeria have less than 48 hours to sort out es of the NFF statutes and the FIFA code of ethics in tion in Ghana and in Africa” and will set up a so-called Kuwait, athletes the running of their football federation if they want to February last year. But he appears to have the backing of “normalization committee” to administer football in the avoid the possibility of being banned by FIFA from the Nigerian government, whose sports minister Solomon country as well as a task force to create disciplinary, international soccer, including exclusion from next Dalung had a request to meet FIFA this week turned governance and auditing mechanisms. By Abdellatif Sharaa month’s African Nations Cup qualifiers. Soccer’s gov- down. He had included Giwa in his proposed list of dele- The GFA became embroiled in a scandal when its erning body issued the country with a final warning due gates to travel to Zurich to see FIFA president Gianni president Kwesi Nyantakyi was filmed by an investiga- KUWAIT: Arab and to alleged state interference in the running of the Infantino - an idea FIFA rejected. If Giwa’s faction do not tive journalist in a hotel room appearing to take a Kuwait Shooting Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). FIFA’s recognized vacate the offices by the Monday’s midday (1000 GMT) $65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to Federations leadership were kicked out of the NFF and a rival fac- deadline, FIFA is expected to impose a ban. Nigeria are sponsor the Ghanaian football league. Nyantakyi Secretary General tion has taken control. due to play a qualifier for the 2019 African Nations Cup resigned as GFA president and from the posts he held Obaid Al-Osaimi FIFA do not accept third party interference in its in the Seychelles on Sept 8 but a ban could lead to an with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football has congratulated member federations and said the NFF must be led by its expulsion from the preliminaries. (CAF). He denies any wrongdoing. In June, the govern- Kuwait leaders and elected president, voted in 2014. If that does not happen, ment began a process to wind up the GFA and police athletes after the FIFA said it would suspend Nigeria. “The suspension Long history locked down the GFA offices, declaring the building a international sports would be lifted only once the NFF, under President Nigeria have a long history of being threatened with crime scene. — Reuters body lifted Kuwait’s suspension. He said this lifting comes as a result of tremen- dous efforts by min- Obaid Al-Osaimi Matches on TV isters and former (Local Timings) senior officials, headed by Former Information Minister, State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah - through decisions that preserved Kuwait’s sover- Man City v Huddersfield Town 15:30 eignty and Kuwait’s athletes’ interest, adding that beIN SPORTS HD 2 if it was not for the efforts of former officials, the International Olympic Committee would not bow Brighton v Man United 18:00 and take a decision to lift the suspension. beIN SPORTS HD 2 Al-Osaimi lauded the major role of Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud as being the first to start the sports reform steps - by taking decisive decision against all those who conspired against Kuwait SPANISH LEAGUE sports. He also lauded the role of Information Eibar v Huesca 19:15 Minister and State Minister for Youth Affairs Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabir. Al-Osaimi said beIN SPORTS HD 3 Kuwait shooters will participate in the 18th Asian Rayo Vallecano v Sevilla 21:15 Games in Jakarta, Indonesia with the best shooter in Clay competitions, and hope to achieve the best beIN SPORTS HD 3 results despite the very short time of preparations. Al-Osaimi thanked the Director General of Public Real Madrid v Getafe 23:15 Authority for Sports Dr Humoud Fulaiteh and his beIN SPORTS HD 3 deputy Saqer Al-Mulla for their efforts to have Kuwait Shooters participate in the Asian games. SYDNEY: Usain Bolt poses for pictures with fans upon arrival at Sydney international airport yesterday. Bolt, ITALIAN LEAGUE 31-year-old eight-time Olympic champion, arrived to start training with the A-League club Central Coast Torino v AS Roma 19:00 Mariners.