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Harden Returns and Leads Nets Past Spurs

Harden Returns and Leads Nets Past Spurs

Sport FRIDAY 14 MAY 2021 14 Brady-Prescott to kick off NFL season and a return to London AP – LONDON Other highlights from opening play-off teams facing off in their first Carson Wentz and the Indianapolis Christmas. Baker Mayfield and the weekend include Matthew Stafford game.gg The Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost Colts host Russell Wilson and the Browns go to Green Bay and the Colts The NFL is returning to London in playing his first game for thehe Los toto Cleveland in the wild-card SeattleSeattle Seahawks.Seah In Philadelphia, visit Kyler Murray and the Arizona October and Tom Brady (pictured) Angeles Rams on Sunday night againstagainst round,round, visitvisit the Buffalo WentzWentz was 00-4 against Wilson. Cardinals. begins his pursuit of an eighth Super the Chicago Bears with SoFi Stadiumadium Bills,Bills, whowho reachedreached TheThe Las Vegas Raiders host the The Bills visit the in a rematch Bowl title against Dak Prescott and welcoming fans for the first time.me. thethe AFAFCC titletitle BaBaltimoreltimore Ravens in the first of the AFC championship game on the Dallas Cowboys when Tampa Bay Most teams are expected too bbee at game. MondayMonday nnight game. The Green Bay Sunday night Oct. 10. A potential hosts the league’s annual kick-off full capacity following a season playedplayed PackersPackers oopen the season with or Rodgers-Mahomes showdown is set for game on Sept. 9. before limited crowds becauseuse ofof withoutwithout Aaron Rodgers at New Week 9 in Kansas City. The first game in London since the COVID-19. OrleansOrleans minusm the retired Drew Ten teams are scheduled for a coronavirus pandemic will be played “We are excited our fans getet to Brees.Brees. league-high five prime-time games: on Oct. 10 as the Atlanta Falcons face experience a couple of homeme JaguarsJagua fans have to wait until Ravens, Cowboys, Packers, Rams, the New York Jets. A week later, the prime-time games and our thethe secondseco game to see No. 1 Steelers, Seahawks, Chiefs, Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars meet the Miami players certainly feed off the overalloverall pickpic Trevor Lawrence in 49ers and Buccaneers. Dolphins. Both games will be played fans’ energy,” Titans coach person.person Jacksonville opens at The 17th game, which was added at the stadium of Premier League Mike Vrabel said. HoustonHo and hosts Denver in the new CBA last year, features soccer team Tottenham. The Falcons “We will be opening at ini Week 2. teams from opposing conferences that and the Jaguars will be the home teams. home for the first time since I Detroit, Dallas and finished in the same place within their The NFL’s first 17-game season became head coach and I am happyppy New Orleans host respective divisions at the end of the opens on the same field where the Buc- our fans will be there to kick offoff thethe games on Thanksgiving previous season. AFC teams have the caneers defeated the Chiefs to become season with us.” Day. The Lions face the extra home game this year. the first team to win a Super Bowl at Reigning AFC champion KansasKansas Bears in the first game. The regular season concludes on home. It’ll be Prescott’s first game since City hosts the Cleveland Brownsns in a The Cowboys play the Jan. 9, 2022, featuring all divisional sustaining a gruesome ankle injury last playoff rematch in Week 1. The CChiefshiefs Raiders in the second games for the 12th consecutive season. October. eliminated the Browns in the divisionalisional one. The Bills visit the Super Bowl 56 is on Feb. 13, 2022, in Brady returns to New to round last season despite losing PatrickPatrick Saints in the prime-time Los Angeles. face Bill Belichick and the Patriots in Mahomes to a concussion. matchup. The Pro Bowl will be played a week a Sunday night game on Oct. 3. Two other match-ups featureeature Four teams play on earlier at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Day’s long major skipper Paine backs Smith run under threat to regain the REUTERS – LONDON Day, without a win on the PGA Tour since his 2018 captaincy Former world number one triumph at Quail Hollow, has Jason Day (pictured) has not fallen to 62nd in the REUTERS – MELBOURNE missed a major champi- rankings. onship since the 2012 British The top 60 following the Australia skipper Tim Paine Open but he could sit out the PGA Championship and the has thrown his support behind next two due to the June 3-6 Memorial Tour- Steve Smith replacing him as impending arrival of his nament automatically captain of the test team when fourth child. qualify for the June 17-20 US the time comes for a lead- Australian Day, com- Open at Torrey Pines, a ership change. peting at this week’s AT&T course where Day has Paine succeeded Smith as Byron Nelson in Texas, said enjoyed plenty of success. captain in 2018 after the his wife is due to give birth But if Day, 33, is unable Brooklyn Nets guard batsman was banned from in early June. The PGA to get inside the top-60, he James Harden is international for 12 Championship takes place has no plans to pull out of a guarded by San months and suspended from next week. sponsor commitment in leadership roles for two years Antonio Spurs guard “Could come in this week, order to take his chances in for his role in the Newlands Dejounte Murray in next week. In the next four sectional qualifying for the ball-tampering scandal. the second quarter weeks it can come,” said Day, US Open. Smith said in March he at Barclays Center whose lone career major “I just feel like if I do it would gladly take the cap- on Wednesday. victoryvictory cacameme at the 2015 that way thatthat iinn my mind taincy back if the chance PGA Championship. my mimindsetndset will say, came, and Paine said he “If“If I’m playingplaying OOkay,kay, it’s ffine.ine. You deserved to be considered. ggolf,olf, whatever, it can just go qualifyqualify “I think so. Obviously I doesn’t matter. I justjust nextnext yyearear and I’ll don’t make that decision but want to mamakeke getget usedused to quali-quali- the time I played with Steve as Harden returns and suresure tthathat I see fyingfying instead ofof captain he was excellent,” thethe bbirthirth of going,going, No, I’m not Paine said in comments pub- ourour fourthfourth going to qualify,”qualify,” lished by News Corp media on child.”child.” Day said. Thursday. leads Nets past Spurs “Certainly tactically he is as good as you get. AGENCIES – NEW YORK from a seven-game absence due points and 10 rebounds and “Then obviously South to right knee soreness to score 19 Kuzma had 19 points, 10 rebounds Africa events happened and James Harden collected 18 points, and Dwight Powell had 12 points and seven assists. The seventh- he’s not doing it anymore. But, 11 assists and seven rebounds in as Dallas ended the night tied for place Lakers are a game behind yeah, I would support him his return from a strained right fifth place in the West after Dallas and Portland and would getting that job again.” hamstring as the Brooklyn Nets winning for the fifth time in six need to finish in at least sixth place Paine has no plans to relin- posted a 128-116 victory over the games. Portland also improved to to avoid the West’s play-in round. quish the captaincy but sug- San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday 41-29 by beating Utah on Hawks 120, Wizards 116 gested he might be tempted to night in New York. Wednesday. John Collins drilled a go- European Tour - British Masters bow out of the game if Aus- Harden came off the bench for Eric Bledsoe and Jaxson Hayes ahead 3-pointer with 24.8 tralia dominate England in the the first time since April 22, 2012, scored 15 each, Nickeil Alexander- seconds left to complete Atlanta’s 2021/22 Ashes. when he was a member of the Walker and Kira Lewis Jr. added comeback against visiting Wash- Few players have better Oklahoma City Thunder. He 13 each, Willy Hernangomez had ington in a game that had playoff credentials to succeed Paine played under a minutes restriction 12 points and 10 rebounds, Naji implications for both teams. than 31-year-old Smith but after missing the previous 18 Marshall scored 12 and James The Hawks moved a half- while his leadership ban games, and he wound up logging Johnson had 11 for New Orleans. game ahead of Miami and New expired in March 2020 he has 25:44 of court time in his first Trail Blazers 105, Jazz 98 York in their battle for the No. 4 ’s Matthias been overloverlookedooked gamegame since April 5. Damian Lillard scored 30 play-off spot in the Eastern Con- Schwab in action repeatedly for such LandryL Shamet led the Nets points, CJ McCollum added 26 and ference, which carries with it during the first round roles.roles. withwith 21 points on a night when Portland led the entire second half home-court advantage in the first KKyrieyrie Irving sat out after sus- in beating Utah in Salt Lake City. round. Meanwhile, the loss pre- of the European Tour tainingtainin a facial contusion in the Carmelo Anthony netted 18 vented the Wizards from - British Masters at team’steam Tuesday win at Chicago. points off the bench to help clinching a spot in the East play-in The Belfry in Sutton BrooklynBroo earned its third win a Portland earn its fifth straight win tournament, keeping Chicago Coldfield, Britain, on row. and its ninth victory in 10 games. alive. Wednesday. Schwab continued his DeMarD DeRozan scored 21 The Trail Blazers also have just Cavaliers 102, Celtics 94 impressive run on the points,point but San Antonio lost for the two games remaining as they Kevin Love posted season European Tour as an seventhseve time in nine games. attempt to clinch either the fifth highs of 30 points and 14 rebounds opening six-under 66 MavericksMa 125, Pelicans 107 or sixth spot in the West to avoid as host Cleveland snapped an handed him a one- Luka Doncic scored 33 the play-in tournament. 11-game losing streak by beating stroke lead at the end pointspoi as host Dallas moved Lakers 124, Rockets 122 cold-shooting Boston, which lost of the opening day. closerclos to clinching one of the top Kyle Kuzma drove for the its fourth in a row. six spotss in the Western Con- decisive layup with 6.9 seconds Love finished 10-for-16 from ferenceferen while eliminating New remaining to give host Los Angeles the floor, including 6 of 9 from OrleansOrle from play-in a victory over Houston. 3-point range. Collin Sexton contention.conte Talen Horton-Tucker con- delivered 28 points, primarily TimT Hardaway Jr. added 27 tributed 23 points and 10 assists, inside the arc and at the foul line, Tim Paine points,point Kristaps Porzingis returned Andre Drummond recorded 20 for Cleveland. Australia, resume Super Trans-Tasman rivalry

REUTERS – MELBOURNE , New Zealand’s with a decent Australian showing, chance to show the difference There are doubts about the strength of least fancied side, a better chance of but stopping the Canterbury Cru- between Australian and New Zealand Australia and New Zealand will revive Australia’s five teams relative to their New winning the tournament than the saders from winning the title may rugby when they host the ACT as an international affair Zealand counterparts. The Wellington Reds, who won Australia’s be beyond the powers of any pro- tomorrow. when the Trans-Tasman competition Super Rugby AU title on Saturday. vincial side. Until losing 19-16 to the Reds in kicks off today. Hurricanes, New Zealand’s least fancied Australian fans have bitter mem- The juggernauts suc- the Super Rugby AU final, the Dan Super Rugby was reduced to a side are said to have a better chance of ories of a 40-game losing streak cessfully defended their domestic McKellar-coached Brumbies were the domestic concern by the COVID-19 winning the tournament than the against New Zealand opponents that Aotearoa title with a 24-13 win over benchmark team in Australia on the pandemic last year, but the return of , who won Australia’s spanned more than two years of Super the Chiefs in the final on Sat- strength of a dour but effective game quarantine-free travel between the Super Rugby AU title on Saturday. Rugby until broken in 2018. urday and have now won five cham- built on set-piece dominance. Trans-Tasman nations has ensured A similarly lop-sided outcome pionships in succession, including The Reds and Otago Highlanders provincial rivalries can again cross could torpedo New Zealand’s hopes their Super Rugby hat-trick from 2017 open the competition in Queenstown borders. of launching a broader competition to 2019. today, with the lowly New South Smooth logistics will do little to about the strength of Australia’s five with Australian and Pacific teams in Scott Robertson’s side are clear Waratahs hosting the Hurri- influence the quality of the six-week teams relative to their New Zealand 2022. favourites to win a sixth straight canes in the late match at the Sydney competition, and there are doubts counterparts. Bookmakers rate the Those fears may be dispelled trophy and have an immediate Cricket Ground. FRIDAY 14 MAY 2021 SPORT 15 Buffon in demand PSG beat Montpellier to after deciding to leave Juventus reach French Cup final REUTERS – TURIN

REUTERS – PARIS final at Stade de against from Alessandro Florenzi on the Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said he either or fourth-tier left. has received offers from other clubs as he Holders Paris St Germain Rumilly Vallieres, who meet in the Mbappe struck again when he contemplates his next move, having decided reached the French Cup final other semi-final on Thursday. capped a fast break with a on leaving Turin at the end of the season. after a nailbiting 6-5 penalty Junior Sambia blazed Montpel- trademark finish but PSG’s prof- The 43-year-old first joined Juventus from shootout win at Montpellier lier’s final penalty over the bar ligacy was punished again when Parma in 2001 and has been there ever since, as the match ended 2-2 in before Moise Kean drilled in his Andy Delort tapped in Laborde’s apart from one season at French side Paris St regular time after the home spot-kick to send PSG through, perfect cutback in the 83rd Germain in 2018-19, but revealed this week he side twice came from behind. with the visitors almost paying the minute. plans to leave the club in the summer. The outcome on price for missing a string of The visitors flirted with an exit Retirement is not on the cards just yet, with Wednesday was a relief for chances in regular time. as Montpellier kept gaining the plenty of suitors already showing an interest. manager Mauricio Pochettino Kylian Mbappe returned from upper hand in the shootout until “I arrived at Juve as a boy with a lot of after PSG were knocked out of a niggling leg injury with an elec- Sambia lost his nerve and sub- enthusiasm and less balance, and I go away as the Champions League semi- trifying performance as he fired stitute Kean sealed a pulsating a happy man,”man,” BuffonBuffon toldtold DAZNN. finals by Manchester City and PSG ahead in the 10th minute and clash when he blasted his shot past “For mmyy ffutureuture I tatakeke 20-25 Paris Saint-Germain’s trail Ligue 1 leaders Lille by restored their lead in the 50th after Bertaud. days. I have recereceivedived Neymar scores three points with two games left. Gaetan Laborde levelled on the Mbappe, who took no part in some offersers and I wantwant to see if during the penalty “There is a magic in cup stroke of halftime. the penalty shootout as he was I am enthusiastic,usiastic, how thethe shoot-out. matches and they are never easy Mbappe tormented his substituted moments before desire settsettlesles down.down. but we could have made it easer markers all evening and opened Delort’s equaliser, was glad PSG “I havee aalwayslways for ourselves because we missed the scoring with a neat finish as survived some anxious moments. given enthusiasmhusiasm a lot of chances,” Pochettino told he raced past two defenders to “It was really stressful to watch and determi-mi- reporters. “We lack consistency take a fine through ball by Idrissa the shootout from the sidelines nation, if and we have to work Gueye in his stride and drill a and we are delighted to be in a someonee harder to find it.” rising shot past goalkeeper position to defend the trophy,” he manages too PSG’s best Dimitry Bertaud. told French Eurosport. give it too chance of Wasteful finishing cost PSG as “We played better than we did me too I winning a trophy Laborde levelled out of the blue in the last few matches but we wouldd this season will with a spectacular shot into the must stop letting our rivals back gladlyy be the May 19 cup top corner after he pulled away into games.” welcomee it.”

Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa celebrates with Mother knows best: team-mates after scoring their second goal with Atletico see off Sociedad team-mates. Ronaldo’s mum eyeing Sporting to edge closer to title REUTERS – MADRID Osasuna and Real Valladolid territory with an aggressive return for Juve star in their final two fixtures. pressing game. Atletico Madrid homed in on “If we didn’t suffer it Marcos Llorente missed REUTERS – TURIN the La Liga title with a 2-1 win wouldn’t be us,” said Atletico the first clear chance of the over Real Sociedad at the captain Koke. game with a bursting run There are very few people who can tell Cristiano Wanda Metropolitano on “We’re tired, we worked through the middle but was Ronaldo what to do, but his mum, Dolores Aveiro, Wednesday to move four spectacularly. We got two thwarted by Sociedad keeper insists she will try to convince her son to return points clear at the top. goals then took a step back, we Alex Remiro after opting to to his boyhoodyp club Sporting this Diego Simeone’s side had some great moments in shoot rather than pass to an summer. made an aggressive start and the game and some less good unmarked Luis Suarez. WhileWhile RonaRonaldoldo lleadseads the way after spurning a few early ones but we got there in the Llorente had a hand in the in thet Serie chances they deservedly went end.” opening goal, playing a A goals- ahead with a low finish from Atletico lead the standings one-two into Carrasco, who ccoring Yannick Carrasco in the 16th on 80 points, four clear of slotted between the legs of ccharts minute, doubling their lead in second-placed Barcelona and Remiro. tthis the 28th through Argentine five ahead of third-placed Real Atletico are often happy to tterm, forward Angel Correa. Madrid, who visited Granada sit on a one-goal lead but did sscoring Sociedad had their yesterday. no such thing after going hhis moments but were denied by Atletico had earned a ahead and struck again when 1100th six saves from Atletico’s talis- crucial draw away to Bar- Suarez barged his way towards JuventusJu manic keeper Jan Oblak while celona on Saturday but the the area and released Correa, goalgoal in hishis side’ssi 3-1 forward Portu hit the post late point felt like little after a who slotted into the bottom far winwin at SassuoloSassu on on. They finally got a goal spirited, ambitious per- corner. Wednesday,Wednesday, hish club when defender Igor Zubeldia formance at the Camp Nou They conceded their fair havehave enduredendured a difficult bundled the ball into the net in and the result handed the share of chances but were able seasonseason and coucould finish the 83rd minute, ensuring a advantage in the title race to to count on the ever-reliable outside ththee totop four. nerve-shredding finish for the Real. Oblak and looked to be in In contrast,contra the leaders. Yet the champions’ 2-2 control until Zubeldia’s late clubclub whwhereere RRonaldo Atletico were hemmed into draw against Sevilla on Sunday goal caused a nervous finale. startedstarted hihiss senior their own half for most of the meant Atletico’s fate was back Yet they defended reso- career,career, Sporting,Sp remaining minutes but clung in their own hands and from lutely in the final minutes and cclinchedlinched tthehe Portu- on for the victory and know the start they went all out for Simeone punched the air as he guese tittitlele fforor the first they will lift a first La Liga the win, ceding possession to raced down the tunnel at time since 202002 after crown since 2014 if they beat the Basques but eating up the fulltime. beatingbeating BoBoavistaav on TTuesday,uesday, ending rivalsrivals PPortoorto aand Ben- fica’s 19-year19-yea stran- ggleholdlehold oon the Mueller’s record, CL spots up for grabs championship.championship DoloresDolores AvAveiro, an REUTERS – BERLIN spot in Europe’s premier VfL Wolfsburg, four points Bundesliga. Dortmund have for with striker Robert avida SportSportingin fan, club competition next further back, on Sunday. won their last five league Lewandowski on the brink madem clear duduring the The Bundesliga’s penul- season. The top four earn an The ‘Wolves’ have been games and a German Cup of beating Gerd Mueller’s titletitle cecelebrationslebrati that timate matchday will offer automatic spot in the solid throughout the season victory on Thursday would league record of 40 goals in she would try to bring plenty of drama as two of lucrative Champions League under coach Oliver Glasner see them go into Sunday’s a season, dating back to the the JJuventusuventus forward the four Champions League group stage, with Bayern but have fourth-placed game brimming with confi- 1971/72 campaign. backback to tthehe club. spots are still up for grabs joined by second-placed RB Dortmund breathing down dence. Frankfurt are still in Lewandowski, set to add “I’ll taltalk to him while Bayern Munich’s Leipzig, who secured their their neck on 58 points and the running for a top-four a sixth Bundesliga top scorer (Cristiano)(Cristiano) to bring Robert Lewandowski will spot last week after Ein- Eintracht Frankfurt just a spot despite managing just award to his collection, is on him back,”back,” Dolores attempt to break a record tracht Frankfurt drew. point further back in fifth. one win in their last four 39 goals following last AveiroAveiro said from her that has stood for almost half Leipzig, who lost to Dortmund have a dif- league matches and having week’s hat-trick against balconybalcony as she spoke to SportingS a century. Borussia Dortmund last ficult task ahead when they been overtaken by Borussia Moenchengladbach fansfans tthathat hhadad tatakenken to ththe streets With Bayern already week and face them again travel to Mainz 05, who are Dortmund just last week. and few would bet against to celebrate.celebrate. crowned champions last later on Thursday in the unbeaten in their last nine While Bayern have him scoring again on Sat- “Next year he willwill play in week, attention has shifted German Cup final, are on 64 league matches -- the already sewn up the league urday when Bayern travel AlvaladeAlvalade (Sporting’s(Sporting’s stadium).”stadi to the teams battling for a points and host third-placed longest current streak in the title there is still a lot to play to Freiburg. Serena accepts wild Murray ‘deserves’es’ French Open card to play in Parma wildcard: Tournamentament DDirectorirector AP – PARMA, REUTERS – PARIS withth Novak Djokovic,”Djokovic,” ForForgetget toldd rereporters.porters. SerenaSerena WilliamsWilliams hashas acceptedaccepted a wild-cardwild-card invitationinvitation to playp at the Emilia- Andy Murray has entered the qualifying rounds “Andy is a greatgreat plaplayer,yer, RomagnaRomagna Open in ParmParmaarma startingstarting this weekend. for the French Open later this month but tour- he sure deservesdeserves The move came immediatelyim after nament director Guy Forget said the former onee (a(a wildcardwildcard).). It WilliamsWilliams lost in straightstrai sets to Nadia world number one “deserves” a wildcard spot is a ddiscussioniscussion we PodoroskaPodorPoo oska at the Italian Open for the claycourt Grand Slam. haveve to hhaveave wiwithth on WedneWednesdays in her first Three-times Grand Slam champion Murray himm andand ourour team.team. We match in nearlynea three months. has fallen to 123rd in the world rankings after wantant to see him in ggoodood “Maybe“Maybe I do need a few long injury lay-offs because of hip surgeries shape,ape, I hope he feels well. more matchematches,s so I’m going to but Forget said the Scot, a Roland Garros Murray,Murray, 33, missed out on the trytry toto figfigureure tthath out with my finalist in 2016, could probably beat “half of Australianstralian Open due to quarantinequarantine coach and mymy team and see the people in the main draw”. protocolsotocols after contracticontractingng ththee whatwhat we wowouldu like to do,” Wildcard spots for the May 30-June 13 tour- novelvel cocoronavirusronavirus andand hhasas WilliamsWilliam said after nament have not been handed out yet, while playedayed only eight matches losinglosin to Podoroska, the qualifying rounds begin on May 24. thiss year after a grgroinoin a semi-finalists at “I know that Andy entered the qualifying injuryury rulruleded him out ofof lastla year’s French (rounds), I know he’s practising right now in thee Miami OOpenpen in OOpen. Rome, I saw him play some games and sets March.arch. Sport

FRIDAY 14 MAY 2021 AustraliaAu skipper Tim Paine backs SStevete Smith to regain the captaincy ObviouslyObv I don’t make that decision but the time I played wwithith Steve as captain he was excellent. Certainly tactacticallyt he is as good as you get.

Tim Paine Sport | 14

YESTERDAY'S FOOTBALL RESULTS: PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa 0-0 Everton SPANISH LA LIGA: Real Valladolid 0-2 Villarreal I’m proud to continue to take on Panama in Gold Cup with Al Sadd: Xavi opener THE PENINSULA – DOHA He added, “I have everything I could want to do well, and I feel THE PENINSULA – DOHA Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez has proud to continue with Al Sadd for We achieved a lot said that he is proud to be part of an additional two seasons.” together, scored Debutants Qatar will face the champion Al Sadd side and Regarding the rumours in the goals, won matches Panama in their opening expressed his delight after media about the existence of a match of the 2021 Concacaf extending his contract as the head clause in his new contract that and titles, and we Gold Cup, it was announced coach of Qatari football heavy- allows him to leave at any time, are all very proud of yesterday. weights on Wednesday. the 41-year-old said: “This is this success. Getting Asian champions Qatar, The Barca legend said he is tar- incorrect. I have a two-season this kind of support the only invitee in the geting more silverware with the contract with Al Sadd, and I is the best thing 13-nation tournament, will Wolves, where he has been part of respect this contract, and I also any coach can get. play their first match at the since 2015 before taking up the role respect the official negotiation BBVA Stadium in Houston, at Our challenge is to of head coach in 2019. methods between all parties.” 2:00am Qatar time on July 14, “We achieved a lot together, “Our challenge is to continue continue to improve the fixtures announced by the scored goals, won matches and to improve and develop, and I am and develop, and Confederation of North, titles, and we are all very proud of very excited to help Al Sadd players I am very excited Central America and Car- this success. Getting this kind of do that,” the Spaniard added. to help Al Sadd ibbean support is the best thing any coach He has won six titles so far players do that: Xavi (Concacaf) showed. can get,” Xavi told the Al Sadd web with the team, and has also Hernandez In Group D, Qatar's other site after a ceremony in which he reached the final of the 2021 Amir opponents will be Honduras signed the contract extension. Cup. and Grenada. Qatar's next match will be against Grenada on July 17 (July 18 - 2:00am Qatar time) at the same venue. The Felix Sanchez-coached team will CL final moved from Istanbul to Porto take on Honduras in their third and final Group match three REUTERS – LONDON held in FC Porto’s Estadio do Dragao. from UK quarantine arrangements.” compromise has been found,” he added. days later. UEFA said that each club would “I think we can all agree that we hope was placed on the UK gov- The Champions League final between receive 6,000 tickets which are expected never to experience a year like the one ernment’s “green list” from May 17, which QATAR'S FIXTURES: Manchester City and Chelsea on May 29 to go on sale from today. The final we have just endured,” said UEFA pres- means fans of the English clubs will be GROUP STAGE has been moved from Istanbul to Porto capacity for the match has yet to be ident Aleksander Ceferin. free to travel to the game. July 13: Qatar vs Panama to allow English fans to travel under confirmed. “Fans have had to suffer more than The country is in the last phase of (BBVA Stadium, Houston - COVID-19 restrictions, European soccer’s There had been discussions over twelve months without the ability to see easing a lockdown and expects to lift 7:00pm ET) governing body UEFA said yesterday. moving the final to London’s Wembley their teams live and reaching a Cham- travel restrictions from May 17. July 17: Qatar vs Grenada The final was scheduled for Istanbul’s Stadium but UEFA said that despite pions League final is the pinnacle of club Turkish Football Federation officials (BBVA Stadium, Houston - Ataturk Olympic Stadium, but was “exhaustive efforts on the part of the football. told Reuters on Wednesday they expected 7:30pm ET) last week put on Britain’s travel ‘red list’, (English) Football Association and the “To deprive those supporters of the to host the 2023 Champions League meaning that no English fans would be authorities, it was not possible to chance to see the match in person was which would be part of the Republic’s July 20: Qatar vs Honduras able to attend the game. It will now be achieve the necessary exemptions not an option and I am delighted that this centenary celebrations. (BBVA Stadium - 9:00pm ET) Japanese towns drop plans to Saeed Hassan host Olympic athletes: Nikkei books Olympic REUTERS – TOKYO The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Overseas athletes will also not Games were postponed last year participate in a test event for the Games ticket Dozens of Japanese towns have and are scheduled to take place Olympics BMX freestyle cycling, the abandoned plans to host Olympic from July 23 to Aug. 8 despite a Yomiuri newspaper said. Qatar’s Abdulrahman Saeed athletes because of concern they surge in infections and a state of Some municipalities have Hassan gestures after qualifying will overburden stretched medical emergency in the host city. expressed concern about how for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic resources amid a fourth wave of Other regions scheduled to host ’s medical system would cope Games following his second- coronavirus infections, the Nikkei athletes have also been hard hit, if the Games turned into a super- place finish in the Men's 1,500 newspaper reported yesterday. including the eastern prefecture of spreader event, concerns shared by metres final of the Nerja Forty of more than 500 towns Chiba, where the US track and field Japan’s top medical adviser. Challenge Meeting held at the registered to welcome international team had been due to have a The International Olympic Enrique López Cuenca Stadium competitors had decided not to training camp. The prefecture Committee said on Wednesday it in Malaga, . Saeed reached accept athletes for training camps reported on Wednesday that the was confident the Olympics would the finish line in 3 minutes and and cultural exchanges before the team had cancelled those plans. be a historic event. 34.24 secs, his personal best, as global sporting showpiece, the Chiba Governor Toshihito But public opposition to the the 21-year-old become the fifth newspaper reported, citing a gov- Kumagai said the prefecture would Games is growing as Japan struggles Qatari track and field athlete to ernment source. not guarantee hospital beds for ath- to contain new infections that are book a ticket to the Tokyo Games The reluctance of some towns letes as they should not be given pushing medical resources to the after World Champion Mutaz to host visiting athletes, normally preferential treatment. brink. Essa Barshim (men's high jump) a source of pride for communities Shiro Hasegawa, an official in A union of about 100 doctors and runners Abdalla Abubaker outside the host city, is the latest Okuizumo town, said it was no called on Thursday for the gov- Haydar (men's 800m), Musab sign of deep unease in Japan over longer possible to host ’s ernment to cancel Games, saying Adam Ali (men's 1500m) and the scheduling of the Games in the hockey team for pre-Games that the health system faced col- Abderrahman Samba (men's middle of a pandemic. training as planned. lapse if they went ahead. 400m hurdles). Andalucia Rally: Nasser, Khalifa clinch stage wins in Spain

Qatari driver Khalifa Al Attiyah and his co-driver Xavier Penseri on their way to win Nasser Al Attiyah and navigator the second stage of the T4 Class of the Andalucia Rally yesterday in their CAN-AM Matthieu Baumel driving their Maverick XRS. Toyota Hilux Overdrive during the second stage of the Andalucia Rally - first round of the FIA Cross Country Rallies World Cup, in Spain, yesterday. The multiple-time Dakar Rally winners and four-time champions of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, the Qatar-French duo maintained their lead in the four-stage rally with a top-notch performance yesterday, ahead of Zala Vaidotas/Paulo Fiuza (+1’25’’) and double FIA World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz (+2'32'').

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