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Djokovic, Nadal I’ve not gambled struggle in Madrid on Europa League opening matches success: Mourinho THURSDAY, MAY 11,17 2017 19 Olympic delegates launch LA 2024 inspection tour Page 16 MADRID: Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Danilo (left) vies with Atletico Madrid’s Belgian midfielder Yannick Ferreira Carrasco during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg football match at the Vicente Calderon stadium yesterday.— AFP Real in final as Atletico fall short MADRID: Real Madrid inflicted a fourth Champions already fierce rivalry between the Spanish giants has inten- season. Just three minutes later Atletico truly believed they but Isco followed up from close range to bundle the ball League elimination on Atletico Madrid in as many years sified in recent years by Real’s three Champions League vic- could pull off the most unlikely of comebacks when home. Ronaldo had scored eight times in his previous three yesterday, losing their semi-final second leg 2-1 but pro- tories over Atletico, including in the 2014 and 2016 finals. Fernando Torres was upended by Raphael Varane inside the Champions League appearances, however, the closest the gressing to the final 4-2 on aggregate. Atletico had threat- Real fans had unfurled a huge banner that read “tell me box. Griezmann had missed his previous two penalties World Player of the Year came to adding to his record 21 goals ened an incredible comeback, Saul Niguez’s powerful how does it feel” ahead of the first leg. The home fans against Real, including in last year’s Champions League final. against Atletico was a driven free-kick at the start of the sec- header and Antoine Griezmann’s penalty inside 16 min- responded with their own “proud to not be like you” ban- This time the French international found the net, albeit with a ond half that was beaten away by Oblak. Atletico had their utes cutting Real’s aggregate lead to a solitary goal. The ner as a dig back ahead of kick-off in the return. And bit of fortune as Navas got a hand to his mishit spot-kick but chances to put the tie back on a knife-edge as Navas pro- hosts fed off a ferocious atmosphere for their final Atletico’s players went a long way towards making amends couldn’t keep it out. duced an incredible double save from Yannick Carrasco and Champions League match at the Vicente Calderon before for their meek display in the first leg eight days ago in a Fierce challenges then rained in from both sides as Turkish Kevin Gameiro. moving to the Wanda Metropolitano next season. thrilling opening. Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas denied referee Cuneyt Cakir struggled to keep control, with five players The Costa Rican then got down low to his right to turn However, Isco’s away goal just before half-time settled Koke from close range and Fernando Torres headed over, booked inside the opening 37 minutes. However, Real behind Griezmann’s low volley and Gameiro failed to turn Real’s nerves and left Atletico with too much to do to before at the other end Jan Oblak made a brilliant save regained their composure to get the vital away goal they need- home another great opportunity from point-blank range. A progress. Cristiano Ronaldo’s first leg hat-trick ultimately from Casemiro’s header. ed for some extra breathing space just before half-time. Karim torrential thunder storm disrupted the final stages, but proved decisive and Real will seek to become the first side Atletico got the goal they needed to get back into the tie Benzema somehow escaped the attention of three Atletico lightning has now struck four times for Atletico against Real to defend the trophy in the Champions League era when 12 minutes in when Koke’s outswinging corner was met pow- defenders on the by-line and cut the ball back for Toni Kroos. and Zinedine Zidane’s side will head to Cardiff seeking a they face Juventus in the final in Cardiff on May 3. An erfully by Saul for his fourth Champions League goal of the Oblak made another brilliant stop to deny the German, 12th European Cup. — AFP Sanchez, Giroud keep Arsenal in top-4 hunt of-sorts forward Manolo Gabbiadini again drew a blank. The game started with nothing of the tempo and Southampton o chances from Sunday’s opening exchanges from Arsenal’s weekend win over Manchester United. But it was the visi- tors who had the first real chance as Aaron Ramsey sent an effort wide of goal following good work from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Saints youngster was Arsenal 2 enjoying a bright spell down the right but there were no further opportunities of note in the opening half-hour. TTThat was until the Arsenal three-man defence con- SOUTHAMPTON: Alexis Sanchez hit his 20th Premier spired to play both Dusan Tadic and Gabbiadini onside, League goal of the season as Arsenal saw off with the latter seeing an effort well saved by Petr Cech. Southampton to keep their Premier League top-four Wenger was forced into a change as the impressive hopes alive. The Gunners secured a vital 2-0 win in this Oxlade-Chamberlain went off with what appeared to be a game in hand to leapfrog Manchester United into fifth hamstring issue - Hector Bellerin on in his place. and now sit three points adrift of fourth-placed Gabbiadini then sent a contentious free-kick wide of Manchester City. Sanchez struck the opener on the hour Cech’s goal before Arsenal’s skipper for the night had to be mark at St Mary’s before Olivier Giroud came off the bench at this best to tip a Nathan Redmond drive over the bar. to make sure of the points with a close-range header. Both teams started the second half looking to get on the Under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has constantly front foot but it took until the hour for Sanchez to open reiterated his side cannot put a foot wrong in their remain- the scoring for Arsenal. ing games, and they were solid enough to take home vic- The Chile forward picked up a pass inside the box from tory from the south coast to keep them in the hunt for Mesut Ozil and left both Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens Champions League qualification. Arsenal went into this on the ground as he cut back inside and finished well. The match needing a win but also having to address woeful second came in the closing stages as substitute Giroud away form that had seen them take two points from a made certain of the points, heading home Ramsey’s nod possible 24 on the road against current top-half teams. back across the box after more good work from Sanchez. They were not at their best here but in truth they did It was a professional display from there on in from Arsenal, not need to be - this was nothing like the 4-0 thrashing who recorded a first league win at Southampton since they dished out in the corresponding fixture last term. their unbeaten title-winning season of 2003/04. Southampton appear to be coasting to the season’s end, This victory may not mean as much as it did during the with reported pressure on manager Claude Puel likely to ‘Invincibles’ campaign, but it could have long-lasting ramifi- ramp up after another lackluster display. Saints had their cations for both Wenger and Arsenal as the Frenchman con- SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton’s English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (left) pulls back Arsenal’s English striker Danny Welbeck during an English moments but looked short of ideas in attack, where out- tinues to contemplate whether to sign a new deal. —AFP Premier League football match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium yesterday.— AFP.