Sport WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 NewN Zealand seal home summer sweeps with T20 win over Bangladesh It'sI nice to have another series in the bag. It's been a very good summer, anda been great to be part of. We're very privileged here in New Zealand tot have teams come in here and help make a great summer. New Zealand captain Tim Southee Sport |09 NBA RESULTS: Washington 132, Indiana 124; Miami 98, New York 88; New Orleans 115, Boston 109; Dallas 127, Oklahoma City 106 Qatar maintain fine run in Europe with 1-1 draw against Ireland THE PENINSULA/AGENCIES – DOHA Vanaken (2), Leandro Trossard (2), Qatar’s Mohammed Muntari Jeremy Doku, Denis Praet and Christian UEFA to lift celebrates with team-mate Qatar produced another fine Benteke all scored as the likes of Kevin Abdelkarim Hassan after scoring performance at the European Qualifiers De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Dries their first goal against Ireland at as they played out a 1-1 draw against Mertens were given the night off. 30% COVID Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Ireland in their third match at Nagyerdei It lifted Belgium to seven points from Hungary, yesterday. Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary yesterday. their opening trio of matches in Group limit on Mohammed Muntari, assisted by E, while Belarus suffered their first defeat Ahmed Alaa, scored the equaliser with after opening their qualifying bid with a an angular shot in 47th minute after 4-2 win over Estonia at the weekend. crowds James McClean gave Ireland lead in the Belgium, top of the FIFA rankings, fourth minute. were 4-0 up at halftime at Den Dreef as REUTERS – MANCHESTER It was Muntari's, who also scored a they inflicted Belarus' heaviest ever winner against Luxembourg, 10th inter- defeat. UEFA are set to remove their national goal of his career. Meanwhile, in Cardiff, Daniel James maximum spectator limit, Qatar - ranked 58th on FIFA com- headed a late winner as Wales claimed currently set at 30% of a puter - were impressive throughout the their first victory in their qualifying venue capacity due to the match, maintaining a 55 percent of ball campaign by beating the Czech Republic COVID-19 pandemic, in order possession against Ireland, who are 1-0. to allow bigger crowds at Euro ranked 42nd in the world. The Czechs had enjoyed the better 2020 matches in June. Qatar's top goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb of the Group E clash but with both teams Russian and English also showed good form blocking several having been reduced to 10 men it was authorities have indicated attacks by the Irishmen, including a Wales who struck in the 81st minute as they could allow larger superb save in the final moments of the James met Gareth Bale's cross. crowds into venues for the match. Forward Patrik Schick was sent off tournament games in St The Felix Sanchez-coached side shortly after halftime for the Czechs after Petersburg and London’s defeated Luxembourg 1-0 before over- grappling with Connor Roberts when a Wembley stadium. UEFA are coming Azerbaijan 2-1, following a brace free kick was swung in to the Wales area. keen to make sure the rules by captain Hassan Al Haydos. But Roberts was later dismissed for are in place to allow for larger catching Tomas Soucek with his arm in capacities elsewhere, should Ronaldo leads Portugal; Mitrovic the 77th minute. they be possible. nets double for Serbia The slick Czechs threatened on It is likely that instead of numerous occasions in the first half with a new maximum capacity, Elsewhere, in Luxembourg City, Cris- Jakub Jankto going close and even after UEFA will leave decisions on tiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal came they lost Schick they were the better side. increased crowd size to local from behind to defeat the hosts 3-1 in But after an opening loss to Belgium, authorities. another Group A clash yesterday. Wales were delighted to get their cam- British Prime Minister Luxembourg, which opened with a paign up and running. Boris Johnson’s roadmap surprise win over Ireland, looked on its They are in third place with three would allow for limited way to another shock result after Gerson points from two games, with the Czechs crowds of 10,000 in the early Rodrigues put the hosts ahead in the 30th on four from three games and Belgium stages of the delayed tour- minute. But Diogo Jota equalized in the leading on seven points after thrashing nament but opens the possi- second minute of stoppage time and Belarus. bility of full-houses after the Ronaldo and João Palhinha added country enters stage four of second-half goals. Dutch thump Gibraltar 7-0 the roadmap on June 21. After being held scoreless in the first As well as hosting some two qualifiers this year, Ronaldo scored Netherlands' winger Steven Ber- group games, Wembley is also his 31st goal in World Cup qualifying in ghuis scored one goal and set up the venue for the semi-finals the 51st with a touch from close range another as they overcame a wasteful and final of the tournament. after a low cross by João Cancelo. first half to thump minnows Gibraltar Host venues have a He has now scored for Portugal in 7-0 in their World Cup qualifier at the deadline of April 7 to inform every calendar year since his first inter- Victoria Stadium on Tuesday. UEFA of their planned national goal in 2004, and moved six Luuk de Jong, Memphis Depay, stadium capacities. away from tying the all-time scoring Georginio Wijnaldum and Donyell Any hosts that cannot record for a men’s national team. The Malen all also scored as the visitors guarantee there will be fans record of 109 goals is held by former Iran netted four goals in nine second-half in the stadium risk losing their striker Ali Daei, the only other male minutes to give an emphatic look to hosting rights. soccer player to surpass the 100-goal the score after a stuttering opening Most football authorities milestone. period frustrated manager Frank de are relying on their govern- Ronaldo had been furious after Boer. ments to give them per- having a goal disallowed in the 2-2 draw being shown a second yellow card for a Belgium's 8-0 rout of Belarus puts Substitute Donny van de Beek mission to open up stadiums against Serbia on Saturday even though hard foul. reserves in the spotlight added a sixth late on and Depay got his to fans and the issue is it appeared that the ball crossed the line. Portugal forward João Félix had to second as the Netherlands recorded whether they will be able to Jota equalized with a header for his leave the field in the first half because Belgium's second-string used the their biggest away win since a 7-0 predict the situation in June third goal in these qualifiers, and Pal- of an injury. opportunity of a rare start to impress success over San Marino in 1993. ahead of next week’s hinha came off the bench to score his Earlier, Aleksandar Mitrovic scored coach Roberto Martinez as they thumped The Dutch moved into second place deadline. first goal in three international appear- a goal in each half as Serbia defeated Belarus 8-0. in Group G with six points from three It is likely that most ances in the 80th. Azerbaijan 2-1 to stay tied with Portugal With Martinez warning players were games, one point behind leaders venues in Western Europe Luxembourg defender Maxime at the top of Group A with seven points under scrutiny for places in the Euro Turkey who were surprisingly held to will not be able to get more Chanot was sent off in the 86th after from three matches. 2020 squad, Michy Batshuayi, Hans a 3-3 draw at home by Latvia. than 25-50% capacity. Loew focused on qualifier Lewandowski out REUTERS – DUESSELDORF for four weeks Germany coach Joachim Loew (pictured) said he was in no mood for melancholy and was REUTERS – MUNICH fully focused on his team’s World Cup qualifier at home to North Macedonia today, ahead of this summer’s Euros - set Bayern Munich’s Poland striker Robert Lewandowski to be his last tournament after 15 years in charge. has been ruled out for four weeks after suffering a The 61-year-old, who will step down after the Euro tour- sprained ligament in his right knee, the German cham- nament this summer, wants to make it three wins out of three pions said yesterday. qualifiers and put his team firmly on track for a spot at next Lewandowski sustained the injury in Poland’s year’syea s World Wo d Cup in Qatar. Qatar. World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on Sunday, “I feel absoluteabsolutelyly no melanchomelancholyly ahaheade of this game at the ruling him out of their match against England on moment,”moment,” Loew told a virtual news con- Wednesday, and had scans on Monday. ference ahead of today’s qualifier in His injury is a big blow to Bundesliga leaders Duisburg.Duisburg. Bayern who travel to second-placed RB Leipzig on “I am not eveneve thinking about the Saturday. whole situationsituation that I will stop after Portugal’s The injury will also rule him out of the reigning the Euro. "All thethe focus is on the game Cristiano European champions’ two Champions League quarter- tomorrowtomorrow and thenth looking ahead to Ronaldo scores final legs against last year’s runners-up Paris St the tournament thist summer,” Loew their second Germain, scheduled for April 7 and April 13.