THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 16 Man United thrash Leeds Sterling hits brace as City hammer West Ham in China AFP | Nanjing, China The 23-year-old officially became a City player a day after the La Liga ecord Manchester City signing club revealed the 70-million-euro RRodri made his debut and Ra- ($78.5 million) release clause in his heem Sterling scored twice as the contract had been triggered. Premier League champions came City’s arrival in China for the Pre- from behind to beat West Ham Unit- mier League Asia Trophy had been ed 4-1 yesterday in China. delayed by two days because of an West Ham took the lead with a “administrative issue”. Mark Noble penalty before City lev- But if it bothered the English elled through David Silva, then Lukas champions it did not show, Sterling Nmecha scored from the spot to give sealing a handsome City win with Pep Guardiola’s side the half-time composed finishes on the hour and lead. then again soon after. England international Sterling, In the other match in the exhibi- who enjoyed his best season last year tion tournament, the scale of the task for club and country, scored a brace facing new head coach Steve Bruce in the second half as West Ham’s de- was laid bare as Newcastle United fence went AWOL in Nanjing. were thrashed 4-0 by Wolverhamp- Guardiola fielded a mixture of first- ton Wanderers. team regulars and reserves with Sil- Bruce, whose appointment was va leading the side and Kevin De confirmed just hours before kick-off, Bruyne, who missed most of last sea- will jet over to take charge of New- son injured, a second-half substitute. castle’s next friendly, against West Manchester United players celebrate Mason Greenwood’s strike He was joined after the break by Ham, in Shanghai on Saturday. wood’s first senior goal in the seventh German winger Leroy Sane, who has It was only a low-key friendly, but Pogba, who has been linked minute. been linked with a big-money move the heavy defeat to Nuno Espirito • Greenwood’s energetic performance to Bayern Munich. Santo’s Wolves in Nanjing was more with a move to Juventus has the teenager in the frame for thesid Spanish international midfielder evidence that Newcastle are likely and Real Madrid, starred in Premier League opener against Chel- Rodri joined City earlier this month to be battling relegation this season. United’s dominant first-half sea on August 11, manager Ole Gunnar KNOW WHAT on a five-year deal from Atletico Ma- City face Wolves in the final. Solskjaer said. drid. Mason Greenwood “He’s got a chance. He’s more than • capable and he’ll always be there in and combined with Paul Pogba around the box creating chances,” he Romelu Lukaku was once and Aaron Wan Bissaka to told reporters after the match. again absent fuelling specu- score for Manchester United Moments later, a powerful strike lation he had been dropped from Pogba was well saved by goal - from the squad amid reports keeper Kiko Casilla. AFP | Perth, Australia he was close to securing a But it was only a matter of time before United broke through with a moment of move to Inter Milan aul Pogba shined as an un - magic in the 27th minute from Marcus der-pressure Manchester Unit- Rashford, a livewire in the first half. Ped stepped up their pre-season After a wondrous dribble past the crowd of 55,000 underlined the rival- campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of old lead-foot defence, the 21-year-old ex- ry’s stature. rivals Leeds yesterday. pertly tapped it past Casilla. Romelu Lukaku was once again ab- United had faced criticism after an Solskjaer changed his entire lineup sent fuelling speculation he had been unconvincing 2-0 victory over a deplet- at half-time in a repeat of Saturday’s dropped from the squad amid reports ed Perth Glory on the weekend. match against Perth. he was close to securing a move to Inter In a much-needed tonic, the Red United continued to dictate, with Phil Milan. Devils clinically dismantled Leeds, who Jones scoring a thumping header from United said the Belgian suffered a have high hopes of returning to the a corner kick in the 51st minute. knock at training. English Premier League for the first Anthony Martial rounded out a spec- “He’s missed two chances to play 45 Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling runs with the ball time since 2004. tacular performance in the 68th minute minutes and at this stage of the season Pogba, who has been linked with a by converting a penalty after Tahith it’s important to get everyone fit, so move to Juventus and Real Madrid, Chong was taken down in the box. hopefully he’ll be available soon,” Sol- a new five-year deal with United in on July 20 and Tottenham in Shanghai starred in United’s dominant first-half The first clash in eight years between skjaer said. excess of £350,000 ($435,000) a week. on July 25, while Leeds will head to and was part of a pretty chain of passing the one-time bitter enemies fizzled Illness kept out goalkeeper David de United will have further pre-season Sydney to face Western Sydney Wan- to set up 17-year-old Mason Green - out, but a near capacity Perth Stadium Gea, who is reportedly close to signing games against Inter Milan in Singapore derers. Stokes plays down redemption talk after World Cup heroics De Ligt arrives in Turin to AFP | London Stokes cemented his place as an English cricket icon by complete Juventus signing en Stokes admitted mem- scoring 84 not out and then Bories of the off-field inci- starring in the Super Over that dent that threatened his ca- sealed Sunday’s thrilling fi- AFP | Rome rin as Ajax eliminated reer triggered his tears after nal win over New Zealand at Juventus in the England’s historic World Cup Lord’s. jax captain Matthijs de Ligt ar- quarter-finals. triumph. “I won’t look back and say I Arived in Turin on Tuesday to He has Stokes was found not guilty redeemed myself or anything complete his transfer to Juventus. played 17 of affray following a street like that - I’m an athlete and a The 19-year-old who led Ajax to the times for brawl during a night out in cricketer and it’s what we are Champions League semi-finals is due the Neth- Bristol in 2017. paid to do, to win trophies,” to undergo a medical before signing 13 erlands. The all-rounder was banned Stokes told ITV’s Good Morn- for Juventus for a reported 75 million goals have been scored and fined by the England and ing Britain yesterday. euros ($85 million). by Matthijs de Ligt in Wales Cricket Board after ac- “It was coming back from all “Here he is!” Juventus announced 117 games for Ajax in all cepting a charge of bringing of that, it was tough. Getting on Twitter, with a video of the Dutch competitions the game into disrepute. back into cricket obviously international disembarking from a Stokes was also stripped of massively helped straight af- private jet at Turin airport. the Test vice-captaincy and ter that. In a separate clip the teenager says: missed the Ashes tour, but he “It was a stressful time for “Hello Bianconeri, this is Matthijs, worked his way back from that me, my wife, my family back I’m really happy to be here.” all competitions, scoring 13 goals, in- chastening incident to enjoy a home. I had amazing people De Ligt has been linked with many cluding three as the club reached the key role in England’s first ever around me, my team-mates, of Europe’s leading clubs after his last four of the Champions League World Cup title. friends, family. They have to impressive play for resurgent Ajax last season, only to lose in the final Matthijs After some impressive dis- take a lot of credit for helping and Holland last season. seconds to Tottenham. de Ligt plays on the road to the final, me to get through that.” He has played 117 games for Ajax in De Ligt scored the winner in Tu-.