MMOTOGPOTOGP | Page 2 CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 6 Quartararo Frenchman shrugs off Lafay wins Giro surgery to take stage as Ewan French pole abandons race
Sunday, May 16, 2021 FOOTBALL Shawwal 4, 1442 AH Tielemans stunner GULF TIMES clinches maiden FA Cup for Leicester SPORT Page 7 RALLYING Al-Attiyah wins third leg to inch closer towards Andalucia title
By Sports Reporter third in Mini Cooper behind Saudi’s 4. Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist; Mini Doha Yazeed al-Rajhi and his German co- John Cooper Works Buggy; +7.02 driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz, who were 5. Erik van Loon / Sebastien Delaunay; behind the wheel of Toyota Hilux. Toyota Hilux; +10.09 atar’s rally ace Nasser Saleh Meanwhile, Nasser’s brother Kha- 6. Guillaume de Mevius / Tom Colsoul; al-Attiyah edged closer to lifa al-Attiyah (South Racing) was on OT3; +12.47 defending his title at the An- course to winning the T4 category. Al- 7. Paulo Ferreira / Jorge Monteiro; dalucia Rally in Spain after he Attiyah and co-driver Xavier Panseri, Toyota Hilux; +13.45 wonQ the third and penultimate leg yes- who had won the fi rst and second leg, 8. Mitchell Guthrie / Ola Floene; OT3; terday. fi nished third yesterday in their Can +14.42 Al-Attiyah and his French co-driv- Am Maverick XRS. 9. Denis Krotow / Konstantin Zilcow; er Matthieu Baumel in Toyota Hilux Mini John Cooper Works Rally; +16.02 emerged fastest in the 283km route in STAGE 4 RESULTS 10. Laia Sanz / Daniel Oliveras; Mini All4 3:12.38 seconds. 1. Nasser al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel; Racing; +17.00 Going into today’s 284km fi nal leg, Toyota Hilux; Time: 3:12.38 seconds al-Attiyah and Baumel hold a 4.43-sec- 2. Yazeed al-Rajhi / Dirk von Zitzewitz; Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his ond lead over local pair Carlos Sainz Toyota Hilux; +1.48 French co-driver Matthieu Baumel in and Lucas Cruz. 3. Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz; Mini John action at the Andalucia Rally in Spain Yesterday, Sainz and Cruz fi nished Cooper Works Rally; +3.17 yesterday.
TENNIS Djokovic outlasts Sonego to set up Rome fi nal with Nadal Top seed Djokovic is stretched to three sets by local hope Sonego; Spaniard picks up straights sets win over Opelka
Agencies Rome, Italy Double-time Swiatek to face former efending champion No- champion Pliskova in Rome fi nal vak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will clash for the AFP Italian Open title after Rome, Italy theD top two seeds advanced to the fi nal of the Masters tournament yesterday. rench Open champion Iga Djokovic, who beat Greek Ste- Swiatek warned she was fanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a F“ready for anyone” as she rain-delayed quarter-fi nal earlier takes on former winner Karolina in the day, was also stretched to Pliskova in the Italian Open final three sets in the semi-fi nal be- today. fore overcoming local favourite Ex-world number one Pliskova Lorenzo Sonego. saw off Croatia’s Petra Martic Sonego, the fi rst Italian to 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 to return to the make the semi-fi nals in Rome final of a tournament she won in 14 years after he beat world in 2019 and finished runner-up number seven Andrey Rublev last year. earlier yesterday, had his dream Ninth seed Pliskova is the only run ended by Djokovic who tri- top 10 player remaining but umphed 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2. faces a battle with 19-year-old Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action during her Italian Open quarter-final Djokovic failed to convert two Swiatek, who continued her against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina (not pictured) in Rome, Italy, earlier match points in the second set Roland Garros warm-up with yesterday. Swiatek then beat Coco Gauff of the US in semi-final later that lasted 91 minutes as Sonego back-to-back wins yesterday. in the day. (Reuters) forced a tiebreak, where the Serb Swiatek first ousted fifth seed lost a 4-2 lead. Elina Svitolina, a two-time Rome However, the world number Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates a point during the Italian Open semi-final against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego winner, 6-2, 7-5 in 1hr 36min in one controlled proceedings in (not pictured) at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, yesterday. (AFP) their quarter-final match which the decider and advanced after had been pushed back from Sonego’s return on match point a break down in the deciding set. Friday because of rain. found the net. Djokovic has a 29-27 career She then saw off 17-year-old Earlier, Nadal beat Reilly Opel- record against Nadal but the American Coco Gauff 7-6 (3), 6-3 ka 6-4, 6-4 to move into the fi nal Spaniard has won fi ve of their in the semi-finals in 1hr 45min. in Rome for the 12th time. eight matches in Rome. “I knew it was going to be The match was Nadal’s 500th Two weeks before Roland Gar- tough,” said the 15th-seed of her on clay where he has a formidable ros, Nadal had a tough run to the marathon day. 458-42 record and the Spaniard semi-fi nals, saving two match “I played with no expectations. I advanced after twice breaking points in a 3hr 30min third round was taking it step by step. the big-serving American. battle with Canadian Denis “Beating Elina shows that my “When you play these kind of Shapovalov. But the 34-year-old game is here, I’m ready for matches, you know it’s not going was rarely troubled by the tower- anyone. It gave me really a to be a beautiful match... you’re ing American, who was playing confidence boost. not going to fi nd rhythm in the his fi rst Masters semi-fi nal. “If my game is going to be there Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova returns a shot to Croatia’s Petra match. You’re going to have just a Nadal blasted down 11 aces tomorrow, I can do anything.” Martic (not pictured) during their semi-final yesterday. (AFP) few chances to break,” Nadal told and did not drop serve against a Swiatek is looking for just her reporters. player who had not dropped a set third WTA title having followed “Somehow I feel relaxed here,” who advanced to the semi-final “It’s important not to suff er all week. her Roland Garros success with the 29-year-old said. after world number one Ash- much with your serve because if A break in either set, Opelka’s a win in Adelaide in January. “I think the conditions, the balls, leigh Barty retired with an arm you are... you feel the stress all the fi rst dropped this week, put the “She’s a champion of Roland the courts, because I had the injury on Friday. time. So the positive thing today, I second seed through to the fi nal. Garros last year. I think it’s not success in the past, I think that “It’s always hard to play against just faced break points in one game Nadal is looking to equal Djoko- going to be easy,” said Pliskova, comes together with that feel- the young superstar, especially during the whole match.” Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits a forehand return to Reilly Opelka (not vic’s record of 36 ATP Masters looking for her 17th career title. ing which I have on the court. when I’m not used to that be- “It’s important for my confi - pictured) of the US during their Italian Open semi-final in Rome, Italy, 1000 titles today. The Czech feels at ease in “Yesterday coming back from cause I was always the young- dence to be back in a fi nal. I did yesterday. (Reuters) He is also attempting to win the Italian capital and saved match point, I think you need est one,” said the Polish player. what I had to do today, it was 10 or more titles at a single event three match points in Friday’s that sometimes.” “Even though it was tiebreak in not an easy or beautiful match Carlo and Madrid. fi nal was halted by rain but the for the fourth time, after Roland quarter-final win over Jelena Swiatek always had the upper the first set, I was mentally lead- to play. The work is done,” added Djokovic was trailing Tsitsipas Serb raised his game at key mo- Garros (13), Barcelona (12) and Ostapenko. hand against 35th-ranked Gauff , ing that match.” Nadal, who exited early in Monte 6-4, 2-1 when Friday’s quarter- ments to twice come back from Monte Carlo (11). Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 16, 2021 SPORT
HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes confi rms Palace Pier as the top older miler
Agencies Newbury, England Joud Al Cham leads home an Al Shaqab Racing 1-2 Agencies his fourth racecourse appear- he Al Shaqab Lock- Toulouse, France ance here, and notched his inge Stakes, a mile-long third win. He won on debut in Group 1 race sponsored the November of his three- by Al Shaqab Racing, he Prix Baroud II, a condi- year-old year, before winning Twas held yesterday at Newbury tions race for Purebred on his seasonal bow at four the racecourse and Palace Pier, the TArabians aged four and following May. He then lined up favourite, bagged the victory. over, saw a 1-2 for the colours in the Group 1 PA Qatar Derby The race, which is open to of Al Shaqab Racing when Joud des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 ans horses aged four years or older, Al Cham led home Mounjared at Chantilly that July but was was established in 1958 and was Al Cham in Toulouse, France, clearly not in form that day, fin- raised to Group 1 status in 1995. yesterday. ishing down the field. That was The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes The two five-year-olds, who are his last racecourse appearance also became part of the British both bred by Hassan and Nada until yesterday’s win, over nine Champions Series in 2011, and Mousli (Mounjared Al Cham in months later. winners of the race often go on to association with Faiz Al Elweet), “Both these horses have shown run in the Queen Anne Stakes at are owned by Al Shaqab Racing Julien Auge (background) rides Joud Al Cham to victory in front of a lot of quality, and they both Royal Ascot. The last to win both and Nada Mousli, and are also Mounjared Al Cham, helmed by Jerome Cabre (foreground) in the needed this run,” said Fourcy races in the same year was the trained by Thomas Fourcy. Prix Baroud II in Toulouse, France, yesterday. (Robert Polin) after the win. “Joud Al Cham has champion Frankel in 2012. Joud Al Cham, ridden by Julien a huge stride and travelled with Palace Pier was one of the top Auge, was drawn on the inside the final turn, Auge remained 200m. He flew to line, and the his ears pricked – I don’t think three-year-old milers in 2020, in this seven-runner 2,100m motionless as his rivals began post only just came in time for he’s had a hard race! We will winning the St James’ Palace race, and went straight to lead. their pursuit. Joud Al Cham to hold the win by give them both some time. They Stake (Group 1) at Royal Ascot, Frankie Dettori rides Palace Pier to victory in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Setting a steady pace, he ran In the straight, he held off his the smallest of noses. are nice horses for the second and the Prix Jacques le Marois – Stakes (Group 1) in Newbury, England, yesterday. (Francesca Altoft) relaxed and unchallenged for challengers, and looked to be Soko finished third, two-and- half of the season. The aim is to Fresnay-le-Buff ard (Group 1) at the frontrunner position, whilst the comfortable winner until a-half lengths back from the let them mature into nice older Deauville, before fi nishing third Pier sat in mid-division on the love him. He’s so good. I found a Jerome Cabre-ridden Mounjared Mounjared Al Cham came with leading pair. horses. I don’t have a race lined in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes stands’ side. Coming to the two- nice rhythm and had everything Al Cham sat towards the rear. In a strong late run in the final Joud Al Cham was making just up for them right now.” sponsored by QIPCO (Group 1) on furlong marker, Dettori shook up beaten throughout – it was great. the British Champions Day, again Palace Pier, who fl ew away down I was looking for Ryan (Moore, at Ascot. The colt was making the rail. He confi rmed that he rider of Lope Y Fernandez) but The fi rst edition of the Al 2011 with Arabian racing and des Poulains with Brametot who Lockinge Stakes, the Donn Hand- his seasonal reappearance in this is one of the top older milers in he was rowing away three out. I Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, one achieved multiple Group 1 wins was also successful in the Group icap at Gulfstream Park, the Mid- Group 1 contest for trainers John Europe with an impressive vic- know Palace Pier gets the mile of the fl at season’s leading mile including the Kahayla Classic 1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club the dle Park Stakes at Newmarket, the and Thady Gosden and was reu- tory, easing across the line one- really well so I kicked him on. He races, was run in 2015 for an in- two years in a row. It has now same year. Qatar Prix Vermeille, the Prix du nited with regular jockey Frankie and-a-half lengths in front of got a little bit lonely in front but creased prize fund of £350,000 evolved into one of the mod- Al Shaqab’s major Group 1 suc- Jockey Club and the Qatar Air- Dettori. the William Jarvis-trained Lady he’s a true champion and I love which will be retained at the ern superpowers of Thorough- cesses include: the Qatar Sussex ways Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe In the 2021 edition, the 11 run- Bowthorpe, under Oisin Murphy. him. This was his eighth run. He same value. Al Shaqab has ex- bred racing, winning the British Stakes at Goodwood won by To- at Longchamp twice with super- ners bunched in the center of the Top Rank came in third for train- loves his racing and I guess all tended its sponsorship of the Classic, the 2000 Guineas, with ronado in 2013 – their fi rst Group star fi lly, Treve, plus the Corona- straight mile track with Obaid er James Tate and PJ McDonald. those good mile races will be his event until 2024. Galileo Gold in 2016 and the 2017 1 success, the Queen Elizabeth tion Stakes and St James’s Palace setting a decent pace. Palace Dettori said: “He’s a beast, I target.” Al Shaqab Racing started in French Classic, the Poule d’Essai II Stakes at Ascot, the Al Shaqab Stakes at Royal Ascot.
TENNIS MOTORCYCLING Quartararo shrugs On this train until off surgery to take Wimbledon, says French MotoGP pole AFP Le Mans, France
ome favourite Fabio returning Federer Quartararo made light of the tricky change- able conditions and his ‘I know the danger of losing early is always there’ Hrecent surgery to claim pole for the French MotoGP in Saturday AFP qualifying at Le Mans. Geneva, Switzerland With intermittent rain mak- Federer calls for end to Tokyo Games uncertainty ing life diffi cult at the Bugatti circuit Quartararo topped the oger Federer resumes doesn’t happen because of the time sheets from his Yamaha his injury comeback situation, I would be the first to teammate Maverick Vinales with on Swiss home soil in understand. Ducati’s Jack Miller completing Geneva next week with “I think what the athletes the front row. Sunday’s race. said the Australian who currently theR 39-year-old legend insist- need is a decision: is it going Quartararo’s pole grab comes Franco Morbidelli on Yamaha’s sits in sixth place in the champi- ing: “We’re on this train until to happen or is it not going to just 11 days after undergoing satellite SRT bike is on the sec- onship. Wimbledon”. happen? ‘arm pump’ surgery following ond row after posting the fourth Seven-time elite class cham- Federer returned to the courts “At the moment, we have the problems with his right forearm, quickest time in Q2 alongside the pion Valentino Rossi, who has in March, having been out for impression that it will happen. which saw him slip to a 13th place other home chance Johann Zarco endured a diffi cult start to the more than a year following two We know it’s a fluid situation. fi nish last time out at Jerez. and six-time world champion season, starts from ninth on the knee surgeries, winning his fi rst And you can also decide as an “It’s fantastic,” beamed the Marc Marquez. grid today. match in Qatar before losing his athlete if you want to go. If you 22-year-old who has won two of Marquez, back this season af- second. feel there’s a lot of resistance, the four races so far this season. ter multiple operations on the FRENCH MOTOGP RACE GRID Doha was his fi rst appearance maybe it’s better not to go. I “I’m pleased to be on pole for arm he broke in the opening race (top 12) since January 2020 and an Aus- don’t know.” the second successive time here.” of last year, led for much of qual- Front row tralian Open semi-fi nal defeat A petition calling for the The Frenchman had started ifying before his time was bet- 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yama- to Novak Djokovic. cancellation of the rescheduled the Spanish MotoGP last time tered in the closing fl ying lap. ha), 2. Maverick Vinales (ESP/ Federer was due to play in Games garnered 350,000 out at the top of the standings. “In the rain, I feel better be- Yamaha), 3. Jack Miller (AUS/ the May 2-9 Madrid Open, but signatures in nine days and He surged into an early lead and cause it is physically less de- Ducati) made a late decision to switch to was submitted to organisers on seemed set for his third win in manding,” said the Spanish Hon- 2nd row the lower-profi le Geneva event Friday, raising new questions four races this season. da star. 4. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yama- where he should have a better about whether the Olympics But muscle problems left him Vinales, who won the season- ha-SRT), 5. Johann Zarco (FRA/ chance of getting on a roll. should go ahead. with no strength in his right fore- opener in Qatar, had one lap time Ducati-Pramac), 6. Marc Marquez “Doha was just a little test Rafael Nadal, who is tied with arm to fi nish down the pack and deleted for exceeding track lim- (ESP/Honda) of how I was doing,” 20-time Federer at 20 for the most in tears. its, and rued an inconsistent af- 3rd row Grand Slam title winner Federer ennis great Roger the end of May a state of emer- Grand Slam singles titles in He is placed two points off the ternoon. “I made many mistakes 7. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda- told Leman Bleu television. Federer has called on gency in its capital, Tokyo, and men’s tennis, and 23-times top of the standings which are led during the lap, and this cost us LCR), 8. Pol Espargaro (ESP/ “Geneva is more than just a lit- TOlympics organisers to three areas. Grand Slam winner Serena by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati). the pole position,” he admitted. Honda), 9. Valentino Rossi (ITA/ tle test, to see if I can play several end the uncertainty around “Honestly I don’t know what Williams this week said they Both Bagnaia and the reigning Miller, the winner last time out Yamaha-SRT) matches in a row. I know the dan- the Tokyo Games, with the to think. I’m a bit between the were still unsure of competing world champion Joan Mir failed in Spain, was hoping for a wet 4th row ger of losing early is always there.” 20-times Grand Slam winner two,” Federer, who won a dou- in Tokyo. to make it out of Q1 and into Q2 race Sunday. 10. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM), 11. Geneva should test what sort saying he was still in two minds bles gold in the 2008 Beijing Japan’s top-ranked women’s and the battle for pole, leaving “If it’s wet tomorrow, starting Lorenzo Savadori (ITA/Aprilia), 12. of shape Federer is in ahead of whether to compete. Games and a silver in singles and men’s tennis players – the pair well down the grid for in the front row is an advantage,” Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-Avintia) the May 30-June 13 French Open The Olympics are set to run four years later in London, told Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori before he targets his two major from July 23 to August 8 after Swiss television station Leman – also added their voice to the goals – a ninth Wimbledon title being postponed in March Bleu on Friday. concerns, saying the risks of and a singles gold medal at the last year over the coronavirus “I would love to play in the holding the Olympics amid the Grosjean captures IndyCar pole for Indianapolis road race Tokyo Olympics. pandemic. Olympics, win a medal for pandemic should continue to “He is not coming to say hel- But Japan, battling a surge of Switzerland. It would make be carefully discussed. AFP lo,” Geneva tournament direc- infections, has extended until me especially proud. But if it (Reuters) Los Angeles, United States tor Thierry Grin told the Swiss magazine L’Illustre. “He is coming to win matches during his fi rst training session late wild card Grigor Dimitrov, and the hard courts of Tokyo rance’s Romain Grosjean before his big goal: Wimbledon.” on the courts overlooking Lake Christian Garin, rising star will come on the French Open captured his first IndyCar Geneva on Friday, hitting with Casper Ruud and Fabio Fognini. clay where he was champion Fseries pole position Friday ‘COMEBACK IS PRIORITY’ Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, The 2014 US Open winner back in 2009. in just his third race – and less Even though his 40th birthday who won the 2018 title at the Marin Cilic is also in the 28-man His last outing at Roland Gar- than six months after his ter- approaching in August, Fed- Eaux-Vives club. tournament on clay – Federer’s ros in Paris was his 2019 semi- rifying Formula One crash in erer said he was still passionate The tournament was not held least favourite surface. fi nal defeat to old rival Rafael Bahrain. about tennis and had missed the last year due to the coronavirus Top seed Federer receives Nadal, with whom he now Grosjean turned a top lap of 1 touring life. pandemic and is being played a bye into the second round shares the record of 20 Grand minute, 9.4396 seconds in the Romain Grosjean celebrates his pole position for the GMR Grand “It’s diffi cult to abandon all this time without spectators. and will play his fi rst match on Slam singles titles. Fast Six final round of qualify- Prix in Indianapolis, United States, on Friday. (Twitter/RGrosjean) that without trying to come The players are tested every Tuesday, against either Austral- Federer said he had “no ing to put his Dale Coyne car back again,” he said. two days, with Federer, who has ia’s Jordan Thompson or Spain’s plans” to retire any time soon. powered by Honda on pole for this season after 10 seasons in Motor Speedway. “When I saw “The year has been ultra-long had the Pfi zer-BioNTech Cov- Pablo Andujar. “It’s the knees and the family Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix at Formula One. the (first qualifying) group I was for me, with the double opera- id-19 vaccine, testing negative If he gets through his fi rst which will decide that,” he told Indianapolis. His F1 career ended in a fiery in, I was like, ‘Oh, dear, if we can tion and the pandemic. on Friday. match, Federer has Garin and Leman Bleu. It’s his first open-wheel pole po- crash last November in Bahrain get out of the first group, we’re “We’re on this train until Cilic as potential opponents in “For the moment, it’s the sition since he claimed the top in which he escaped an inferno going to be OK,’ and we did. Wimbledon, we’re just going to ‘KNEES, FAMILY’ DECIDE the quarter-fi nals, Ruud in the thought of coming back and see spot in GP2 – the final ladder with serious burns to his hands. “That last few laps, we were on concentrate on that, and the rest RETIREMENT semis and Shapovalov in the fi - what level I will reach, and after series leading into Formula One “Amazing,” Grosjean said of his it. What a day for us,” he added. afterwards, see what happens. World number eight Federer nal. we will see how long I can keep – in May 2011 at Istanbul. pole on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile “I’m happier than I have been in The comeback is the priority.” faces top-30 competition in However, the biggest test going with it, with all the stress, Grosjean, 35, arrived in IndyCar road course at the Indianapolis a very long time.” Federer looked comfortable Geneva from Denis Shapovalov, ahead of the Wimbledon grass all the demands.” Gulf Times Sunday, May 16, 2021 3 GOLF
PGA TOUR Burns fi res career-low 62 to grab Byron Nelson lead Noren turns in a bogey-free 64 to stand second on 129 with Kyoung-hoon third after back-to-back 65s
AFP “This week iron play good and putting Washington also good. So nice two rounds. A lot of good irons and chipping also, so good momentum.” am Burns, coming off his fi rst Three-time major winner Jordan US PGA victory, fi red a 10-un- Spieth, who could complete a career der par 62 to seize a two-stroke Grand Slam by winning next week’s lead after Friday’s second round PGA Championship, shared the 18- ofS the Byron Nelson tournament. The hole lead on 63 but fell back with a 70 24-year-old American made 10 birdies Friday into a sixth-place pack on 133. in a bogey-free round to set his PGA ca- “Knowing that the wind was going reer-low score and stand on 17-under to pick up on the back nine, I thought 127 after 36 holes at TPC Craig Ranch in shooting 5-under was a good goal if I suburban Dallas. played well,” Spieth said. “I had plenty “Everything out there felt great,” of looks. I didn’t make many putts at all.” Burns said. “We got into a good rhythm Spieth, who began on the back nine, throughout the round.” Sweden’s Alex opened with a bogey and parred both Noren turned in a bogey-free 64 to par-5s, then fi nished with eight pars stand second on 129 with South Korea’s before a bogey at the par-5 ninth. “Just Lee Kyoung-hoon third after back-to- got off to a poor start,” he said. “Los- back 65s, American Doc Redman fourth ing a couple to the fi eld there got me a on 131 and 18-hole co-leader JJ Spaun little frustrated. If you kind of tap the fi fth on 132. brakes a little when the scores are going Burns, in his third PGA Tour cam- to be low you feel like you have to play paign, won the Valspar Championship catchup.” two weeks ago in Florida, defeating Keegan Bradley by three strokes and Leading second-round scores building confi dence he could quickly (USA unless noted, par-72): win again. “The biggest thing for me is just seeing the hard work that we put in 127 - Sam Burns 65-62 it, start seeing results from that,” Burns 129 - Alex Noren (SWE) 65-64 said. “A lot of times you don’t know 130 - Lee Kyoung-hoon (KOR) 65-65 how long the results are going to take. Golf is a fi ckle game. It’s cool to see 131 - Doc Redman 64-67 some feedback from the progress we’ve 132 - JJ Spaun 63-69 made back home and seeing it in tour- nament play as well.” 133 - Jordan Spieth 63-70, Matt Kuchar Burns opened and closed the front 67-66, Patton Kizzire 69-64, Seamus nine with birdies around back-to-back Power (IRL) 65-68, Charl Schwartzel tap-in birdies at the par-5 fi fth and (RSA) 65-68, Carlos Ortiz (MEX) 67-66 par-4 sixth. He rolled in a 28-foot putt 134 - Wyndham Clark 66-68, Ted Potter at the par-4 11th to launch a run of four 66-68, Joseph Bramlett 64-70, Vincent consecutive birdies, closing the run at Whaley 69-65, Ben Martin 65-69, 14 with a 17-foot putt. Sebastian Munoz (COL) 66-68, Brandt Burns dropped his tee shot just out- Sam Burns hits from the fairway on the 18th hole during the round two of the Snedeker 66-68, Bronson Burgoon 68- side three feet at the par-3 17th and Byron Nelson championship in McKinney, Texas, on Friday. (AFP) 66, Hank Lebioda 67-67, Roger Sloan left his approach inches from the cup (CAN) 66-68 at the par-5 18th to set up closing bird- ies. “Made a run right there on the back trying to get a good game plan out here Just continue to put ourselves in the into second. “Most of the stuff was Lee found the going tougher as well, 135 - Sepp Straka (AUT) 68-67, Charles nine,” Burns said. “So it was nice to be for tomorrow and let’s see what hap- right spots and see what happens.” working pretty good. It was just a nice but matched his opening round. “To- Howell 65-70, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71- able to fi nish it off with two birdies at pens. Don’t try to play outside what I’m Noren, who started on the back nine, day,” Noren said. “It was a lot windier day’s round was more diffi cult than 64, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 64-71, Marc the end. Good way to end the day. Just capable of. birdied four of the last holes to move than yesterday. Today I putted well.” yesterday, so I’m very happy,” he said. Leishman (AUS) 66-69
FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Bland wins British Masters McIlroy and Spieth chase history in playoff to end 25-year wait as PGA returns to Kiawah Reuters London AFP Kiawah Island, United States ichard Bland won his fi rst European Tour title at the 478th attempt after beating hirty years after the Ryder Cup de- Guido Migliozzi in a playoff at the Brit- livered a “War on the Shore” at Kia- ish Masters yesterday. Bland, 48, and wah Island, Rory McIlroy and Jordan MigliozziR fi nished on 13 under par after 72 holes at Spieth could produce more US- The Belfry to force the playoff in which the Eng- Tversus-Europe fi reworks at the 103rd PGA lishman parred the fi rst extra hole while his Ital- Championship. The year’s second major ian opponent made a bogey. tournament begins Thursday on the 7,876- “I’ve done it,” an emotional Bland, who turned yard, par-72 Ocean course at the South Caro- professional in 1996, said after becoming the old- lina resort where the Americans edged Eu- est fi rst-time winner on the European Tour. rope 14 1/2-13 1/2 in 1991. “My game had been tending in the right way That gamesmanship-fi lled Ryder Cup and I’d worked really hard, as you know we’ve was decided by a missed six-foot par putt by worked so hard on the wedges. I just drove the ball Germany’s Bernhard Langer on the 18th hole so well this week, I’ve gone back to my old driver. of the last match. Such drama was missing The round here — especially for me, I’m not the at the 2012 PGA Championship as McIlroy longest on Tour — I’ve got to hit fairways and I’ve cruised to an eight-stroke victory at Kiawah probably missed single digit fairways all week.” Island, setting the stage for this year’s return Bland made only one bogey in his four rounds, to the Carolina coast. on the third day. Bland landed his maiden Tour ti- Four-time major winner McIlroy, a tle at the 478th attempt after he parred the fi rst 32-year-old from Northern Ireland, and extra hole at The Belfry while Migliozzi three- three-time major champion Spieth, a putted from long range. The 48-year-old carded 27-year-old Texan, are both playing well and a superb fi nal round of 66 to set the clubhouse chasing history. Spieth will try to complete a target on 13 under par. career Grand Slam by adding the PGA to wins Birdies on the 15th and 16th gave Migliozzi a at the 2015 Masters and US Open and 2017 share of the lead and he then found the green in British Open. two on the par-fi ve 17th, but the Italian missed A victory at Kiawah Island would put Spi- from fi ve feet for birdie after lipping out from long eth in exclusive company alongside Tiger range for an eagle. Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hog- mentum after struggles trying to tweak his out a few more things than just the number to Migliozzi’s tee shot on the 18th plugged in the an and Gene Sarazen. “It’s the one that, if I game. “This victory’s very important going the hole.” wet grass on the edge of a bunker. After receiving could pick one more to win, I’d pick that one,” into Kiawah,” he said. “I played really well Reigning US Open champion Bryson De- a free drop, the 24-year-old hit his approach into England’s Richard Bland celebrates with the Spieth said. “While I’m playing the tourna- there last time. I’ll try to do my homework Chambeau, whose distance above all style a greenside bunker and got up and down to force trophy after winning the European Tour British ment, it hasn’t really hit me and added any and re-familiarize myself with the layout a won a major last year at Winged Foot, is also extra holes. It wasn’t enough to stop Bland mak- Masters at the The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, pressure or anything like that. It just kind of little bit. It’s certainly great timing. It’s ob- a threat. “I feel like I’m ramping up,” said ing history on a dramatic fi nal day. Britain, yesterday. (Reuters) excites me a little bit more going into it.” viously a huge confi dence boost going in fourth-ranked DeChambeau. “It’s one of the England’s Eddie Pepperell had taken a one-shot McIlroy will try to snap a seven-year ma- there knowing that my game is closer than it longest championships we’ve ever played lead into the fi nal round but the 2018 champion at the first extra hole jor win drought since his victory at the 2014 has been... this is validation I’m on the right and I’m excited for that, because any time could only manage a closing 73 to fall back into a PGA. He could become the fi rst player from track.” it’s a super-long golf course I think it fi ts into tie for 11th with tournament host Danny Willett. 276 — Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 70, 71, 68, 67; Adrian outside the United States to win a fi fth career Due to Covid-19 safety measures, there will my hand quite nicely. If I can be comfortable Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, the top-ranked Meronk (POL) 70, 72, 65, 69; David Coupland 71, major since England’s Nick Faldo took his be a daily limit of 10,000 spectators, about with my driver, I think I have a good chance player in the fi eld, held a share of the lead af- 69, 68, 68 fi fth of six in 1992. one-third of the crowd that watched McIlroy to win.” ter birdies on the second and third. The world 277 — Dean Burmester (RSA) 69, 73, 65, 70; Andy “Kiawah Island is a pretty big course. He’ll in 2012, but any crowds are a boost to McIlroy. Spain’s third-ranked Jon Rahm is readying number 45 eventually signed for a 71 to fi nish joint Sullivan 69, 71, 68, 69 need his distance,” 2015 PGA winner Jason “I’m excited going forward that we get to play for fi ckle winds over the Kiawah layout. “It eighth with compatriot Calum Hill and Edoardo 278 — Robert MacIntyre 71, 66, 70, 71; Edoardo Day said. “And his short game going to be in front of crowds,” he said. “I’m able to draw can be really windy one direction one day and Molinari. crucial. I think he’s already hitting his irons energy from that. It’s an awesome experience then be another direction the next,” Rahm Molinari (ITA) 71, 72, 64, 71; Calum Hill 67, 70, 70, Mikko Korhonen, Dave Coupland and Adrian really good.” to feel that again.” said. “What I do usually is try to get the touch 71 Meronk fi nished third, one stroke behind Bland It’s the fi rst time McIlroy has played a The PGA of America has approved the use around the greens and on the green.” and Migliozzi with Andy Sullivan and Dean Bur- 279 — Danny Willett 69, 72, 68, 70; Chris Wood major on a course where he has won a major of rangefi nders in hopes of speeding the pace. Top-ranked Dustin Johnson withdrew mester one stroke further back. 69, 72, 68, 70; Eddie Pepperell 70, 68, 68, 73; Ren- and it comes after he snapped an 18-month “I have a hard time seeing it speed things up, from this week’s PGA event in Dallas with a ato Paratore (ITA) 73, 70, 70, 66; Matthias Schwab US PGA Tour win drought on May 9 at Quail unless you get it way offl ine or you’re out of sore knee but likes the idea of a major near FINAL ROUND SCORES (AUT) 66, 75, 67, 71; Jazz Janewattananond (THA) Hollow. “That win brings back a bit of that contention,” Spieth said. “We’ll plan on us- his hometown, just like when he won the ing it, but I think it will be more confi rmation 2020 Masters at Augusta National. “It’s great (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72): 73, 69, 71, 66 swagger we all need,” Ireland’s Padraig Har- rington said. “Rory is a very dangerous player than anything. It’s not going to be we just step to play a major in my home state. Defi nitely 275 — Richard Bland 68, 69, 72, 66; Guido 280 — Jordan Smith 71, 69, 69, 71; Andrew John- ston 71, 71, 68, 70 with that.” up, shoot it, and go. These pins get tucked looking forward to it,” Johnson said. “Really Migliozzi (ITA) 68, 72, 67, 68 — Bland won play-off Seventh-ranked McIlroy has found mo- and the wind’s blowing and you got to fi gure good golf course, very diffi cult.” Gulf Times 4 Sunday, May 16, 2021 SPORT
NBA Mavericks book playoff spot, Wizards secure play-in berth ‘IT’S IMPORTANT. THERE’S TOO MANY ADVANTAGES TO NOT BEING IN THE PLAY-IN SITUATION’
AFP Timberwolves, Lynx Los Angeles confi rm sale to
uka Doncic’s 11th triple-double Rodriguez group of the season propelled the Dal- The Minnesota Timberwolves and las mavericks to a 114-110 vic- Lynx confirmed their sale on Friday tory over the Toronto Raptors to baseball great Alex Rodriguez and Lon Friday and into the NBA playoff s. entrepreneur Marc Lore. Doncic scored 20 points, grabbed 10 “Glen Taylor has reached an agree- rebounds and handed out 11 assists and ment with Marc Lore and Alex the Mavs held off a late challenge from Rodriguez regarding the sale and the short-handed Raptors, whose sev- future ownership of the Timber- en absentees included stars Kyle Lowry, wolves and Lynx. The transaction Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. will close following league approval, Kristaps Porzingis scored 21 points beginning the transition of owner- and Dorian Finney-Smith drained two ship and a new chapter of Minnesota late three-pointers for the Mavs, who Timberwolves and Lynx basketball,” saw a 10-point lead midway through the teams said in a news release. the fourth quarter dwindle to two The teams did not disclose financial points with 4.9 seconds remaining. terms. A pair of free-throws from Josh Ri- ESPN reported that the purchase chardson pushed the Mavericks’ lead price is $1.5 billion and includes the back to four with 3.9 seconds left and Iowa Wolves of the G-League and Dallas notched a sixth win in their last T-Wolves Gaming. seven games to assure themselves of a The teams are expected to transfer playoff spot. to Lore and Rodriguez before the 2023-24 NBA season, per ESPN. The Athletic reported that a condi- RESULTS tion of the sale was that the Timber- Memphis 107-106 Sacramento wolves remain in Minneapolis. Rodriguez attempted last year to buy Dallas 114-110 Toronto the New York Mets along with former Houston 122-115 Clippers fiancee Jennifer Lopez, and Lore was Denver 104-91 Detroit among the other partners in that bid. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Philadelphia 122-97 Orlando Rodriguez and Lore also are pairing Utah 109-93 Oklahoma on a venture-capital firm. Washington 120-105 Cleveland Lore, a billionaire New York native, stepped down as Walmart CEO in Golden State 125-122 New Orleans January. The former entrepreneur created Jet.com (sold to Walmart They avoided the NBA’s play-in tour- for $3 billion) and Diapers.com (sold nament, in which the seventh-through to Amazon for $545 million), among 10th placed teams in each conference other business ventures. Rodriguez, battle for the fi nal two post-season 45, was a 14-time All-Star and three- berths. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic dribbles the time MVP during his 22 seasons with “Avoiding the play-in is signifi cant,” ball as Toronto Raptors forward Stanley Johnson the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s im- defends during the first quarter at American and New York Yankees. He ranks portant. There’s too many advantages Airlines Center in Dallas. (USA TODAY Sports) fourth all-time in home runs (696) to not being in the play-in situation.” and RBIs (2,086). (Reuters) But the Washington Wizards were delighted to clinch a play-in spot on Friday. Robin Lopez 14 apiece as seven Wash- tory over the Orlando Magic. Home court advantage could prove remaining before the regular season The Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, Fueled by Russell Westbrook’s lat- ington players scored in double fi gures. Seth Curry scored 20 points and stars especially valuable to the 76ers, who ends on Sunday. beat the Detroit Pistons 104-91 to pull est triple-double, the Wizards beat the “We’re thankful to have the oppor- Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons added 13 are 28-7 at home. Bojan Bogdanovic led Utah with 22 into a tie for third place in the West with Cleveland Cavaliers 120-105 to secure tunity to make the playoff s,” Westbrook apiece for the 76ers, who out-scored “We barely lose here, so it means a points. Jordan Clarkson added 18 off the Los Angeles Clippers, who rested a play-in berth and eliminate the Chi- said. “Our job now is to take care of the Magic 39-19 in the second quarter lot,” Embiid said, but added the Sixers the bench and center Rudy Gobert stars Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and cago Bulls from contention. business for one more game and move to take control of the contest. have “still got to go out and prove why scored 16 points and pulled down 18 re- Patrick Beverly on the second night of Westbrook scored 21 points, pulled up in the standings.” Cameroonian big man Embiid, a you’re the No. 1 seed.” bounds for a Jazz team that had lost two a back-to-back and fell 122-115 to the down 12 rebounds and handed out 17 Most Valuable Player candidate, added While things aren’t clear-cut in the straight. last-placed Houston Rockets. assists for the 183rd triple-double of his SIXERS NO 1 IN EAST 11 rebounds while Australia’s Simmons West, the Utah Jazz consolidated their The Jazz can clinch top seed in the Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with his career – extending the all-time record Elsewhere, the pieces of the playoff handed out nine assists. position atop the conference with a West with a victory against the Sac- 16th triple-double of the season, scor- he claimed when he surpassed Oscar puzzle continued to fall into place. The Sixers’ victory ensured that nei- 109-93 victory over the Oklahoma City ramento Kings on Sunday or a loss by ing 20 points with 15 rebounds and 11 Robertson with his 182nd on Monday. The Philadelphia 76ers secured the ther the second-placed Brooklyn Nets Thunder. second-placed Phoenix in either of the assists despite sitting out the fourth Davis Bertans scored 17 points while top seed in the Eastern Conference nor third-ranked Milwaukee Bucks can The Jazz improved their league- Suns’ two weekend games against San quarter. Japanese forward Rui Hachimura and playoff s with a dominant 122-97 vic- overtake them for top spot in the East. leading record to 51-20 with one game Antonio.
BASKETBALL FOCUS Bryant remembered on eve Hip-hop to hoops: J Cole of Hall of Fame induction
AFP joins Rwanda team Washington
AFP os Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant Kigali loomed large Friday on the eve of his post- humous induction to the Naismith Memo- rial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside NBA merican rap star J Lgreats Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Cole has signed with The trio are among nine members of the 2020 the Rwanda Patri- Hall of Fame class who are being belatedly inducted ots and will play as a due to the coronavirus pandemic. shootingA forward in the maiden The celebration is being held at Mohegan Sun NBA-backed basketball Africa Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, to better allow League which starts in the East for social distancing. But the actual Hall in Spring- African nation today. fi eld, Massachusetts, is also unveiling a special ex- The award-winning rapper hibit honouring Bryant that president John Doleva and music producer, whose full believes will be come the “most talked about” ex- Celtics in the NBA Finals and all three retired from name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole, hibit at the shrine. “The family had a time to think the NBA at the end of the 2015-16 season. 36, played the sport in high about what they wanted to do,” Doleva said at Fri- “You can go through the list of NBA greats and I school and university, and has day’s pre-induction news conference. couldn’t pick two better players, not just that, but long dreamed of a professional “It’s about Kobe’s accomplishments but also two better people, to go into the Hall with,” said basketball career. about what Kobe was after he left the Lakers, after Garnett, who was drafted out of high school by the His name featured on the he left basketball.” Minnesota Timberwolves. He spent more than 10 roster of 13 players released NBA icon Michael Jordan, who spoke movingly years in Minnesota, where he was left hungering for Friday night by Patriots head at Bryant’s memorial service last year after the regular title chances before fi nally arriving in Bos- coach Alan Major. superstar was killed on January 26, 2020 in a heli- ton in 2007 and claiming the only title of his career Cole will play in jersey copter crash, will honour Bryant at the induction in 2008. number 15 for the team repre- ceremony, where those being enshrined are tradi- “Both of them are class acts and unbelievable senting Rwanda in the BAL. tionally introduced by someone close to them. Bry- players,” he said of Bryant and Duncan. “I’m very “J Cole is a very good shooter. ant was on the mind of his fellow inductees as well. privileged, if I’m being honest. Ever since I stepped We picked him because He has “Your greatest competition brings the best out in the league, it has been like a dream, and this is no a really high IQ for the game,” Ndayishimiye said Cole’s last year, but had to be post- tion. It will be the fi rst NBA- of you,” said Duncan, who spent all of his 19 NBA diff erent.” Patriots chief operations offi cer contract was confi dential, and poned because of the coronavi- sponsored professional league seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, winning fi ve Tamika Catchings, a four-time Olympic gold Haydee Ndayishimiye told AFP. he would only be with the team rus pandemic. out of the US. Cole’s Rwandan championships. “And that’s what he always did.” medallist and Women’s NBA star, will also be en- “He has a history of playing for the duration of the tourna- BAL president Amadou Fall debut will come two days after Duncan’s Spurs and Bryant’s Lakers met in the shrined, along with two-time NBA champion the game ... We just thought ment. said the league “will provide a the release of his sixth studio NBA playoff s seven times over the course of their coach Rudy Tomjanovic. Catchings was a child- that he is a great fi t with the Cole will play in the tourna- platform for elite players from album The Off -Season, a nod to careers. “You always had to be at your best and hood friend of Bryant, their fathers playing togeth- team and as we have seen in ment’s opening game between across the continent to show- his love of basketball. bring your best from start to fi nish if you were er both with the Philadelphia 76ers and in Italy. practice he is gelling well with the Patriots and Nigeria’s Riv- case their talent and inspire “I’m at a point in my life playing against him or any of his teams, and I think “I just remember calling my parents,” she said of the team. While they are prac- ers Hoopers today. fans of all ages”. where I’m like, are you going that’s what I appreciate about remembering play- hearing of a Kobe Bryant drafted out of high school, tising with him, they are look- The BAL tournament will run The BAL is being supported to be doing this forever?” Cole ing against him and being on the court with him.” “and saying, ‘This is the Kobe we were just in Italy ing good out there. He really until May 30. by the International basketball said in a recent interview with Duncan will be presented by fellow Spurs legend with, right?’ And yeah, it was. “So he went to the compliments the team,” she The fi rst edition of the 12- Federation and the USA-based Slam, an American basketball David Robinson. pros, I went to college, four years after that I went added. club event was scheduled for National basketball Associa- magazine. Bryant’s Lakers clashed with Garnett’s Boston to the WNBA, and the rest is history.” Gulf Times Sunday, May 16, 2021 5 SPORT
MLB NFL James considers grievance vs Broncos Gomes’ 5-hit night Reuters BEARS QB JUSTIN FIELDS: Los Angeles ‘MADE FOR THIS’
ormer Denver Broncos right tackle Ja’Wuan James is considering fi l- ing a grievance against sparks Nats’ rout theF team through the NFL Play- ers Association to recoup his 2021 pay, according to ESPN. The Broncos released James on Friday with a non-football injury designation, which could allow the team to void his salary for 2021. of Diamondbacks James, 28, sustained a season- ending torn Achilles injury while ‘What really bugs me is when I give away at-bats, or if I don’t execute on what I’m working away from team facili- ties in early May. Chicago Bears rookie quarter- James was set to earn $10 mil- back Justin Fields is willing trying to do, just because, like what I just said, I want to win’ lion in base salary in 2021. But to sit to begin his NFL career according to NFL Network, since because he trusts the coaching Yan Gomes (right) of the Washington he was injured while working out staff . Nationals high fi ves Trea Turner away from the team facility, he is But he’ll also be working every aft er scoring against the Arizona at risk of losing a portion or po- day to take the No. 1 job. Fields, Diamondbacks during the third tentially even all of his salary. speaking Friday before the team inning of the MLB game at Chase Shortly after the injury, the began rookie minicamp in Lake Field in Phoenix. (Getty Images/AFP) NFL cited James in a memo in- Forest, Ill., said he won’t rock forming teams that injuries in- the boat if Chicago plans to let curred in such conditions could him learn from the sideline as a be given the non-football iInjury rookie. (NFI) designation, getting teams And if he’s thrust into the off the hook from paying the spotlight, where he stood Friday, player for missed time. Fields said it’s all good. “I kinda The NFLPA viewed that feel like I’m made for this. I’m stance as a mechanism to force built for this. It’s nothing new to players to join teams’ involun- me,” Fields said at Halas Hall. tary workouts. “I think everybody on our In an e-mail to players, the team should be striving for a union wrote of the league’s starting job and if you’re not, stance on James: “It was gutless then there’s no reason for you to to use a player’s serious injury as be here. So, of course, I’m going a scare tactic to get you to come to do everything that I can to get running back to these workouts. that starting job. It’s not up to “This memo is another sign of me, coach Nagy has a set plan on what they think of you and also my development and stuff like affi rms that they simply want to that. I’m just gonna work hard control you year-round in any and keep my head down and just and every way that they can.” keep grinding it out everyday.” James opted out of the 2020 The Bears signed Andy Dalton season. in free agency and former Super He played in only three games Bowl MVP Nick Foles remains since the Broncos signed him to on the roster. Former fi rst-round a four-year, $51 million contract pick Mitchell Trubisky was al- before the 2019 season. He dealt lowed to leave in free agency and with a knee injury that season signed with the Buff alo Bills. and played only 63 snaps for the But Chicago traded up with Broncos. the New York Giants to select James was the Miami Dol- Fields 11th overall for a reason. phins’ fi rst-round draft pick out The Ohio State product was the of Tennessee in 2014. Injuries fourth quarterback chosen in the cost him 18 games during his fi ve 2021 draft. Coach Matt Nagy, seasons with the Dolphins before speaking to NFL Network on he became a free agent after the Wednesday, was again implying 2018 season. a commitment to Dalton. Reuters ber has recorded at least one hit in seven 6 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck In a similar situation, Denver “The obvious one here with RESULTS Phoenix of his past eight games, and he has three out six. Kelenic, the 21-year-old left wide receiver DaeSean Hamil- the draft just happening is with fi elder ranked as the No. 4 overall pros- ton sustained a torn ACL while (Fields) and us going up to get Nationals 17-2 D’Bcks home runs in that span. ax Scherzer threw fi ve shut- Smith yielded eight hits and two walks pect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, went training away from the team fa- him. We know what we have out innings and Yan Gomes Yankees 5-4 Orioles without registering a strikeout. 0-for-4 in his debut Thursday. cility, multiple media outlets re- sitting in front of us with him. had a career-high fi ve hits as Rays 3-2 Mets Washington rallied for another three He struck out in his fi rst at-bat Friday ported on Friday. We gotta make sure that he has the Washington Nationals Cubs 4-2 Tigers runs in the fi fth on Turner’s two-run before coming up in the third inning with The Broncos reportedly were a successful entry plan and we Mdemolished the Arizona Diamondbacks double and Harrison’s RBI single. Sam Haggerty on base following a leadoff on the verge of trading him, but don’t know how that’s gonna 17-2 on Friday in Phoenix. Red Sox 4-3 Angels Peralta and Andrew Young each had single. Kelenic hit a 1-0 splitter from Civ- the trade has fallen through. look,” Nagy said. Injury-riddled Arizona lost its third Astros 10-4 Rangers two of the Diamondbacks’ six hits. ale into the stands in right-center fi eld to game in a row and is 3-10 in May after go- Pirates 3-2 Giants Arizona placed infi elder Asdrubal Ca- make it 3-0. Kelenic added a double into ing 14-12 in April. Washington has won brera (strained right hamstring) on the the right-center-fi eld gap in the fi fth and two in a row following a four-game losing Dodgers 9-6 Marlins 10-day injured list before the game. He a run-scoring double down the left fi eld Fully vaccinated players, staff no streak. Gomes went 5-for-6, fi nishing a Padres 5-4 Cardinals is one of seven Diamondbacks on the IL. line in the seventh. longer required to wear masks at home run away from the cycle. He added Braves 6-3 Brewers “What really bugs me is when I give four runs and two RBIs. He led Washing- KELENIC’S FIRST THREE HITS LEAD away at-bats, or if I don’t execute on what Phillies 5-1 Blue Jays team facilities ton’s 22-hit attack. MARINERS PAST INDIANS I’m trying to do, just because, like what I Six other Nationals had multiple hits Mariners 7-3 Indians Jarred Kelenic homered for his fi rst ma- just said, I want to win,” Kelenic said. Players and staff in the National dose of the Pfizer or Moderna – Trea Turner (2-for-5 with three RBIs), Athletics 6-1 Twins jor league hit, doubled twice and drove The Mariners got off to a quick start as Football League (NFL) who are vaccines or their single dose in three runs as the Seattle Mariners de- Seager hit a two-out solo homer to right- Josh Harrison (3-for-7 with an RBI), Kyle Royals 6-2 White Sox fully vaccinated against Cov- of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Schwarber (3-for-4 with two RBIs), Josh feated the visiting Cleveland Indians 7-3 center fi eld in the bottom of the fi rst. It id-19 will no longer be required the NFL said. “Eff ective imme- Bell (2-for-5 with three RBIs), Victor White Sox 3-1 Royals Friday night. was Seager’s 83rd career homer at T-Mo- to wear masks at team facilities, diately, fully vaccinated ... staff Robles (2-for-2 with two RBIs) and An- Rockies 9-6 Reds Kyle Seager and Mitch Haniger also bile Park, tying him with Raul Ibanez and the league said on Friday, in line and players will not be required drew Stevenson (2-for-3 with three RBIs). went deep for Seattle, which snapped a Nelson Cruz for the most in the stadium’s with updated guidance from to wear masks anywhere in Scherzer (3-2) allowed two hits and one right-hander Riley Smith (1-3). Juan Soto fi ve-game skid. Josh Naylor hit a two-run 22-year history. the US health agency. the club facility, either indoors walk while recording seven strikeouts. He walked, Schwarber singled and Starlin homer in the ninth for the Indians, who Trailing 3-0, the Indians got on the On Thursday, the US Centers for or outdoors,” the NFL said in a was lifted after 85 pitches with Washing- Castro walked to load the bases with one had a four-game winning streak come board in the fi fth. Naylor led off with a Disease Control and Preven- statement. ton on top 11-0. out. to an end. Cleveland had won nine of its line-drive single to right, advanced to tion (CDC) said fully vaccinated The league said that teams Arizona left fi elder David Peralta Bell and Gomes followed with consec- previous 10 games. Seattle’s Chris Flexen second on a wild pitch and scored on Jor- Americans do not need to wear would still have to follow the pitched the ninth and allowed a three- utive two-run doubles. With two outs, (4-1) went 5 2/3 innings for the victory, dan Luplow’s single to center. masks outdoors and can avoid local and state regulations even run home run to Stevenson. Robles added an RBI double to put Wash- allowing one run on fi ve hits. He walked The Mariners added four runs in the wearing them indoors in most if those are more restrictive. Turner set the tone with a leadoff home ington ahead 6-0. one and didn’t strike out a batter. seventh, capped by Haniger’s two-run places. Additional changes to Covid-19 run in the fi rst inning. Smith was chased after three innings Fellow right-hander Rafael Montero shot to center fi eld, his team-leading 11th People are considered “fully protocols were expected “con- Washington, which lost seven of its with the Nationals up 8-0. Schwarber got the fi nal out for his fi fth save of the of the season, to make it 7-1. vaccinated” if fourteen days sistent with CDC guidelines”, it previous nine games, went on to score homered in the second, and Robles hit season. Indians right-hander Aaron Civ- Naylor’s two-run homer in the ninth have passed since their second added. (Reuters) fi ve more runs in the inning against another RBI double in the third. Schwar- ale (5-1) gave up fi ve runs on seven hits in came off right-hander JT Chargois.
NHL Jets down Leafs Reuters son. Toronto will face the fourth- and didn’t take the ice for the Toronto place Montreal Canadiens in the third period. Stastny seemed to fi rst round of the Stanley Cup sustain an injury after absorbing playoff s, beginning on Thursday. a Justin Holl bodycheck in the yle Connor scored two The third-place Jets (30-23-3, fi rst minute of the game. goals and Blake Wheel- 63 points) fi nished third in the Mason Appleton and Jansen er and Mark Scheifele North. Winnipeg’s fi rst-round Harkins also scored for the Jets. each had two assists as series with the second-place Toronto’s Ilya Mikheyev had Kthe Winnipeg Jets fi nished the Edmonton Oilers will start on a goal and an assist, ending a regular season with a 4-2 win Wednesday. personal seven-game points over the visiting Toronto Maple Connor fi nishes the regular drought. Leafs on Friday. season with 26 goals and in the Pierre Engvall collected the The Jets twice came back from midst of a three-game scor- Maple Leafs’ other goal. After defi cits in the game, with Connor ing streak. Winnipeg’s entire scoring only three times in his fi nally putting Winnipeg ahead top line of Connor, Wheeler and fi rst 37 games, Engvall produced to stay at 4:21 of the third period. Scheifele heads into the playoff s four goals over the last fi ve games After enduring a 1-9-0 stretch, in strong form. of the season. Winnipeg ends its regular season Wheeler has 13 points (fi ve Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuy- with back-to-back victories. goals, eight assists) in his past ck stopped 34 of 36 shots to fi n- Toronto took its fi rst regula- nine games, and Scheifele has ish with a 24-17-3 record. tion loss in 10 games (7-1-2). eight points (two goals, six as- Leafs goalie Jack Campbell (17- The Maple Leafs (35-14-7, 77 sists) during a fi ve-game points 3-2) stopped 20 of 23 shots. Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (second right) scores on Toronto points) fi nished atop the North streak. The Maple Leafs won the sea- Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell in the second period at Bell Division for their fi rst division Jets forward Paul Stastny left son series against the Jets by a MTS Place in Winnipeg. (USA TODAY Sports) title since the 1999-2000 sea- for a portion of the fi rst period 6-4-0 margin. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, May 16, 2021 SPORT
CYCLING TRIATHLON Blummenfelt takes gold as Knibb Frenchman Lafay confi rms Oly spot
Reuters opened up a gap in the early Oslo kilometres of the run leg before Blummenfelt pulled clear in the fi nal lap to fi nish 10 seconds orway’s Kristian clear of Geens in a time of 1 hour wins stage as Ewan Blummenfelt won 42 minutes 55 seconds. gold at the opening In the women’s race, Knibb race of the 2021 World cruised to victory, fi nishing a NTriathlon Championship series minute-and-a-half ahead of in Yokohama yesterday after Summer Rappaport in a time of American Taylor Knibb crossed 1 hour 54 minutes 27 seconds to the line fi rst in the women’s race join her compatriot in booking to secure her place at the Olym- her berth on the US team at the abandons race pic Games. Olympic Games in Tokyo. A strong performance in The American was among the the 10 kilometre run phase of fi rst athletes out of the water at ‘IT’S AMAZING TO SEE ALL MY TEAMMATES WORKING FOR ME AND IT’S the three-discipline event saw the end of the swim alongside Blummenfelt open up a decisive Rappaport, who had secured her FANTASTIC TO BE ABLE TO WEAR THE MAGLIA ROSA FOR ANOTHER DAY’ gap over Belgium’s Jelle Geens spot at the Games back in Au- while Morgan Pearson of the gust 2019, and Maya Kingma. United States fi nished third. Kingma and Knibb pulled The race was the fi rst to be held more than two minutes clear of in the World Triathlon Champi- the rest of the fi eld on the bike onship series this year due to the leg, but the Dutch athlete suf- ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. fered for her punishing pace. Vincent Luis led the athletes That allowed Knibb to open out of the 1.5 kilometre swim leg a commanding gap on the run and onto the cycling phase of the while a hard-charging Rap- race, with the Frenchman joined paport took second as Kingma by a large pack of riders during crossed in third. the 40 kilometres on the bicycle. “I wasn’t really thinking about Jonas Schomburg, Geens, Tokyo,” said Knibb. “I just want- Blummenfelt and Alex Yee ed to get to that fi nish line.”
Team Cofi dis rider France’s Victor Lafay celebrates as he crosses the fi nish line to win the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia 2021 cycling race, 170km between Foggia and Guardia Sanframondi, yesterday. (AFP)
SPOTLIGHT McKeown swims second fastest 100m backstroke ever
AFP record but I have to have some- Reuters cation contenders losing time as RESULTS Sydney thing to chase and Regan is still Guardia Sanframondi, Italy they crossed the line in the same Guardia Sanframondi, Italy, May the No.1 girl at the moment.” group. “It was a perfect day for 15, 2021 (AFP) -Results from She revealed that Smith texted me and for the team,” Valter said. stage eight of the Giro d’Italia, ustralian teenager her after her 200m performance. ictor Lafay of Cofi dis “Once the break went clear, we a 170km ride from Foggia to Kaylee McKeown fi red “It’s nice to hear from com- claimed his fi rst stage tried not to take any risks. Sanframondi on Saturday: a warning shot yester- petitors from all over the world, victory as a profes- “It’s amazing to see all my 1. Victor Lafay (FRA/Cofidis) day ahead of the Tokyo nice to know they’re watching sional when he won team mates working for me a 4hrs 6min 47sec, 2. Francesco Olympics,A swimming the sec- and they’ve got your back as Vstage eight of the Giro d’Italia nd it’s fantastic to be able to wear Gavazzi (ITA/EOL) at 36sec, 3. ond fastest women’s 100 metre well,” she said. “Regan is an out- yesterday while Caleb Ewan, the Maglia Rosa for another day.” Nikias Arndt (GER/DSM) 37, 4. backstroke ever to narrowly miss standing swimmer and she’s a who won two stages this week, Ewan was leading the points Nelson Oliveira (POR/MOV) 41, American rival Regan Smith’s lovely person. was forced to abandon the race classifi cation after winning 5. Giovanni Carboni (ITA/BAR) world record. “It’s a pretty outstanding due to pain in his knee. stages fi ve and seven, with the 44, 6. Kobe Goossens (BEL/LOT) The 19-year-old, who is world record to be chasing and to Frenchman Lafay, 25, was second victory coming on Friday 58, 7. Victor Campenaerts (BEL/ shaping as a serious contender come up and edge a bit closer is among a group of nine in the after a well-timed surge at the QHU) 1:00, 8. Alexis Gougeard for multiple Olympic medals, exciting.” breakaway on the fi nal climb of fi nish. (FRA/AG2) 1:54, 9. Fernando hit the wall in 57.63 seconds at Australia’s Olympic trials are the 170km stage and held off a However, the 26-year-old Gaviria (COL/UAE) 3:04, 10. Joao the Sydney Open, just outside in Adelaide next month, where late surge from Eolo-Kometa’s Australian never planned to Almeida (POR/DEC) 4:48 Smith’s all-time mark of 57.57, records could fall. McKeown is Francesco Gavazzi who fi nished complete the May 8-30 race as set at the 2019 world champion- also set to contest the 200m in- second with Team DSM’s Nikias he has his sights set on win- SELECTED ships. It followed her victory in dividual medley in Tokyo. Arndt third. ning sprint stages in the Tour de 11. Aleksandr Vlasov RUS/AST) the 200m backstroke on Friday Emma McKeon is also target- “I spent a lot of energy already France starting on June 26. 4:48, 13. Remco Evenepoel in the fourth quickest time in ing a clutch of gold medals in in the fi rst part of the stage to get Team Groupama-FDJ rider Hungary’s Attila Valter celebrates his “I need to do what’s best in (BEL/DEC) 4:48, 17. Egan Bernal history. Japan, swimming away from the into the breakaway,” Lafay said. overall leader’s pink jersey on the podium after the eighth stage of preparation for the Tour,” Ewan (COL/INE) 4:48, 18. Simon Yates “I wasn’t expecting to come fi eld to win the 100m butterfl y “There were several attempts the Giro d’Italia 2021 cycling race yesterday. (AFP) said on Friday. (GBR/BIK) 4:48, 20. Romain out and do that swim this morn- Saturday in 56.81 then backing but the peloton didn’t leave “Unfortunately, sprinters’ legs Bardet (FRA/DSM) 4:48, 23. ing and I’ve got no complaints up to clinch the 50m freestyle in much space. Then fi nally the energy. In the fi nale of the stage, ing me.” don’t recover in the same way Hugh Carthy (GBR/EF1) 4:48, 25. about it. I’m pretty happy,” she 24.58. It followed her victory in breakaway went clear. there were several attacks. I at- Groupama-FDJ’s Attila Valter that any other riders’ do and if I Tobias Foss (NOR/JUM) 4:48, 28. said after setting a new Austral- the 100m freestyle on Friday in “Once the gap started to in- tacked in the last few kilometres retained the leader’s pink jersey fi nished the Giro now I would be George Bennett (NZL/JUM) 4:48, ian and Commonwealth record. the year’s fastest time and sixth crease I was able to recover some and saw that no one was follow- with none of the general classifi - dying for the next few months.” 29. Attila Valter (HUN/FDJ) 4:48 “It was so close to the world quickest of all-time.
FOCUS Andrew powers to 100m fl y win in 50.80sec AFP holder and two-time defending world Los Angeles champion, was putting in his trials prep- aration at the Atlanta Classic meeting on Friday, where he won the men’s 100m fl y ichael Andrew crashed in 51.15. through the 51-second bar- Dressel overtook Tom Shields on the rier to win the 100m butterfl y second lap, Shields capturing second at the Indianapolis Pro Swim in 51.55. Back in Indianapolis, collegiate MSeries in 50.80sec on Friday, one month champion Phoebe Bacon clocked 2min before the US Olympic swimming trials. 06.84sec to beat world record-holder Andrew, coming off an impressive win Regan Smith in the women’s 200m back- in the 100m breaststroke on Thursday, stroke. Bacon seized a narrow lead on had lowered his personal best to 51.31 in the penultimate lap and held on – both the 100m fl y heats. swimmers clocking the same split for the The 22-year-old then set a Pro Swim fi nal length that left Smith in second in Series record in the fi nal with the sec- 2:96.90. ond-fastest time in the world this season “I knew both of us were going to be out behind the 50.47 posted by Hungarian fast, and I knew I could keep up with her Kristof Milak. on that fi rst 100,” Bacon said. “For me, it “It was pretty much exactly what I was just all about hammering down that planned on doing this evening,” Andrew last 100, especially that last 50. I knew I said. “I would have liked to go 50.5, but couldn’t let her get out of my eyesight.” the race execution was great. Smith came back later to win the wom- “I knew that this morning I fi nished en’s 100m butterfl y in 57.68, with Kelsi really well, so this evening I just wanted Dahlia second in 57.75. to put in as much speed as I could going “I was hoping to pull something a lit- out, and I think I was to the wall in 23.3 tle faster here, but I’ll take it,” Smith said. and then I closed nicely. “It was a tough double tonight and it was “I feel like this whole weekend is just a great race, we were all right on top of building confi dence going into trials.” each other so to come out with the win is Caeleb Dressel, the world record- great.” Gulf Times Sunday, May 16, 2021 7 FOOTBALL
SPOTLIGHT SERIE A Juve beat Inter to Tielemans stunner keep Champions League hopes alive AFP weekend. Milan Atalanta paved the way with three fi rst half goals. Ruslan Ma- linovskyi set up Duvan Zapata for clinches maiden uan Cuadrado scored the opener and then scored him- twice, including a late self, with Robin Gosens grabbing penalty, as Juventus beat a third before the break. Inter Milan 3-2 to keep Mario Pasalic added a fourth theirJ Champions League hopes six minutes after the break before alive yesterday in a game in 14th-placed Genoa hit back with which both teams fi nished a man an Eldor Shomurodov brace ei- FA Cup for Leicester down. ther side of a Goran Pandev goal Juve moved up to fourth equal just after an hour. on points with third-placed AC “For us, returning to the 'It feels amazing, I’m really glad to score the goal to help the team to win the game' Milan and two points ahead of Champions League this year Napoli who both play today. The tastes better,” said coach Gian win ended the 20-match un- Piero Gasperini, who brought beaten run of Inter who had de- the Bergamo side to elite Euro- nied Juventus a 10th consecutive pean football for the fi rst time in league title this season. the 2019-2020 season. “Three Cristiano Ronaldo missed a times in the Champions League penalty after 24 minutes but is a great achievement. The tro- turned in the rebound to bring phy would be the icing on the his tally to a Serie A leading tally cake, but we are convinced that 29 goals this campaign. But Inter we have won a lot anyway.” got back level nine minutes later Atalanta will bid for just their with a Romelu Lukaku penalty. second ever trophy in the Coppa Juve pulled ahead before half- Italia fi nal against Juventus next time when Cuadrado blasted in Wednesday in Reggio Emilia. The past Samir Handanovic. Juve club won the Coppa Italia back played most of the second half a in 1963. Even if Milan, who host man down after Rodrigo Bentan- 16th-placed Cagliari today, win cur was sent off for a second yel- their last two matches, Atalanta low car for a Lukaku tackle. are now assured of a top-four Captain Giorgio Chiellini fi nish. turned into his own net with seven minutes to go but in a dra- SERIE A RESULTS matic end to the game Juve were Genoa 3 (Shomurodov 48, 84, awarded a penalty for an Ivan Pandev 67-pen) Atalanta 4 (Zap- Perisic foul on Cuadrado which ata 9, Malinovskyi 26, Gosens 44, the Colombian converted. Inter also fi nished the game Pasalic 51); Spezia 4 (Saponara a man down with Marcelo Bro- 19, Nzola 41-pen, Nzola 74, Erlic zovic getting a second booking in 84) Torino 1 (Belotti 54-pen); Ju- injury time. ventus 3 (Ronaldo 24, Cuadrado Earlier Atalanta sealed their 45+3, 88-pen) Inter 2 (Lukaku spot in the Champions League 35-pen, Chiellini 83-og) for a third consecutive season Playing today (all times GMT): with a 4-3 win over Genoa. The Fiorentina v Napoli (1030), Bergamo side are second, three Benevento v Crotone, Udinese v Leicester City players celebrate with the trophy after winning the FA Cup at the Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. (Reuters) points ahead of AC Milan and Sampdoria (1300), Parma v Sas- Juventus, and are assured of elite suolo (1600), AC Milan v Cagliari AFP English football’s other prestigious tro- chances despite Leicester losing defen- way inside the Chelsea half and strode European football before the two (1845) London phy at the fi fth time of asking. sive lynchpin Jonny Evans to injury mid- forward before unleashing an unstoppa- teams go head-to-head next Four times they had previously lost the way through the fi rst half. ble strike into the top corner past Kepa fi nal, but the last of those was 52 years Timo Werner’s wayward fi nishing has Arrizabalaga. Tuchel fl exed the strength eicester won the FA Cup for the ago. A historic week for Brendan Rodg- characterised his fi rst season in England in depth of his squad in an attempt to fi nd fi rst time in the club’s 137-year ers’s men could get even better as they since joining from RB Leipzig for £47mn an equaliser as Callum Hudson-Odoi, history yesterday as Youri Tiele- are on the verge of sealing a place in next ($66mn) and the German international Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz, Olivier Giroud mans’s sensational strike beat season’s Champions League. had another day to forget in front of goal. and Christian Pulisic were all introduced LChelsea 1-0 in front of 22,000 fans at The sides meet again in three days’ Tuchel turned away in disgust after off the bench. Wembley. The largest crowd for a sports time at Stamford Bridge in a pivotal clash Werner blazed high and wide from the But they were denied by the brilliance event in England since the coronavirus to decide who secures a top-four fi nish in edge of the box with the Leicester de- of Schmeichel in the Leicester goal. pandemic hit 14 months ago were treated the Premier League. Chelsea need a quick fence stretched midway through the fi rst Chilwell, whose every touch was booed to a goal worthy to win any trophy as the response after losing for just the fourth half. Werner then came closest to break- by the Leicester support, nearly came Belgian midfi elder blasted into the top time in 27 games since Thomas Tuchel ing the deadlock before half-time as his back to haunt his old club as his header corner on 63 minutes. replaced the sacked Frank Lampard in header drifted just wide and evaded Ce- was turned onto the post by the Dane. "It feels amazing, I’m really glad to January. sar Azpilicueta as the Chelsea captain Mount then could not believe his luck score the goal to help the team to win the The Blues also have a Champions launched himself in at the far post. as his sweetly struck shot was turned be- game. It was a really tight game and to League fi nal to look forward to against The welcome return of noise echoing hind by a brilliant stop from Schmeichel. score in the fi nal but what a goal that was! Manchester City in two weeks’ time, but down from 6,000 fans of each side from Even when the Leicester ‘keeper was So I’m really happy for the team and for could end the campaign without silver- both ends of the ground helped mask a beaten, Chelsea were denied by a VAR re- the fans," Tielemans said. ware or a place in Europe’s premier club general lack of quality on the fi eld. An- view. Kasper Schmeichel produced a stun- competition next season. other 10,000 local supporters, key work- A Wes Morgan own goal looked set to ning save to deny Mason Mount late on Chelsea’s success under Tuchel has ers and Football Association stakeholders send the game to extra-time, but Chilwell and Chelsea also had a goal ruled out by a come thanks to an excellent defensive were also in attendance as Wembley gears had strayed off side in the build-up. VAR review for off side. record, but their struggles at the other up for hosting matches at Euro 2020 next Leicester players and fans celebrated the Five years after the Foxes stunned end were again exposed. month at 25% capacity. decision like a goal and were in raptures the Premier League’s giants to become Tuchel’s men dominated before half- One moment of magic proved decisive again moments later after seeing out a Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado celebrates after scoring against Inter Milan champions, Leicester have now claimed time but laboured to create clear-cut as Tielemans collected possession mid- nervy fi nale. during the Serie A match in Turin, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters)
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP PREMIER LEAGUE Gerrard’s Rangers fi nish season unbeaten Burnley report incident aft er AFP Leeds’ Alioski clashes with McNeil Glasgow AFP and the FA said it would await minute from the game’s fi rst shot London the report before commenting. on target as Che Adams struck angers crushed Aberdeen 4-0 Bielsa said he had not seen Al- from close range following a to put the seal on their unbeaten ioski’s reaction. “I didn’t see that James Ward-Prowse free-kick. Scottish Premiership title-win- urnley manager Sean there was an incident between Southampton doubled their ning campaign yesterday. Steven Dyche said a report will the two,” he said. “If there was a advantage on the hour when Gerrard’sR side had already been confi rmed be made to the English gesture I didn’t see it. I saw there Nathan Tella tapped in. Fulham’s as champions several weeks ago, but were Football Association af- was a dispute but I didn’t think it Fabio Carvalho marked his full determined to fi nish the season without a terB Leeds midfi elder Ezgjan Al- was too diff erent to what usually Premier League debut by pull- league defeat. ioski appeared to taunt Dwight happens within a game.” ing one back via the underside of Aberdeen never threatened to spoil the McNeil during the Clarets’ 4-0 Dyche withdrew McNeil mo- the bar in the 75th minute. Theo party as Kemar Roofe scored twice for Rang- defeat yesterday. ments later as he was replaced Walcott restored Southampton’s ers after Joe Lewis’s early own goal. Former The controversial incident by Johann Berg Gudmundsson, two-goal lead with a defl ected Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe completed happened in the second half though the Burnley manager eff ort in the 82nd minute. the demolition in the fi nal moments. of the Premier League clash at said the decision was unrelated. On Friday night, Ferran Torres Having ended Celtic’s bid for a 10th suc- Turf Moor when McNeil shouted “I was going to take Dwight off ,” scored a hat-trick as Manches- cessive Scottish title, Rangers fi nished with angrily at Alioski after making he said. “He’s put in a lot of eff ort ter City won 4-3 at Newcastle. 102 points after going unbeaten through the a crunching challenge on the this season and done very well With a third title in four years al- entire 38-game campaign. Rangers’ 19th Macedonian. McNeil appeared over this season. This was the ready sealed with three games to win from 19 league games at Ibrox this sea- to suggest Alioski had dived, but fi rst time he’s looked a bit jaded. I spare, Pep Guardiola again took son saw them fi nish 25 points clear of second the Leeds player got to his feet was nearly going to leave him out the chance to hand a number of placed Celtic. and responding by covering his before the game, he’s put a big his fringe players an opportunity “It was about having a vision, getting the Rangers players celebrate after winning the Scottish Premiership. (Reuters) ears and sticking out his tongue. shift in this season.” to shine two weeks ahead of the right people in the right places, the right Both benches got involved in Mateusz Klich put Bielsa’s side Champions League fi nal. support from the board and fi ghting for it,” Yousaf adding: “This is ultimately about Guardian. “He’s cool, he’s composed, he an argument and referee Graham ahead on the stroke of half-time. Gerrard said. “I’m so proud of the boys and personal responsibility. “If you have gath- gives the right answers. He’s really top be- Scott then called over Dyche and Leeds punished Burnley after the PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS cause it’s an art.” break as Jack Harrison added a all the staff . We’ve fought every day for the ered you should disperse, particularly given Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, as Burnley 0 Leeds 4 (Klich 44, last three years to get to this point.” yesterday’s announcement about Covid in Gerrard responded by revealing he has well as Clarets captain Ben Mee second before providing the two Harrison 60, Rodrigo 77, 79); Thousands of Rangers fans set off blue Glasgow.” sought advice from Ferguson. “I’ll let you and Leeds skipper Luke Ayling, assists as Rodrigo came off the Southampton 3 (Adams 27, and red fl ares and waved fl ags as they gath- The triumph was a sweet moment for into a little secret: I’ve had a couple of con- before play could resume. “A re- bench to bag a brace. ered outside the empty stadium to celebrate. former Liverpool and England star Gerrard, versations with him,” Gerrard said. “Since I port has come into the referee Looking to fi nish in the top half Tella 60, Walcott 82) Fulham 1 Rangers captain James Tavernier lifted the who has earned his stripes in Glasgow in his retired we have parked our rivalry up and he and that will be passed on to the of the Premier League in their (Carvalho 75) Scottish Premiership trophy after the fi nal fi rst managerial role. Gerrard’s success has gave me time on the phone to bounce a few FA,” said Dyche, who did not say fi rst season back in the top tier, Playing today (all times GMT): whistle in a presentation ceremony on the caught the eye of many in the football world. things off him, a few questions to do with which player was involved. “One Leeds hold a four-point cushion Playing Sunday Crystal Palace v pitch. Former Manchester United boss Alex Fer- the management up here at Rangers. He was of our players made the report over 11th-placed Aston Villa be- Aston Villa (1100), Tottenham v It was met by a barrage of fi reworks as guson, who featured for Rangers in his play- fantastic in those conversations.” and I was there to be a witness to fore Dean Smith’s side head to Wolves (1305), West Brom v Liv- the Rangers faithful lit Glasgow up in red, ing days, recently saluted the way Gerrard Ferguson, who made his name as Aber- the report, not the incident. “The Crystal Palace on Sunday. erpool (1530), Everton v Sheff ield white and blue, with many climbing on the has coped with the intense pressure of man- deen boss before enjoying decades of un- report has been made with the Fulham slumped to a 3-1 de- United (1800) stadium gates and dancing together in the aging the Old Firm giants. “Oh, he’s done paralleled success at Old Traff ord, couldn’t referee and that’s where it will feat at Southampton in their fi rst Played Friday: Newcastle 3 streets as social distancing rules went out of magnifi cent. He really has, both on and off have done much better than Gerrard this stay for now.” match since their relegation from the window. the fi eld. A press interview can lose you your season. Rangers equalled Celtic’s clean- Asked if there was a racial el- the top fl ight was confi rmed on (Krafth 25, Joelinton 45+6-pen, Rangers chiefs joined police in urging fans job in management. But Steven’s press con- sheet record of 26 for a 38-game season, set ement to the complaint, Dyche Monday. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Willock 62) Manchester City 4 to disperse, with Justice Secretary Humza ferences are fantastic,” Ferguson told The in 1913-14. declined to comment further Saints took the lead in the 27th (Cancelo 39, Torres 42, 64, 66) Sunday, May 16, 2021 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL
SPOTLIGHT Afi f returns to Qatar squad for World Cup and Asian Cup qualifi ers
By Sports Reporter The fifth group matches will be Group D the fi rst match will kick off on INDIAN TEAM TO ARRIVE IN Doha held in four rounds on June 3-7-11 and July 13 against Panama, before Hondu- QATAR ON MAY 19 15th, with seven matches. Qatar cur- ras takes on Grenada. On July 20 in Or- India, who are already out of the reck- rently top the Group E ranking with 16 lando, Grenada and Panama will close oning for a 2022 FIFA World Cup berth atar coach Felix Sanchez has points from six games, Oman are sec- Group Stage play while Honduras faces but are still in contention for a 2023 named a 27-member squad ond with 12 points from five matches, Qatar in BBVA Stadium. Asian Cup spot in the joint qualifi ers, for the upcoming games of Afghanistan third with 4 points, India QATAR TEAM: Tareq Salman, Ab- will arrive on May 19 after Qatar ac- the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and fourth with 3, and Bangladesh have 1 delkarim Hassan, Pedro Miguel, Salah cepted the All India Football Federa- theQ 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifi ers to point. tion’s (AIFF) request to allow Indian’s Zakaria, Mahmoud Abu Nada, Meshaal be held from June 3-15. Al Sadd striker Qatar beat Bangladesh 5-0 last De- Barsham, Saad al-Sheeb, Mohamed players to train in Doha ahead of the Akram Afi f made a return to the squad cember before the qualifi ers were 2022 World Cup qualifi ers. Waad, Boulem Khoukhi, Salem al-Hajri, after having been out for long time due pushed ahead following the coronavi- Qatar has even agreed to the AIFF’s Humam Ahmed, Bassem al-Rawi, to a muscle injury. rus pandemic. Qatar are also scheduled request to waive the mandatory 10-day Qatar was picked by the Asian Football to participate in the CONCACAF Gold Musab Khidr, Ahmed Suhail, Hassan quarantine. The players will have a pre- Confederation in March as the central- Cup 2021 as a guest team as AFC Asian al-Haydos, Khaled Muneer, Abdelaziz paratory camp of nearly two weeks in a ised venue to host the remaining Group E Cup champions. Hatem, Abdullah al-Ahrak, Ismail Mo- bio-bubble before their fi rst match on matches owing to the coronavirus-relat- The tournament will be played in 11 hamed, Karim Boudaif, Assim Madibo, June 3. ed travel and quarantine restrictions. The cities across eight diff erent US metro- Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Ahmed Alaael- The Indian team will assemble in Qatar players will begin a training camp politan areas, with the fi nal taking place din, Mohamed Muntari, Sultan al-Brake, New Delhi and will be tested for Cov- from today ahead of the qualifi ers. in Las Vegas on August 2. Qatar are in Youssed Abdel Razzaq. id-19 before their departure to Qatar.
BUNDESLIGA FOCUS Sweden’s Ibrahimovic out of Euro 2020 Lewandowski with knee injury
AFP League for the fi rst time since Milan 2014. “We have received the best news we could have, the problem equals Mueller’s weden international Zla- does not aff ect the ligament,” tan Ibrahimovic has been Milan coach Stefano Pioli told ruled out of Euro 2020 a press conference before the with a knee injury, the team’s league game against SwedishS Football Association Cagliari. “Conservative treat- confi rmed yesterday. Ibrahimov- ment will allow Zlatan to return ic sprained his left knee a week to 100% next season. After the 49-year-old record ago playing for Italian club side (medical) consultation he too AC Milan who revealed earlier was certainly more serene.” Saturday that medical experts Ibrahimovic has 62 goals from ‘It’s a huge honour for me and for the modern history of the Bundesliga’ recommended “conservative 118 appearances for Sweden but treatment for six weeks”. has only scored once for Mi- AFP “I have spoken to Zlatan Ibra- lan since February after miss- Berlin himovic who unfortunately has ing games through injury and told me that his injury will stop suspension. He recently signed his participation in the European a contract extension until June obert Lewandowski equalled Championship this summer,” 2022 and has netted 17 times in Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old Sweden team coach Janne An- all competitions for the club. scoring record as the Bayern dersson said in a statement. “Of Ibrahimovic started his career Munich striker netted his 40th course this feels sad, most of all in Malmo in 1999, going on to BundesligaR goal of the season in a 2-2 for Zlatan but, also for us,” An- play for Ajax, Juventus, both Mi- draw at Freiburg yesterday. Lewandowski dersson added. lan clubs, Barcelona, Paris Saint- equalled Mueller’s tally, scored over 34 The 39-year-old forward re- Germain and Manchester Unit- games in 1971/72, in just 28 league fi x- turned to his national side last ed. In Milan, ‘Ibra’ has returned tures this term. March nearly fi ve years after his to form and even seems to have “It’s a huge honour for me and for international farewell. Sweden turned the clock back, regularly the modern history of the Bundesliga,” open their Euro 2020 campaign comparing himself to a fi ctional Lewandowski said. Lewandowski con- against Spain in Seville on June character who gets younger over verted a penalty for the champions after 14, before further Group E games time. His return to Milan 10 years 26 minutes to match Mueller’s milestone. against Slovakia four days later after his fi rst passage where he As part of his penalty celebrations, the and Poland in Saint-Petersburg helped them win their last Serie Poland striker lifted his match shirt to on the 23rd. A title in 2011 had been greeted reveal a picture of Gerd Mueller over the Ibrahimovic’s treatment with some scepticism. But he has text “4ever Gerd”. would last until June 26 at least. proved to be a rock at the former “I would never have thought that this The veteran forward injured his seven-time European champions would happen. What Gerd Mueller did is knee during a 3-0 win over Ju- and a mentor for the club’s young incredible. Sharing the record with him ventus, and will miss his club’s players. He scored 15 goals in 17 makes me very, very proud,” Lewand- last two league games as they league matches and overtaken owski added. target a return to the Champions the bar of 500 club goals scored. The fi xture was briefl y halted after Lewandowski scored as his Bayern team- mates formed a guard-of-honour on the side of the pitch which the smiling 32-year-old ran through. Freiburg drew level almost immediately when Manuel Gulde headed in at the near post from a corner on 29 minutes after slipping his marker. Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scores from the penalty spot during the Bundesliga match against Freiburg. (AFP) Bayern, who were crowned German champions last weekend for the ninth Saturday. He squandered a late chance to Elsewhere, bottom side Schalke, who BUNDESLIGA RESULTS season in a row, upped the tempo after the score “at least one more goal. You don’t are already relegated, pulled off a stun- Freiburg 2 (Gulde 29, Guenter 81) Bayern break. Serge Gnabry had a goal disallowed break records like that so quickly,” added ning 4-3 home win over Eintracht Frank- Munich 2 (Lewandowski 26-pen, Sane six minutes into the second-half after the Lewandowski. furt, who remain outside the Champions 53); Hertha Berlin 0 Cologne 0; Schalke VAR spotted he was off side in tapping The former Borussia Dortmund for- League places in fi fth. US striker Mat- 04 4 (Huntelaar 15, Idrizi 52, Florian 60, home a Leroy Sane cross. ward, who has scored 47 goals in 39 games thew Hoppe, 20, scored what proved to Hoppe 64) Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (Silva However, the Bavarians kept up the in all competitions this season, is also be the decisive goal to seal the win for 29, 72, Ndicka 51); Arminia Bielefeld 1 pressure and when David Alaba’s long- set to be crowned the Bundesliga’s top- Schalke which could have profound im- (Voglsammer 23) Hoff enheim 1 (Kramaric range pass found Thomas Mueller in scorer for the sixth time in eight years. plications in the top four. the area just moments later, he squared His tally of 40 league goals this season Both Borussia Dortmund, who are 5); Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Wirtz 27) Union for Sane who hit home on 53 minutes. includes four hat-tricks as well as a four- fourth before their away match at Mainz, Berlin 1 (Pohjanpalo 72); Augsburg 2 Freiburg had their chances to equalise as goal haul in Bayern’s nervy 4-3 home win and third-placed Wolfsburg, who travel (Khedira 57, Caligiuri 90-pen) Werder second-half replacements Lucas Hoeler against Hertha Berlin last October. to RB Leipzig, can secure Champions Bremen 0; Borussia Moenchengladbach and Janik Haberer both went close before “It’s crazy. It’s normal for Lewand- League qualifi cation with away wins 1 (Stindl 45) VfB Stuttgart 2 (Endo 72, Christian Guenter brought the sides level owski to score, but this is something today. At the foot of the table, Werder Kalajdzic 78) nine minutes from time. else,” said Bayern forward Thomas Muel- Bremen’s 2-0 defeat at Augsburg pushed Playing today (all times GMT): Mainz v Lewandowski can still break Mueller’s ler. “But he’s only human, you saw that them into the bottom three, just above Borussia Dortmund (1600), RB Leipzig v record as Bayern have one match left of when it came to the 41st goal,” Mueller second-from-bottom Cologne who were Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) speaks with coach Janne VfL Wolfsburg (1830) the campaign at home to Augsburg next joked after Lewandowski’s late miss. held to a goalless draw at Hertha Berlin. Andersson during a training session on March 30, 2021. (AFP)
PREVIEW Paris Saint-Germain stumbles leave Lille on brink of Ligue 1 title AFP ing four points from their last two out- a shot in the arm for the French game Paris ings to be sure of becoming champions four years after Monaco – with a young for the fi rst time since 2011. Mbappe in their ranks – took the title It would be a remarkable success sto- away from Paris. ille stand tantalisingly close to ry for Lille, but also a damning indict- Pochettino’s team could still end the a fi rst Ligue 1 title in a decade, ment of PSG’s failings in a campaign season without a major trophy, and but Kylian Mbappe is convinced in which they have lost eight times al- could even miss out on a top-three fi n- that Paris Saint-Germain will ready, as many as in the last two seasons ish and Champions League qualifi ca- Lonly have themselves to blame if they combined and the most they have suf- tion with both Monaco and Lyon just fail to retain their crown. fered in a single season since 2010-11. behind them. PSG have won the French title in “If we don’t win the league it will have However, they could also still fi nish seven of the last eight seasons and were been us who failed to win it rather than with a domestic double following their fully expected to do so again this year them who won it,” Mbappe said after Champions League semi-fi nal loss to given the huge fi nancial advantage the PSG beat Montpellier on penalties in Manchester City. As well as trying to Qatar-owned club enjoys. midweek to reach the French Cup fi nal. reel in Lille they play Monaco in the Despite possessing the two most After his comments caused a backlash, French Cup fi nal next Wednesday. expensive signings in football history Mbappe took to social media to explain in Mbappe and Neymar, Mauricio Po- himself. “Lille would make for great FIXTURES (ALL 1900 GMT) chettino’s team fi nd themselves sec- champions if they are crowned but with Bordeaux v Lens, Dijon v Nantes, Lille v ond, three points behind Lille with two eight defeats, if we lose the title we will Paris Saint-Germain are second in Ligue 1, three points behind Lille with two games remaining. (AFP) games remaining. be fully responsible,” Mbappe wrote Saint-Etienne, Lorient v Metz, Marseille PSG’s 1-1 draw at Rennes last week- alongside the hashtag #Respect. could even win the league with a game Reims, Christophe Galtier’s Lille will Etienne. v Angers, Monaco v Rennes, Montpel- end followed a 3-0 victory for Lille at Lille, who took four points out of a to spare today. In the seemingly unlike- be champions by bettering the capi- PSG fans will of course disagree, lier v Brest, Nice v Strasbourg, Nimes v Lens, and left the northern club requir- possible six against Paris this season, ly event that PSG fail to beat mid-table tal side’s result when they host Saint- but a Lille success would certainly be Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain v Reims