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Monday, May 20, 2019 FOOTBALL Ramadan 15, 1440 AH City stars salute GULF TIMES departing ‘legend’ Kompany SPORT Page 2

FOOTBALL AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TENNIS Al Sadd aim to top Nadal downs Djokovic to group with win win ninth Rome title against Persepolis Reuters Pliskova ends Konta Rome run to win Italian Open XAVI TO BRING THE CURTAIN DOWN ON HIS CAREER IN TEHRAN afael Nadal proved Karolina Pliskova ended that he would still be Johanna Konta’s hopes of the man to beat when landing a first claycourt title the French Open be- with a 6-3 6-4 victory in the ginsR later this month after he Italian Open final yesterday. humbled Novak Djokovic 6-0 The Czech world number 4-6 6-1 in the Italian Open fi - seven did not drop a single nal yesterday to win a record service game as she secured 34th ATP Masters 1000 title. the third clay title of her ca- The Spaniard, who had reer in one hour 25 minutes. shared the record of 33 Masters British number one Konta titles with the Serbian world claimed some big scalps on number one, warmed up for her way to the final, beating the defence of his Roland Gar- Grand Slam winners Sloane ros crown by securing his ninth Stephens and Venus Williams Rome title. as well as Madrid Open Nadal got off to a yingfl start champion Kiki Bertens. by whitewashing Djokovic in the However, she struggled to opening set. It was the fi rst time trouble the Czech on serve there has been a 6-0 set during as Pliskova recorded her sev- a meeting between the two ri- enth win in eight meetings vals. Djokovic took the second with Konta. by breaking Nadal’s serve for the fi rst time while leading 5-4, but the second seed responded here in 2005,” said Nadal, who in style by storming through the will be chasing a record ex- decisive set. tending 12th French Open title When Nadal’s previous three when the claycourt major be- claycourt tournaments had gins on May 26. “To have the ended in semi-fi nal defeats, it chance to come back and win no doubt gave his rivals hope this trophy after so many years that his long reign at Roland means everything. It wasn’t an Garros could be coming to an easy week for me.” end this year. The 32-year-old left Djoko- However, the way he demol- vic in a daze as he stormed ished the world’s top ranked through the opening set in 39 player in the opening and third blistering minutes. sets on Sunday would have once The top seed fought back again struck fear into any of in the second as he saved four those challengers who had been break points before winning harbouring hopes of lifting the the decisive game on Nadal’s Al Sadd’s Spanish captain Xavi will be playing the last match of his illustrious career against Iran’s Persepolis in Tehran today. Last Friday, he played his final game on Qatar soil Musketeers’ Cup on June 9. serve to take the set 6-4. when Al Sadd took on Al Duhail in the Amir Cup final, which his team lost. The Spaniard heads into Ro- But the Serb, who had sur- land Garros in top form after vived three-set battles against By Sports Reporter Champions League semi-fi nal between Both teams have already qualifi ed for Al Duhail made up for the disappoint- seeing his serve broken just Argentines Juan Martin del Po- Doha Persepolis and Al Sadd comes under the round of 16, and Al Hilal, with 12 ment of conceding the Qatar Stars League twice en route to claiming his tro and Diego Schwartzman to contrasting circumstances, with Al Sadd points from fi ve matches, are guaranteed title to rivals Al Sadd by defeating the fi rst title of 2019 in his 50th reach the fi nal, faded in the fi - already qualifying and Persepolis elimi- to top the group as Al Duhail can only fi n- latter 4-1 in the fi nal to lift the Amir Cup Masters fi nal. “For me it’s al- nal set as he dropped his open- he famous Azadi Stadium in Te- nated from Group D. ish on 11 even if they win the encounter. trophy last week. ways an honour to be here, I ing service game before Nadal hran will be home to the last Today, the two sides meet for the sixth But despite the fact that the match is Brazilian Edmilson was the star of the still remember my fi rst time surged clear. match in the career of Spanish time in just over a year. Persepolis and only of academic interest in the larger victory, scoring twice, while Mohamed football legend Xavi as Al Sadd Al Sadd were pitted together in Group C context of the tournament, Al Duhail Muntari had recorded a brace in the semi- Tface Persepolis in their fi nal Group C game last time around. A brace from Baghdad are motivated by the thought of revenge, fi nals. With the dangerous Youssef El in the AFC Champions League today. Bounedjah helped Al Sadd to a 3-1 win in having lost the reverse fi xture in Riyadh Arabi and Ali Afi f also in their ranks, they The former Barcelona and Spain mid- Doha on Matchday Two. 3-1 in early March. have enough fi repower to prevail over the fi elder brings to an end a four-year stay A victory for Al Sadd, who have 10 A victory in front of their home fans Saudis. Al Hilal, meanwhile, had a blank in Doha as he prepares to hang up his points, will help them top the group. would be the perfect boost they would be season, fi nishing runners-up to Al Nassr boots following the Persepolis clash, But a loss, combined with a win for Uz- looking for before the knockouts beckon in the Saudi Pro League and being elimi- bringing down the curtain on a 22-year bekistan’s Pakhtakor (8), against Saudi in August. The Saudi side had beaten Al nated in the semi-fi nals of the King’s Cup career which saw him win 32 titles, the Arabia’s Al Ahli, will see the Uzbeks rise Ain 2-0 in the previous matchday, taking by eventual winners Al Tawoun. last of which was the 2018-19 Qatar Stars to the top. their tally to 12 points. Meanwhile, Al Du- Pericles Chamusca, Al Hilal’s third League. Xavi played his last match on Qa- Meanwhile, Al Duhail will aim to carry hail settled for a 1-1 draw against Estegh- coach this season got off to a positive start, tari soil on Friday but Al Sadd ended up forward the momentum of their crushing lal at Azadi Stadium, which was enough with three consecutive wins since taking losers to Al Duhail in the Amir Cup fi nal. 4-1 Amir Cup win over Al Sadd when they to send them through. over at the end of April. A 2-0 win over Al A win against Persepolis therefore would take on Saudi giants Al Hilal in their last The two teams also go into the fi nal Ain on Matchday Five of the AFC Cham- help him end his career on a winning note. Group C game at the Abdulla bin Khalifa game of the group stage following con- pions League was followed by two league In Tehran, a repeat of the 2018 AFC Stadium in Doha tonight. trasting results on the domestic front. victories over Ettifaq and Al Shabab.

Qatar says 48-team World Cup will not be ‘imposed’

Doha: The organisers of the 2022 Qatar World Cup that there is no benefit to it, or that the negatives are the Al Janoub stadium, the first purpose-built for the said yesterday that “there will be no decision imposed” more than the positives, our decision will be to remain tournament, “we have now six more stadiums to go”. on the country to extend the tournament to 48 on 32 teams.” “By the end of this year (or) first quarter of next teams. “In case it is increased, (the feasibility study) favours year we will be launching two stadiums as well,” he said. Anticipation is mounting ahead of the final decision, expansion to other countries,” said al-Thawadi. The exact date would depend on the timing of events due to be announced in Paris at the beginning of June, “We are studying (it) in all seriousness and the decision to launch the two venues, he added. whether to retain a 32-team format or expand it. will be next month and it will be final.” “By 2021 all our stadiums will be ready,” he said, adding “(The) decision will be made between FIFA and Qatar,” Talks between FIFA and Qatari organisers are ongoing, that the remaining stations of the recently-launched said Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary-general of Qatar’s he added during a media briefing in Doha. metro system would be fully operational by 2020, link- Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. “I will leave the period of suspense until we announce it ing stadiums and the airport. “In case a decision is made it will be due to our willing- next month,” said al-Thawadi. “I’m very proud to say that infrastructure-wise, we are ness and belief in the benefits of the increase. If we find Al-Thawadi said that following Thursday’s opening of there.” Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with the trophy after winning Italian Open at the Foro Italico in Rome yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 20, 2019 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Kompany to leave City and join Belgium’s Anderlecht ‘I want to share my knowledge with the next purple generations. With that, I will also put a bit of Manchester in the heart of Belgium’

Reuters London Man City stars salute elgian defender Vincent Kompany said yesterday he would be leaving Manchester City and joining Anderlecht as departing ‘legend’ player-managerB after helping the Pre- mier League club to become the fi rst team to win the English domestic tre- ble. Club captain Kompany, 33, leaves having won four ti- 20 - 05 -2019 tles, two FA Cups and four League Cups with City. He played 360 matches in all competitions and scored 20 goals. “We’ve just seen the close of an in- credible season. My 11th as a Blue. I cannot believe I’m writing this but... also my last as a Blue,” the City captain wrote in an open letter to fans on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ pg/vincentkompany/). “Man City has given me everything. I’ve tried to give back as much as I pos- sibly could. How often does someone get the chance to end such an impor- tant chapter, representing a club with such great history and tradition, in such a great fashion?” “The time has come for me to go now.” The central defender said in the sec- ond part of his letter released shortly afterwards that he would be taking on a new challenge at Belgian club Ander- lecht. “I choose to be grateful for the past but remain ambitious and driven for the future. For the next three years, I will take up the role of player-manager of RSC Anderlecht,” he added. London, AFP: Vincent Kompany it’s been. on the sleeve, and give everything for “It’s the most passionate yet rational was hailed as a “legend” by Manches- “Big player, Big personality and big this club. We will miss you Captain,” decision I’ve ever made. As a footballer, ter City’s stars yesterday after the leader. Learned a lot from you. Wish- Foden tweeted. I was born and raised at Anderlecht. Belgium defender revealed he will ing you all the best for the future.” City right-back Kyle Walker said on Since the age of six, I have been one leave the treble winners to become Aymeric Laporte, Kompany’s partner Instagram: “From skip to gaff er, the with that club. A history of 34 league true: without my team mates I would gram: “Looked after me from day one. player-manager at Anderlecht. in the centre of City’s defence in the man has it all!! Since I walked through titles, they are second to none. have never been here today,” he added. Led by example, showed everyone what Kompany confirmed his move to the Cup final, tweeted: “Thank you for the door Vinny has been amazing to “I want to share my knowledge with “We fought many battles together. it means to be a leader, wear their heart Belgian club just 24 hours after lifting these years close to you. Thank you me. “He helped me settle in and I’ve the next purple generations. With that, Side by side. In good times and in bad. on the sleeve and give everything for the FA Cup at Wembley following for all the moments, all the words to learned a lot from the big man. Good I will also put a bit of Manchester in the So to all of you, from the 2008-2009 this club.” City’s 6-0 rout of Watford. me and to be the best leader which luck with everything skip, you’ll be heart of Belgium.” squad to today’s domestic Treble win- Club chairman Khaldoon al-Mubar- The 33-year-old’s departure brings this big family needs. missed #CaptainFantastic #Legend.” City crushed Watford 6-0 in the FA ners: I owe you guys! ak said that Kompany was the “life- down the curtain on his trophy-filled “You are a legend and we wish Kompany made 360 appearances for Cup fi nal on Saturday to complete the “A special word also to (manager) blood, the soul, and beating heart” of 11-year spell with City. you the best in your next stage, @ City after joining from Hamburg in unprecedented treble of league cham- Pep (Guardiola) and the backroom City. Kompany won four Premier League VincentKompany.” Kompany’s City August 2008, days before the Sheikh pionship and both domestic cups, after staff : you’ve been superb. You’ve fol- “There have been many important titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups career has encompassed their golden Mansour takeover that transformed which Kompany said they were the best lowed me through so much hardship. contributors to Manchester City’s ren- and two Community Shields in Man- era and 18-year-old Phil the club forever. team in the world. You made me come back stronger every aissance, but arguably none are more chester and his City team-mates were Foden will be expected to emerge as His 20th and final City goal fittingly Kompany scored with a thunderous time. Thank you so much.” important than Vincent Kompany,” he quick to pay tribute to their iconic the club’s leading light in their next came in the final minutes of a vital long-range strike to decide their pe- City midfi elder Kevin de Bruyne led added. centre-back. Kompany’s compatriot generation. victory over Leicester on May 6, a nultimate league match of the season the tributes for his compatriot, de- “A booming voice in the dressing Kevin De Bruyne tweeted: “Playing for “Looked after me from day one. Led long-range thunderbolt that pushed against Leicester City, a key moment in scribing Kompany as a “big player, big room yet a quiet and measured ambas- about 10 years with this man for club by example, showed everyone what it his team to the brink of their latest their retaining the Premier League title. personality and big leader” in a tweet. sador off it, Vincent can be as proud of and country. And what an privilege means to be a leader, wear their heart title triumph. “It’s cliche to say it but it’s also so Youngster Phil Foden wrote on Insta- himself as we are of him.”

FOCUS SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Hebei’s woes continue aft er Champions Celtic fi nish on winning Coleman sacking note, Kilmarnock take third position

Reuters fensively,” said interim head hai with goals by Yu Dabao and Hongo Kong coach Xie Feng. Nico Yennaris to ensure their “I told the players repeatedly five-point lead over defending in the second half not to lose champions Shanghai SIPG re- ebei CFFC’s troubles the ball so quickly. I hoped that mained intact. continued yesterday everyone would concentrate, SIPG had Elkeson to thank as the Chinese Super but we are still making low- for a 1-0 win at Henan Jianye League strugglers lost level mistakes and our team is while third-placed 2-0H at Teda in their first facing a lot of difficulties.” Evergrande welcomed back game since they sacked coach The result left Tianjin in Anderson Talisca from injury Chris Coleman. sixth place on 15 points. as he inspired them to a 3-2 The Welshman was fired on Dalian Yifang launched a late victory at Zall to leave Wednesday after a run of one comeback to beat Shenzhen FC them on 22 points. win in nine league games this 2-1 away with a penalty from Luneng occupy season, but his departure did Yannick Carrasco in the 77th fourth spot with 17 points after a not lead to an immediate up- minute and He Yupeng’s last- 3-1 win away to Shanghai Shen- turn in the club’s fortunes. minute strike sealing the points hua, which featured goals from Tianjin’s Brazilian striker after Harold Preciado had put Graziano Pelle, Brazilian defend- Johnathan struck both goals the hosts ahead in the 24th. er Gil and Marouane Fellaini. in the second half — the first The win was Dalian’s second On Saturday, Dia Seba netted coming within seconds of the of the season and moved them twice as mid-table Guangzhou restart following a defensive up to 11th with 10 points, 20 R&F handed visitors Beijing error — to leave Hebei level on adrift of leaders Beijing Guoan. Renhe a 3-1 defeat, while Alex five points with bottom side On Friday, Beijing main- Teixeira scored in fi fth-placed Beijing Renhe after 10 games. tained their perfect start to Jiangsu Suning’s 3-1 home win “We played well in the first the season with a 2-1 home over Jordi Cruyff ’s Chongqing half and we did a good job de- win over lowly Tianjin Tian- Lifan to put them on 17 points. Celtic’s Leigh Griff iths with teammates as they celebrate winning the Scottish Premier League yesterday.

AFP Sixteen-year-old Karamoko Dembele was referee Steven McLean — got his wish as Glasgow given his Celtic debut in the second half, but Brophy drilled home from the spot in the it was fellow prospect Johnston who scored 89th minute. the winner with a fi ne run and low drive. The hosts got off to a perfect start when eltic capped their eighth successive A Hoops victory in the Scottish Cup fi nal Chris Burke fi red home against his old side, Scottish Premiership title-winning would seal an unprecedented domestic tre- only for Alfredo Morelos to turn up the ten- campaign with a 2-1 win over Hearts, ble for a third successive season. sion with his 30th goal of the season — and while Kilmarnock fi nished third Steve Clarke is set to leave Kilmarnock his 10th against Killie But Brophy kept Cthanks to victory against Rangers on Sunday. with a farewell gift of a third-place finish his nerve late on to ensure his team will be In a dress rehearsal for next weekend’s after Eamonn Brophy’s late penalty saw heading abroad for their fi rst European ad- Scottish Cup fi nal between Celtic and off second-placed Rangers 2-1 at Rugby venture in 18 years next term. Hearts, both sides made a host of changes at Park. Aberdeen missed out on an automatic Eu- Parkhead.Amid a celebratory atmosphere, With the Killie boss expected to be named ropa League berth despite a 2-1 win at Hi- 20-year-old Michael Johnston fi red in the the new Scotland manager this week, Clarke bernian. opener with less than two minutes gone. was hoping to leave on the back of the Ayr- The Dons came from behind to secure This photo taken on May 11, 2019 shows fans of Hebei Fortune FC holding a banner that read “Hello Mr. That was cancelled out in the 17th minute shire outfi t’s highest league fi nish since victory as Sam Cosgrove and James Wilson Coleman, please go home! You’re fired!!!” during the (CSL) football match between by a fi ne curled fi nish from Hearts winger 1966. And Clarke — watching from the both scored after Marc McNulty had given Hebei China Fortune and Henan Jianye in Langfang in China’s northern Hebei province. Jake Mulraney. stands after receiving a ban for criticising Paul Heckingbottom’s side the lead. Gulf Times Monday, May 20, 2019 3 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA FOCUS UEFA unveils ‘fans fi rst’ Euro Bale bows out on 2020 ticket policy

AFP and over 30 % to fans of the two Budapest teams, that’s also a much higher ratio than for the last World Cup,” he said. ‘fans fi rst’ policy at next One million tickets will be bench as Madrid year’s Euro 2020 foot- available for 50 euros ($56) or less ball tournament will in 44 of the 51 matches scheduled make more aff ordable for the tournament. ticketsA available than at previ- A total of 40,000 tickets under ous editions, a UEFA offi cial said 100 euros will also be available yesterday. for the semi-fi nals and fi nal in “A record three million tickets London. will be available to fans,” Philippe Tickets, available individu- blow season fi nale Margraff , head of UEFA’s revenue ally for one match in one stadium operations, told a press confer- or as part of a ‘follow my team’ As the players saluted the fans at the end, they were greeted by a chorus of whistles ence in Budapest. package, will be on sale in three “Euro 2020’s ‘fans fi rst’ policy categories: centrally positioned, will bring fans to the games with mainly in the corners, and be- more tickets at aff ordable pric- hind the goals. es,” he added. “Prices will also refl ect the For the fi rst time, the tourna- purchasing power and average Real Madrid’s Welsh forward ment — to be staged from 12 June income of local people,” said Gareth Bale sits on the bench to 12 July, 2020 — will be held Margraff . during the Spanish League across Europe to mark the 60th Tickets for games in Baku, football match between Real anniversary of the competition. Budapest and Bucharest will be Madrid and Real Betis at the The 24 fi nalists will play in priced from 30 euros compared Santiago Bernabeu stadium in 12 diff erent cities: Amsterdam, to 50 euros in the other nine cit- Madrid yesterday. Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Buda- ies. pest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glas- The fi rst phase of sales com- gow, London, Munich, Rome and prising 1.5mn tickets — 50 % Saint Petersburg. more than at Euro 2016, accord- Around 2.5mn tickets are re- ing to UEFA — will open to the served for fans of participating general public from June 12 to teams and the general public, ac- July 12. cording to UEFA. Sales to fans of participating “That’s more than the total teams begins in December, after number available for the whole the fi nal tournament draw which of Euro 2016,” said Margraff . takes place November 30. “Fifty percent of the tick- All tickets will be exclusively ets will go to the general public, sold online via the UEFA website.

SERIE A AC Milan beat humble Frosinone, enter Champions League zone

DPA Rome

C Milan beat relegated Frosinone 2-0 yester- day and moved past Atalanta to enter the ChampionsA League zone in the Italian Serie A. The Devils sit fourth and AFP whistles. the last fi ve have won one and lost three. ting twice in a 2-2 draw at Eibar as he lead Atalanta on head-to-head Madrid By then, Bale was already off down the Some of the displays, including this one, earned the Pichichi award for a record- record, but the Bergamaschi are tunnel, perhaps aware that any attempt were as bad as anything seen under either equalling sixth time. still to play their penultimate at a farewell could be given an even colder Julen Lopetegui or Santiago Solari. Marc Cucurella gave Eibar a surprise game later at Juventus, who se- AC Milan’s Italian defender I eal Madrid delivered a suitably reception. “There are no excuses,” Zidane said. lead on 20 minutes at Ipurua, driving un- cured the league title three weeks gnazio Abate gestures at the dreadful end to their miserable “I’m sorry, I didn’t give Bale minutes “It has been diffi cult from the start of the der the body of reserve Barca goalkeeper ago. Milan stumbled in the fi rst end of the Italian Serie A match season, and Gareth Bale was not today,” Zidane said. “But I don’t know season and now at the end with me. That Jasper Cillessen after a cushioned lay-off half, and goalkeeper Gianluigi against Frosinone at the San even given the chance to say a what’s going to happen, I have to make is the reality.” by Sergi Enrich. Donnarumma had to save a pen- Siro stadium in Milan yesterday, likelyR goodbye, as Zinedine Zidane’s side decisions based on today and the match.” He has promised change over the sum- Messi responded with two goals in as alty taken from Camillo Ciano in were beaten 2-0 at home to Real Betis Zidane will rightly not be held culpable mer and many in his squad here could many minutes on the half-hour, applying the 50th, but the Devils took the third relegation slot after a 1-1 yesterday. for most of Madrid’s failings this season, leave — goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who a pair of clinical fi nishes to assists from lead seven minutes later thanks home draw against Cagliari on Zidane had indicated this could be including fi nishing third in , 18 was the subject of several aff ectionate Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic. to a close-range fl ick by Krzysztof Saturday. Torino are two points Bale’s fi nal game ahead of an expected points behind Barcelona and eight adrift chants during the game, as well as Nacho, Cillessen was again at fault though as Piatek. off the Europa League slots. summer departure but the Welshman of Atletico Madrid, not to mention crash- Sergio Reguilon, Isco, Marcos Llorente Eibar levelled moments before the break, The Pole scored his 22nd goal, Parma won 1-0 at home was left on the bench, made to watch on ing out of the Champions League in the and Bale. the Dutchman racing out his area to head moving level with Atalanta’s Du- against Fiorentina and achieved as three substitutes came on ahead of him last 16. If this was to be Bale’s last appearance clear only for Pablo De Blasis to volley su- van Zapata as Sampdoria’s Fa- safety thanks to an own goal from at the Santiago Bernabeu. He will also not be blamed for their after six seasons, in which there have perbly back over his head. bio Quagliarella tops the chart Brazilian Gerson. Fiorentina are None were able to revive another league total of 68 points, their lowest in been numerous injuries but several tro- The draw means Barcelona fi nish with on 26. Spaniard Suso curled in a three points above Genoa and will dreary and disjointed Madrid perform- 17 years, nor the 12 defeats. Real Madrid phies too, including four in the Champi- 87 points, six fewer than last year. They majestic free-kick to clinch vic- host them in the closing week- ance, which concluded both the season have not had more in a single league cam- ons League, it seemed a sorry way not to have not hit a lower total since coming tory in the 66th. Earlier yester- end. Chievo, who are already and fi rst phase of Zidane’s much-hailed paign since 1974. say goodbye. third in 2008 but it was still enough to day, troubled Empoli pummelled relegated with Frosinone, had Fe- return as coach. But even if few expected the deep- Betis confirmed coach Quique Setien end the season 11 clear of Atletico Madrid Europa League hopefuls Torino derico Barba red-carded in a 0-0 “The best thing for us is that it’s over rooted problems to vanish after Zidane’s would not return next season, after a and 19 ahead of Real. 4-1 to exit the drop-zone. Afriyie draw against visiting Sampdoria. and we can think about next year,” he said arrival in March, most Madrid fans would turbulent campaign saw the club drop Ernesto Valverde’s side will bid for Acquah, his substitute Matteo Veteran striker Sergio Pellissier afterwards. “Because things will change, have hoped at least for signs of improve- out of contention for Europe and finish a fi fth consecutive Copa del Rey next Brighi, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and saluted the home crowd after an- for sure.” ment. 10th. weekend, but nothing can eradicate the Francesco Caputo sealed a win nouncing his farewell to football. As the players saluted the fans at the Instead, they have now won fi ve of his Lionel Messi fi nished the season as La sense of disappointment, still lingering that pushed Empoli one point The 40-year-old played 17 sea- end, they were greeted by a chorus of 11 games in charge this season and out of Liga’s leading scorer with 36 goals, net- from their nightmare in Europe. above Genoa, who now fi ll the son with the Verona side.

LIGUE 1 Monaco victory virtually ensures Ligue 1 safety, Mbappe scores 32nd goal

AFP thing that somebody from the club wore quality we have shown throughout the Paris it and applied what was demanded of us campaign,” said PSG defender Thilo Ke- by the league.” hrer. Guingamp were already relegated while “We did that by winning 4-0, it was onaco virtually made sure of Dijon were pushed to the edge of the trap important for our supporters. It’s a great their French Ligue 1 survival door when they lost 4-0 at PSG. feeling to be league champions.” with a 2-0 win over Amiens French World Cup winner Mbappe, Elsewhere, Lille made sure of sec- on Saturday while champions back from a three-match ban for a red ond place and a spot in the Champions PSGM signed off their home campaign with card in the French Cup fi nal, scored two League group stages with a 5-0 rout of Kylian Mbappe scoring his 32nd league of the goals to take his league tally to 32 Angers. goal of the season in a 4-0 win over Dijon. with one game left. Nicolas Pepe, who will leave the club in Radamel Falcao and Alexsander He is the fi rst French player to reach the summer, scored twice to take his sea- Golovin scored in either half at the Sta- that fi gure since Herve Revelli scored 31 son tally to 22. de Louis II to take Monaco to 36 points for Saint-Etienne in the 1966/67 season. Lyon will fi nish third — enough for a and three above the drop zone with one PSG were presented with the Ligue 1 Champions League preliminary round match left to play. trophy for the eighth time against a back- place — after a 3-0 win over Nice. Monaco, the 2017 champions, are not ground of fi reworks after a win which After the game, Lyon president Jean- mathematically safe but they have a preserved their 16-point lead. Michel Aulas confi rmed that Brazil’s three-point lead over Caen who occupy Saturday’s result was never in doubt Sylvinho, who once played for Barcelona the relegation play-off spot with a goal after Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani and Arsenal, will become the new coach diff erence of seven. had given PSG a 2-0 lead inside the fi rst to replace Bruno Genesio. While Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim four minutes. The 45-year-old was hand-picked for was cutting a relieved fi gure, he found Suspended Neymar, the world’s most the job by compatriot Juninho, a former himself discussing the fact that Falcao expensive footballer, watched the game Lyon star who will be the club’s new was not wearing an anti-homophobia from the stands before joining his team- sporting director. armband which had been distributed by mates in a lap of honour in front of their Sylvinho had been working as right- the league. fans at the Parc des Princes. hand man to Brazil coach and had Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (down) is congratulated by Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan “I was using Falcao’s armband, I wore “We wanted to leave behind a good im- been preparing a team for the 2020 Ol- forward Edinson Cavani after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match against Dijon at the Parc des it,” said Jardim. “The most important age before the end of the season with the ympics in Japan. Princes stadium in Paris on Saturday. Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 20, 2019 SPORT

CRICKET FOCUS AZF Ramadan Sports Festival Five-wkt Woakes concludes spire Zone Foundation “I would like to congratulate (AZF) concluded an- the first-place winners in all other hugely success- the competitions. But in truth, Aful Ramadan Sports everyone who took part is a Festival (RSF), its eighth to winner since all participants wraps up England date. The festival involved a se- were able to experience a fun ries of 12 sporting evening com- and engaging competitive envi- petitions and tournaments in a ronment. Finally, I would like to wide range of sports including extend my utmost appreciation basketball, football, volleyball, and thanks to the entire team at hockey, table tennis, fitness AZF, Qatar Women Sport Com- challenges, wall-climbing and mittee, Qatar Paralympic Com- walking. During this year’s RSF, mittee and the sponsors who rout of Pakistan more than 800 female and male worked so well together to make participants took part in the this festival a success.” Babar Azam (80) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (97) kept England at bay but both various sporting events. The Aspire Ramadan Sports The men’s basketball com- Festival is characterised by a batsmen were run out and any lingering hope Pakistan had went with them petition on Friday brought the wide array of diverse sport- festival to a close. The Doha ing activities. Every year, AZF Ballers secured first place in seeks to bring together a range the competition, with Hoop- of sporting and physical activi- ers achieving second place and ties that appeal to audiences of Money Team coming third. The all ages and different levels of winners were awarded their fitness. medals and cups by the chair- This diversity also reflects man of the organising com- the organisation’s capabilities mittee of the festival, Abdullah in hosting numerous sport- Aman al-Khater. ing events thanks to its world- Commenting on the conclu- class outdoor pitches and in- sion of the festival, the chair- door venues. Aspire Dome can man of the organising com- accommodate more than 13 mittee of the festival, Abdullah events concurrently. Aman al-Khater, said; “For Eight hundred participants the eighth consecutive year, enjoyed 11 sporting events with AZF has organised yet another 30 teams taking part during the hugely successful and popular festival. This makes it the larg- Ramadan Sports Festival which est sporting event of its kind in has been a big hit with the com- Qatar during the month of Ra- munity. It has also proven to madan. be a very effective way of en- This year, the Ramadan couraging people to engage in Sports Festival was sponsored a moderate level of physical ac- by Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana tivity whilst fasting during the Co, Aseel Water and EsQalar holy month of Ramadan. Sports.

England players celebrate with the trophy after wrapping up the five-match ODI series 4-0 yesterday.

AFP Woakes then nipped one back to have wicket defeat at Trent Bridge on Friday Earlier, England were set for a huge Leeds Mohammad Hafeez lbw for nought, al- with a 59-ball fi fty. score at 191 for two off 25 overs. though replays suggested umpire Paul But a fourth-wicket partnership of 146 But several batsmen got themselves Reiff el’s verdict may have been over- ended in frustrating fashion for Pakistan. out, including Test skipper Root, who hris Woakes took fi ve wickets as turned if Pakistan had reviewed the deci- Sarfraz prodded at an Adil Rashid de- top-scored with 84, and Morgan, making Abdullah Aman al-Khater presenting a trophy to a winner. At England beat Pakistan by 54 runs sion. livery and set off for a single. his return to the side. bottom winning players pose with their cheque. to win the fi fth one-day interna- “Winning 4-0 against a very strong But wicket-keeper Jos Buttler moved Root and Morgan put on 117 in 18 overs tional at Headingley yesterday. Pakistan team is really good for us, going quickly from behind the stumps to throw but it still needed tailender Tom Curran’s CVictory, in their fi nal match before the into a crucial World Cup,” man-of-the- the ball to the bowler’s end where Rashid, unbeaten 29 to take England past 350. World Cup hosts and favourites name match Woakes told Sky Sports. with Babar trying to regain his ground, Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim took their tournament squad tomorrow, saw England will have to reduce their 17- fl icked the ball onto the stumps from be- three for 53, while fast bowler Shaheen England to a 4-0 series win after the fi rst man squad to 15 for the World Cup and hind his back without looking to complete Shah Afridi had four for 82 after striking match was washed out. captain Eoin Morgan told BBC Radio’s a run-out. at both ends of the innings. Woakes took three wickets for no runs Test Match Special: “I could pick 17 at the Rashid, in front of his Yorkshire home But the last over saw Curran hit a six in nine balls as Pakistan slumped to six for moment. It is going to be an extremely crowd, then dismissed Shoaib Malik with and then ramp an outrageous four off suc- three in pursuit of a target of 352. tough selection.” a diving left-handed catch off his own cessive Hasan Ali deliveries. Babar Azam (80) and captain Sarfraz Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who bowling. Safaraz was denied what would Morgan, back after a one-game ban Ahmed (97) then kept England at bay top-scored for his side with 97, said: “Re- have been his third ODI hundred in bi- for slow over-rate off ences, hit vefi sixes but both batsmen were run out and any sult-wise it is not ideal for the World Cup. zarre fashion. — including one onto the roof of the Old lingering hope Pakistan had went with But the way the batsman are batting we Buttler, having stopped the ball with Pavilion Stand off Mohammad Hasnain them. are ready for the World Cup. his boot, saw the rebound fall kindly to — before a mistimed pull off Afridi was Woakes needed just three balls to have “We have taken some positives but we run out Sarfraz, who narrowly failed to caught by Abid. Fakhar Zaman out, caught by Joe Root at need to sort out our bowling and fi elding.” ground his bat in time. Root was even closer to a century when second slip, out for a duck. After Pakistan’s top-order collapse Pakistan were eventually all out for 297 he holed out off Hasnain, having faced 73 Abid Ali (fi ve) was then lbw to Woakes. Babar carried on from his 115 in a three- in the 47th over. balls including nine fours.

BOTTOMLINE Embassies team up for the love of sport By Sports Reporters Doha

enior offi cials from across the globe have come together in celebration of the largest ever Ssporting event to be held in the Middle East, the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019. Delegates from embassies throughout Europe, Africa, the USA and Asia were welcomed to Ritz-Carlton hotel, off er- ing a glimpse of the excitement that is set to turn Doha in an athletics epicen- tre when 3,500 athletes, offi cials and coaches head to Doha for the ten-day Championships at the end of September. Guests were welcomed by Vice Presi- dent of International Association of Athletics Federations, Dahlan al-Ha- mad, who set the tone with an inspiring video showcasing the action-packed schedule that the Championships will bring to fans of all cultures and commu- IAAF Vice President Dahlan al-Hamad addresses the distinguished gathering on nities. Saturday. As fi gureheads for their communities across Qatar, the embassies shared their will be the fi rst ever time that the World world, a partnership with peoples of the and the diplomatic corps to bring us national Stadium hosted the Asian Ath- ensure that they don’t miss out on any experiences of sport, uniting in a love for Athletics Championships has been held region and a chance for expats who call closer to the world and forge the con- letics Championships and the IAAF Dia- of the action which gets underway from athletics and how they can help bring in the Middle East. Qatar home to see their fellow country- nections that we aim for in order to turn mond League meeting where fans of all Saturday, September 28 and will fi n- families and friends from their coun- Speaking on the gathering, al-Ha- men and women compete at the grand- this event into a memorable universal nationalities gathered to cheer on their ish on Sunday, October 6. The easy on- tries to play a part in the World Athletics mad, commented: “The competition est stage. experience that fans refl ect on over the favourite athletes and bring an extra en- line process can be started now via ht- Championships, which will see athletes might be taking place in Qatar, but we “To establish that bridge to the world, years.” ergy to the competition. tps://iaafworldathleticschamps.com/ competing from 213 countries, in what intend it to be a celebration for the whole we will be glad to work with embassies Earlier this month, the Khalifa Inter- Fans can buy tickets online now to doha2019/ Gulf Times Monday, May 20, 2019 5 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Memphis Grizzlies interview ex-Suns Another comeback coach Kokoskov

AFP Los Angeles

he Memphis Grizzlies interviewed former Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov for gives Warriors 3-0 their vacant head coaching position, ac- cording to a report from ESPN on Saturday. TKokoskov was fi red after one season in Phoenix, as the Suns fi nished with the worst record in the Western Conference, 19-63. Kokoskov, a 47-year-old native of Serbia, made history last fall when he became the fi rst person born and raised outside of North America to serve lead on Blazers as an NBA head coach. He previously was an NBA assistant coach with ‘I don’t even know what to say. He’s like a wrecking ball, destroying everything in his path’ the Los Angeles Clippers (2000-03), Detroit Pis- tons (2003-08), Suns (2008-13), Cleveland Cava- Reuters liers (2013-14), Orlando Magic (2014-2015) and Los Angeles Utah Jazz (2015-18). The Grizzlies reportedly have interviewed three other candidates: Golden State Warriors assist- evin Durant might not ant coach Jarron Collins, Utah Jazz assistant Alex be on the court, but the Jensen and EuroLeague coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. Golden State Warriors Memphis, which has the No. 2 pick in the NBA are still getting his kind Draft, is looking to replace J.B. Bickerstaff , who was Kof production in their playoff series fi red after posting a 48-97 record in two seasons. against the Portland Trail Blazers. LaMelo Ball, the youngest of the three basket- It’s just that it’s coming from ball-playing Ball brothers, likely will play profes- Draymond Green. sionally in China or Australia before entering his Green recorded his seventh ca- name in the 2020 NBA Draft. reer postseason triple-double That’s according to a SLAM Magazine feature and Stephen Curry saved 21 of his story on Ball, who played his senior season at the game-high 36 points for the second Spire Institute in Ohio. half Saturday night as the Warriors That could change if the NCAA gives the OK rallied to stun the host Trail Blazers to allow him to play in college, but he already has 110-99 for a 3-0 lead in the West- played professionally – even though his family con- ern Conference fi nals. tends he wasn’t paid. The top-seeded Warriors, play- His father, LaVar Ball, pulled him out of Chino ing without Durant and DeMarcus Hills (Calif.) High School in October 2017, express- Cousins, will go for the series sweep ing he could better prepare him for an NBA career in the best-of-seven and a berth in than school could. their fi fth consecutive NBA Finals The elder Ball took sons LaMelo and LiAngelo to on Monday night in Portland. play in Lithuania, and they also played in the Junior It appears they’ll have to do it Basketball Association. without Andre Iguodala, who left Their older brother, Lonzo, was the No. 2 overall the game in the third quarter with selection in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles a sore Achilles. He has been sched- Lakers. uled for an MRI exam on Sunday. The 6-foot-6 LaMelo, a guard, is projected as He wasn’t missed for the fi nal anywhere from the 12th to the 33rd selection in 20 minutes in Game 3, however, 2020 NBA mock drafts. thanks in large part to Green. “It’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen Draymond play,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr gushed to report- Senators to interview Roy ers afterward. for coaching vacancy “I don’t even know what to say. He’s like a wrecking ball, destroy- Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy will inter- ing everything in his path. He view next week for the Ottawa Senators’ head played at an incredible pace. He coaching position, multiple outlets reported Sat- never got tired.” urday. Roy, 53, would be the seventh candidate Surely, the Golden State defense interviewed since the Senators fired Guy Boucher never rested, holding the Trail on March 1. Blazers to 33 points in the second Roy was the head coach of the Colorado half after they’d put up 66 in the Avalanche for three seasons, leading them to a fi rst two periods. Central Division title with 112 points and winning For the second consecutive Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers in game three of the NBA Western the Jack Adams Award as the NHL coach of the game, Golden State dominated Conference Finals at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. (Getty Images/AFP) year in his first season in 2013-14. the third quarter to get back in the He retired after the Avalanche missed the game after trailing by double digits for the fi rst time in the series, the got to be able to score. Scoring 33 (defensive) attention. So it’s on me record 22nd consecutive series, the playoff s for the second straight year in 2015-16, at halftime. Trail Blazers tied the game at 82-all points in the second half isn’t going to do my job.” Warriors outshot the Trail Blazers finishing with a 130-92-24 record. Down by 13 at the break and on a 3-pointer by Zach Collins in to do it.” McCollum shot just 2 for 10 on 48.8 percent to 40.0. “Patrick would love to coach in the league again,” 73-59 four minutes into the third the fi rst minute of the fi nal period. Thompson complemented Cur- 3-pointers and Lillard just 5 for 18 After telling his team just be- an unnamed league executive said Saturday, per quarter after a 3-pointer by Mey- But with Curry on the bench for ry’s 36 points with 19 of his own, overall for Portland, which lost at fore the start that the game was a the Ottawa Sun. ers Leonard, Golden State used an a rest, Thompson hit a tie-breaking helping the Golden State All-Star home for just the second time in the “must win,” Stotts made a lineup “I think he’d be content to be a coach this time 18-3 fl urry to take its fi rst lead of jumper, Quinn Cook buried con- backcourt outscore the Trail Blaz- postseason. change that paid immediate divi- around.” the game at 77-76 with 1:54 left in secutive shots and Jonas Jerebko ers’ tandem of CJ McCollum (23) “I tried to get aggressive, tried to dends. Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has al- the period. Six Warriors contribut- dropped in a jumper as the War- and Damian Lillard (19) 55-42 in a force the action,” Lillard insisted. Leonard, who never left the ready interviewed interim coach Marc Crawford, ed points to the run, including Klay riors opened an eight-point lead battle of premier guards. “Both guys (Curry and Thomp- bench in Game 1, was inserted into Pittsburgh assistant Jacques Martin, Toronto as- Thompson, who had six. that they were able to massage to Green was the dominant front- son) staying with me, and Dray- the starting lineup and produced 13 sistant D.J. Smith, Dallas assistant Rick Bowness, “We’ve been down in many the fi nish. court player in the game, accu- mond coming up from behind. fi rst-half points as the Trail Blazers Providence College coach Nate Leaman and games,” Kerr explained of the sec- “Our off ense fell apart,” Trail mulating 20 points, 13 rebounds, You’re up against a wall of defense. went up 66-53 by halftime. Belleville Senators (AHL) coach Troy Mann. ond-half push. Blazers coach Terry Stotts ob- 12 assists and four steals. He had a Sometimes three defenders. Not only did Leonard have an Bowness, 64, served as Ottawa’s original coach “Our guys know we have an ex- served. triple-double assured before the “It’s tough. You’ve not going to early impact, but so did demoted from 1992-96. Martin, 66, coached the Senators cellent defensive scheme and we “We missed some shots. Took third quarter had ended. always get a quality shot.” big man Enes Kanter, who came from 1995-2004. have explosive scorers. Thirteen some tough shots. Didn’t move the “All of my teammates and coach- Leonard fi nished with 16 points off the bench to contribute seven Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, Roy won points could be two or three min- ball as well. They were scoring, so es have been telling me, ‘Dray, get and Evan Turner 12 for Portland, points and fi ve rebounds in just four Stanley Cups during a prolific 20-year career utes; that’s how we look at it. we were taking it out of the net (and to the hole. Be aggressive,’” Green which has now lost 11 of 12 playoff seven minutes. with the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche. “It all started with our second- we) didn’t get any transition. said. games to the Warriors in the last Portland led by as many as 18 He ranks second in NHL history in goalie wins half defense.” “I said at the beginning of the “We’ve got guys out there – four seasons. points in the half, the Warriors’ (551) behind only Martin Brodeur (691). Encouraged by their home crowd series: To beat Golden State, you’ve Steph, Klay – they get plenty of En route to a road win in an NBA- largest defi cit of the postseason.

MLB Astros beat Red Sox to extend win streak to 10 Reuters to open the fi rst inning. Michael Brantley Boston RESULTS squeezed an RBI double between walks to Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa, and Josh Astros 7-3 Red Sox Reddick made the fi rst out of the frame a yler White capped a fi ve-run fi rst Nationals 5-2 Cubs productive one, driving home Bregman with inning with a two-run double and Rays 2-1 Yankees a sacrifi ce fl y to left fi eld. Josh James delivered three scoreless Yuli Gurriel chased Velazquez with a run- innings of relief as the Houston As- Angels 6-3 Royals scoring single and White greeted reliever Ttros defeated the host Boston Red Sox 7-3 on Phillies 2-1 Rockies Colten Brewer by slapping a cutter to the op- Saturday at Fenway Park to claim this three- Reds 4-0 Dodgers posite fi eld that scored Correa and Gurriel game series between the last two American and extended the lead to 5-0. League champs. Cardinals 8-2 Rangers Velazquez allowed fi ve runs on three hits The Astros extended their winning streak Braves 4-3 Brewers and two walks while recording just one out. to 10 games with the victory, marking their Twins 18-4 Mariners Josh Reddick drilled his fourth home run second double-digit streak this season. The in the fi fth, the Astros’ 36th home run in 14 Pirates 7-2 Padres 1969 Astros were the only team in franchise games. history to post two double-digit winning Indians 4-1 Orioles Stephen Strasburg yielded just one earned streaks in the same season. Houston also won Giants 8-5 D’backs run and four hits in eight innings, while Juan Soto had two hits and drove in three runs, as 10 in a row April 5-16. White Sox 4-1 Blues Jays Astros right-hander Corbin Martin did not the host Washington Nationals beat the Chi- survive the fi fth despite being spotted a 5-0 Athletics 4-1 Tigers cago Cubs 5-2 on Saturday. lead. He issued three two-out walks and sur- Marlins 2-0 Mets Strasburg (4-3) struck out the side in the rendered an unearned run during a 32-pitch third and fi nished with seven strikeouts. fi rst and laboured before departing with two innings and allowed zero hits and one walk Sean Doolittle pitched the ninth to earn his runners on and no outs in the fi fth. That’s while striking out two. He averaged 97.3 mph eighth save, after his outing was twice inter- when James (1-0) made his arrival. on his 27 four-seam fastballs. rupted by Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who James recorded the fi rst strikeout for The Red Sox fi nished 0-for-5 with runners fi led an offi cial protest because the Nation- Houston pitching when he retired Xander in scoring position and stranded six baserun- als’ left-hander was tapping his toe on the Bogaerts on a called third strike with the ners. Boston dropped its fi rst series of the mound during his delivery. bases loaded. He froze Bogaerts, who rep- month, having entered Friday 4-0-1 in fi ve Jon Lester (3-2) allowed fi ve runs on 10 hits resented the tying run, with a 99.3-mph series concluded in May. in 4 1/3 innings. In August of last season, he fastball, and left the bases full by inducing a The Astros made short work of Red Sox gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 grounder from Rafael Devers. James then re- right-hander Hector Velazquez (1-3), with innings in his only start of 2018 against the Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (left) and third baseman Alex Bregman celebrate after defeating tired Boston in order in the sixth and seventh the fi rst four batters reaching base safely Nationals. the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 20, 2019 SPORT

CYCLING ATHLETICS World champ Gatlin edges Kiryu to win Roglic rampage 100m in Osaka

AFP dericks set 20 years ago. Osaka, Japan The runaway victor, who last month clocked a personal best of 43.45 in the 400m, left ustin Gatlin pipped Ja- Yang Chun-Han trailing in his leaves Britain’s Yates pan’s Yoshihide Kiryu wake, the Taiwanese runner- to win the men’s 100m up in 20.50. Ominously for his as fellow American rivals, Norman insisted that he MichaelJ Norman fi red a world can still get faster. championship warning with “I feel as though there are a superb 200m at the Golden multiple areas I can improve Grand Prix Osaka yesterday. on,” said the 21-year-old. The 37-year-old Gatlin pro- “I didn’t feel as though the reeling at Giro d’Italia duced a strong fi nish to clock intensity that I usually have 10 seconds fl at, the reigning during a 200m was there.” ‘Roglic took more than a minute off me but time-trials are his speciality’ world champion dipping at Meanwhile, the Japanese the line to edge out Kiryu by a men’s 4x100m relay quartet AFP hundredth of a second at the made amends after their dis- San Marino IAAF world challenge meet qualifi cation at last week’s in Osaka. Indonesia’s world World Relays in Yokohama by under-20 champion Lalu Mo- beating Team USA into second lovenian ace Pri- hamed Zohri broke his own place. moz Roglic set a seri- national record as he took third Clips of Kiryu fumbling ous marker on the Giro in 10.03 - the fastest time ever and then catching the baton d’Italia yesterday, not recorded by an athlete from in mid-air went viral, but the onlyS winning the stage nine in- Southeast Asia. Japanese - shock Rio Olympic dividual time-trial, but damag- While Gatlin targets one silver medallists behind Us- ing several key title rivals in the last hurrah at the world ain Bolt’s Jamaica - made no process. championships in Doha later mistake this time as Kiryu an- European champion and this year, Norman laid down a chored them home in a world- world one-hour record holder marker by winning the men’s leading 38.00 seconds. Victor Campenaerts was second 200m in a meet record 19.84 The Americans, who had by 11sec on the day despite a late seconds, shaving 0.03 off the Gatlin on their second leg, mechanical failure, while Dutch mark Namibia’s Frankie Fre- took silver in 38.73. rider Bauke Mollema came third to boost his chances of an even- tual podium shot. Roglic, of Team Jumbo-Visma, who also won the opening day time-trial, fi nished the 34.8km rain-sodden run to San Marino in 51mins 52sec to win in impres- sive style. It was a full 1min 05sec faster than Italy’s two-time Giro win- ner Vincenzo Nibali, and a dev- astating 3min 11sec faster than Britain’s self-declared pre-race favourite Simon Yates, who ap- peared to struggle on the fi nal climb. The notoriously wily Nibali, known as ‘the shark’ for his fero- cious winning moves, appeared exultant after the stage. “I believe that was a good time from me,” said the Bahrain Mer- ida leader. Team Jumbo rider Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic celebrates on podium after finishing first in stage nine of the 102nd Giro d’Italia yesterday. (AFP) “It’s a great thing to have tak- en so much time off Yates and Pogacar wins Tour of California as Bol claims fi nal stage (USA/SUN) 1:14, 7. Bob Jungels Justin Gatlin of the US (right) crosses the finish line ahead of (Miguel Angel) Lopez,” he said of (LUX/DEC) 1:16, 8. Hugh Carthy Yoshihide Kiryu of Japan during the final of the men’s 100m race the two men he would normally Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of when he joined a breakaway 15 (SVK/BOR) same time, 3. Jasper (GBR/EF1) 1:30, 9. Pello Bilbao at the Golden Grand Prix Osaka yesterday. (AFP) most fear in the mountains. California on Saturday, finishing kilometers from the finish and Philipsen (BEL/UAE) s.t., 4. (ESP/AST) 1:43, 10. Mattia Cat- “Roglic took more than a safely in the pack as Cees Bol winning a bonus sprint. But UAE, Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) s.t., 5. taneo (ITA/AND) 1:52 minute off me but time-trials crossed the line first in a chaotic assisted by Sunweb, reeled in the Maximiliano Richeze (ARG/DEC) are his speciality,” added the finish to the seventh and final break just before the start of the s.t., 6. Kristoff er Halvorsen (NOR/ Selected Jets target Peyton Manning as next GM 34-year-old. stage. Pogacar, the 20-year-old last lap of the finishing circuit. INE) s.t., 7. Travis McCabe (USA/ 31. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) 3:11, “There’s a long way to go, but Slovenian who rides for UAE Sunweb’s Bol navigated a messy USA) s.t., 8. Andrea Peron (ITA/ 42. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/ New York Jets CEO and chair- building. I’m convinced we’re lots of people lost ground here Team Emirates, became the finish that included a mid-pelo- NOV) s.t.,9. Jens Debusschere AST) 3:45 man Christopher Johnson going to find that person.” and not just Lopez and Yates, youngest winner of the United ton crash to beat Slovakia’s Peter (BEL/KAT) s.t., 10. Edwin Avila said he is looking for a gen- Manning, 43, periodically has and these people will now have States’ biggest stage race. Sagan (Bora). “It was really tough (COL/ISR) s.t. OVERALL STANDINGS eral manager who is a “great been linked to management to go on the attack. This is turn- He had seized the overall stage once again,” Pogacar said. Final overall standings 1. Valerio Conti (ITA/UAE Emir- strategic thinker” and can openings since retiring after ing out to be a beautiful Giro.” race lead on Friday, when he “On the climb EF was really mak- 1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE) ates) 36hr 08min 32sec, 2. work with head coach Adam the 2015 season. Reigning Vuelta champion snatched victory in the final ing pace and caused all my riders 32:55:12, 2. Sergio Higuita (COL/ Primoz Roglic (SLO/JUM) at 1min Gase. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio Yates led the Giro for over two few meters of the sixth stage to drop. “I’m lucky we had one EF1) at 16sec, 3. Kasper Asgreen 50sec, 3. Nans Peters (FRA/ALM) After the Jets dismissed Mike said Gase “would be one of weeks last year only to suff er a - swooping past Colombia’s guy in the breakaway that helped (DEN/DEC) 17, 4. George Ben- 2:21, 4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP/ Maccagnan on Wednesday the few guys who could draw penultimate-stage meltdown, Sergio Higuita on the final bend a lot. After the attack of Asgreen nett (NZL/JUM) 29, 5. Richie MOV) 2:33, 5. Fausto Masnada and handed Gase the interim Manning back into football.” and has vowed to make up for it to finish first at the summit of I knew that my team is coming Porte (AUS/TRE) 41, 6. Simon (ITA/AND) 2:36, 6. Andrey Ama- GM tag, Johnson said he was Manning was the starting this year. The win leaves Roglic, Mount Baldy. Pogacar captured from behind with full gas.” Spilak (SLO/KAT) 1:03, 7. Jesper dor (CRC/MOV) 2:39, 7. Amaro not looking for a traditional quarterback in Denver for a 29-year-old former ski-jump- the overall victory ahead of Hansen (DEN/COF) 1:18, 8 Felix Antunes (POR/CCC) 3:05, 8. Val- general manager. the last four seasons of his er, in second place in the over- Higuita (Education First) and Results Grosschartner (AUT/BOR) s.t., 9. entin Madouas (FRA/FDJ) 3:27, Rumours immediately began legendary career, working all standings behind overnight Deceuninck-QuickStep’s Kasper Stage 7 Maximilian Schachmann (GER/ 9. Giovanni Carboni (ITA/BAR) circulating around the NFL with Gase for three seasons leader Valerio Conti of Italy, who Asgreen of Denmark. Asgreen 1. Cees Bol (NED/Sunweb) 2hr BOR) 1:23, 10. 10. Rohan Dennis 3:30, 10. Pello Bilbao (ESP/AST) that Peyton Manning could as quarterbacks coach (2012) kept his promise to fi ght to keep gave Pogacar cause for concern 53min 16sec, 2. Peter Sagan (AUT/BAH) s.t. 3:32, 11. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/ check both of those boxes. and off ensive coordinator hold of the pink jersey. BAH) 3:34, 12. Bauke Mollema “I want a great strategic (2013-14). But above all it puts this sea- (NED/TRE) 3:45 thinker. It’s more than a talent- During their 2013 campaign son’s form rider Roglic, who won tour. The Slovenian takes a 1min overall wins in 2013 and 2016. Campenaerts (BEL/LOT) at evaluation guy,” Johnson said. together, Manning broke the the Tour of Romandie, the UAE 44sec advantage over Nibali 11sec., 3. Bauke Mollema (NED/ Selected “I want a great manager, a NFL single-season records Tour and the Tirreno Adriatico, into the mountainous section RESULTS AFTER 9TH STAGE TRE) 1:00, 4. Vincenzo Nibali 24. Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) 5:36, communicator, someone who with 5,477 passing yards and fi rmly in the driving seat for a of the Giro where the Italian’s Stage1. Primoz Roglic (SLO/ (ITA/BAH) 1:05, 5. Tanel Kangert 27. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/ can collaborate well with the 55 touchdowns. fi rst ever victory in a three-week cut-throat tactics saw him claim Jumbo) 51min 52sec., 2. Victor (EST/EF1) 1:10, 6. Chad Haga AST) 6:19.

NFL Eagles’ Long announces apparent retirement AFP Long, Chris Long quickly set him- who made 53 starts in the NFL, New York self apart as a player and humani- announced his retirement from tarian during his career. He fi n- the NFL at age 28. ished with 70 sacks and won a pair An Arkansas product, Swan- ongtime defensive end of Super Bowl rings, including one son was a third-round pick of the Chris Long appeared to with the 2016 New England Patri- Detroit Lions in 2014, starting 42 announce his retirement ots and one with the 2017 Phila- games over the next four seasons from the NFL in a Twitter delphia Eagles. before signing with Miami last Lpost on Saturday night. In 2017, Long supported team- season. He started 11 games for Long, 34, published a picture in mate Malcolm Jenkins as he raised the Dolphins after starting centre which he raised a red plastic cup a fi st during the national anthem. Daniel Kilgore was injured. toward a mountainous horizon. “If you don’t see why you need Swanson made his announce- “Cheers,” wrote Long in his allies for people that are fi ght- ment on Instagram, citing family Twitter post. “Been a hell of a ing for equality right now, I don’t reasons for stepping away from journey. Eleven years and I can think you’ll ever see it,” Long said football. honestly say I put my soul into at the time. “This ultimately came down to every minute of it. Highs and Long also organised hikes dur- a family decision between Emily lows. I’ve seen them both and I ing the off season to provide clean and I,” Swanson wrote. appreciate the perspective. Grati- water for people in Africa. He was “When my daughter Kendyl tude and love to those who lifted named as the 2019 Walter Payton was born and I fi rst saw her, my me up.” Man of the Year. heart expanded and completely “When you look at everything Long entered the NFL as the changed my priorities. I will al- Chris Long accomplished as a No 2 overall pick of the St. Louis ways love football, but the love for player and a person, it’s easy to Rams in the 2008 draft. He main- your child is a level of love that has see how fortunate we’ve been to tained a relationship with the no comparison. have him on our team,” the Ea- fans of St. Louis even after the “I have been an off ensive line- gles said in a statement. “...We’re franchise moved to Los Angeles. man for 22 years of my life and will very thankful Chris chose to play He spent eight years in St. Louis, be for the remainder. In my years for the Philadelphia Eagles and one year in New England and two as a lineman, I have learned so congratulate him on a fantastic years in Philadelphia. many life lessons. It is extraordi- career. He will always be a part of nary that this game has the power the Eagles family.” SWANSON RETIRES to take a kid from Kingwood, Tex- The son of Hall of Famer Howie Free agent centre Travis Swanson, as to places all over the globe.” Eagles’ defensive end Chris Long. Gulf Times Monday, May 20, 2019 7 SPORT

MOTORCYCLING MOTORSPORT Pigot leads Indy 500 qualifying as Marquez extends Alonso struggles

AFP last qualifi ed, two minutes from Los Angeles the end of the session, before the American Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan) rel- pencer Pigot posted the egated him to 31st place on the championship lead fastest Indianapolis 500 timesheet. qualifying time on Satur- day while two-time For- ‘DIFFICULT DAY’ mulaS One world champion Fern- Since the beginning of the week, ando Alonso and fan favourite 37-year-old Alonso has col- James Hinchcliff e will try earn lected one disappointment after starting grid positions. another. Pigot turned in a blistering av- He had an electrical problem with French GP win erage lap of 230.083 mph in his during the fi rst day of testing on second lap on Saturday to earn Tuesday and crashed his car the ‘In Le Mans it’s always diff icult especially with the temperature. I think it was my first race with the the top seed after the fi rst day of next day, which deprived him qualifying for the May 26 race. of the third day of testing on soft tyre in the front but it was the safer option and I was trying to be consistent on the laps. I’m Spain’s Alonso and Canada’s Thursday. Hinchcliff e, however, failed to “It has been a diffi cult day, and happy because normally on this track Ducati and Yamaha are very fast but we were there’ make the top 30 on the starting it follows a diffi cult week,” said grid and will have to take part in Alonso, who played a leading in Sunday’s last row shootout to role in the 2017 Indy 500 before try and punch their tickets to the he was forced to retire with en- 33-car race. gine failure. Penske drivers Will Power, of “We were running quite well Australia, and Frenchman Simon this morning when the condi- Pagenaud had the second and tions were not too bad, but un- third best times of the day be- fortunately, we picked up a rear hind Pigot. puncture and then we decided Under a new format an- to wait until this afternoon to nounced this year, positions 10- get back out on track when track 30 on the 33-car starting grid conditions were slightly better,” were locked in on Saturday, the he said. fi rst day of qualifying for the “At the end of the day, we didn’t 103rd running of the race. have the pace and the fi nal time Saturday’s nine fastest drivers we posted wasn’t enough to be in will battle for pole in a Fast Nine the top 30, so we must try again Shootout on Sunday, the same tomorrow and we’ll need to ex- day that cars outside the top 30 ecute the four laps as well as pos- will decide their fates via the last sible, clean and with no mistakes.” row shootout – a one-hour ses- Hinchcliff e, who suff ered life sion in which the last three places threatening injuries in an Indy on the grid will be up for grabs. 500 practice accident four years Alonso and Hinchcliff e, who ago, was unhurt in his Saturday survived a scary crash in practice morning shunt. on Saturday, will be joined by “Something just caught me Max Chilton, Patricio O’Ward, in (turn) two. I don’t know if it Kyle Kaiser and Sage Karam – was a gust of wind or what,” said each getting one run Sunday for Hinchcliff e, who was back on the fi nal three positions. the track in his backup car hours Alonso hopes to become the later. second driver, after Britain’s Sunday’s weather forecast Graham Hill, to win the Triple calls for showers throughout the Crown of motorsport, after his day. This means the fast nine and successes at the Monaco Grand last row shootout have potential Prix in F1 and the 24 Hours of Le to see faster speeds under cooler Mans in endurance. temperatures. Alonso (McLaren) took the However, if showers cause a 31st time in qualifying on Satur- washout, the last row shootout day. He was 30th, and therefore will be run today.

Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez kisses his trophy on the podium after winning the French GP in Le Mans, western France, yesterday. (AFP)

IANS onds from Dovizioso and now the 23-year-old’s fourth career race where I scored zero points,” RESULTS New Delhi leads the overall standings after win and fi rst since 2017. said the Spaniard in a nod to his MotoGP fi ve rounds by eight points from “I’m happy to win but even failure to fi nish the Grand Prix 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) the Italian Ducati rider. happier because my brother of the Americas. 41min 53.647sec, 2. Andrea pain’s defending world He is 20 points ahead of Alex won in Moto 2,” said Marc Mar- “That’s proved costly even if Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) at 1.984, champion Marc Mar- Rins, the Suzuki rider who was quez after completing the fam- there have been just fi ve races 3. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) quez won the French down in 10th on Sunday, while ily double. so far. It was a mistake which I 2.142, 4. Jack Miller (AUS/Duca- MotoGP at Le Mans Italian veteran Valentino Rossi “When I saw that I said to didn’t expect to make. ti-Pramac) 2.940, 5. Valentino yesterday,S racking up Honda’s of Yamaha – fi fth in the race – is myself ‘you have to win too be- “’Dovi’ is doing a very good Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 3.053, 6. Pol 300th victory in the division and fourth on 72 points. cause it would be a great day for job and he is still in the top fi ve. Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 5.935, 7. completing a memorable fam- “It’s always diffi cult at Le the family’. This is the way to fi ght a cham- Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha- ily double after younger brother Mans,” Marquez said of the “He has experienced hard pionship and he will be a tough SRT) 7.187, 8. Fabio Quartararo Alex took the Moto2 race. winding Bugatti circuit. times and it is not always easy opponent this year.” (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 8.439, 9. Cal It was Marquez’s 47th top One rider who might agree to be ‘the brother’ as it always Scotland’s John McPhee, on Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) level Grand Prix win and third with him is Spain’s Maverick gives the extra pressure. a Honda, won the Moto3 race 9.853, 10. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) of the season, fi nishing ahead Vinales, who ended up slid- “It was important that he got from pole position ahead of 13.709 of Italian pair Andrea Dovizioso ing out on the second factory another victory a year and a half Lorenzo Dalla Porta, also on a and Danilo Petrucci of Ducati. Yamaha after a tangle with after the last.” Honda, and KTM’s Aron Canet. World championship For Japanese manufacturer Francesco Bagnaia. Despite winning three of the It was the 24-year-old’s sec- standings (after five rounds) Honda it was a 300th elite class Earlier in the day, Alex Mar- season’s fi ve races, Marc Mar- ond career victory in a class 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) victory, 53 years after Jim Red- quez won the Moto2 race ahead quez insisted that he was not which has seen fi ve diff erent 95 pts, 2. Andrea Dovizioso man secured their fi rst. of fellow Spaniards Jorge Navar- frustrated to still have such a race winners this season so far. (ITA/Ducati) 87, 3. Alex Rins Starting from pole, fi ve-time ro and Augusto Fernandez while narrow advantage in the world Canet still leads the stand- (ESP/Suzuki) 75, 4. Valentino IndyCar series driver Fernando Alonso waits in line to qualify for the MotoGP world champion Mar- championship leader Lorenzo championship race. ings with a 12-point advantage Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 72, 5. Danilo 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. quez won by almost two sec- Baldassarri crashed out. It was “No because there was one over Dalla Porta. Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 57 PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

BOXING Wilder retains title with brutal fi rst round KO AFP “When you been in there with so willingness to cause a fatality in our hands and at end of the day New York many diff erent guys you learn to the ring. we can say we lived to see an- recognize body language. I knew Threats of violence are a other day.” he was slowing down and open- stock-in-trade part of promot- Wilder, who won the bronze ndefeated Deon- ing up.” ing fi ghts, but Wilder’s grue- medal for the US at the 2008 Ol- tay Wilder brutally Breazeale barely landed a some pre-fi ght comments were ympic Games, moved up the all- knocked out Dominic punch in the fi ght and his de- condemned by many in the sport time heavyweight defence list Breazeale in the fi rst fence was non-existent as he as going too far. and joined four iconic champi- Uround of their grudge match walked right into the knockout Wilder’s comments have ap- ons who also made nine straight Saturday night to retain his blow. He lay motionless on his palled many in boxing, while defences: Muhammad Ali, Joe World Boxing Council heavy- back, then got up at the count WBC president Mauricio Su- Frazier, Mike Tyson and Lennox weight world title. of 10 as the referee grabbed him laiman has vowed to hold a hear- Lewis. The all-time record for Wilder, who has one of the and waved it off . Wilder was very ing into the remarks. any division is 25 by Joe Louis. most destructive right hands focused, showing off his superi- Wilder backed off on his com- On the undercard, feather- in heavyweight history, fl oored or handspeed, conditioning and ments immediately after the weight world champ Gary Russell the challenger with a one-punch punching power in another one- knockout in the ring, making Jr. dominated former junior feath- knockout with 43 seconds left sided victory. light of the death threats. erweight world titlist Kiko Mar- in the opening round at Bar- Wilder, 33, improved to 41- tinez with a fi fth-round knockout clays Center arena. The vaunted 0-1 with 40 KOs in making the ‘A LOT OF HATRED’ victory. Russell was heavily fa- knockout artist Wilder swarmed ninth defence of his title against “Everything just came out of voured defend his 126-pound belt Breazeale from the opening bell, heavy underdog Breazeale. me. There was a big buildup to for the fourth time. hurting him with a straight right Breazeale, who had lost just this fi ght,” he said. “There was a hand then fi nishing him off later one previous fi ght to Anthony lot of animosity, a lot of chaos, a in the round with the devastat- Joshua, dropped to 20-2 with 18 lot of hatred against each other. Deontay Wilder celebrates after ing right to the chin that was set KOs. There was bad blood be- This is what makes boxing so knocking out Dominic Breazeale up by a left jab. tween the two heading into the great. “When you get into a fi ght in the first round of their bout “When I hit him with the right fi ght with the buildup marked by and settle your diff erences as for Wilder’s WBC heavyweight hand the fi rst time his body lan- a series of macabre threats from men, that is what this sport is all title at Barclays Center in New guage changed,” said Wilder. Wilder, who had spoken of his about. We can handle this with York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

Monday, May 20, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

VOLLEYBALL Rayyan claim Amir Cup for third time in a row By Sports Reporter National Volleyball Cup winners Doha Police were hoping to be lucky in their fi fth fi nal after four years’ gap. l Rayyan claimed the However, Al Rayyan hardly prestigious Amir Cup gave any time to the rivals to Volleyball Champion- settle down and with a barrage ship for a third time in of good serves and spikes, they aA row on Saturday. grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead. At the packed Qatar Volleyball Police had a major setback Association (QVA) Indoor Hall, when Brazilian star Evandro Rayyan defeated Police 3-1 (25- Guerra, who won the 2016 FIVB 20, 25-19, 21-25, 25-13) in the fi - World Club Championship and nal. This was the 14th title in 27 2016 Rio Olympic Games gold fi nals for Brazilian coach Carlos medal, limped from the fi eld Schwanke side. with a foot injury. “In the locker room, I told my Despite the setback, Police players to be aggressive right managed to win the third set. from the fi rst point. They carried They did not allow Rayyan to out my instructions well and we wrest the advantage. After they won the fi nal. We had a drop in reduced the margin to 1-2, Police concentration in the third set in were expected to raise their lev- which we did not serve well and el. However, Al Rayyan quickly missed out on a few smashes,” made amends and won the set said Schwanke. and the title. “Police is a strong side and we Professionals Sam Deroo from respect them. But, in the fourth Belgium and Kamil Rychlicki set, we came back strongly and from Luxembourg dominated won the match. I’m delighted the match with superb smashes that the team played three fi - for Al Rayyan. nals under me and we won all of Polish club ZAKSA Kedzi- them. When I joined the team erzyn-Kozla’s Deroo came up late in the 2017-18 season, I tried with a match-high 22, while to introduce the winning men- Italian club Bunge Ravenna’s tality in the team and I am proud outside hitter scored 16. Abun- to say that my players worked abot scored eight points. really very hard to get this atti- For Police, Willner Rivas tude,” he said. and John Chigbo contributed The two clubs had clashed in 12 points each. Osman was the the Amir Cup fi nal in the 2012- third player to reach double 13 season with the Al Rayyan fi gures (11). Al Rayyan were re- getting the better of the Police warded with QR500,000 for team. Qatar Olympic Committee emerging the champions. Police Second Vice-President Dr Thani took home QR300,000. bin Abdulrahman al-Kuwari was Al Rayyan Club’s Sam Deroo the chief guest at the closing cer- was declared the best profes- emony and handed the trophies sional, while his teammate Bi- and medals. Also present on the rama Faye was adjudged the occasion were QVA President best local player. The QVA also Ali Ghanim al-Kuwari and QVA honoured beach volleyball stars Secretary-General Youssef Kano. Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Al Rayyan players receive the trophy from Qatar Olympic Committee’s second vice-president Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman al-Kuwari and QVA president Ali Ghanim al-Kuwari after The QVA League and Qatar Tijan on the occasion. winning the Amir Cup Volleyball Championship. PICTURE: Anas Khaled

GOLF Runaway leader Koepka on brink of 4th major title at PGA ‘Everyone is here to win, but there’s only one guy who’s absolutely just destroying this place’

AFP Bethpage, United States Koepka is no Tiger, at least not efending champion yet, says Scott Brooks Koepka ap- peared on the verge of Brooks Koepka has won plenty completing a wire-to- of admirers with his runaway wireD PGA Championship victory performance at the PGA to capture his fourth major title Championship, but former world in a record-shattering onslaught. number one Adam Scott is not Third-ranked Koepka’s 54- quite ready to anoint him as the hole total of 12-under par 198 at next Tiger Woods. Bethpage Black was good for a Koepka has won the past two US seven-stroke lead, the largest ad- Opens and stands poised to also vantage entering the fi nal round make it back-to-back PGA titles in tournament history. after establishing a seven-stroke No man has led a major by so lead following the third round much so late and lost. on Saturday. “I feel confi dent,” Koepka said. Nobody has dominated in such “I feel good. I feel excited.” a manner since Woods was in A victory would restore Koepka his prime. Woods held all four to the world number one ranking major titles at the same time in he lost in January and make the 2000-01, a stretch that included 29-year-old American the PGA’s a 15-stroke win at the US Open at fi fth wire-to-wire winner after Pebble Beach. Hal Sutton in 1983, Ray Floyd in He has 15 career major titles and 1982, Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and 81 PGA Tour victories. Bobby Nichols in 1964. Scott, however, said it was too A second-place pack behind early to compare Koepka to Koepka on 205 included top- Woods. “It’s not quite the same, ranked Dustin Johnson, fellow and that’s no disrespect to Americans Harold Varner and Brooks,” said Australian Scott. Luke List and Thailand’s Jazz “I think comparing anything to Janewattananond. “It’s going to Tiger is a little unfair in a good take something special to catch or a bad way. Brooks,” Johnson said. “But it’s “It would be probably bring- defi nitely doable on this course.” ing down what he managed to The best fi nal-round come- accomplish. He did this multiple back by a PGA winner was seven times in majors, let alone (regu- strokes by John Mahaff ey in 1978. lar PGA Tour) tournaments.” “No one likes to play for sec- Scott carded two-over-par 72 ond, but that’s sort of what he’s at Bethpage Black on Saturday doing to us,” said ninth-ranked after he had started the day American Xander Schauff ele, equal second, but ended it tied who was on 207. for eighth at three-under 207, “Everyone is here to win, but nine strokes behind Koepka. there’s only one guy who’s abso- “Brooks has separated himself lutely just destroying this place. here,” said the 2013 Masters So I’m sure he’s having a blast. champion. But for the rest of us, he’s making “It’s unlikely that he could play it awfully boring.” poor enough to cough it up Koepka opened with a course- tomorrow, but you’ve got to tee record 63 on Thursday then pro- Brooks Koepka of the United States lines up a putt on the 15th green during the third round of the 2019 PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black course in Farmingdale, New York, off with the hope.” duced the lowest 36-hole score on Saturday. (Getty Images/AFP) in major golf history on 12-under 128 before fi ring a third-round to make mistakes. “I just have top prize, he will be the fi rst man golfer to defend both US Open I’m tunnel-visioned. My focus .“It’s just something bash drives so far that it sets up 70. to focus on myself and not any- to own back-to-back titles at two and PGA crowns. probably goes up tenfold of what about playing a tough golf course easier shots into greens so he can “It’s nice to have a little bit of body else. And at the same time, majors simultaneously. Koepka “Everybody keeps asking what it does in a form tour event.” and understanding,” Koepka get the ball closer to the hole for a cushion,” Koepka said. “If I can staying patient and staying in the seeks a third consecutive US am I doing diff erently,” Koepka Koepka has only won two non- said. “Maybe it’s doing a little bit birdie putts. “When I’m over the get off to a good start, guys got to moment.” If Koepka does capture Open crown next month at Peb- said. “I’m just that much more major US PGA events, the 2015 more homework.” shot I’m very confi dent,” Koepka push and if you’re going to push the Wanamaker Trophy and the ble Beach. focused. I think I’m more focused Phoenix Open for his fi rst tour It doesn’t hurt to have an ath- said. “I enjoy the confi dence I’m on this golf course, you’re going $1.98 million (1.77 million euros) He can also become the fi rst than anybody out there. I think title and last October’s CJ Cup in letic build and the strength to playing with right now.”