Established 1961 Sport WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 T20 World Cup postponement NFL, players agree on daily Creator of 1980 Moscow 14was ‘inevitable’, say Australia 15 COVID-19 testing regime 15 Olympic bear mascot dead TURIN: Lazio’s Italian forward Ciro Immobile (C) fights for the ball with Juventus’ Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Lazio, at the Allianz stadium, in Turin, northern Italy.— AFP Ronaldo puts Juve on brink of Serie A title First player to hit 50 goals in Serie A, La Liga and the Premier League TURIN: Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus on the brink Ronaldo grabbed the first goal from the penalty rated Juventus from Lazio when Serie A returned last chaos in front of goal. of a ninth consecutive Italian league title on Monday spot just after the break and was handed a tap-in month following the three-month coronavirus lock- But the hosts got their chance when a Bastos after he scored twice in a 2-1 win over Lazio to be- three minutes later by teammate Paulo Dybala. down. handball was confirmed after a VAR review. Ronaldo come the first player to hit 50 goals in Serie A, La The Portuguese has scored 30 goals this season, But Simone Inzaghi’s side have been hit by injuries stepped up to slot in on 51 minutes and added a sec- Liga and the Premier League. equal with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile, who ended his and poor form since the return, losing five of eight ond after a Luiz Felipe blunder allowed Dybala to Juventus ended a three-match winless run thanks three-match drought with a late penalty. His second games, with four of those defeats coming in the last gain possession with the Argentine powering up the to Ronaldo’s second-half brace that moves them eight was his 50th goal in Serie A, after also passing the five matches. pitch, before teeing up the Portuguese to finish off. points clear of second-placed Inter Milan with four landmark in England and Spain. Both sides had early The five-time Ballon d’Or winner missed the games remaining. Maurizio Sarri’s side could win the The 35-year-old is now chances with Felipe Caicedo chance of a hat-trick when his header hit the crossbar title on Thursday against lowly Udinese, or on Sunday looking to become the first coming close early for the visi- after 66 minutes. Lazio pulled a goal back with seven at home against Sampdoria, depending on their rivals’ player to finish top scorer in We are tors behind closed doors at the minutes to go after a Bonucci foul on Immobile, who results this week. three of the top five European Allianz Stadium, and an Alex converted the resulting spot-kick. “We are missing four points, only after we have leagues after doing so England missing Sandro header clipping the “There is a bit of regret because after the lock- achieved them will we then be able to think about the and Spain. “Records are always woodwork. Lazio goalkeeper down we had a lot of problems,” said Inzaghi, whose goal achieved,” said Sarri. “All the games are difficult important, but the team victory four points Thomas Strakosha got his hand side had beaten Juventus twice this season, in the re- now, and in the space of six days, we play three is more important,” said to push an angled Adrien Ra- verse league fixture in Rome and the Italian Super games. So, we must stay focused and think about se- Ronaldo. biot effort over the bar with Cup final. curing the missing points.” “I’m helping the team to win. It’s important to win Ronaldo heading wide. “At the end of the game I congratulated the lads Sarri added: “Cristiano is an impressive player be- the title. There are four games left and we know that An Immobile rocket from the edge of the box hit because despite the problems we showed character. cause he has the extraordinary ability to complete a Serie A is a difficult championship.” the bottom of the post with goalkeeper Wojciech “The important thing is we want to celebrate a return quick recovery between games. “Not only physically, Lazio’s hopes of a first Serie A title since 2000 are Szczesny beaten. Lazio could thank defender Manuel to the Champions League after 13 years.” Lazio are but, above all, mentally: he is a champion with his feet, effectively over as the defeat leaves them fourth, 11 Lazzari for a goal-line clearance just after the break in the final Champions League berth 11 points ahead but also with his head.” points adrift of the leaders. Just one point had sepa- as Dybala threatened and Ronaldo tried to finish amid of city rivals Roma. —AFP defeat in the 68th minute, turning to fire home from Chris Wilder’s eighth placed side are five points Villa — the only team in the relegation zone who Wolves bolster Europa close-range after Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez behind Wolves and four points adrift of Tottenham could have caught them. carved open the Palace defence. with one game left. “I’m disappointed for the players Brighton have won just two of their last 17 league League bid, Blades Nuno Espirito Santo’s side climbed to sixth place, today. But what you try and do in a season is get your games, but ending a run of three successive home de- one point above Tottenham, and will be certain to club to overachieve and we have ridiculously over- feats moved them seven points clear of the bottom qualify for the Europa League if they win at Chelsea achieved,” Wilder said. three, with Villa having just two games left. blunted by Everton in their last game of the season on Sunday. “Top six should never have been in the equation “At this stage of the season we can talk about per- They would also qualify if Tottenham lose at Palace from the minute we set foot into the division. There formances but it’s about getting the points you need,” LONDON: Wolves moved closer to a place in the Eu- in their final match. are a lot of clubs that would swap places with us.” Potter said. ropa League with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, “The idea of improvement and the building The teams who finish fifth and sixth are certain to “It’s been a unique season in what we’ve had to while Sheffield United’s own European hopes were process makes sense and today we achieved two reach next season’s Europa League. deal with. It’s been a challenge. dashed by a 1-0 defeat against Everton on Monday. more points than last season with one game to go,” If the FA Cup winners finish in the top six, then “We’ve come through. Job done. I’m very proud At the other end of the Premier League table, Nuno said. “Sunday’s game is very difficult but let’s seventh place would also qualify for the Europa to be in the Premier League next season.” Brighton guaranteed their Premier League survival prepare well and compete.” League. Arsenal, who face third-placed Chelsea in the Injury-hit Newcastle’s frailties at the back were on with a 0-0 draw against Newcastle. At Bramall Lane, Sheffield United were handed a FA Cup final, are currently 10th, meaning Tottenham display when Emil Krafth failed to clear properly and Wolves, now unbeaten in three games, opened the second successive defeat, ending their bid to cap a are in danger of a first season without Europe com- then slipped over in his own area. scoring four minutes before half-time at Molineux. superb first season back in the top-flight by earning petition since 2009-10. Neal Maupay stole possession but let Newcastle Andros Townsend lost possession and Joao a European berth. At the Amex Stadium, Brighton got the point they off the hook with a wayward finish before Leandro Moutinho found Matt Doherty, who crossed for Por- Carlo Ancelotti’s team won it in the 46th minute needed to be mathematically certain of avoiding rel- Trossard brought a good save from Martin Dubravka. tuguese midfielder Daniel Podence to head his first when Brazil forward Richarlison met Gylfi Sigurds- egation. Graham Potter’s side were already virtually Miguel Almiron forced a smart stop from Brighton goal for Wolves. son’s free-kick with a glancing header for his 15th certain to stay up before the match because their goal keeper Mat Ryan before Newcastle substitute Andy Jonny condemned Palace to a seventh successive goal of the season. difference is far superior to third-from-bottom Aston Carroll headed wide from close-range. —AFP.