ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 16

Chicago Blackhawks de- fenseman Duncan Keith (2) knocks away the puck from Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson (33) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago. Predators won 3-1. (AP)— See Page 14 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com PSG, Bayern now lead a six-member emergency management team Super League fi asco gives clubs open goal to reset with UEFA GENEVA, April 24, (AP): Purged of most of its leaders in the Super League fi asco this week, the group represent- Fans protest ing European soccer clubs was given a chance to reinvent itself. Now the European Club Asso- Newcastle dent ciation is free to push for reversing Champions League changes that favor Liverpool hopes the wealthiest and more powerful who threatened to tear apart soccer’s tradi- LIVERPOOL, England, April tional fabric. 24, (AP): Liverpool conceded a The decisions UEFA made on Mon- goal in the fi fth minute of stop- day for a Champions League revamp page time to draw 1-1 with New- in 2024 - of 36 teams each playing 10 castle in the on games in a single standings - clearly Saturday in a blow to its chances favor the rebels. Two wild cards for of qualifying for the Champions storied clubs is one gift that can be tak- League. en back now they no longer dominate ’s shot defl ected a key UEFA committee. into the corner off the stretched Hours earlier around midnight on leg of Fabinho in a dramatic fi n- Sunday, the 246-member ECA lost 12 ish at Anfi eld. Earlier in added-on of the most infl uential - and most de- time, Newcastle had an equal- manding - when they left to announce izing goal their own Super League. by another The project quickly collapsed amid substitute, a ferocious backlash from fans and Callum domestic leagues, governments and Wilson, Champions League organizer UEFA, ruled out handing the ECA a chance to restore for a hand- trust. ball against “Over the past week, we have seen the striker. the worst but also the best of football,” Moham- ECA chief executive Charlie Marshall ed Salah’s said in a statement Friday. “Ultimate- 20th ly, the best has triumphed.” Premier Salah League SOCCER goal of the season looked like earning Liverpool a win that would have lifted the team into The “worst” was done by clubs and the top four, above Tottenham, people that were Marshall’s bosses West Ham and Chelsea. until the early hours of Monday. They As it is, the Reds are sixth with led ECA through talks with UEFA to fi ve games remaining of a disap- shape the Champions League’s future Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah (left), duels for the ball with Everton’s Ben Godfrey during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton pointing title defense that has left while plotting a rival to usurp it. them battling just to earn Champi- Juventus president Andrea Ag- at the Emirates stadium in . (AP) ons League qualifi cation. nelli resigned as ECA chairman and Salah’s goal came in the third Real Madrid’s Pedro López as his minute and was brilliantly taken - 1st vice chairman. Board member Ed the Egypt forward bringing down Woodward of Manchester United also a high ball with his left foot and walked out. swiveling to smash a fi nish high They and the nine other Super into the net. He became the fi rst League founders terminated their Liverpool player to score at least memberships, freeing them of the Nets regain East lead 20 goals in three different Premier ECA’s pledge to UEFA - signed League seasons. by Agnelli in 2019 - not to play in a breakaway competition. ECA observers, and even members, Warriors welcome back fans and beat Nuggets SOCCER had suspected the oft-claimed unity and democracy in a 55-nation group NEW , April 24, Westbrook had 37 points, 11 re- Salah missed a glut of other was a façade to help a storied few bounds and 11 assists - his fourth chances to move level with Harry clubs get what they wanted. (AP): Kyrie Irving just straight triple-double and his 14th in Kane as this season’s top scorer The sense of betrayal was clear this missed a triple-double de- 16 games. Westbrook has 174 triple- in an open and often wild game, week among members who recalled spite an awful shooting doubles in his career and is closing in largely brought about by Liver- Agnelli telling them ECA was more pool manager Jürgen Klopp’s important to him than Juventus. Ag- night, Joe Harris scored on Oscar Robertson’s career record of 181. He has 28 triple-doubles this decision to play a front four of nelli’s family has owned Juventus for 20 points and the Brooklyn Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Roberto almost 100 years. season. Nets regained fi rst place Bradley Beal added 33 points for Firmino and Salah. By Wednesday, the Super League That meant Liverpool looked was in ruins, the reputations of lead in the Eastern Conference the Wizards. dangerous going forward - the conspirators shredded and the ECA with a 109-104 victory over Darius Bazley and Theo Maledon team had 22 shots - but were left moved fast to renew itself. the on Fri- each scored 20 points for Oklahoma vulnerable at the back. Super League refuseniks Paris City. The Thunder have lost 13th Most of the chances created Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich day night. straight. by Newcastle, for whom forward now lead a six-member emergency Irving had torched his former Warriors 118, Nuggets 97 Allan Saint-Maximin was a con- management team. It includes Ajax team for 77 points in 67 minutes in In San Francisco, Stephen Curry stant live wire, came in the fi rst chief executive Edwin van der Sar, the a pair of victories this season, but scored 32 points, Draymond Green half and again after Willock and widely liked former Man United and this time shot just 4 for 19, missing had 19 assists and 12 rebounds, and Wilson, the fi t-again striker, came Juventus goalkeeper. all six of his 3-pointers. Golden State welcomed back fans for off the bench halfway through the “This could be the best that has hap- But he scored 15 points, including the fi rst time since the pandemic be- second half. pened to football,” said Olivier Jarosz, the fi nishing free throws with 1.6 sec- gan by beating Denver. Willock also scored an 82nd- a former ECA staffer whose consultan- onds left, and added 11 assists, nine Nikola Jokic scored 19 points for minute winner against West Ham cy fi rm Club Affairs advises offi cials rebounds and four steals as the Nets Denver in a matchup of MVP candi- last weekend, as well as an 85th- across Europe. “What is needed now is dates with Curry, who received a rare minute equalizer against Totten- to restore trust and credibility.” fi nished a season sweep of the Celtics, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) yells at a referee during the just the third in their franchise history. technical with 33.7 seconds left in the ham on April 4. Jarosz is a specialist in Eastern Eu- second half of the team’s NBA game against the Denver Nug- Newcastle moved nine points rope soccer, which was all-but ignored Jayson Tatum had 38 points and gets in San Francisco. (AP) 10 rebounds but was doing it mostly above the relegation zone with in the Super League debate, and mar- BASKETBALL fi ve games left. ginalized in UEFA’s slate of Champi- alone in the fi rst half, when he had 25 of the Celtics’ 51 points. ons League changes from 2024 shaped third when he wanted a foul call. Mi- NBA Results/Standings Arsenal goalkeeper ’s under pressure by the rebel clubs. Payton Pritchard (22 points) and blunder allowing an own goal to Marcus Smart (19) got it going after chael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets with “What I hear from clubs around Eu- 26 points, hitting seven 3-pointers. Everton was the decider in a 1-0 rope now is the need for reform and to halftime and each added points, but the Denver forward Will Barton went WASHINGTON, April 24, (AP): NBA results and standings on Friday. win for the visitors in the English create an organisation that fully repre- Celtics couldn’t overcome 19 turno- Premier League. sents them, so ECA could be the win- vers that gave Brooklyn a whopping down 59 seconds into the game with a Atlanta 118 Miami 103 LA Clippers 109 Houston 104 strained right hamstring and didn’t re- Brooklyn 109 Boston 104 Golden State 118 Denver 97 The only other tumult in this ner,” Jarosz told The AP. 32-0 advantage in fast-break points. Charlotte 108 Cleveland 102 Memphis 130 Portland 128 otherwise dull match came out- Going further, sports law academic Both teams were without two of turn. He hit the fl oor awkwardly on the Washington 129 Oklahoma City 109 side the stadium as hundreds of baseline beneath the Nuggets basket. Antoine Duval this week urged small- their three best players. Kevin Durant Eastern Conference Western Conference Arsenal fans protested in front of er clubs to “occupy ECA and fi ght for missed a third straight game with a Fans chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” for Atlantic Division Southwest Division Emirates Stadium before and after your damn interest!” bruised left thigh, remaining sidelined Curry, who shot 11 for 18 with four 3s W L Pct GB W L Pct GB kickoff. They set off pyrotechnics and also grabbed eight rebounds. Brooklyn 40 20 .667 - Dallas 32 26 .552 - After the storm, the ECA and UEFA along with James Harden (right ham- Philadelphia 39 20 .661 -1/2 Memphis 30 28 .517 2 and flares to demonstrate against aimed for calm and stability before string). Hawks 118, Heat 108 New York 33 27 .550 7 San Antonio 29 29 .500 3 Stan Kroenke’s ownership amid punishing the rebels. Jaylen Brown missed his second In Atlanta, Bogdan Bogdanovich Boston 32 28 .533 8 New Orleans 26 33 .441 6-1/2 anger over the club joining the scored 21 points, John Collins added Toronto 25 34 .424 14-1/2 Houston 15 45 .250 18 UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin straight game with left shoulder bur- Southeast Division Northwest Division Super League. warned there must be consequences. sitis, while Kemba Walker rested 20 and injury-depleted Atlanta sur- W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Everton remained in eighth The clubs he called a “Dirty Dozen” his left knee on the second night of prised Miami. Atlanta 33 27 .550 - Utah 44 15 .746 - place and in touching distance of face extended exile from decision- Miami 31 29 .517 2 Denver 38 21 .644 6 Boston’s back-to-back after beating Charlotte 29 30 .492 3-1/2 Portland 32 27 .542 12 the Champions League places. making and expulsion from the next Phoenix on Thursday. Washington 26 33 .441 6-1/2 Oklahoma City20 40 .333 24-1/2 Everton manager Carlo Champions League until they re- Clippers 109, Rockets 104 Orlando 18 41 .305 14-1/2 Minnesota 16 44 .267 28-1/2 Ancelotti said his team were still nounce the Super League. Central Division Pacifi c Division fighting for a place in the top four, In Houston, Paul George had 33 W L Pct GB W L Pct GB UEFA gave itself the rest of 2021 to points and 14 rebounds and Los An- Milwaukee 36 22 .621 - Phoenix 42 17 .712 - saying the race could go down to fi nalize the Champions League format. geles shook off an 11-point third Indiana 27 31 .466 9 LA Clippers 43 19 .694 -1/2 the last match of the season. Key fi nancial decisions already stalled quarter to beat Houston for its fourth Chicago 25 34 .424 11-1/2 LA Lakers 35 24 .593 7 “We are still attached to the last month as a rift opened between Cleveland 21 38 .356 15-1/2 Golden State 30 30 .500 12-1/2 straight victory. Detroit 18 42 .300 19 Sacramento 24 35 .407 18 top of the table,” Ancelotti said. Ceferin and Agnelli. The Clippers were 5 of 22 from the “This one we needed. We have An offer could be withdrawn to fi eld and 0 for 6 from 3-point range in to keep fighting.” Arsenal start- share ownership with ECA of a Cham- the third to fall behind 80-76. Reggie Atlanta played without its two best help Memphis snap a two-game los- ed the match brightly and pions League commercial venture. players, leading scorer Trae Young ing streak. seemed to be in control in the A past concession was a joint UE- Jackson hit three straight 3s early in the fourth as part of an 11-2 run that and NBA rebounding leader Clint Damian Lillard overcame a slow early stages. But Everton started FA-ECA panel overseeing Champions Capela. start and fi nished with 27 points, and to cause problems for Arsenal, League commercial strategy in which helped Los Angeles regain the lead. with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jackson fi nished with 19 points. The Hawks, who began the game Jusuf Nurkic added 26 points and a an Agnelli aide, Stefano Bertola, took No. 5 in the Eastern Conference, season-high 17 rebounds. Portland and Gylfi a key role. had 27 points and 13 as- Sigurdsson all going close in the sists for Houston. Christian Wood had improved to 33-27 after winning for has lost six of its last seven. Even back in 2016, domestic the 10th time in their last 12 games Hornets 108, Cavaliers 102 first half. league offi cials warned against open- 24 points and 19 rebounds, and Kelly against the Eastern Conference and In Charlotte, N.C., Miles Bridges Everton came close to taking ing UEFA’s books to give clubs such Olynyk 23 points and 10 rebounds. the lead when Sigurdsson’s sensitive data, amid regular rumors of The Rockets have lost eight of their 10th time in the last 13 overall. had 25 points and 10 rebounds and 20-yard free kick curled over the breakaway plans. last nine and 13 of their last 15. Hou- Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin Kendrick Nunn had 21 points for Charlotte overcame a 10-point sec- wall and hit the crossbar in the The 30-nation European Leagues ston is 4-34 since Feb. 4. (2) goes to the basket past Boston the Heat. ond-half defi cit to beat Cleveland. 39th minute. The midfielder also group believes a separate UEFA path Wizards 129, Thunder 109 Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) Grizzlies 130, Trail Blazers 128 P.J. Washington and Terry Rozier nearly scored in the 47th, but to driving Champions League changes, In Oklahoma City, Russell West- and Tristan Thompson (13) In Portland, Ore., Ja Morant had 33 also each had 25 points for the Hor- Arsenal center back the Club Competitions’ Committee, brook had another triple-double in his during the second half of an NBA bas- points and 13 assists and Memphis nets. made a crucial to put the cannot continue with ECA having 80% return to Oklahoma City, and Wash- ketball game in New York. The Nets handed Portland its fourth straight loss. Collin Sexton had 28 points for the ball out for a corner. of the seats. ington won its seventh straight. won 109-104. (AP) Dillon Brooks added 25 points to Cavaliers.

THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House

Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office: Telephone: 24813566 & 24849144 Advertising: Tel: 55633481 Annual Subscriptions: Airport Road, Shuwaikh Fax: 24818267 Fax: 24911307 Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Offi cial Tel: 24849144 AHMED AL JARALLAH Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for Fax: 24839487 P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] overseas