18 Sunday, June 30, 2019 Sports Woodwork foils Ghana as Quick read goal drought hits AFCON Argentina into semis Man Utd complete signing of Palace’s AFP and Mauritania drew 0-0 in the Wan-Bissaka ISMAILIA, EGYPT first goalless draw of the tour- nament after the previous 21 MANCHESTER United have OWUSU Kwabena rattled the matches produced 43 goals. as Messi toils at Copa signed defender Aaron Wan- crossbar for Ghana as they Cameroon made four Bissaka from Crystal Palace on drew 0-0 with defending changes and Ghana three after an initial five-year contract, the champions Cameroon on Sat- their first group matches. Team makes last Premier League club announced urday in the second successive Ghanaian Thomas Partey four but Messi still on Saturday. goalless Africa Cup of Nations squandered a good early chance Financial terms of the deal were match. when he blazed over from close struggling. He has not disclosed but British media Substitute Kwabena came range after being set up just only scored once reported earlier this week that on after 87 minutes and imme- outside the box. Christian Atsu United had agreed to pay Palace diately went closest to breaking from Premier League club New- – from the penalty 50 million pounds to sign the the deadlock in a cagey Group F castle United had to go off in- England under-21 right back. clash in Ismailia. jured after only 15 minutes and spot – and hasn’t Wan-Bissaka is United’s second Ghana had another chance Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah sent provided assists signing of the close season, to beat Cameroon for the first in Samuel Owuso. following the arrival of Wales time in five attempts at the Cup As the half progressed at REUTERS winger Daniel James from of Nations, but a shot from An- the Ismailia Stadium, five-time RIO DE JANEIRO Championship side Swansea drew Viadom lacked power and African champions Cameroon City. United have the option to Andre Onana saved comfort- twice came close to taking the AFTER carrying Argentina on extend Wan-Bissaka’s deal by ably. Billed as a highlight of lead. A superb sliding tackle by his back so many times Lionel an additional year. the 36-match group phase in Jonathan Mensah, recalled in Messi could be forgiven for “Aaron is one of the best Egypt, the game produced lit- place of suspended John Boye, having an off day but while his upcoming defenders in the tle excitement as the defences foiled Karl Toko Ekambi as he team mates earned high praise Premier League,” United man- dominated. prepared to shoot. for Friday’s Copa America ager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Seeking a sixth African title, With defences in control quarter-final win over Vene- in a statement. “I can’t wait to Cameroon top the table with as the second half progressed, zuela the captain did not look get going and integrated into four points, four-time champi- there were more attempts from like his old self. the squad,” Wan-Bissaka said. ons Ghana have two long range and Mubarak Waka- Argentina’s all-time top “I’m looking forward to starting Earlier on Saturday, Angola so was just off target for Ghana. scorer often loses out to Diego training with the manager and Maradona in debates over who my new team mates on the pre- is the country’s best ever play- season tour,” he added. er due to his failure to inspire his nation to a major trophy. Quartararo in ‘incredible’ While he usually looks to be AC Milan banned from playing on a different level to 2019-20 Europa his international team mates, Argentina’s Lionel Messi (centre) vies for the ball with Venezuela’s Junior Moreno during their Copa America League for FFP breach pole for Dutch MotoGP against Venezuela it was the quarter-final match at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. (AFP) five-times world player of the AC Milan have voluntarily accept- AFP year who looked rusty, slow defenders as he usually does ed a one-year ban from all Euro- ASSEN, NETHERLANDS and the least likely to conjure Queiroz sees improvement in with such nonchalant ease. pean competitions for breaching up a moment of magic. Argentina coach Lionel UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) YAMAHA’S French rider Fabio After four games at the Colombia despite Chile loss Scaloni did not want to be rules, sport’s highest court CAS Quartararo set a new lap record Copa America, Messi has drawn on Messi’s poor display said on Friday. As a result, the as he sealed an “incredible” pole only scored once – from the COLOMBIA coach Carlos Queiroz put a positive spin on Colom- in the post-game news confer- seven-times European champions position for Sunday’s Dutch penalty spot – and has not bia’s penalty shoot-out elimination from the Copa America by ence but said his presence alone will not participate in the 2019- MotoGP in Assen. provided any assists, nor has champions Chile on Friday. is good for the team. 20 Europa League which they The 20-year-old clocked he looked anything like the Colombia didn’t concede a goal in four games in Brazil -- “Messi’s contribution on qualified for by finishing fifth in 1min 32.017sec, finishing ahead player who netted more goals although Chile had two disallowed by VAR in Sao Paulo -- yet still the pitch is essential, if you Serie A last season. of fellow Yamaha rider Maver- than anyone in Europe in the crashed out at the quarter-final stage. could see what he gives us Milan’s ban means that AS ick Vinales and Suzuki’s Alex last three seasons. “Penalties are a very tough way to leave a competition, but I in the dressing room you’d Roma, who finished sixth in Rins, both of Spain. Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Argentina could certainly think the matches we played showed very good signs of develop- think differently. I assure you the standings, move up to the It was Quartararo’s third Quartararo during qualifying ath do with him rediscovering his ment, improvement, compactness, security,” said the 66-year-old it’s great to have him here,” group stage of the competition pole, having topped qualifica- the TT Assen GP in Assen, Neth- form in their next game, a semi- Portuguese boss. Scaloni said. while their place in the qualifying tion last time out at the Catalan erlands on Saturday. (REUTERS) final with tournament hosts “I want to congratulate the Chilean players and squad, but When further pressed on rounds is taken by Torino. race and in the Spanish Mo- and arch rivals Brazil. I want to give my biggest congratulations to our players, who Messi’s poor form, Scaloni “CAS has issued a consent toGP at the start of May. pole position on this track.” Messi did play a support- struggled, fought hard, with a lot of desire and belief to try to win replied curtly: “All there is to award embodying the agreement “The track here is much Spain’s reigning world ing role in Argentina’s opening the game.” say about Leo is he’s the best reached between AC Milan and more difficult than Montmelo champion Marc Marquez leads strike against Venezuela, whip- Queiroz, who only took over Colombia in February, felt his in the world.” UEFA concerning breaches of so I’m suffering a little bit more this season’s standings, on 140 ping in a cross which Sergio side had dominated but lacked a clinical touch in the final third. The poor state of the play- the FFP regulations by the Italian on my arms,” the Frenchman points, from Italy’s Ducati rider Aguero sent towards goal and “We moved around all the attacking players but once again ing surfaces in Brazil also club,” the CAS said in a state- said in reference to the Catalo- Andrea Dovizioso (103), with Lautaro Martinez flicked into luck deserted us,” he said. seem to have taken their toll ment. “AC Milan is excluded nian track, where he finished Rins just two points adrift. the net with his heel, but it was “The only person responsible for us failing to progress was on Messi. from participating in the UEFA second. Marquez was lucky to es- the only memorable moment of me, no-one else.” “The pitches here are club competitions of the sport- “But anyway we managed cape a fall at the so-called ‘Ca- an ineffective display. Chile’s Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda said this victory shameful, the ball is like a rab- ing season 2019/2020 as a to get the pole position. First we thedral of Speed’ track, going His passing was sloppy, his was merely one step towards a greater goal: to qualify for the bit, it can go anywhere,” he said. consequence of the breach of its think about today, Saturday, we wide on a corner and wobbling shots were frequently blocked 2022 World Cup in Qatar. “The conditions are very FFP break-even obligations during managed to get two really fast dangerously off onto the kerb and never troubled Venezuela The Roja missed out on the last global showpiece in Russia difficult and it’s very hard to the 2015/2016/2017 and the laps. (There’s) nothing to say before quickly managing to re- goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez, despite having won the last two Copa America titles. (AFP) dribble properly. This cannot 2016/2017/2018 periods.” because it’s incredible to be in adjust and regain his seat.