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Sunday, November 26, 2017 CRICKET Rabia I 8, 1439 AH Vijay, Pujara GULF TIMES pummel Lankan bowlers on day two SPORT Page 2

SPOTLIGHT RAYYAN INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING Messi to end career at Barca aft er extending deal to 2021, buyout ‘Unbelievable’ clause set at $835mn feeling as Tebbel wins Grand Prix ‘I arrived here just a day ago, just for these two classes. I have come to Qatar many times before, but had never ridden here at QEF. It’s a beautiful place’

By Sahan Bidappa Doha secs. “It was a great competition over- Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi poses with FC Barcelona president all,” said the 23-year-old Demirsoy. Josep Maria Bartomeu during the signing of his new contract in Barcelona “Everything went well and I am very yesterday. aving arrived in Doha just a pleased with this outcome. We had day before, Rene Tebbel stole two fantastic weeks though we were a AFP with a buyout clause adjusted to the the thunder at the QNB Al bit unlucky at times. It’s a great facility Barcelona current transfer market,” said Bar- Rayyan International Show here in Qatar and I am very happy to be tomeu. JumpingH Championship as the Ukrain- part of it,” he added. “The buyout clause is 700mn. It ian won the Grand Prix title yesterday. The Turkish rider listed out his fu- ionel Messi hopes to end allows us to keep Leo Messi where he At the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s ture plans, and was looking forward to his career at Barcelona after should be.” Without Neymar, Messi’s outdoor arena, Tebbel took out an im- returning to Qatar next March. “I have ending months of specula- role as a creator and goalscorer has pressive victory with 10-year-old stal- international shows indoors in Hol- tion yesterday by signing a increased in a Barca side that has lion Cosun taking long strides around land. That’s an indoor event as it will contractL extension to 2021, sealing unusually built its stunning start to the course to give the rider his maiden be freezing outside. There are some an agreement reached in July, the the season on a defensive record of 13 win in Qatar. young horses. I will ride them. Then I club announced. clean sheets in 18 games. Just like the rest of the fi eld, the have a big show in Austria after that. Barca had said in the summer that “The departure of Ney has meant 48-year-old Tebbel was clearly Hopefully I will be back in Doha, may- Messi, 30, had committed his future a change in the way we play,” Messi, stunned by his unexpected victory. be next March,” he noted. to the club but the Argentine had not who has 16 goals in 19 games this “It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” said In the 135cm class, Kuwaiti rider Ali signed the new deal. campaign, told Spanish sports daily Tebbel. “I arrived here just a day ago, al-Khorafi continued his good run in With his previous contract set to yesterday, a day after picking just for these two classes. I have come Qatar as he led Loki Doki to victory. expire in 2018, Messi could have left up his fourth Golden Shoe as the top to Qatar many times before, but had The winning time was 56.53 secs. Qa- Barca for free next summer had he goalscorer in Europe last season. never ridden here at QEF. It’s a beau- tar’s Awad al-Qahtani was second with not extended his deal. “We lost a huge amount of attack- tiful place. I was thinking I may fi nish Gerenice of Colors in 57.65 secs, while “We have needed to do the signa- ing potential, but that has benefi ted second or third, but the jump off was Yara al-Hunaidi capped off a wonder- ture for some time. It is done and I us in a defensive sense. Now we really good. I knew it’s really a good ful day for Kuwait as she fi nished third am happy to remain tied to the club,” are more solid in midfi eld, we have horse. I just came for two days and I with Dinky Toy Van De Castershoeve in Messi told Barca TV. more structure and that has made us had hoped to do well. But this is really a 58.92 secs. “I have always said I wanted to end stronger defensively.” surprise,” he added. my career here, it is my dream to fi n- Barca fi rst announced an agree- Only four of the 12 riders made it Results ish at Barcelona and we are on the ment with Messi back on July 5, but to the jump off for Grand Prix title, GRAND PRIX - World Cup right track.” pressure has been mounting on Bar- the biggest prize money event of the Competition| Two Rounds 160cm Barcelona president Josep Maria tomeu to get Messi to put pen to pa- championship. Tebbel and Cosun were class €91,900 Bartomeu said the club needed to per after a turbulent summer for the last to go, with Edwina Tops-Alexan- 1. Rene Tebbel (Ukraine) Cosun. Time: change the deal agreed in June to Catalans. der and Inca Boy Van T Vianahof’s time 48.18 secs. €22,975 increase Messi’s buyout clause to Neymar’s departure sparked a of 51.81 seconds to beat. The pressure 2. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) 700mn euros ($835mn) and prevent crisis and Bartomeu was heavily was on Tebbel put he kept his com- Inca Boy Van T Vianahof. 51.81 secs. the danger of a repeat of Neymar’s criticised for failing to ward off PSG posure and found a perfect sync with €18,380 departure when Paris Saint-Ger- with a higher buyout clause and for Cosun, which fl ew around the course 3. Alexandra Thornton (Great Britain) main payed the Brazilian’s 222 mil- a haphazard search for replacements as the pair came home fastest in 48.18 Cornetto K. 60.00. €13,785 lion-euro buyout clause in August. in the fi nal weeks of the transfer secs. “We agreed to sign a new deal window. Tebbel, who earned €22,975 for his Table A, One Round + Winning Round victory, was gushing in his praise of FEI Art. 276.2.1, 2.3 | Max. 145 cm | Cosun. “The horse is owned by (Rus- Prize Money € 24,600 FOOTBALL sian rider Vladimir) Tuganov. I just 1. Derin Demirsoy (Turkey) Dadjak ride him on the shows. He is trained Ter Puttenen. Time: 49.03 secs. Prize by Tuganov. I have ridden him in many money: € 6,150 shows and I know how good he is. I had 2. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) Silva secures Asian a good result this time. I was thinking Veronese Teamjoy. 51.89 secs. € 4,920 maybe I won’t be fast enough in jump Ukraine’s Rene Tebbel rides 10-year-old stallion Cosun to Grand Prix title during 3. Athina Onassis (Greece) Vannan. off . But after Cosun took few strides I the QNB Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship at the Qatar 64.01 secs. € 3,690 Champions League felt could beat the time. My previous Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena yesterday. PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi best was fi fth here. This is my fi rst win Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. in Qatar,” said Tebbel. K, made it to the podium. It was a dis- were comfortable winners, with more 238.2.1 | Max. 130/135 cm | Prize title for Urawa Reds Edwina, who had won on Friday to appointing night for star Qatar rider than two and half second margin over Money: €7,000 break her victory drought, fi nished Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani, who Edwina Tops-Alexander and Veronese 1. Ali al-Khorafi (FEI) Loki Doki. Time: Reuters control the ball more and that’s why runner-up, her second on the day. She failed to make jump off with First De- Teamjoy. Demirsoy’s winning time was 56.53 secs. Prize money: €1,750 Tokyo we were able to win.” had also taken second spot in 145cm vision, to fi nish fi fth. 49.03 secs, while Edwina came home 2. Awad al-Qahtani (Qatar) Gerenice of The home side started with the class. The third place went to Great Earlier, Derin Demirsoy of Turkey in 51. 89 secs. The third place went to Colors. 57.65 secs. €1,400 same line-up that drew 1-1 in the Britain’s Alexandra Thornton, who won the 145cm class with his 14-year- Greece’s Athina Onassis, who mount- 3. Yara al-Hunaidi (FEI) Dinky Toy Van apan’s Urawa Red Diamonds fi rst leg, Brazilian forward Silva despite making a fault with Cornetto old bay Dadjak Ter Puttenen. The pair ing Vannan fi nished her round in 64.01 De Castershoeve. 58.92 secs. €1,050 won the Asian Champions having shaken off an ankle injury. League when a 1-0 win over Al Nawaf Al Abed started for Al Hi- Hilal of Saudi Arabia at Saita- lal in place of Carlos Eduardo, who maJ Stadium yesterday handed them suff ered a serious knee injury in the the title 2-1 on aggregate. fi rst leg. Urawa made the brighter Rafael Silva scored two minutes start with Kazuki Nagasawa twice from time to give Urawa the win going close in the opening eight having also scored his side’s vital minutes as the Saudi side froze in away goal in the fi rst leg in Riyadh the chilly evening air at Saitama. last week. But twice champions Al Hilal Urawa become the fi rst Japanese grew more assertive, with Salem Al side to claim the continental cham- Dawsari fi ring narrowly over the bar pionship since Gamba Osaka in from outside the area while Nicolas 2009 while the win is Urawa’s sec- Milesi should have done better be- ond, 10 years after their only previ- fore the break when he pulled his ous success. shot wide of Shusaku Nishikawa’s “We learned a lot after the fi rst goal. game, we analysed our opponents The Saudis, though, were to be well and we were well prepared,” continually frustrated as Omar said Urawa coach Takafumi Hori. Khribin dragged his free kick wide Grand Prix winner Ukraine’s Rene Tebbel (top centre), second-placed Edwina “In the fi rst game we put defence and Mohamed Al Burayk saw his Tops-Alexander (left) of Australia and Great Britain’s Alexandra Thornton pose with fi rst, but we were at home today and shot defl ected wide for a corner as Qatar Equestrian Federation’s President Hamad Abdulrahman al-Attiyah (front left) we were more aggressive. We could Urawa’s defence held fi rm. Turkey’s Derin Demirsoy won the 145cm class with Dadjak Ter Puttenen. and Omar-al Mannai, the Commercial manager of Al Shaqab.

1354489791podium Gulf Times 2 Sunday, November 26, 2017 CRICKET

1ST ASHES TEST SPOTLIGHT Our Smith plans Smith goes against are working, says instincts to suck ’s Broad oxygen out of rivals Aussie captain dug deep on his way to the hosts’ slowest century since 2010

By Adam Collins England attacked Smith’s head and The Guardian body with an earlier bouncer binge and after lunch were at it again. In both at- tempts, Joe Root loaded up the legside hen Steve Smith reached with catchers close to the bat and a three fi gures at Pune in ring 20 metres from the boundary. The February he thumped message from one captain to the other his chest so hard it must was clear: have a go, mate. Whave left a bruise. It was an innings he But he wouldn’t, nor Cummins. The assessed as the best of his life. At the 66 the pair put on for the eighth wicket Gabba yesterday he repeated the act dragged the defi cit to 27 and sucked the to mark his second masterpiece in the oxygen out of England’s surge. In the England’s Stuart Broad celebrates with teammates after taking a catch to dismiss space of a year. In both cases, they were period immediately after lunch from Australia’s Mitchell Starc on third day of the first Ashes Test at The Gabba in Perth, undeniably magnifi cent in their un- Jake Ball and Chris Woakes, from 26 Australia, yesterday. (Reuters) fashionable ways. deliveries to Smith all but two pitched Back then, the pitch was a disaster shorter than eight metres from him. Reuters batsmen at the other end, and the bet- with runs gold dust in a country where By the time Smith reached three fi g- Brisbane ter for us.” Australia had been routinely embar- ures – through his only stroke of note “It must have been one of his slowest rassed. Here, Smith’s fi rst Ashes Test on the way, a sumptuous cover drive hundreds he’s scored for Australia. as captain, it is a match where only a off Stuart Broad from the 261st ball he llowing the home captain to “We didn’t let them get away from us victory is acceptable. “Everything,” he faced – it made for the slowest Austral- score an unbeaten century at any stage and we’ve seen as a batting instinctively said when asked what it ian century since Simon Katich in 2010. might not seem like ‘mission group, if someone shows a lot of pa- means to him. That had already been But none of this mattered and the accomplished’ for an oppos- tience and gets stuck in, it can be quite obvious to all in attendance. crowd knew it. Their response was as ingA team’s bowlers, but paceman Stu- hard to get them out.” Typically, when Smith has saluted enthusiastic for an Australian ton as art Broad believes England have Steve Australia’s Josh Hazlewood removed for a century he has had team-mates any since Steve Waugh’s fi nal-ball fi n- Smith right where they want him in the Alastair Cook for seven and James doing the same. In Brisbane, after the ish in January 2003. They understood series-opening Ashes test. Vince for two, but England’s rookie top-order stumble on Friday and mid- they were in the privileged position of Australia’s batsman Steve Smith celebrates his century on third day of the first Smith strolled off the Gabba with 141 opener Mark Stoneman (19 not out) dle-order wobble before lunch yester- witnessing a particularly special feat. Ashes Test in Brisbane yesterday. (AFP) after tea on day three, having pushed and Root (fi ve not out) survived a nerv- day, it was obvious that it would have “I had to really dig deep,” Smith said. his team to 328 and a slender lead over ous period before stumps. to be him who climbed the mountain or “It just meant a lot. Ashes series are al- England’s fi rst innings 302. The pair were peppered by short his side would be trailing badly. ways huge. As a captain I want to lead Scorecard England then lost two wickets to be balls from Australia’s vaunted pace trio from the front as much as I can with my 33 for two and leave an enthralling test and Root took a sickening blow on the “As a captain I want to lead from performance and how I bat. And all of it match still very much in the balance. helmet from spearhead Mitchell Starc. the front as much as I can with came out when I got to 100.” Having had to soak up 326 balls in his The captain smiled immediately in my performance and how I bat. That has been the consistent posi- slowest ever century, Smith later said response, even if dizzy and with ears And all of it came out when I got tion of his since taking over the side – a he was surprised at how defensive Eng- ringing, and dug in with courage to re- to 100,” Smith said belief his best contribution as skipper land captain Joe Root had set his fi elds main unbeaten at stumps. is through runs. That he is doing a pret- and that he expected boundaries to be “Crucial,” said Broad. “You can so When refl ecting on a century it is the ty good job of that is highlighted by the hard to come by further down the track. easily lose four-fi ve wickets and that’s shots that are supposed to dominate extraordinary numbers he boasts in the All part of the plan, said Broad. the test match gone in those sessions. the praise commentary. But this was role. Only Don Bradman has a higher “Perfect. We know the Australians “Obviously a bit disappointed to lose about the opportunities to score he de- average than the 72.46 he has posted as like to score quickly, if we can restrict two wickets but as I said, it could have nied himself across 561 minutes at the captain so far, netting a preposterous 13 them from scoring a lot of boundaries been a lot worse. It was just proper thea- crease – that’s the better part of nine centuries in 27 Tests while wearing the then we’ll have periods of taking wick- tre wasn’t it, proper test match cricket. and a half hours’ thorough concentra- armband. ets,” the wily paceman told reporters. “Fast bowling, batsmen playing it tion. Overall, he has reached 21 Test cen- “The less balls we can bowl at Steve well, a few blows being taken but to- After his Pune epic, Smith said that turies quicker than all but two others, Smith, the more balls we can bowl to morrow will be diffi cult.” he had to “formulate some diff erent his average now again in excess of 61. plans” and “problem solve on the spot” Not bad for a bloke who started out ENGLAND 1st inns 302 all out (Cummins), 9-298 (Hazlewood), to subsist. With his natural game to at- batting behind wicketkeeper Paine AUSTRALIA 1st inns (o/n 165-4) 10-328 (Lyon) tack, the opposite was again required in his fi rst Test when they debuted at D. Warner c Malan b Ball 26 Bowling: Anderson 29-10-50-2, Indian state U19 cricket team all out for two — this time around as each partner fell Lord’s in 2010. C. Bancroft c Bairstow b Broad 5 Broad 25-10-49-3, Ali 30-8-74-2, and one was a wide and the degree of diffi culty rose. Most would be too mentally taxed to U. Khawaja lbw b Ali 11 Woakes 24-5-67-1, Ball 18-3-77-1 When England picked up Shaun do it again in the second dig, but Smith S. Smith not out 141 (1nb 2w), Root 4.3-0-10-1 An Indian women’s state cricket team toss in the game on Thursday. Marsh early, Smith had no choice but to isn’t most people. The way he respond- P. Handscomb lbw b Anderson 14 managed just two runs in an off icial They chose to bat and Menka scored play on their terms, still 127 off fi nish- ed after reaching his hundred, tapping S. Marsh c Anderson b Broad 51 ENGLAND 2nd inns 50-over match, one of the lowest one run off 18 balls before she was ing the fi rst innings in the black. After the helmet repeatedly as though to re- T. Paine c Bairstow b Anderson 13 A. Cook c Starc b Hazlewood 7 totals ever recorded. caught in the sixth over. It triggered the second new ball saw off Tim Paine set his computer, gives an insight into M. Starc c and b Broad 6 M. Stoneman not out 19 Opening bat Menka scored one run the mother of all collapses as Naga- and Mitchell Starc in the space of two the relentless machine that it powers. P. Cummins c Cook b Woakes 42 J. Vince c Smith b Hazlewood 2 and the other was a wide as nine of land were bowled out inside 17 overs overs, that point was reinforced. Like Waugh before him, he’s never sat- J. Hazlewood b Ali 6 J. Root not out 5 the Nagaland under-19s were out for — 16 of them maidens. Smith had made a lot of Australia’s isfi ed. N. Lyon c Cook b Root 9 Extras 0ducks against Kerala. A total of two didn’t give the Nagaland habitual collapses in the lead up to the In Pune and Brisbane, the most nat- Extras (lb1, w2, nb1) 4 Total (2 wickets; 16 overs) 33 Kerala then took just one legitimate bowlers much room for error, and they series, acknowledging that they had urally gifted batsman of his generation Total (all out; 130.3 overs) 328 Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Cook), 2-17 delivery to win by 10 wickets, with started badly when Deepika Kaintura fallen over, by their internal metrics, 15 decided to instead become a little Aus- Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Bancroft), (Vince) 299 balls to spare. sent down a wide with her first ball. times in the previous 14 Tests. This was sie battler. For it, he has walked away 2-30 (Khawaja), 3-59 (Warner), Bowling: Starc 5-1-14-0, Hazle- Nagaland, debutants in the Board of Kerala’s Ansu Raju then put Nagaland his chance to do something about it, with the best individual moments of 4-76 (Handscomb), 5-175 (Marsh), wood 5-1-11-2, Cummins 3-2-1-0, Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Super out of their misery by hitting a four joined by the perfect ally in Pat Cum- his career. The question for Sunday: 6-202 (Paine), 7-209 (Starc), 8-275 Lyon 3-0-7-0 Series tournament, did at least win the off the first legal ball. mins in his fi rst outing on home soil. can Root do the same?

IND VS SL, DAY 2, 2ND TEST Vijay, Pujara pummel Lankan bowlers on day two

AFP “Any day I will take this. Obviously, on a gruelling day for Sri Lanka on the Nagpur, India we are in a strong position at the end of fi eld. the day and I wanted to always contrib- He also combined with Kohli for an ute for the team and I am happy,” Vijay unbeaten 96-run stand, forcing skipper pener Murali Vijay and told reporters. Dinesh Chandimal to continue juggling Cheteshwar Pujara hit sub- “Pujara also has a similar mindset as his bowling options till the end of day. lime centuries to put India in he likes to dig in deep and scrap it out in Kohli hit a 66-ball half-century and command of the second Test a situation with varied demands. has smashed six boundaries so far. againstO Sri Lanka, as the hosts took a “Pujara is calm and that rubs on me Sri Lanka’s batting coach Thilan Sa- 107-run lead on Saturday’s day two. as well, the tempo that he plays suits maraweera praised the Indian top-or- The overnight batsmen put together my game,” he said of his marathon der for their solid showing on a wicket a 209-run partnership to pulverise the stand with the composed Pujara. that the visitors tripped on after win- opposition attack after the hosts start- Vijay, who replaced Shikhar Dha- ning the toss and batting. ed the day on 11-1 in response to Sri wan in the starting lineup after the “I think we are behind the game at Lanka’s 205. left-handed opener pulled out due to the moment. I thought we bowled in India were 312 for two at stumps in personal reasons, hit 11 fours and a six very good areas but they batted well on their fi rst innings with Pujara, on 121, during his 221-ball knock. a good pitch,” Samaraweera said. and skipper Virat Kohli, on 54, batting Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul have been “Disappointing that we won the toss, to push the visitors out of the game. India’s fi rst-choice Test openers while pitch, no seam movement, no Vijay, who made an impressive re- Vijay was away recovering from his spin and we didn’t bat well to be honest turn to the team after a long injury lay- wrist surgery, but he insists it doesn’t with you,” he added. off , registered his 10th Test ton before bother him. The top-ranked India are looking to falling to Rangana Herath in the fi nal “I feel as a professional you should go one-up in the three-Test series af- session of play for 128. always be ready whether you get a ter the fi rst match ended in a draw in The right-handed opener gifted his chance or not... it’s diffi cult but I am Kolkata. wicket to the veteran left-arm spinner used to it by now,” said Vijay. after mistiming his sweep on a full toss “Playing for India is diffi cult and SCORECARD to short fi ne leg where Dilruwan Perera whoever gets a chance, I wish them SRI LANKA 1st innings 205 all out made no mistake. luck. I know how diffi cult it is to be in INDIA 1st innings (overnight 11-1) Perera had dropped Vijay on 61 at that space and perform.” L. Rahul b Gamage 7 short mid-on off paceman Lahiru M. Vijay c Perera b Herath 128 Gamage and the spill proved costly PUJARA EFFECT C. Pujara not out 121 for the visitors who managed only one Pujara played the sheet anchor’s role V. Kohli not out 54 wicket in the day. to perfection and took control after the Extras (b1, lb1) 2 Vijay and Pujara made sure India fall of his overnight partner to record Total (2 wickets, 98 overs) 312 rammed home the advantage from day his 14th Test century. Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Rahul), 2-216 (Vijay) one as they recorded their fi fth centu- Pujara, a classical batsman who Bowling: Lakmal 18-2-58-0, Gamage ry-plus stand in their last seven Test passed 1,000 Test runs this year, played 22-7-47-1, Herath 24-8-45-1, Shanaka 13- Indian cricketers Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara (left) run between the wickets on the second day of the second Test innings together. a sedate knock to frustrate the bowlers 3-43-0 Perera 21-0-117-0 against Sri Lanka at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, India, yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, November 26, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Ozil fi tness heartens Wenger ahead of Burnley clash AFP Mesut is in much better physical shape Arsenal from continuing in the compe- than he was before. tition as group winners. “Every player wants to be a star and Danny Welbeck will return to the when they don’t manage to do it they bench after a 45-minute appearance rsene Wenger believes Mesut are really disappointed but the best way against the German side but Theo Ozil’s recent resurgence is to achieve it is to work hard and show Walcott is out because of illness, while down to the Arsenal playmak- the quality of performance that people Santi Cazorla remains a long-term ab- er’s improved fi tness levels. expect from you.” sentee. AOzil was outstanding in last week- Burnley are boosted by the return end’s north London derby victory over ‘Killing instinct of a snake’ of top goalscorer Chris Wood for their Tottenham Hotspur and will again play Last weekend’s win left Arsenal in clash with Arsenal after the striker a key role as Wenger’s side attempt to sixth place, a point behind fourth- missed last week’s victory over Swan- build on that win when they travel to placed Tottenham with goal diff er- sea City. face Burnley today. ence alone keeping the Gunners above Wood returned late from New Zea- The Germany international, who is Burnley. land international duty with a mi- in the fi nal year of his contract at the Wenger has been impressed by Sean nor hamstring problem ahead of the Emirates Stadium and could open ne- Dyche’s side this season and is well win over the Swans, but has since got gotiations about a move away in Janu- aware of the test that lies ahead for his through a full week of training. ary, came in for heavy criticism during team. Burnley manager Dyche has no fresh the Gunners’ stuttering start to the “They are the surprise package be- injury concerns, although England campaign. cause before the season if you asked goalkeeper Tom Heaton is still recover- But his improved recent form has 100 people if Burnley would have 22 ing from a dislocated shoulder. demonstrated the player’s quality and points at this stage of the season, 90 Dean Marney (knee ligament) and Wenger attributes this to Ozil’s eff orts would have said no – and the 10 others Jonathan Walters (knee) have both re- on the training ground. would have been Burnley supporters,” turned to training but are not ready “Mesut has worked hard and he is he said. to be brought back into the matchday extremely fi t at the moment as well, “They have won games with 25 per- squad. and that is why you see him sharp,” the cent or 30 percent possession, that Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash, Arsenal manager told the club’s offi cial means they are calm, they know what Clarets boss Dyche said: “When you website. to do and they are patient with that come across these clubs, it’s a case of “The quality of his technical aspect killing instinct of a snake,” Wenger how you are performing against some is always there but he has added a more added. They put you to their face and of the most powerful teams – not just determined attitude and that is what then they bite you.” the score, but the actual performance you want from him.” Wenger will restore his fi rst choice level. Veteran French boss Wenger added: line-up after making wholesale chang- “Playing against these big teams is a “Football today is very demanding in es for the midweek Europa League de- measurement of where we are in rela- the mental and physical aspects and feat at FC Koln which did not prevent tion to them.” Ozil plays a key role in Wenger’s side.

EPL SPOTLIGHT Celtic thrive on trophy expectations Pep wants no more AFP Manager Rodgers kick- Glasgow started his Celtic career with last season’s 3-0 fi nal defeat of Aberdeen which saw him eltic midfi elder Stu- claim the fi rst trophy of a his- art Armstrong said toric treble winning campaign. the Scottish champi- And the Northern Irish- ons’ hectic schedule man, who has injury doubts Manchester misery Cmeans they have little time to to Mikel Lustig and Nir Bitton refl ect upon past failures and for Sunday, praised his players successes as they prepare for for their ability to refocus and Sunday’s League Cup fi nal their relentless desire to win. with Motherwell. “Whether it was a fi nal or The Glasgow giants will have a league game we were com- had just three days preparation ing back to, we’d have had the for Sunday’s show-down with same focus and energy to go in Huddersfi eld the Steelmen at Hampden fol- and win,” Rodgers said. lowing their 7-1 Champions “That’s something we’ve ‘The result against United was a good signal but not just that one. At home, they’ve had good results’ League capitulation to Paris always done here and that’s Saint-Germain. a great credit to the players. AFP The thrashing in the French They respect what we do, they Manchester capital will have taken a men- understand it and they get over tal and physical toll on the disappointment. Hoops, who have grown un- “There’s pressure on us to ep Guardiola insists Man- accustomed to the feeling of win every single game and we chester City will avoid the defeat following a 64 match go into this game with a real complacency that cost unbeaten domestic run. focus on doing well and re- Manchester United dear However, Scotland inter- specting that Motherwell are a whenP he takes his national Armstrong says the team who will fi ght.” leaders to visit ’s level of expectation placed on Celtic will take on a Moth- Huddersfi eld Town yesterday. the Celtic players by them- erwell side high on confi dence City head to the John Smith’s selves and the club’s support- after disposing of Aberdeen Stadium looking to avoid the ers means they will be up for and Rangers en-route to same fate that befell Jose Mour- the challenge of securing their Hampden. inho when his United team suf- fourth successive trophy un- The sides have yet to face fered a shock 2-1 defeat there last der manager Brendan Rodgers. each other this season but Well month. City manager Guardi- “Life at Celtic is full of ex- manager Stephen Robinson ola respects the threat posed by pectation. You have to win says his side will not change Wagner’s Premier League new trophies. You have to win every their game plan for the show- boys, having drawn there 0-0 game,” Armstrong said. piece event. Instead of trying in the FA Cup last season before “As a Celtic player you learn to match the champions, the comfortably winning the replay to deal with that and that’s Northern Irishman said Moth- at the Etihad Stadium. part and parcel of playing here. erwell will continue to choose Mourinho criticised his play- “We want to bounce back a shape that will allow them to ers for being complacent in their and have a positive result. take control. loss against Town and Guardiola Football’s all about moving on “If we try to play Celtic at has backed his side not to fall from game to game and not their own game and try to out- into the same trap. dwelling too much on what’s pass them and outplay them “Complacency will not hap- just happened. then we’ll get beaten. Simple pen,” Guardiola promised. “In football, if there’s disap- as that,” Robinson said. “We “We played last season against pointment you have to move have to fi nd a way that suits them, we were not able to win on fast. There’s a game every our personnel and our players there in the FA Cup and it’s three days for the next month, and our budget. That’s what complicated there. What Wag- so we have to move on and be we’ve done and we’ve been ner has done speaks for itself, in fully focused on the next game. pretty successful so far at it. the Championship, the Premier Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola. “It’ll be tough certainly but “We’re not going to change League and since. we don’t think about past re- that on Sunday. We believe “The result against United “We know exactly what will available having come through ham Hotspur have beaten them one of the best teams in Europe, sults. Our concern is the League every team have weaknesses so was a good signal but not just happen. There will be a big at- the win at Leicester last at the John Smith’s so far this and the world,” the German Cup. We’ve had a very good run how we play, our strengths and that one. At home, they’ve had mosphere, but it’s the same as weekend. season – but Wagner has played added. so far and we’re looking to con- how we set up can cause them good results,” the Spaniard add- when we went to Brighton. Peo- Huddersfi eld will be eager for down the possibility of complet- Wagner suggested each of his tinue that on Sunday.” problems.” ed. “They are well-organised, ple said it’s not easy but it’s nor- some home comfort after suf- ing a ‘Manchester double’. players will have to perform be- intense, when they defend so mal that it’s diffi cult.” fering a 4-0 defeat at Bourne- “I think the circumstances (for yond their usual limits if they are well organised, and with quality. City take an astonishing mouth last Saturday. Wagner’s a win) do not look that realistic,” to stand any chance of causing Sevilla coach Berizzo to decide future “I think all the teams want to record on the short trip to York- side badly missed the infl uence he said. “But everybody knows what would surely be the biggest next week aft er cancer diagnosis win their own (home) games. shire, having won 18 and drawn of at cen- that in football, sometimes the upset of the Premier League sea- Huddersfi eld is complicated, but one of their 19 league and cup tre-back, but the defender will impossible happens. son to date. Sevilla coach Eduardo Berizzo said yesterday he will wait until it is not the fi rst time we have games so far this season. be available again after complet- “I think everybody knows that “Every one of us has a person- next week to decide if he continues in charge of the club while he been there.” They will, however, be with- ing a one-match ban. Manchester City, at the minute, al borderline,” he explained. “We receives treatment for prostate cancer. Speaking for the first time The former Barcelona and out long-term injury victim John Huddersfi eld have an excel- are the best team in the Premier have to change our borderline on since the club confirmed the diagnosis on Wednesday, the day Bayern Munich boss insisted: Stones but Vincent Kompany is lent home record – only Totten- League and this means probably Sunday to be successful.” after his side battled back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Liverpool, Berizzo confirmed he would take charge of Sunday’s game at Villarreal but did not know what would happen after that. “I have to take this seriously and I will do what the doctors tell me Guardiola was logical choice to be United boss, says Cantona to do,” Berizzo told a news conference yesterday. Sevilla are fifth in the Liga standings, one point ahead of Villarreal in sixth. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola should guided United to two titles after taking of Manchester United, it’s more logical. will win a lot of things. But, the football I “I’ll be at the game tomorrow like I am at every game and next week have been the “logical” choice to take over from Louis van Gaal last year, he has I don’t watch Man City because it’s Man played, and Alex Ferguson played, Matt I will put all my attention towards solving this problem. I don’t like to charge of Manchester United as current been criticised for his caution in games City but I would love to watch the team Busby before, it was creative. talk about myself or play the victim,” he said. “I’m one more member manager Jose Mourinho’s defensive while Guardiola’s free-flowing City have managed by Guardiola.” “I loved (Johan) Cruyff when he was of the team, with a special job, but some things need to be resolved approach belies their attacking identity, won new admirers for their ruthless run City have 17 wins in a row this season manager at Barcelona, I loved Ajax in the privately. I need to take this decision with calm.” former forward Eric Cantona has said. to the top of the table, including Cantona. and have pumped in 55 goals in an 1970s, I grew up with this kind of football Berizzo also said he did not tell his players he had been diag- United great Cantona helped transform “I cannot understand why United would unbeaten run of 19 games in all competi- and the football we played with Ferguson nosed with cancer during halftime against Liverpool, as some former manager Alex Ferguson’s side into take a manager who plays in a defen- tions while United have lost four times was very creative and more Manchester local media had reported. Sevilla were trailing Juergen Klopp’s a force in English soccer, being the focal sive way. I love Mourinho, but I prefer to and have scored 11 goals fewer to sit in United. side by three goals at the break but staged a stunning turna- point of their attack for five years in the watch Barcelona play,” Cantona told BBC second place in the league behind their “It’s why I prefer the way Guardiola plays round in the second half, snatching a point with Guido Pizarro’s 1990s, winning four Premier League titles Radio 5 Live. “I prefer the way Guardiola neighbours. “He (Mourinho) has a lot of and I would prefer to have him as man- 93rd-minute strike which saw the entire team race towards the and two FA Cups. Although Mourinho plays, and I would prefer him as manager charisma, has won a lot of things and ager of Manchester United.” touch-line to celebrate with Berizzo. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, November 26, 2017 FOOTBALL

EPL Bayern suff er shock loss, Schalke stage Willian denies Reds four-goal comeback

Reutres one goal and set up another, Berlin was sent off in the second half for a foul that earned him a second yellow card. undesliga lead- “At halftime I honestly did win, Man United ers Bayern Munich not believe we could still get a suff ered a shock point from the derby,” Schalke 2-1 loss at Borussia coach said. MoenchengladbachB on a day “That is why it feels so good. of high drama in the Bundes- That second half was top level liga yesterday after Schalke Football.” 04 staged a remarkable four- Yet under-pressure Dort- goal comeback to draw 4-4 at mund coach Peter Bosz, whose close gap on City . future at the club hangs in the It was Bayern’s fi rst loss balance, could only refl ect: “It ‘I think we were more spirit and heart than quality. My boys they didn’t play well, but after nine straight wins in all is diffi cult to deal with it. You competitions under coach just feel disappointment. they gave everything. For me probably Brighton deserve more than the result they got’ , who took over “That should never happen, in October, and only their sec- that there is a 4-4 at the end. AFP ond in the league this season. Not even with a red card. We London The defeat cut their lead at just did not play Football any- the top to three points, with more.” RB Leipzig second on 26 af- Initially, Dortmund had helsea rode their luck ter their 2-0 win over Werder looked nothing like the team to salvage a 1-1 draw Bremen. that had lost four of their fi ve at Liverpool thanks to Gladbach struck twice late previous league games. Willian’s late level- in the fi rst half, in the 39th They shocked the visitors, ler,C while Manchester United minute with a Thorgan Hazard who had started the game in cut Manchester City’s Premier penalty and fi ve minutes later second place, with Aubam- League lead to fi ve points with a through Matthias Ginter. eyang’s 12th minute strike, 1-0 win over Brighton yesterday. Bayern, missing several key Benjamin Stambouli’s spec- Antonio Conte’s Chelsea were players through injury, fought tacular own goal and a Mario fi ve minutes away from suff er- back with Arturo Vidal scoring Goetze header. ing a major blow to their hopes with a low shot but could not With Schalke in complete of defending the title after fall- get another despite twice hit- shock, Raphael Guerreiro ing behind to Mohamed Salah’s ting the woodwork. completed the fi rst half on- opener at Anfi eld. It was far more dramatic slaught with a fi ne volley in Salah, who spent an unsuc- at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna the 25th. cessful spell with Chelsea from Park where Schalke 04 de- But the visitors came back, 2014 to 2016, returned to haunt fender Naldo rose high to score cutting the defi cit with goals his old team in the 65th minute. a stoppage-time equaliser as from Guido Burgstaller on the Chelsea midfi elder Tiemoue they roared from 4-0 down at hour and Amine Harit, who Bakayoko miscued a clearance, halftime to complete the Bun- later limped off injured, leav- giving Alex Oxlade-Chamber- desliga’s best comeback in 41 ing his own team with 10 men. lain the chance to prod the ball years. Daniel Caligiuri’s 86th- into Salah, who slotted a low fi n- Dortmund had scored four minute left-footed missile set ish past Thibaut Courtois. times in 13 minutes but saw up a frantic fi nale and Brazilian It was Salah’s sixth goal in his their lead evaporate after the Naldo made sure Germany’s last fi ve appearances – and his break as in-form Schalke, with fi ercest Football rivalry lived 15th for Liverpool this season four wins from their last fi ve up to its reputation for drama – but he opted not to celebrate, league games before Saturday with his stoppage-time equal- apparently out of respect for the refused to surrender. iser. more than 300 Egyptians killed The Royal Blues became The result put Schalke on in a terror attack this week. only the second Bundesliga 24 points in third level with But just as the champions team in history to avoid defeat Gladbach and Dortmund on 21 were facing their fi rst defeat in after trailing by at least four in fi fth. fi ve league games, in-form Wil- goals, after Bayern Munich, lian came off the bench to res- who won 6-5 at VfL Bochum RESULTS cue Chelsea with an 85th minute after trailing 4-0 in 1976. Dortmund ...... 4 Schalke ...... 4 equaliser. The Brazil winger, who RB Leipzig ...... 2 Werder Bremen 0 scored twice in the Blues’ 4-0 RED CARD Freiburg ...... 2 Mainz ...... 1 Champions League win at Qara- There was more misery for Eint.Frankfurt 0 Bayer Lever ...... 1 bag midweek, found space in the Dortmund, without a league Augsburg ...... 2 Wolfsburg ...... 1 Liverpool penalty area for cross win since September, as top Borussia Moenchenglad- that he sliced and saw loop for- striker Pierre-Emerick Au- bach ...... 2 Bayern Munich 1 tuitously over Simon Mignolet bameyang, who had scored and into the far corner. Chelsea’s Willian celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Liverpool yesterday. (AFP) While Chelsea fi nished the happier side, the draw did lit- in a row. Dale Stephens headed opponents. but equalised in the 74th minute Results & standings tle to enhance either club’s ti- Marcus Rashford’s corner as far The pre-match headlines fo- when Kane converted Dele Alli’s tle prospects. The third-placed as Ashley Young on the edge of cused on Tottenham manager cross for his 15th club goal this Crystal Palace...... 2 Stoke City...... 1 Blues are eight points behind the area and his shot defl ected Mauricio Pochettino’s decision season. West Brom are without Manchester United ...... 1 Brighton & Hove ...... 0 leaders Manchester City, who off Dunk and arched over Bright- to leave left-back Danny Rose a win in 11 league games, while Newcastle United ...... 0 Watford...... 3 Tottenham have failed to win Swansea City0 ...... Bournemouth ...... 0 travel to Huddersfi eld on Sun- on keeper Mat Ryan. That was out of the squad for the second Tottenham Hotspur 1 West Bromwich Albion ...... 1 day, while Liverpool remain fi fth enough to secure United’s sec- time in seven days. their last two in the league. Liverpool ...... 1 Chelsea...... 1 and sit 11 points off the top. ond consecutive league win as Rose admitted he was “fum- “We weren’t clinical, it is al- they try to keep pace with City. ing” with his absence from the ways diffi cult in the Premier Standings P W D L F A Pts United win with ‘spirit’ “I think we were more spirit north London derby and al- League when you concede a goal Man City 12 11 1 0 40 7 34 At Old Traff ord, Jose Mour- and heart than quality. My boys though he played 90 minutes so early,” Pochettino said. Man Utd 13 9 2 2 28 2 9 “I’m disappointed because the Chelsea 13 8 2 3 24 11 26 inho’s United bounced back they didn’t play well but they in Tottenham’s midweek win at Tottenham 13 7 3 3 21 10 24 from their surprise Champions gave everything,” Mourinho said. Borussia Dortmund, there was eff ort was massive but we lose Liverpool 13 6 5 2 25 18 23 League defeat at Basel in mid- “For me probably Brighton no place for the England inter- two points.” Arsenal 12 7 1 4 22 16 22 week to win their 39th straight deserve more than the result national against Albion. Mamadou Sakho gave Crystal Burnley 12 6 4 2 12 9 22 home win in all competitions they got.” West Brom, led by caretak- Palace their second league win Watford 13 6 3 4 22 21 21 and equal a 51-year record set by Tottenham’s bid to win the er boss Gary Megson follow- this season as the French de- Brighton 13 4 4 5 13 14 16 Huddersfield 12 4 3 5 8 17 15 Sir Matt Busby thanks to Lewis title for the fi rst time since 1961 ing Tony Pulis’s sacking earlier fender’s last-gasp goal sealed a Leicester 13 3 5 5 17 19 14 Dunk’s second half own goal. is in tatters after a 1-1 draw with this week, took a shock fourth 2-1 success against Stoke. Bournemouth 13 4 2 7 11 14 14 United made seven changes lowly West Bromwich Albion left minute lead. Salomon Rondon Watford handed Newcastle a Newcastle 13 4 2 7 11 17 14 from the Basel loss and found it them 10 points behind City. sprinted onto Jake Livermore’s fourth successive defeat with a Southampton 12 3 4 5 9 14 13 hard to break Brighton’s stub- Spurs have had mixed results pass, held off Davinson Sanchez 3-0 win at St James’ Park. Stoke 13 3 4 6 16 26 13 at Wembley since moving into and notched his fi rst goal since Swansea manager Paul Clem- Everton 12 3 3 6 12 24 12 born resistance, before fi nally West Brom 13 2 5 6 10 19 11 nabbing the crucial goal in the their temporary home while September with a scuff ed shot ent faces a fi ght to save his job West Ham 13 2 4 7 12 26 10 56th minute, putting Mour- White Hart Lane is rebuilt and that trickled past Tottenham after his struggling side were Swansea 13 2 3 8 7 15 9 Schalke’s Brazilian defender Naldo celebrates after scoring a goal inho’s team just one game away once again they lacked a cutting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Totten- held to a 0-0 draw by Bourne- Crystal Palace 13 2 2 9- 8 25 8 against Borussia Dortmund during their Bundesliga match in from a club record 40 home wins edge against supposedly inferior ham laboured for long periods mouth. Dortmund yesterday. (AFP)

LA LIGA Ronaldo rebound gives Real nervy home win AFP a top-of-the-table clash today cross was calmly chested down fender was penalised for a push Madrid (1945GMT). and slotted beyond Kiko Casilla on Dani Carvajal. The Catalans will though be by Rolan. Parity only lasted three Malaga did level just before buoyed by Lionel Messi ending minutes for the visitors, though, the hour mark thanks to some ristiano Ronaldo’s fi rst speculation over his future by as Kroos made amends with a calamitous goalkeeping from goal for over fi nally signing a contract exten- corner from which Casemiro Casilla as he let Castro’s drive a month ensured Real sion to 2021 earlier yesterday. powered home. from 25 yards slip through his Madrid closed the gap Ronaldo also played his part Benzema and Ronaldo had grasp into the bottom corner. onC La Liga leaders Barcelona to for Benzema’s opener after just plenty of chances to improve Ronaldo saw another chance seven points by squeezing past nine minutes. The World Player their meagre goalscoring returns slip away as he failed to make any struggling Malaga 3-2 yesterday. of the Year rose highest at the this season with the Frenchman connection on Raphael Varane’s Ronaldo’s relief was clear to back post and when his header fi rst to pull a great chance be- knockdown moments later. see when he fi red home the re- came back off the angle of post yond the far post. However, his moment came bound after seeing his penalty and bar, the unmarked Benzema Roberto then denied Ronaldo when substitute Luka Mo- saved by Roberto 15 minutes had the simple task of nodding from close range before produc- dric was tripped inside the area from time. First-half goals from into an empty net. ing an even more stunning stop and referee Jesus Gil Manzano Karim Benzema and Casem- Real looked set to shake off by leaping to his left to claw awarded Real their fi rst penalty in iro had twice put the European their league struggles so far this away a powerful header from the La Liga this season. Ronaldo still champions in front. season in a dominant start as Portuguese. Madrid’s fans had couldn’t fi nd a way past Roberto However, their defensive fra- Dani Carvajal also forced Rober- complained before kick-off at with his fi rst eff ort, but followed gilities without injured captain to in the Malaga goal into the fi rst their perceived harsh treatment up to smash home the rebound to Sergio Ramos were also exposed of a series of impressive stops. from referees this season, but it avoid Real’s title chances suff er- as Diego Rolan and Chory Castro However, a slack pass from was the hosts who were handed ing another severe blow. twice levelled for Malaga, who Toni Kroos on the edge of his own a let off from the offi cials on the remain in the relegation zone. box handed Malaga a route back stroke of half-time. RESULTS Ronaldo’s winner does though into the game on 18 minutes. Paul Baysse’s header looked to Real Madrid 3 Malaga 2 put some pressure on Barca Keko pounced on the German have levelled with the last touch Alaves 1 Eibar 2 when they travel to Valencia for World Cup winner’s gift and his of the half, but the French de- 2 FC Girona 2 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right) celebrates after scoring a goal against Malaga. (Reuters) Gulf Times Sunday, November 26, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Rose leaves Cavaliers James has another due to personal reasons AFP Rose was the 2011 league MVP as a Los Angeles member of the Chicago Bulls before multiple knee injuries interrupted his career. leveland Cavaliers guard Der- The 29-year-old Rose is in his fi rst rick Rose is on leave and in the season with Cleveland. The Cavaliers triple-double as Cavs process of assessing his future said Rose’s current absence is excused. with the NBA team, US media “Take as long as he wants to take, reportedC on Friday. and we wish him well and we want him Rose has missed the past seven back,” coach Tyronn Lue said. games due to a sprained left ankle, the Rose originally suff ered the ankle in- latest in a long list of ailments he has jury on October 20. He returned to play win seventh straight suff ered during his all-star career. in fi ve games but suff ered a setback on American sports broadcaster ESPN November 7 and hasn’t played since. quoted a team source as saying that Rose, a three-time all-star, is aver- ‘We had some great looks, just couldn’t string a few together’ Rose is “tired of being hurt and it’s tak- aging 14.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.7 ing a toll on him mentally.” turnovers in seven games this season.

NFL Miami QB Cutler ruled out of Patriots game

Reuters Vernon continuing his protest of racial New York inequality and police brutality during the playing of the The Star-Spangled Banner. iami Dolphins quarter- “Can you believe that the disrespect back Jay Cutler remained for our Country, our Flag, our Anthem in concussion protocol on continues without penalty to the play- Friday and was ruled out of ers. The Commissioner has lost control Mtoday’s game against the New England of the hemorrhaging league. Players are Patriots. the boss!” Trump tweeted early Friday Cutler suff ered a concussion in last morning before announcing he planned Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay to golf with Tiger Woods and Dustin Buccaneers. Johnson later in the day at Trump Na- Veteran Matt Moore will start in tional Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. place of Cutler. Moore passed for 282 yards and one touchdown after replac- BRONCOS PRACTICE SEES ing Cutler against the Buccaneers. SKIRMISHES David Fales will serve as Moore’s The Denver Broncos, on a six-game backup. losing streak with a 3-7 record, took out their frustrations with a spirited RAMSEY INJURY practice involving two skirmishes on Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Thanksgiving Day. Ramsey injured his hand in practice and The emotion spilled over spilled over was listed as questionable for Sunday’s after practice when general manager game against the Arizona Cardinals. John Elway was seen huddling with de- Ramsey told a reporter from the fensive captain Aqib Talib and another Florida Times-Union that he would player was crying and needed to be not play. consoled by a teammate. Panthers coach Doug Marrone said It actually began last week with Elway Ramsey suff ered his hand injury dur- calling the team soft. This week began ing Friday’s practice while going for a with coach Vance Joseph fi ring off ensive football. coordinator Mike McCoy on Monday and naming quarterbacks coach Bill Mus- TRUMP CRITICISES NFL... AGAIN grave as his replacement. President Donald Trump criticised the There were at least two skirmishes, NFL for the third time this week in his including a spirited one between cor- latest tweet targeting commissioner nerback Chris Harris Jr. and wide re- Roger Goodell, saying the “players are ceiver Isaiah McKenzie, who was al- the boss.” ready on edge due to losing his job as a Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (right) shoots over the defense of Charlotte Hornets centre Dwight Howard during the second half of their NBA game at Only one player reportedly knelt returner. After practice running back Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday. (USA TODAY Sports) during the three national anthems for CJ Anderson was seen talking to Mc- the Thanksgiving Day games, with Kenzie, who was obviously emotional Reuters shooting at halftime. from 38-feet away as time expired. “We missed six free throws in the New York Giants defensive end Olivier and unable to hold back tears. New York Then he switched out of a yellow “It’s always rewarding (to know fourth quarter on the road in a one- pair of his Nike signature shoe and they can win with defense), and we point game,” Charlotte coach Steve into a black pair. had to do that, do that all the way to Cliff ord said. eBron James changed shoes “I just wasn’t playing well,” James all the zeroes on the clock,” James said. “I think that is a big part of the sto- at halftime on Friday night. said. “So, I’m a little weird some- “We had some great looks, just ry, obviously.” Then, he turned the game in times. I wasn’t playing well, up to my couldn’t string a few together, espe- The Hornets, who had their three- the Cleveland Cavaliers’ favour standards.” cially in the fourth quarter, but de- game winning streak stopped, were Lin the second half. He fi xed that, and then some. fensively we was in tune. We had a 16-of-27 from the foul line. James notched another triple-dou- J.R. Smith, who contributed 16 couple calls that didn’t go our way in ble and was all over the court during points for the Cavs, put them ahead the fourth quarter, but we just stayed RESULTS the Charlotte Hornets’ fi nal posses- for good with a free throw with 48.2 with it and it allowed us to win this Golden State ...... 143 Chicago ...... 94 sion, and the Cavs hung on to beat the seconds left, making the score 100- game.” Denver ...... 104 Memphis ...... 92 Hornets 100-99. 99. The Cavs have won seven straight New Orleans...... 115 Phoenix ...... 91 James fi nished with 27 points, 16 The Hornets had the ball with 11.1 overall for the longest active streak in Cleveland ...... 100 Charlotte ...... 99 rebounds and 13 assists for his 57th seconds left and looked to Kemba the NBA, and eight in a row over Char- Indiana ...... 107 Toronto ...... 104 regular-season triple-double and Walker, but he couldn’t get past James lotte. Miami ...... 109 Minnesota ...... 97 second this season. He was already in for a layup and gave the ball to Jeremy Cleveland entered the game as the Detroit...... 99 Oklahoma City ....98 double-digit points, rebounds, and Lamb. Facing pressure, Lamb heaved worst-rated team on defense in the Atlanta ...... 116 NY Knicks ...... 104 assists before the fourth quarter start- a 3-pointer that missed. James then NBA, but limited the Hornets to a sea- Boston ...... 118 Orlando ...... 103 ed, but scored just six points on 3-of-8 blocked Walker’s 3-point attempt son low.38.3 % (36-of-94) shooting. Portland ...... 127 Brooklyn ...... 125 Broncos general manager John Elway called the team soft last week. (TNS)

NHL Kings lose third in a row, a 3-2 overtime decision to Coyotes

By Curtis Zupke pushed in a loose puck at 2:43 in front execution in certain parts of our game Boston 4 Pittsburgh 3 Los Angeles Times (TNS) of 12,285 fans who saw the Coyotes get that clearly have to be a lot better.” their second win at Gila River Arena Stevens has options with Gaborik this season. and Torrey Mitchell, who was yet not he right duo was on the ice The Kings came back to tie it twice available for the Kings following his for the Los Angeles Kings in on goals by Kopitar and Trevor Lewis trade from the Montreal Canadiens. the wide-open format that is and got a strong outing from backup In a related move, Brooks Laich was three-on-three overtime. Darcy Kuemper, whose breakaway stop placed on waivers. The Kings can assign TAnze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik on Alex Goligoski in overtime was one him to the minors if he is not claimed as earlier dusted off their chemistry to of his 30 saves. Kuemper also made two the Kings would switch out one veteran help the Kings tie the score, and with big saves earlier in the game but faulted for another. the way Gaborik looked refreshed in his himself for the initial shot by Christian Gaborik, 35, has played nearly 1,000 season debut on Friday, it seemed des- Dvorak that led to Fischer’s score. games but he said the nervousness was tined that he and Kopitar would hook “It’s on me to come up with some because of so much time off . up again for the game-winning score. saves, and unfortunately I just couldn’t “This year, I haven’t played for prob- But Gaborik’s return came in a 3-2 control the rebound there and they ably seven, eight months, so it was overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes were able to walk it in,” Kuemper said. defi nitely (like) jumping onto a run- that left the Kings winless in seven of “I liked my game. I liked our team game. ning train,” Gaborik said. “It’s not like (I eight games. I thought we did a great job defensively, played) few exhibition games or some- Gaborik displayed fresh legs and we just weren’t able to get that extra thing. One quarter of the season is be- jump in his fi rst game since an off sea- one to win tonight.” hind us.” son knee procedure. He played on the One of the issues of the Kings’ slump fourth line, but he made a pretty assist is getting out of their zone, and it bit RESULTS to Kopitar on the Kings’ fi rst goal dur- them late in the second period. A pass Arizona ...... 3 Los Angeles .....2 (OT) ing a delayed penalty. to Lewis, with no Arizona forecheck, Dallas ...... 6 Calgary ...... 4 “I had a little jitters, to be honest bounced off him, and the Coyotes then Nashville...... 2 St. Louis ...... 0 with you, before the game, and it took grabbed possession and a 2-1 lead on Toronto ...... 5 Carolina ...... 4 me a few shifts to get under my belt Brendan Perlini’s tip of Alex Goligoski’s Buff alo ...... 3 Edmonton ...... 1 and I felt better and better after that,” shot. New Jersey ...... 3 Vancouver ...... 2 Gaborik said. “The fi rst few shifts I was Kings coach John Stevens said it NY Rangers ...... 2 Detroit ...... 1 (OT) just kind of like wondering what’s going doesn’t matter if the Kings have played Columbus ...... 5 Ottawa ...... 2 on around me.” better during this stretch because the Las Vegas ...... 5 San Jose ...... 4 (OT) Gaborik found his legs, but it so hap- results aren’t there. Washington ...... 3 Tampa Bay ...... 1 pened the Kings allowed the overtime “I think the guys are totally invested,” Winnipeg ...... 4 Anaheim ...... 1 goal to Christian Fischer when they Stevens said. “I mean, if it was a compete Minnesota ...... 3 Colorado ...... 2 (SO) Jason Demers (left) and Christian Fischer of the Arizona Coyotes celebrate after Fischer scored the game-winning goal against tried to change out tired bodies. Fischer issue, I’d be really concerned. But there’s NY Islanders ...... 5 Philadelphia ...4 (OT) the Los Angeles Kings in overtime of the NHL game in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday. (AFP) Gulf Times 6 Sunday, November 26, 2017 SPORT

GOLF Day snatches third round lead at Australian Open AFP not try to be too aggressive.” “If there’s any place to come Day made a tap-in birdie at and without being in the zone, Chawrasia maintains Sydney Day, chasing his fi rst title in 18 from way behind, it’s here,” Spi- the par-5 14th after almost chip- you don’t shoot the scores that slender lead in HK months since winning the 2016 eth said. ping in for eagle, then snatched you can shoot.” Players Championship in Flori- “If I can sneak a few breaks the lead with a birdie at the SSP Chawrasia holds a one-shot ason Day ended a frus- da, will head into Sunday’s fi nal in... get a couple of long putts to 15th. Leading third round scores lead heading into the final day trating run of par golf by round with a one-stroke lead go or chip in or something like He narrowly missed a long 203 - Jason Day (AUS) 66-68-69 of the Hong Kong Open after making three late birdies over his fellow Australian Lucas that. I’m going to have to have putt on the 17th to salvage par 204 - Lucas Herbert (AUS) 67- carding a 69 in the third round to snatch the outright lead Herbert, who carded an even- some magic.” to rejoin Herbert at nine-under 66-71 on Saturday, with Rafa Cabrera afterJ the third round of the 102nd par 71 to fi nish at nine-under af- Day’s failure to pick up any but immediately regained his 206 - Jonas Blixt (SWE) 68-72- Bello and Wade Ormsby closing Australian Open yesterday. ter leading overnight. early birdies saw him slip two slim advantage with a superb 66, Matt Jones (AUS) 71-67-68 in on the leader to set up a nail- The former world number Sweden’s Jonas Blixt charged shots behind Herbert but he approach on the 18th to set up 207 - (AUS) biting finish at Fanling. one’s patience fi nally paid off up the leaderboard into a share of drew level with his playing birdie. 69-69-69 India’s Chawrasia, who is on the when he made back-to-back third place at seven-under after partner when Herbert took “This is my last tournament 208 - Rhein Gibson (AUS) 72- verge of his first European Tour birdies at the 14th and 15th holes a fl awless 66, and was joined by a double-bogey on the par-three of the year. I just turned 30 just 68-68, Anthony Quayle (AUS) title away from home, entered after parring his fi rst 13 holes. the 2015 Australian Open cham- 11th when he lost his ball in the a little bit ago, and I said my 30s 67-69-72 the third round with a two-shot He did drop a shot when he pion Matt Jones, who signed for bushes after an errant tee shot. were going to be better than my 209 - Mark Brown (NZL) 72- lead and extended it to three at bogeyed his penultimate hole a 68. Herbert said he was so nerv- 20s, so it would nice to be able 70-67, a-Takumi Kanaya (JPN), one stage before being chased for the second day in a row but “Jason’s a world class player, a ous about the prospect of play- to start my 30s off with a good 71-73-65, a-Matias Sanchez (AUS) down after a run of seven pars. made amends with a birdie at the former number one,” Jones said. ing with Day in the fi nal group win,” Day said. 71-70-68, Matthew Guyatt (AUS) Spaniard Cabrera Bello and Aus- last for a two-under-par 69 and “(So) he’d be the favourite to Jason Day of Australia reacts that he couldn’t sleep on Friday “I know it’s going to be a very 68-72-69, Cameron Davis (AUS) tralian Ormsby moved to within a three-round total of 10-un- win but we’ve seen many upsets after missing a putt during the night but was pleased with how diffi cult day tomorrow with 63-72-74 one shot of the Indian after re- der-203. before and as long as I manage third round of the Australian he handled the pressure. regard to what we’re going to 210 - James Marchesani (AUS) cording a six-under-par 64 and “It was tough to try and not to my game and give myself birdie Open played at the Australian “It’s like trying to drink three have out there: the pressure, the 73-70-67, Craig Parry (AUS) a five-under-par 65 respectively force things. I know the crowds opportunities, anything can Golf Club course in Sydney cans of Red Bull and then go to wind, the fans, the media.” 73-67-70, Jason Scrivener (AUS) at the Hong Kong Golf club to are out there and they want to happen.” yesterday. (AFP) bed; that’s what it felt like,” he “It’s been a while since I’ve 69-70-71, Dale Brandt-Richards move to joint-second. Swede see a lot of birdies,” Day said. Australia’s Cameron Smith, said. won, so obviously everyone’s (AUS) 73-66-71 Alexander Bjork and Ormsby “As a professional golfer that’s who teamed up with Blixt to consecutive round of 69 while “But after I made a couple of going to be nervous out there,” 211 - Jordan Spieth (USA) 70-71- led along with Chawrasia at been around for a while now, it’s win this year’s Zurich Classic of the defending champion Jordan good pars there to start, I think he added. 70, Curtis Luck (AUS) 73-70-68, the turn before the 39-year-old easier for me to stand back and New Orleans, was in fi fth place Spieth shot a 70 to fi nish eight that sort of kicked the nerves “It’s a good nervous; without Brett Rumford (AUS) 70-72-69, Indian surged ahead. go, okay, I need to be patient and at six-under after fi ring a third shots off the pace. and I was good to go.” nerves you don’t get in the zone Ben Campbell (NZL) 67-72-72.

RUGBY WORLD CUP England survive Tonga revival to enter fi nal England, All Blacks Reuters right after a one-on-one strip, Wellington but the referee decided not to refer the play to the video of- fi cial. ngland held off an as- “It was a tough loss to take,” tonishing late fi ght- said Tonga captain . back from Tonga to “Throughout the whole reach the fi nal of the tournament we’ve played for register victories RugbyE League World Cup for the whole 80 minutes and we the fi rst time in 22 years with showed that again today.” England scored seven tries as Jones’s side emphatically dispatched of Samoa 48-14 a 20-18 victory in Auckland England lost the 1995 fi nal yesterday. 16-8 to Australia and last won AFP The English appeared to be the trophy as Great Britain in Twickenham, United Kingdom coasting into the title decider 1972. Modern history would against defending champi- suggest they only won the ons Australia at Lang Park in right to fi nish runners-up to lliot Daly scored two Brisbane next week when they 10-times champions Australia tries as a much-changed held a 20-0 lead in the 72nd next Saturday and the eff ort England ended the year minute of the semi-fi nal. they expended in holding the with a comfortable if But the Tongans, roared on Tongans out for so long would scrappyE 48-14 win over Samoa by the majority of the crowd at have delighted the watching at Twickenham yesterday. a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium Kangaroos. England scored seven tries in and with at his total, with the remainder of their rampaging best, hit back with points kicked by George Ford. tries from Tevita Pangai Junior, Victory gave Eddie Jones his 22nd and Tuimoala Lolo- victory in 23 Tests as England hea to pull within two points. coach but his new-look team were With their dream of becoming often bested at the breakdown. the fi rst tier-two nation to reach Jones made nine changes follow- the fi nal within their grasp, ing last week’s 30-6 win over his Tonga battered away at the tir- native Australia in a bid to devel- ing England defenders only for op the squad’s depth ahead of the Andrew Fifi ta to have the ball Tonga’s is tackled in Japan. stripped out of his hands to end during the Inevitably, with so many alter- the match with a knock-on. World Cup semi-final against ations across the board, England Fifi ta picked up the ball and and England in Auckland struggled for fl uency at times. crossed the line, as was his yesterday. (AFP) Having gone 22-7 up at the break, they had to wait until the hour-mark before Wasps wing FOCUS Daly extended their lead against a Samoa side who’ve now lost all seven of their Tests this year. The build-up to this match had Scotland thrash seen England’s Rugby Football Union pledge to give the cash- strapped Samoa 14-man Australia £75,000 ($99,767, 84,194 euros) from the proceeds of Saturday’s AFP fl ush into the face of Scotland fi xture, although England’s play- England’s wing breaks through and scores a try during the autumn international rugby union Test against Samoa at Twickenham Edinurgh fl anker Hamish Watson at a ers stopped short of donating stadium in south-west London yesterday. (AFP) ruck. part of their match fees. Australia were 12-10 ahead Dylan Hartley, England’s cap- conversion after offi cials checked yesterday. for 2017 to 12 wins from 15, in- raining - or Wales winning. cotland romped to a at the time but with 14 men tain for all of their previous 22 for a knock-on in the lead-up to Naholo crossed twice in a cluding a fi ve-match whitewash But it was not to be, with War- record 53-24 victory they conceded six tries - mak- Tests under Jones was benched the try and England had a 7-0 fi rst-half dominated by Wales in in their November games, having ren Gatland’s side missing the over 14-man Australia ing seven in total - before they with British and Irish Lions lead. Minutes later that became terms of possession and territory beaten the Barbarians, France, a key injured Lions trio of Sam at Murrayfi eld yes- were reduced to 13 players in hooker given a fi rst 12-0 as Alex Lozowski scored his but unable to muster more than French XV and Scotland. Warburton, Jonathan Davies and terday,S as a 39th-minute red the 78th minute and Scotland Red Rose start in his place. fi rst England try. Samoa failed to two Leigh Halfpenny penalties The defeat meant more mis- Liam Williams. A more rousing card for tighthead prop Se- crossed again. It took England, who’ve now deal with a high kick, with Daly and a late Scott Williams try. ery for Wales, whose last vic- spectacle than Wales’ dour 13-6 kope Kepu led to an eight-try Townsend’s team ended up won all eight of their Tests regathering the loose ball. The All Blacks moved out of tory over the All Blacks came 64 victory over Georgia last week thrashing. smashing both their record against Samoa, less than two fi rst gear in the second period years ago, in 1953, the year which was immediately on the cards, Australia’s ill-discipline margin of victory against the minutes to score Saturday’s fi rst New Zealand beat Wales against a visibly wilting Wales, also witnessed the coronation of with the home side monopolis- proved costly again, after Wallabies (previously nine try after recalled fl anker Maro Waisake Naholo and Rieko Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Io- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. ing fi rst-half possession (68%) the Wallabies had captain points in a 24-15 victory in Itoje made a blindside break be- Ioane eached scored two tries to ane (2) crossing, Beauden Barrett All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and territory (74%). Michael Hooper and full-back 1981) and their highest points fore sending in returning full- help world champions New Zea- kicking four conversions. Gareth had compared his team’s his- Halfpenny got the scoreboard Kurtley Beale yellow-carded tally against the men in green back Mike Brown. land extend their winning streak Davies grabbed a late consola- torical record over Wales as like ticking with a simple penalty af- in the 30-6 loss to England at and gold (34 in their con- Ford, kicking in place of the over Wales to 30 matches with tion try for Wales. being in a drought, when every ter Sonny Bill Williams strayed Twickenham last week, while troversial 35-34 World Cup rested , added the an entertaining 33-18 victory It took the All Blacks’ record day you move one day closer to it off side. head coach Michael Cheika quarter-fi nal defeat in 2015). was subjected to a World Rug- It was Scotland’s best by investigation because of points tally against a Tier- SPOTLIGHT his reaction. One nation, eclipsing the 38 This time Cheika could they put past Ireland in 1997, have had no complaints when and the fi nal tally was also the Kepu was sent off by French highest aggregate points score referee Pascal Gauzere after in a fi xture between the two Five-try Springboks tame Italy 35-6 clearly smashing a forearm countries. AFP for the Springboks, with man of dark day in Florence playing this strong period of attack South Af- defeat for Italy after losing 31- Sindhu enters final of Hong Kong Open Padua, Italy the match Handre Pollard con- time out. It gives the Springboks rica touched down two tries from 15 to Argentina in Florence last verting four tries and replace- a boost heading to Wales next Louw and Mbonambi, with Italy weekend. The Italians had ended Indian premier shuttler P V Sindhu defeated former world ment Elton Jantjies adding the weekend after edging France 18- suff ering faced with the visitors’ a series of nine consecutive losses champion Ratchanok Intanon to reach the final of Hong Kong outh Africa scored fi ve tries fi fth conversion. 17 in Paris last week following a superior strength. Pollard’s re- going back to their win over South Open Superseries yesterday. to tame Italy 35-6 in terrible “They were too strong for 38-3 mauling by Ireland in Dub- turn to kicking form proved well- Africa by winning their opening Second seed Sindhu registered a 21-17, 21-17 win in 43 minutes conditions in Padua yester- us, above all physically,” con- lin on November 11. timed as he provided a key link November Test against Fiji 19-10 over the Thai sixth seed at the Hong Kong Coliseum. In the day, avenging last year’s ceded Italy coach Conor O’Shea. Coetzee’s side proved solid with the Springboks backline. in Sicily. “It’s a pity we couldn’t final today, Sindhu will be up against top seed Tai Tzu Ying, who historicS defeat by the Azzurri. “Their forwards are on another despite the testing conditions, Canna missed a chance for a build on our good start to the moved past South Korean third seed Sung Ji Hyun 21-9, 18-21, Eben Etzebeth’s side pro- level. Our fi rst 20 minutes were building on a comfortable 21-6 third penalty in slippery condi- match,” said captain Parisse. 21-7 in 52 minutes. duced a powerful forward per- good and I remain confi dent but lead at the break, with Warrick tions just before the break, but “Defeat is diffi cult but these It will be a repeat of 2016 edition’s final which saw Sindhu los- formance against a weak Ital- South Africa are better.” Gelant coming on for his Test despite possession for long peri- three weeks were very positive ing to Chinese Taipei’s top-ranked shuttler Tai 15-21, 17-21. Tai ian side who only managed The win will be a welcome debut in the fi nal 20 minutes. ods Italy never looked like scor- for the future. A group has been enjoys a healthy 7-3 advantage in career head-to-head records. two penalties under the rain in relief for under-pressure South Sergio Parisse and his Italy ing. South Africa controlled play built, we’re working well, I re- The 23-year-old has also won the three previous meetings north-eastern Italy. Francois Africa coach Allister Coetzee teammates had challenged in the with their powerful scrumming main confi dent. But the results between them. Sindhu has now reached third final in the Super- Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Fran- who has rebuilt his side since fi rst ten minutes with fl y-half and mauling performance for speak for themselves and we series meets for the year. She has already won in India and cois Venter, Steven Kitshoff and last November’s 20-18 defeat Carlo Canna putting the hosts on their biggest win in Italy since can’t be satisfi ed with a defeat South Korea. Franco Mostert all touched down with just fi ve players from that the scoreboard fi rst. But after a 1997. It is the second straight like today.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 26, 2017 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT TENNIS /DAVIS CUP Relief for Tokyo as fi rst new Olympic venue opens

AFP plans for the 2020 Olympic stadium. pleted. Abe tore up the blueprints for the new “We are making real progress in our It contains a swimming pool, gym national stadium two years ago amid France win Tokyo preparations,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko and fi tness studios available for use by public anger over its $2bn price tag in Koike told reporters at the venue’s the general public and is part-pow- an embarrassing setback. opening ceremony. ered by solar energy. That decision deprived the 2019 okyo opened its fi rst new “We have passed the 1,000-days- Local organising committee CEO Rugby World Cup — also hosted by permanent venue for the to-go mark and intend to build on this Toshiro Muto said: “Our activities Japan — of its main venue. doubles, 2020 Olympics yesterday in momentum and continue the hard have switched from the planning Designs for the offi cial Games em- Ta welcome public relations work. Together with the people of To- phase to the delivery phase and our blem then had to be scrapped follow- boost for the organisers after a series kyo we hope to make the Olympics a eyes are now fi rmly on the opening ing accusations of plagiarism. of setbacks. success.” date of the Games. There was more bad news last The opening of the Musashino The 10,000-seat venue, which “Tokyo 2020 will fulfi l its prom- month when Olympic organisers ad- move 2-1 Forest Sport Plaza, which will host cost an estimated $300mn and will ise and deliver a safe and successful mitted that prolonged summer rain badminton and modern pentathlon also host wheelchair basketball at the Games that will leave a lasting legacy had brought high levels of bacteria to fencing, off ers Tokyo organisers some 2020 Paralympics, is the fi rst of eight and benefi ts for everyone.” a venue earmarked for triathlon and respite after a disastrous rollout of new permanent venues to be com- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo open-water swimming. ahead in fi nal

FORMULA ONE Bottas takes fi nal pole of 2017 The pole was the Finn’s second in a row, and fourth of the campaign

Reuters Abu Dhabi THE GRID France’s Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert celebrate their doubles victory in the Davis Cup World Group final against Belgium at Pierre Mauroy The starting grid for Sunday’s Stadium in Lille. altteri Bottas denied quad- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following ruple world champion team qualifying yesterday: Reuters The French pair, in their fi rst com- mate Lewis Hamilton the Lille petitive match together, were down a Vfi nal pole position of the 1st row break in the third set when Bemelmans Formula One season yesterday, lead- Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) suff ered a meltdown, allowing Les ing a Mercedes one-two in Abu Dhabi Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) rance moved one step closer Bleus to turn the situation around. Grand Prix qualifying. 2nd row to a 10th Davis Cup title when David Goffi n put the visitors ahead The pole was the Finn’s second in a Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) Richard Gasquet and Pierre- by beating Lucas Pouille in the open- row, and fourth of the campaign, and Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) Hugues Herbert beat Ruben ing singles before Jo-Wilfried Tsonga he said he was determined to convert 3rd row BemelmansF and Joris De Loore 6-1 3-6 levelled for 1-1 when he defeated Steve it into a victory after the disappoint- Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 7-6(2) 6-4 to give the hosts a 2-1 lead Darcis in the second singles on Friday. ment of missing out in Brazil two Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) in the fi nal against neighbours Belgium Tsonga and Goffi n face off in the fi rst weeks ago. 4th row yesterday. reverse singles today. “I was so gutted in the last race be- Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) ing on pole and missing the win. I have Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) a clear target for tomorrow,” he said in 5th row a post-qualifying interview. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) Nishikori vows to come back stronger Hamilton, who had been aiming for Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) his 12th pole of the year, was behind 6th row Bottas after the fi rst fl ying laps of the Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) fi nal session and was unable to im- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) prove on his time when it came to the 7th row crunch. Stoff el Vandoorne (BEL/ McLaren) Hamilton will end the season Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) with 72 career poles, an all-time 8th row record for the sport, aft er passing Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) Michael Schumacher’s previous Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) best of 68 at the Italian Grand 9th row Prix in September Pierre Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso) Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) “What a lap! He just had an incred- 10th row ible qualifying and congratulations to Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) him,” said Hamilton, who clinched his Brendon Hartley (NZL/Toro fourth championship in Mexico last Rosso) Tokyo: Japan’s Kei Nishikori is recovery. month, as he saluted Bottas in front of hopeful of returning from his “I can’t say when I’ll heal from my the crowd. lengthy injury layoff at the start of injury so I’m trying not to rush “The last qualifying of the year and overtaking is not always straightfor- 2018 and looking forward to chal- anything,” Nishikori told Japanese I gave it everything but I seem to have ward but not impossible here so let’s lenging for major titles and a place media. “I’m aiming for the Brisbane lost a little pace going into qualifying. see.” Kimi Raikkonen qualifi ed fi fth for in the top five next season. International but it could be Febru- Valtteri did an exceptional job, so I’m Ferrari with Dutch 20-year-old Max The 27-year-old was ranked ninth ary, or even March, who knows. I really happy for him,” added the Brit- Mercedes’ Formula One drivers, Lewis Hamilton of Britain (R) and Valtteri Bottas Verstappen sixth for Red Bull. in the world before sustaining a want to make sure I’m in top form on, who won from pole last year at Yas of Finland (L) pose for photos after qualifying in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa con- season-ending wrist injury ahead when I’m back on tour so I’m in a Marina. cluded the fi nal qualifying of his For- of the Cincinnati in August position to win a Masters or grand “Either way, it’s been an incredible their fourth successive constructors’ Brazil. While he hoped to be closer on mula One career with 10th place on and joined a host of top players slam title. year of qualifying and one that I’ve re- championship, leaving Sunday’s race Sunday, the German did not sound the grid for Williams. including Novak Djokovic and Stan “I also hope I’m mentally stronger ally enjoyed.” Hamilton will end the with little at stake for top teams be- overly confi dent of getting past the “It’s a good way to retire, good rac- Wawrinka on the sidelines. and hungrier next season.” season with 72 career poles, an all- yond bragging rights to take into the two ‘Silver Arrows’. es, good lap times. I’m happy that I’m Nishikori says he might return at Nishikori, who underwent elbow time record for the sport, after pass- winter break. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel “Tomorrow with the race pace I fi nished with my head up and com- January’s Brisbane international, surgery and was sidelined for ing Michael Schumacher’s previous qualifi ed third with Australian Daniel think we can be a bit closer but they petitive,” he said. the Australian Open warm-up almost a year in 2009, chose reha- best of 68 at the Italian Grand Prix in Ricciardo lining up alongside him on (Mercedes) have been very strong,” “I want to have fun tomorrow. I have where he finished runner-up earlier bilitation instead of surgery to treat September. the second row of the grid for Red Bull. said Vettel, also a four times world nothing to lose, risk everything you this year, but is wary of rushing his his wrist injury. Mercedes have already clinched Vettel beat Bottas to the victory in champion. “It should be a fun race, can. Let’s have fun.”

LOCAL CRICKET One-sided matches in QNB-ISC Trophy

By Sports Reporter For Redwings, Kiran took 3 Doha wickets for 30 and Midhun took 3 for 30. In reply, Redwings were nev- arriors outclassed er in the chase, losing wickets Redwings by 116 at regular intervals. They were runs and United eventually bowled out for 72 runs WChallengers eased in 14.3 overs. Warriors bowlers past Centurions by 8 wickets in Sandeep, Vivek and Amir took 3 the ongoing QNB-ISC Challeng- wickets each. ers Trophy 2017 here at Asian Sandeep of Warriors was ad- Town cricket stadium. judged man of the match. Sandeep of Warriors (L) and David of United Challengers. In the match between Warri- In the second match, Centu- ors and Redwings, Warriors won rions won the toss and elected to (23 runs) gave him good support. for 13, and Asif Ashraf took 4 for the toss and elected to bat fi rst. bat fi rst. But controlled bowling David of United Challengers 9. For his 5 wickets haul, Asif Openers Zaheer and Suhel gave from United Challengers kept was declared man of the match. Umer of Selex CC was adjudged them a swift start and added 44 Centurions in check and they In the third match, Selex CC man of the match. runs for the fi rst wicket. At the could manage only 119 runs in 20 thrashed Al Noof CC by 162 runs. team total 44, Suhel was the fi rst overs. Selex CC made 186 for 6 in their Brief Scores. man out for 17. He was dismissed Shakir (26), Famis (20) and Siraj 20 overs. Shihab made 63 runs, Selex CC 186 for 6 in 20 overs by a superb catch by Prince in the (23) resisted the United Challeng- while Asif and Mansoor made 32 (Shihab 63, Asif 32, Manzoor 38, bowling of Kiran. But the other ers bowling to some extent. For and 38 respectively. Amir 32, Ayaz 3 for 27) Beat Al opener Zaheer (52) and Praveenth United Challengers Subin took For Al Noof CC, Veteran Ayaz Noof CC 24 all out in 7.2 overs (37) took the team total up to 124 3 wickets for 21, while Sathish B took 3 wickets from 27 runs. In (Asif Umer 5 for 13, Asif Ashraf in 14th overs. and Sathish K took 2 apiece. reply, Al Noof CC were bundled 4 for 9). Man of the match - Asif Asif Umer of Selex CC receiving his man of the match prize from Azeem Abbas, head of cricket at ISC, as Both batsmen, however, were In reply, United Challengers out for 24 runs. Umer of Selex CC other off icials look on. back in the pavilion in quick suc- reached the target in 17th over Of the 24 runs, 11 runs came Centurions CC 119 all out in 19.3 cession leading to a decline in thanks to their opening batsman as extras. Five batsmen were out overs (Shakir 26, Famis 20, Siraj in 16.5 overs (David 68, Sathish Warriors 188 for 7 in 20 overs (Za- out in 14.3 overs (Sandeep 3 for their scoring rate before a quick David, who scored 68 in 55 deliv- for ducks and four batsmen made 23. Subin 3 for 21, Sathish B 2 K 23, Santhosh 22). Man of the heer 52, Praveenth 37, Khushal 13, Vivek 3 for 18, Amir 3 for 12 ). 33 from the captain Khushal took eries with three 6’s and Four 4s. only one. for 25, Sathish K 2 for 27) LOST match – David of United Chal- 33, Kiran 3 for 30, Midhun 3 for Man of the match – Sandeep of the team total to 188 in 20 overs. Santhosh (22 runs) and Sathish K For Selex CC, Asif Umer took 5 to United Challengers 121 for 2 lengers. 30) Beat Redwings Al Khor 72 all Warriors.

Sunday, November 26, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

QNB STARS LEAGUE SIMPLY THE BEST Hamdallah double seals Rayyan win

By Sports Reporter league goal this season when it Doha was thought Al Gharafa would equalise. All that they could do was another goal by Weiss, oroccan striker who replaced Ahmed Alaeld- Abderrazzaq din in the 67th and is recuper- Hamdallah struck ating from an injury, in stop- Ma double as Al page time. Rayyan defeated Al Gharafa Earlier, Al Kharaitiyat 3-2 in their QNB Stars League emerged as 1-0 winners against clash at the Khalifa Interna- Al Ahli in a tightly-fought con- tional Stadium, one of the test at the Al Khor Stadium. The eight 2022 FIFA World Cup clash was decided by a penalty venues, yesterday. midway through the second Hamdallah scored in the half, enabling the home side to ninth (penalty) and 31st min- leap above their opponents in World high jump champion Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim (L) and Belgium’s athlete Nafissatou Thiam (R) react after being awarded Male and Female Athletes of the Year 2017, utes to take his tally to eight the standings. during the International Association of Athletics Federations IAAF Athletics Awards 2017 in Monaco on November 24. At right, Barshim poses with the trophy next to Prince goals. Sebastian Soria was The game started in an open Albert II of Monaco. their other scorer (64th). Al- fashion, with The Thunders mahdi Ali (41st) and substi- having a fl urry of early chanc- tute Vladimir Weiss (stoppage es before Rashid Tiberkanine’s time) were on target for Al looping header from a free- Gharafa. kick was tipped just over by The victory helped Al Rayy- Yazin Husein. an displace Al Sadd, who had Al Ahli came close in the lost to Al Duhail, from the sec- 32nd minute as a 25-yard drive ond position. Al Rayyan have swerved marginally wide of 24 points, one behind Al Du- the far post with the goal- hail and three more than The keeper beaten. Al Kharaitiyat Wolves. moved instantly on the coun- Advani in quarters Al Gharafa put up a strong ter through Rashid down the resistance before going down left that resulted in a shot be- fi ghting even though they did ing struck fi ercely into the side not have it in them to put it netting. across Al Rayyan. The Chee- Into the second half and tahs surely did not expect a Al Ahli should have taken goal so early when Hamdallah the lead. However, Yassine converted a penalty awarded Chikhaoui’s drive from close with win over Iqbal after Soria was fouled inside went wide. Only moments the box. later, they were made to pay as Al Rayyan dominated the Benson handled in the area and ‘Pakistani players are great potters and so it is always diff icult against them’ early exchanges and the rivals Al Kharaitiyat were awarded a showed alacrity afterwards. penalty. Anwar Diba stepped It was then that Hamdallah up, but saw his shot was saved By Sports Reporter struck for a second time with by the outstretched legs of the Doha India’s Pankaj Advani an on-the-turn shot, that keeper. However, the defence completely caught goalkeeper failed to clear the ball and San- Yousuf Hassan napping, fol- jar Tursonov was on hand to ndia’s Pankaj Advani was the only lowing a Soria cross from the place it in. former champion left in the men’s left. In another match, Qatar SC draw after the Last 16 stage in the After Almahdi reduced held Umm Salal to a 1-1 draw at IBSF World Snooker Championship the margin capitalising on a the Al Gharafa Stadium. Umm Iat Al Arabi Sports Club Indoor Hall yes- goalmouth melee, Amro Seraj Salal captain Yannick Sagbo terday. came close to drawing par- opened the scoring in the sixth The two-time IBSF snooker champion, ity, but for a timely save by minute with a free-kick, but who won his 17th world title overall last Al Rayyan goalkeeper Omar Bruno Gallo equalised for Qa- week with a win in the 150-Up format of Barry. tar SC in the 48th through a the IBSF World Billiards Championship at Soria then hit his seventh penalty. the same venue, had not dropped a frame since entering the knockouts. Yesterday, against Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal, he again made a strong start, taking the fi rst frame 69-8 before a 103-point break helped him wrap up the second frame, and soon he was 3-0 up in the game. Iqbal, 26, fought back hard with a 94-point break of his own, to blank Ad- vani for a 1-3 scoreline. The fi fth game got a bit scrappy over a red. Both the players traded a few safety shots. “I think I was 35 points up, and I didn’t want to open the bunch, because I was leading. I don’t need to give him an open table,” Advani, who won 5-1, told Gulf Times later. “So I was trying to play safe for that one red.” old Luo Honghao, who beat Belgium’s tournament, but sometimes it doesn’t matter really. You just have to produce Eventually it all worked out with a Kevin Hanssens 5-2, in today’s quarter- work out. Some of the seeded players have some good the same kind of form, score 66-point break, before he closed out with fi nals. fallen out this morning,” Advani said, re- heavy, play some good safety, and keep a 97-33 win in the sixth. Another teenager, and the youngest ferring to last year’s fi nalist Andrew Pagett your opponent under pressure,” Advani “I was a bit fortunate today, but at the of all remaining in the draw, is Austrian of Wales, who bowed out after a 2-5 loss to said. same time I think I also played a bit better 15-year-old Florian Nüßle, who beat In- Malaysia’s Kok Leong Lim. The Malaysian “I am just looking to carry forward the than I played a couple of matches earlier,” dia’s Laxman Rawat 5-4 in one of the clos- 22-year-old then beat compatriot Mo- momentum.” he said after the win. “Pakistani players est matches last evening for his spot in the hamed Reza Hassan in the evening for his Former champion Steve Mifsud of Aus- are great potters and so it is always diffi - last eight. spot in the last eight. tralia was edged out by Ireland’s Brendan cult against them.” “IBSF (competitions) is really on the “As long as you are alive in the tour- O’Donoghue 5-4 in a game that fi nished Abderrazzaq Hamdallah is congratulated by Sebastian Soria after Advani is up against Chinese 17-year- day. You practice for a few months for this nament, reputation, the seeding doesn’t last yesterday. he scored against Al Gharafa yesterday.

TOUCH RUGBY Wesley crowned champs for fi ft h straight year

By Sports Reporter strategy. We played as if were our fi rst tion Lions RFC and committee presi- Doha title as we had a lot of pressure coming dent Nimo Amit said, “We thank God into the tournament”. for a blessed day. Everything went ac- “I am very thankful for the boys who cording to plan and it was a great day esley have won their gave a solid performance all day. Eve- for the sport of Touch”. fi fth consecutive Lions rybody did their job”. “The competition was fi erce with Sri Lanka Schools Touch Pathirage said playing in the most the standard of Touch elevated to WSevens title played on prestigious touch event in Qatar and heights we haven’t seen before”. Friday at Doha Rugby Football Centre. for the fi rst time at the Doha Rugby Amit was full of praise for the event Wesley dominated St. Sylvester’s 3-1 Club was something special. “Full partners saying “I would like to express in the fi nal, helped by two tries from credit to Qatar Touch who with the our sincere gratitude to all our part- Lahiru Prasad. Teammate Sajith Ariya- Lions Committee was able to deliver a ners and sponsors in particular Qatar wansha scored their team’s second try Touch festival atmosphere we haven’t Touch, Sports Corner, Oil Exec, Voda- while Sashi Kanth crossed over for St. experienced before”. fone, Sri Lakan Airlines, DRFC, Sam- Sylvester’s only touchdown. St. Sylvester’s try scoring machine path Bank, and Well-On restaurant”. Wesley have now won the pres- Kanth said, “The Lions Touch is a big For his part Qatar Touch offi cial tigious Lions Touch tournament fi ve prize for us and we wait all year for the Samuel Rico told the media, “Qatar times running, a feat once thought of event in hope to win the cup. It pains- touch has been producing and pre- as impossible. taking to make the fi nal and lose to silly senting Touch events since 2010. Captain Shivan Pathirage said the mistakes” However, today Touch reached a new team were only focused on winning. “We applied the basics much bet- dimension”. “With half our players out to other ter than Wesley but we just couldn’t The final days results: commitments our training was mainly match their speed. However, the Cup: Wesley 3 – St. Sylvester’s 1 focused on winning our group divi- chance to play the fi nal at DRFC with a Plate: Isispathana 1 – Trinity 0 sion” Pathirage said. huge crowd was something to remem- Bowls: St. Peters 2 – Royal 1 “After that we were aiming at tak- ber. We are still absorbing the atmos- Sheild: Dharmaraja 1 (extra time) – ing it match by match. The fact that we phere” Kanth said. Mahanama 0 could win fi ve titles was not part of our Following the ceremonial presenta- Invitational: Sherbourne 3 – Warriors 0