15 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019 sports Chelsea spoil Griezmann’s debut

Barcelona went on the of - Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan celebrates after crossing the finish line Tammy Abraham fensive in the second half, with • substitute striker Carles Perez and Ross Barkley spoil leading the way. Ewan wins again Antoine Griezmann’s But superb saves by Chelsea Barcelona debut as goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga Chelsea win in Japan repeatedly denied Barca any attempt to equalise. as Alaphilippe In the 55th minute Perez • Frank Lampard’s side zipped past three Chelsea de- prevail 2-1 in Saitama fenders but his left toe kick fin- keeps Tour lead in pre-season friendly ish was not good enough to get past Arrizabalaga. challenging days in the Alps. A few minutes later, he dashed He also tumbled after flying AFP | Saitama, Japan Caleb Ewan won deep into the left side to feed • over a barrier in the wild at- a high-speed cross to striker his second stage of the mosphere in Brussels on the oals from Tammy Abra- Malcom, but Arrizabalaga again Tour with a thrilling opening day, and again on the ham and Ross Barkley denied them. sprint, after Jakob road to Saint-Etienne on stage saw Chelsea grab a 2-1 eight. G ‘Dangerous’ Griezmann Fuglsang crashed out victory against Barcelona yes- This time the 33-year-old terday in an exhibition match Chelsea made it 2-0 with less had no problem getting back to in Japan. than 10 minutes left as midfield- AFP | Nimes, France the pack on a flat stage with no World Cup-winning French er Barkley picked up a cross wind to split the peloton. striker Antoine Griezmann in front of the box and curled aleb Ewan sprinted to his Ewan meanwhile was fol- and former Ajax midfield - it into the net, with substitute Csecond victory on the Tour lowing up his victory on stage er Frenkie de Jong made keeper Neto getting a touch but de France yesterday as French- 11 at Toulouse and with Ni - their unofficial debut for the unable to block it. man Julian Alaphilippe kept mes melting under 35 degrees Spanish giants, pleasing some Just before injury time, Bar- the overall lead after stage 16, Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) the 51,126 fans who cheered every celona got a free kick just out- where Geraint Thomas fell but Australian was favourite for a move during the star-studded Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann, right, in action with Chelsea’s Andreas side the box but midfielder Ivan finished with all the main con- repeat performance, this time Christensen game. Rakitic’s shot went above the tenders. edging Italian Elia Viviani on Chelsea striker Abraham the net. players was that they are a good bar. As France experienced a the line. opened the scoring in the 34th Chelsea coach Frank Lam- strong group, a determined Rakitic however quickly re- heatwave defending champi- Some fans stayed away due minute by pouncing on a mis- pard was all praise for his young group. I am very happy,” he said. deemed himself in injury time, on Thomas mis-timed a curb the extreme afternoon heat on take by Barcelona midfielder striker. “There is more work to do but picking up a cross and firing a and was left with a gash on his this southern French route, but Sergio Busquets who attempted “Tammy, he is a goal scorer. it’s been a good trip. It’s been lightning right footer that went left leg after hitting the tar- the conditions failed to slow to clear the ball. He is hungry for goals,” he said. positive in all senses,” he said. deep into the net for a consola- mac hard on the 177km run the peloton as it sped past the But with Chelsea midfielder Despite facing a transfer ban, Minutes after the first goal, tion goal for Barcelona. around the southern city of celebrated regional vineyards Jorginho applying pressure, the Lampard said Chelsea’s two- Chelsea midfielder Christian Barca coach Ernesto Val - Nimes. and olive groves. ball rolled towards Abraham game tour in Japan showed he Pulisic showed off his speed and verde, echoing Lampard, said After his third fall during One of the great pre-race fa- who only had to step past rush- had a “competitive” and “deter- footwork to infiltrate the Barca the match was a good test that this Tour, Team Ineos’ sports vourites Jakob Fuglsang, the ing goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter mined” team. defence, but his left footer went showed signs of excellence as director Nicolas Portal said Criterium du Dauphine cham- Stegen and gently send it into “What I have learned about just wide. well as areas to improve. Thomas felt fine. pion, pulled out with 25km to “He’s OK, he needed another go after falling and hurting his bike. All his left side is a bit hand. messed up but nothing seri- Dehydration was a major is- Sri Lanka’s Malinga ous,” he said. sue as team cars were carrying England’s Roy looking to make Test grade “We have to refocus after the an average of 200 water bot- to play T20s after rest day,” added Portal. tles, many of them with added quitting ODIs AFP | London Thomas remains 1min 35sec minerals and saline with riders AFP | Colombo behind Alaphilippe in the over- expected to drink 15 of the half ngland opener Jason Roy all standings ahead of three litre bidons each. Ewill try to follow the batting eteran Sri Lankan pace example of Australia’s David Vbowler Lasith Malin- Warner when he makes his Test ga yesterday confirmed he debut against Ireland at Lord’s will retire from one-day in- later this week. Guardiola blasts ‘false’ report of ternational cricket after the Warner defied conventional first match against Bangla- wisdom by showing how an Man City ‘disrespect’ in China desh but hopes to play T20 opening batsman who had first cricket. made his name in white-ball AFP | Hong Kong Malinga invited fans to cricket could then make a suc- his farewell ODI at the R. cess of his Test career. anchester City boss Pep Premadasa Stadium in Co- The 29-year-old Roy is no MGuardiola blasted a re- lombo on Friday and said red-ball novice, having played England’s Jason Roy plays a shot (file photo) port in Chinese state media the cricket board agreed to for county champions Surrey, be hard-pushed to find a more match with him will be a pretty as “false” yesterday after the his request to retire from but mainly as a middle order naturally talented batsman than cool feeling.” Premier League champions the 50-over format of the batsman, and he has nine first- Jason. England got through 12 open- were accused of showing “ut- game. class hundreds to his credit. “Even growing up as a kid you ing partners for Alastair Cook ter disrespect” during their David Silva talks to fans during a Posting a video message He comes into the Test set-up saw Jason hit the ball, strike the after Andrew Strauss retired in tour of China. promotional event to his fans on his wife’s ahead of an Ashes series fresh ball and do things other kids 2012, with Cook himself bowing Guardiola hit out at the Facebook page, Malinga from scoring 443 runs as an couldn’t do. out of the Test arena last year lengthy commentary posted on “I don’t understand how said he felt no ill will to - opener in England’s triumphant “Over the last couple of years with a hundred against India the English-language website people can say that. Maybe one wards officials and play- World Cup campaign. you’ve seen him rein it in, un- at the Oval -- Surrey’s head - of Xinhua, the state news agen- journalist is a little bit upset, ers who may have tried Roy will also have the boost derstand his game a bit more quarters. cy, which said Manchester City I don’t know why. But it’s far to push him out of the of walking out to bat for his and sort of piece it all together.” But Australia one-day cap- snubbed fans and only visited away from what is reality,” he team. debut Test innings alongside his Burns added: “We have seen tain Aaron Finch, having seen China for commercial reasons. added. The 35-year-old said he old school friend turned Surrey what a wonderful player he is. Roy hit a match-clinching 85 “I don’t agree but I should The opinion piece, which was sidelined by selectors captain, Rory Burns. Hopefully he can keep on doing that helped beat his defend - say too that it’s false. To make accused City of an “attitude of two years ago but was able The pair both attended Whit- that and he can translate his ing champions in a World Cup a statement like this they have arrogance” and lashed out at to prove his value to the gift in Surrey, south-east Eng- white-ball form into red ball. semi-final this month, was well to know exactly what’s hap- arrangements for Chinese me- national team at the recent land and Burns told reporters “I’ve known Jason since he aware of the essentially straight pening in our club,” Guardiola dia, brought a sour end to a dif- World Cup at Lord’s on Monday: “You’d was 10, so to stride out in a Test hitter’s quality. told media in Hong Kong. ficult tour of mainland China.