Established 1961 27 Sports Monday, July 22, 2019 Kane 93rd minute stunner earns Spurs the victory over Juventus

‘It’s probably one of the best goals of my career’

SINGAPORE: scored a stunning 93rd tap-in. “It was a very good game, very competitive. To minute winner from the halfway line as Tottenham be honest, we are still short in our preparations and I Hotspur edged Juventus 3-2 in an entertaining pre-sea- wasn’t planning to play this way so early in the pre- son friendly in Singapore yesterday. The England cap- season ... we were still hoping to give some players tain latched onto ’s short pass and more rest after a long campaign,” Spurs manager launched a first-time shot high over a scrambling sub- Mauricio Pochettino said. stitute keeper Wojciech Szczesny as Spurs rallied past “The result was not the most important thing today, new manager Maurizio Sarri’s Italian champions in the performance was and how we continue our prepa- front of a delighted National Stadium crowd. rations for the upcoming season.” Juventus had more “It’s probably one of the best goals of my career. I success after the break when they increased their tem- noticed the keeper was often off of his line and thought po and went more direct, and halftime substitute if I get a chance to shoot I will and it just went in,” Gonzalo Higuain levelled the score in the 56th minute Kane said in a post-match interview. A youthful Spurs with a drilled strike after exchanging neat passes with dominated the first half as Juventus struggled to adapt Federico Bernardeschi. to their new coach’s “Sarri-ball” tactic of playing out Buoyed by the equalizer, Juventus were soon ahead from the back with short, quick passes. Instead of when Cristiano Ronaldo arrived late to drive home moving the ball forward, Juventus often found them- Mattia De Sciglio’s cutback four minutes later, leaving selves defending desperately after being caught in pos- to rapturous applause by an adoring crowd when he session as Spurs pressed high up the pitch with the was substituted immediately after scoring. Spurs were side going on to take a deserved lead level in the 65th minute, however, when Champions on the half-hour mark. League semi-final hero Lucas fired home record sign- ing ’s low cross, the French midfield- ‘Very competitive’ er finding the Brazilian with his first touch after coming Son Heung-min started the move by holding up play on as a substitute. Kane and Higuain both squandered and feeding Troy Parrott for a clear run at Gianluigi good chances to score winning goals in the final 10 Buffon in the Juventus goal, with the 17-year-old for- minutes before the England striker prevented the con- SINGAPORE: Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane (R) kicks the ball during the International Champions Cup football match ward’s low strike parried by the veteran keeper straight test going to a penalty shootout with the most brilliant between Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur. — AFP into the path of an unmarked for a routine of strikes. — AFP

Under-23s role to work alongside Bayern beat Arsenal Next Emery, bringing a wide knowledge of his former charges. “From the Under-15s I worked with Madrid in Gen ready to him,” Saka added. “It has been a long journey but I feel like we both deserve Hazard’s ‘take on the it. “Freddie helps Unai know who we are, tells him our strengths and weak- nesses and comes to us individually Real debut world’: Saka and tells us what we need to do from Unai. “Unai does not have to speak to us directly, Freddie comes to us and LOS ANGELES: Bayern Munich spoiled CHARLOTTE: After impressing in a tells us what we need to do. It makes ’s Real Madrid debut, downing starting role for Arsenal in their 3-0 the transition from the academy to the the Spanish giants 3-1 in a friendly in win over Fiorentina on Saturday, 17- Houston Saturday despite goalkeeper Sven year-old Bukayo Saka said he is ready first team much smoother.” Ulreich’s sending off. , to “take on the world” as part of an and exciting next generation of talent. Emery being patient had given champions Bayern a Arsenal made it three wins from three Arsenal manager Unai Emery said comfortable 3-0 lead before recent Real on their tour of the United States, he is happy to be patient in the transfer Madrid signing grabbed a conso- including two in the International market and will wait for the right player lation goal with a brilliant free kick. Champions Cup, with victory in humid to become available. “Really I am with That followed Ulreich’s departure in the conditions in Charlotte, where young- patience because we want to choose 81st for a foul on Brazilian teen Rodrygo sters again came to the fore. the best solution,” Emery said. “Some outside the area. Rodrygo, Luka Jovic and With Arsenal yet to make a major players are very expensive and we are Ferland Mendy all made their debuts for signing in the summer transfer window, waiting for this possibility. “We don’t rebuilding Real Madrid — all coming on at coach Unai Emery has instead utilized want now to go to the second line of halftime as Zinedine Zidane changed his some of the young talent at his disposal players. “We are waiting. We have very entire side. Hazard’s first outing in a Madrid in the US, and has been rewarded as all good players. We have very good jersey since his high-priced move from eight of Arsenal’s pre-season goals young players. Chelsea had dominated the headlines. HOUSTON: Real Madrid forward (L) and Bayern Munich defender Jerome “We are aware also that we need to Boateng fight for the ball during their International Champions Cup match. — AFP have been scored by youngsters. One But despite getting a starting nod he of those is Saka, who again shone in a improve some players in this squad. I made little impact at the NRG Stadium — wide role against Fiorentina, and now want to sign one, two, three or four home of the NFL’s Houston Texans, where begging in the 43rd, meeting a cross from left and bent a shot toward the far post believes that he and his fellow proteges players only if we can be sure they are the European giants produced plenty of but knocking his effort wide. Neuer only for Neuer to punch it away. have what it takes to go far. coming to improve our team.” Arsenal lively end-to-end action from the kickoff. It came up with another impressive save in Zidane’s wholesale changes at the “The players coming up from the have been linked with William Saliba in needed a stellar display from Bayern goal- the 45th, diving to his right to grab Luka interval did nothing to further Real academy are so special,” Saka said. the British press, in a deal that would keeper to keep Real Madrid Modric’s effort from 10 yards out of the air. Madrid’s cause, even though they con- “The next generation of us can be in see the defender return to current club at bay. Bayern led at the interval thanks to Courtois fended off a blast from Coman trolled possession early in the second this Arsenal team and take on the Saint-Etienne in France on loan as part Tolisso’s 15th-minute strike. in first-half injury time to keep Bayern half. Lewandowski doubled Bayern’s lead world. “The boss is doing a good job of of the deal. Thomas Muller freed from stretching their advantage before the in the 67th controlling a high ball from managing all of us, helping us to Emery, however, said there were a whose cross made it to Tolisso — who was break. While Real Madrid applied plenty Niklas Sule, turning and firing into the progress every day and to learn. “I just number of possibilities floating around denied by Real Madrid keeper Thibaut of pressure, Hazard was circumspect, often bottom corner. Two minutes later Madrid have to keep pushing. Showing the and he was in constant contact with Courtois on his first attempt but slotted opting to pass off to his new teammates. gave the ball away deep in their own end boss what I can do and when the time sporting director Edu and head of foot- home the rebound. Down a goal with half- The closest the 28-year old Belgian came and an unmarked Gnabry was able to comes I am ready to play. When I get ball Raul Sanllehi, while they also spoke time approaching Real Madrid poured it on. to his first Real Madrid goal was in the control the ball and fire past Keylor the chance then I can take it.” Saka with the club’s owners the Kroenke Karim Benzema let a golden chance go 39th minute, when he found space on the Navas in goal. — AFP also hailed the influence of new Arsenal family. “There are a lot of names. The assistant coach Freddie Ljungberg, club is working, Edu is very close to me who has been promoted from the and Raul,” Emery said. — Reuters Solskjaer targets all three titles (, Champions Griezmann League and Copa del Rey), and that more signings goes for the players and the leaders too, and me too,” he said. “We have a team to ‘cried’ when win everything. It’s difficult but we will in search for have to work for it.” Barca move Shortly after Barca had announced fast start the signing of Griezmann, Atletico com- plained they and the Frenchman had finally happened negotiated the deal before the buy-out SINGAPORE: Manchester United manager price dropped from 200 million euros at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Friday the club is MADRID: admitted the start of July, adding that they had working on one or two more signings as he already “begun appropriate procedures” yesterday that he was moved to tears of hopes to hit the ground running in the new to defend their “rights and legitimate happiness when his big-money move to campaign after stuttering badly towards the interests”. Spanish media claim that Barcelona finally came through after a end of last season. Solskjaer enjoyed a stellar Atletico will go to FIFA to argue that controversial exit from former club start after replacing Jose Mourinho in Barca owe them more than the fee they December, winning 10 and drawing two of his Atletico Madrid. The World Cup winner eventually paid earlier this month. first 12 Premier League fixtures. is in Tokyo with Barca ahead of a clash Griezmann almost signed with But a stunning slump in form saw the side with Chelsea on Tuesday after the La Barcelona a year ago but instead opted finish sixth in the standings, 32 points behind Liga giants shelled out 120 million euros SINGAPORE: Manchester United’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (C) sits with his coaching in June 2018 to sign a new five-year deal champions Manchester City. Aware that his ($135 million) to match his release clause staff during the International Champions Cup football match between Manchester United and at the Wanda Metropolitano. But in May imbalanced squad needed a major overhaul, amid a blistering row between the player Inter Milan. — AFP this year he announced he would be Solskjaer has already recruited and the two clubs. leaving at the end of the season, with Daniel James and fullback Aaron Wan- “I called my father and I started cry- Atletico claiming he told them of a deal Bissaka, with the club strongly linked to on ourselves, we have to be better and be our to face the Italian side on Saturday. ing with joy because the transfer was all with Barca before a 3-0 defeat to England central defender Harry Maguire and only focus. I am sure we will get closer to the “Everyone has been spot on in pre-season in done, it all was over,” Griezmann said in Juventus which dumped them out of the Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes. “We top.” United have already seen midfielder training and the games. I have been very an interview with sports daily Marca. “I Champions League at the last 16 stage. are working on one or two (signings). My Ander Herrera depart for Saint-Germain encouraged. “The start of the season is was with my friends, with my wife, with Griezmann scored 133 goals in 257 objective here though is we have got to get and while question marks remain over the important, I don’t think many of these players my children and it was an incredible appearances for Atletico since he joined ready for the games and the training ses- futures of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku and have had a pre-season like this in many years. moment.” The 28-year-old added he was them in 2014 from Basque club Real sions,” the Norwegian told reporters in the talismanic , Solskjaer is con- In the first eight or 10 games, you don’t win targeting European glory with Barcelona Sociedad, who scouted the attacker Singapore on the eve of a pre-season friendly tinuing to prepare for the new season with anything but you can lose the chance to win after two humiliating exits for the when he was just 14. He helped Atletico against Inter Milan. the Frenchman central to his plans. anything.” United complete their pre-season Catalans from the Champions League in lift the Europa League in 2018 and won “We are working on putting a squad “I am looking to get everyone to get their program with matches against Tottenham the last two years-to Roma and the World Cup with France last year. He together which can compete, we have lots of form back to when we first came in. It is not Hotspur, Kristiansund and AC Milan before Liverpool-after throwing away com- was top scorer at Euro 2016 despite ways which can play. The Premier League is a just about Pogba, it is about all of us as a opening their Premier League campaign at manding first-leg leads. “If you ask the hosts France losing in the final to very competitive league. Our aim is to focus team,” he said, adding that Lukaku was not fit home to Chelsea on August 11. — AFP fans, they will tell you (they want to win) Portugal. — AFP