SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015 SPORTS

Bader Al Kharafi with Zain Team on Leg 4 Zain celebrates the victory from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Zain Team facing off against the waves Zain Team showcases their talents in most challenging leg

KUWAIT: The Zain Sailing Team, representing Kuwait, have surprised board Deputy Chairman of Zain and Head of the MAK Group in the sport in Kuwait. We need to build on our participation this year to many during their debut at this year’s EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour. Kuwait, Bader Al-Kharafi for the Dubai to Abu Dhabi leg (Leg 4), and increase the reach of sailing across the region.” With just one leg of the race remaining, and two impressive second Michael Miller, Zain Group Treasury Executive Director, for the first two Ends-Schedule (remaining Legs): place finishes already secured in the third and fourth legs, the Zain legs. Leg 6 - 27th February, Doha - Manama Team continued to showcase their talents in the most challenging leg Just before setting off on the challenging 60 nautical-mile leg of the race so far. The leg 5 route from Abu Dhabi to Doha saw blus- Bader Al-Khafari - recently named 66th in Arabian Business’s Top 500 Teams: tery winds and tough waves for the teams with Zain Team finishing Most Powerful Arabs in the World - an enthusiastic sailor, said: “It was 1. Delft Challenge (Netherlands) - Wouter Sonnema sixth. Skippered by CÈdric Pouligny, one of France’s leading racing interesting and challenging, and the rough sea made it tough, but we 2. Bienne Voile (Switzerland) - Lorenz M¸ller sailors and member of Sidney Gavignet’s winning EFG team last year, made it, enjoyed it and got a top result. It was all down to teamwork. I 3. EFG Bank (Oman) - Sidney Gavignet and experienced navigator GÈrald VÈniard, the multinational team is enjoyed being part of it and actually helped to sail the boat, including 4. Team Averda (Oman) - Marcel Herrera formed mainly from employees from Zain, who are more used to a stint at the helm.” 5. Al Thuraya (Oman) - Mary Rook working at one of the Middle East’s leading mobile telecoms opera- Michael Miller has been impressed with Zain’s performance so far. 6. Zain Sailing Team (Kuwait) - CÈdric Pouligny tors. Commenting before Leg 5, he said: “Every time we go out on the 7. GAC powered by Dongfeng Race Team (China) - Nick Moloney For Zain, their sailing aspirations extend far beyond this race and water we surprise ourselves. We’ve been able to handle the manoeu- 8. Oman International Maritime College IMCO (Oman) - Mathijs the company aims to mirror Tour organiser Oman Sail’s achievements vres well, and the team has developed this incredible will to win. It is Wagemans in the Sultanate by following its successful formula and powerful amazing. I really hope this is the start of a long association with the 9. OMIFCO (Oman) - Ahmed Al Mamari vision to rekindle its maritime heritage. The company has fully Tour for Zain and we’ve done so much better than expected. Zain is 10. Renaissance Services (Oman) - Fahd Al Hasni embraced the challenging 720 nautical-mile race, having brought on very keen to promote the values of sailing and the cultural legacy of 11. Royal Navy of Oman (Oman) - Ali Al Rahbi (Retired after Leg 4) Murray bags brace and sees red in Palace romp

Pardew, who had been sacked by West Ham in ing for West Ham as he had escaped a red card 2006. earlier in the half after a crude challenge just West Ham 1 The fifth successive away win of Pardew’s moments after being booked by referee Mike Palace reign lifted the south club further Dean. Palace doubled their lead six minutes away from the relegation zone, while West Ham after the interval when centre-back Dann are without a victory in their six matches in all climbed above Winston Reid to meet Puncheon’s Palace 3 competitions. Sam Allardyce’s men went close to corner with a header that was too powerful for taking the lead when Mark Noble’s 20-yard free- Adrian to keep out. kick cannoned off the woodwork with Palace Allardyce sent on Brazilian winger Nene for goalkeeper Julian Speroni rooted to the spot. his debut after an hour, but within three minutes LONDON: Glenn Murray netted twice to fire But Palace were soon in the ascendency and Murray had ended the contest as he dived full Crystal Palace to a 3-1 win against West Ham Murray fired straight at Hammers goalkeeper length to head Puncheon’s free-kick into the far before his memorable afternoon ended with a Adrian after running onto Jason Puncheon’s corner. Nene hit a post with a curling strike pass. before Murray’s day reached an unwanted con- STOKE-ON-TRENT: Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters (front) and Hull City’s Paul McShane red card at Upton Park yesterday. Alan Pardew’s side swept into a three-goal lead as Murray Murray didn’t need to rue that miss for long clusion when he was sent off for a second book- battle for the ball during their English soccer match at the Britannia as he put Palace ahead in the 41st minute when ing after lunging in on Reid in the 69th minute. Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England yesterday. — AFP opened the scoring in the first half and struck again after Scott Dann had increased Palace’s he met Puncheon’s corner with a header which The Hammers got one back in the 76th minute lead after the break. Murray was then sent off for Hammers defender Aaron Cresswell diverted as Valencia smashed home from the edge of the a second booking and Hammers striker Enner into his own net with a woefully mistimed penalty area, but it was way too late to prevent a Crouch comes off Valencia reduced the deficit, but Palace survived attempt to hack clear. Murray’s second goal in chorus of boos from the home fans at full- bench to sink Hull a late barrage to secure a sweet result for his last two appearances was even more frustrat- time.—AFP Caped Aubameyang strikes Berahino’s fast Stoke 1 Matches on TV as Dortmund down Schalke start dents Saints (Local Timings) BERLIN: Gabon star Pierre-Emerick just seven points adrift of the European Euro bid Aubameyang was happy to play Borussia places. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen built Hull 0 ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP Dortmund’s ‘superhero’ yesterday by net- on their shock Champions League win over WEST BROMWICH: Chelsea v Tottenham 19:00 ting in their 3-0 home win over Schalke 04 Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with a 1-0 Saido Berahino put a beIN SPORTS 1 HD in the Ruhr Valley derby. Dortmund win at home to strugglers Freiburg to go dent in West Brom 1 beIN SPORTS 14 HD Southampton’s bid to beIN SPORTS 2 HD FR climbed to ninth in the table after picking fourth. STOKE-ON-TRENT: A solitary second-half goal beIN SPORTS 2 FR up their fourth consecutive league win Veteran midfielder Simon Rolfes, who qualify for the Champions League as by substitute Peter Crouch gave Stoke City a 1- after starting February bottom of the table. will retire at the end of the season, grabbed Southampton 0 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE 0 victory at home to relegation-threatened Hull After going close with a string of chances, a first-half winner to give Leverkusen their the West Bromwich Liverpool v Manchester City 15:00 City at the Britannia Stadium yesterday. Crouch Dortmund finally got the breakthrough first league win in four games. Augsburg Albion striker’s early beIN SPORTS 1 HD when Aubameyang-who had compared dropped to sixth after their 1-0 defeat at goal clinched a 1-0 had only been on the field a matter of seconds Arsenal v Everton 17:05 when he headed home a Charlie Adam cross in beIN SPORTS 8 HD winning the derby to ‘an orgasm’ in mid- Hertha Berlin as ex-Chelsea striker Salomon win at the Hawthorns the 71st minute. It was a fourth goal in as many week-pounced on a mistake in the visitors’ Kalou scored a late winner at the Olympic yesterday. Berahino struck in the second minute to games for Crouch and it gave the Potters a SPANISH LEAGUE defense to roll the ball home on 78 min- Stadium to claim his sixth goal of the sea- extend Albion’s impressive since Tony Pulis took over as deserved three points against a Hull side who Malaga v Getafe 0:00 utes. It was his fifth goal in as many league son. Stuttgart stay bottom after their 1-1 manager to one defeat in 10 matches. beIN SPORTS 2 HD offered next to no threat going forward. games and the 25-year-old celebrated by draw at Hanover 96 while Hoffenheim are The result lifted Albion eight points clear of the beIN SPORTS 14 HD donning a ‘Batman’ hat, playing up to his just two points short of the European Mark Hughes’s Stoke side have now lost just beIN SPORTS 2 HD FR Premier League relegation zone and left fifth placed once in their last six league outings and this beIN SPORTS 2 FR ‘caped crusader’ nickname, while team- places for next season after their 2-0 win at Southampton in danger of losing ground in the race for a victory cements their place in the top half of Valencia v Real Sociedad 14:00 mate Marco Reus wore a ‘Robin’ mask to home to Mainz. top four finish after their second successive defeat. the table. They lie in 10th place, four points beIN SPORTS 2 HD play his side-kick. Henrikh Mkhitaryan On Friday, Bayern Munich celebrated Southampton boss Ronald Koeman had made five clear of Newcastle United in 11th, while Hull beIN SPORTS 14 HD made it 2-0 a minute later when he slid their 115th birthday with a 4-1 win over changes to the side beaten by Liverpool, including a beIN SPORTS 2 HD FR home Ilkay Gundogan’s cross to claim his Cologne to go 11 points clear before sec- remain four points clear of the relegation zone beIN SPORTS 2 FR recall for Sadio Mane after the Senegal winger was after none of the sides below them managed to first goal of the season. Reus, who had ond-placed Wolfsburg go to resurgent dropped last weekend as punishment for arriving late to Eibar v Athletic de Bilbao 19:00 crashed a shot against the crossbar, fired Werder Bremen today. Arjen Robben net- win yesterday. That will come as a relief for beIN SPORTS 6 HD the match. But Albion made the perfect start as they wide and had a shot blocked in the first ted his 17th goal in 19 league matches this Tigers manager Steve Bruce, who sent out a Sevilla v Atletico de Madrid 21:00 took the lead through England Under-21 forward half, finally got on the scoresheet by poach- season with a crisp header with 20 minutes starting line-up shorn of in-form attacking duo beIN SPORTS 2 HD Berahino, who blasted a fine finish into the top corner for Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye. beIN SPORTS 14 HD ing Borussia’s third on 86 minutes to score left to remain the league’s top scorer. beIN Sports Max 5 his 17th goal of the season after Chris Brunt’s free kick Eight-goal top scorer Jelavic was not even for the fifth match running in all competi- Earlier, captain Bastian Schweinsteiger gave Real Madrid v Villarreal 23:00 tions. hosts Bayern an early lead at the Allianz was only half cleared by Maya Yoshida. on the bench after he reportedly hurt his knee beIN SPORTS 2 HD Schalke’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Timon Arena before Franck Ribery added a second Berahino turned provider when he burst towards on Friday, while N’Doye was only a substitute beIN SPORTS 13 HD Wellenreuther paused too long over a inside 10 minutes. Cologne fought back Southampton’s goal and slipped Brown Ideye in, but the after travelling to Russia and Senegal during beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR back-pass and Reus simply tapped the ball when Nigeria international Anthony Ujah Nigerian striker’s shot was blocked by two Saints defend- the week. Those absences seriously under- beIN SPORTS 1 FR into the empty net behind the despairing scored right on the stroke of half-time but ers. Another chance was spurned by West Brom when mined Hull’s chances of claiming a third succes- ITALIAN LEAGUE teenager. The defeat drops Schalke, who Bayern roared back as Robben then Poland Michael Dawson headed straight into the hands of sive win to follow victories against fellow strug- Cagliari v Hellas Verona 14:30 were missing several stars with injury, to striker Robert Lewandowski extended their Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster. Koeman had glers Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers. beIN SPORTS 3 HD fifth while neighbors Dortmund are now lead.— AFP seen enough of his side’s slow start and he ditched his 3- Buoyed by his late winner against Aston Villa a US Citta di Palermo v Empoli 17:00 beIN SPORTS 3 HD 5-2 formation, bringing on winger Eljero Elia in place of week ago, Stoke’s Victor Moses looked lively for centre-back Florin Gardos. There was no immediate the hosts in the early stages, but even he could US Sassuolo v Lazio 17:00 beIN SPORTS 7 HD improvement as Albion midfielder Craig Gardner went not produce a chance of note in a poor open- Genoa v Parma 17:00 Swansea down Burnley through on goal, forcing Saints defender Jose Fonte to ing period. Atalanta v Sampdoria 17:00 make a last-ditch challenge. Hughes brought on Charlie Adam for beIN SPORTS 6 HD defender Kieran Trippier put through his Injured referee Phil Dowd was replaced at half time by Stephen Ireland at the start of the second peri- beIN Sports Max 4 own net in the 64th minute, moving Gary reserve official Graham Scott and there was injury frus- od in an attempt to breathe some life into his Internazionale v Fiorentina 20:00 Burnley 0 Monk’s side up into eighth place. Swansea beIN SPORTS 3 HD tration for Albion as well when Berahino limped off early side. The Scottish midfielder had several efforts strike Bafetimbi Gomis could have had a beIN Sports Max 4 in the second half. Southampton should have equalized but all were off-target, and the game looked Torino v Napoli 22:45 first-half double, but after his first attempt certain to end in a goalless stalemate until he was foiled by goalkeeper Tom Heaton in when Ryan Bertrand drilled across the face of goal to beIN SPORTS 3 HD Swansea 1 turned provider with just under 20 minutes beIN SPORTS 14 HD the 39th he shot high over the bar after Graziano Pelle, but the Italian striker produced a remark- remaining, crossing for Crouch to convert just beIN Sports Max 4 being played through by Jonjo Shelvey. able miss as he somehow failed to find the finishing moments after his introduction in place of Ashley Barnes was denied from close range touch with the goal at his mercy. The hosts threatened a GERMAN LEAGUE Mame Biram Diouf. Hull had not won in Stoke in the 23rd with Sean Dyche’s side unable second when Yoshida’s clearance fell invitingly to Darren Borussia M v Paderborn 17:30 BURNLEY: Swansea beat relegation-threat- to find a breakthrough after the interval. Fletcher inside the penalty area, yet the former in nine years, and they were denied an equaliz- beIN SPORTS 4 HD er in injury time when Paul McShane’s effort Werder Bremen v Wolfsburg 19:30 ened Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor yesterday to The defeat leaves Burnley in 18th place on Manchester United midfielder smashed over. There was was blocked by a superb sliding challenge from beIN SPORTS 4 HD register back-to-back Premier League wins 22 points, four clear of bottom-placed one last chance for Pelle to level, but again he couldn’t Erik Pieters.— AFP for the first time since December. Burnley Leicester.— AP hit the target from close-range.— AFP