Established 1961 Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018

Hoops-mad Philippines finally Pearce, Martinez homer in Red England dreaming but Croatia set 25catches case of World Cup fever 26 Sox 5-0 win over Rangers 27 to provide biggest World Cup test

Umtiti header sends France into final French look to lift World Cup trophy for the second time

SAINT PETERSBURG: Belgium's forward Eden Hazard (2R) falls on the field during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match between France and Belgium at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg yesterday. — AFP

ST PETERSBURG: Samuel Umtiti’s 51st-minute header Belgium took early control of midfield with France con- Bruyne hooked the ball into the path of Hazard whose the outstretched leg of Courtois. It was a fascinating first sent an impressive France into the World Cup final with a tent to sit deep and eliminate the threat of counter-attacks shot was just wide of Huge Lloris’s far post. half and all that was missing was a goal but one came soon 1-0 win over Belgium in an absorbing first semi-final yes- from Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne. Hazard was dangerous again moments later when he after the break. terday. Didier Deschamps’ side will face England or But it was by no means a purely negative approach cut in from the left and unleashed a rasping drive which From Griezmann’s corner, Umtiti beat Marouane Croatia in Moscow on Sunday as the French look to lift as the French offered their own danger on the break, clipped off the back of Raphael Varane and just over the Fellaini at the near post and powered a header home to the trophy for the second time following their triumph on perfectly illustrated when Paul Pogba’s delivery sent bar. From a Belgium corner, Toby Alderweireld tested put France ahead. Fellaini flashed a header just wide and home soil in 1998. In an enthralling tactical match, it was Kylian Mbappe racing towards goal and Belgium were Lloris with a smart shot on the turn but as the half pro- Axel Witsel forced a good save out of Lloris as Belgium once again a set-piece that proved decisive with Umtiti’s thankful their keeper Thibaut Courtois was alert to snuff gressed France began to create more. pushed forward for an equaliser and France hung on in near-post header from an Antoine Griezmann corner set- out the danger. Olivier Giroud flashed a header just wide and Mbappe six minutes of stoppage time to book their place in the tling matters. The first real opening came in the 16th minute when De set up Benjamin Pavard whose low shot was kept out by final. — Reuters

grass. The 36-year-old will play German 13th Potro earned himself a chance to set the record Serena battles seed Julia Goerges tomorrow for a place in straight against Rafael Nadal after sealing a Saturday’s final. place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals yester- into 11th Her path to the title has been wide open day. He completed a 7-6(1) 7-6(5) 5-7 7-6(5) from early in the tournament as Garbine win over Frenchman Gilles Simon after fading Muguruza, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, light interrupted their last-16 clash the previous Wimbledon semi, Petra Kvitova, Venus Williams, Caroline evening with the fifth seed up two sets to one. Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens have all been Del Potro was in danger of being dragged eliminated. into a fifth set when he squandered four match Kerber advances Williams, a 23-time major winner, is hoping points, one with a double-fault, at 5-4 having to join a select group of women who have won hit back from 1-3 down. He eventually finished Grand Slams after becoming mothers. Goerges off world number 53 Simon in the match’s advanced to the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third tiebreak to move into his second LONDON: Serena Williams survived a major first time with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 win against Dutch Wimbledon quarter-final where twice cham- scare before sealing her 11th Wimbledon semi- 20th seed Kiki Bertens. pion Nadal is waiting. final appearance, while Angelique Kerber With Kerber also in the last four, it is the first Del Potro was thrashed by the Spaniard in remains the seven-time champion’s main title time two German woman have made the semi- the semi-final last month but feels rival after the German joined her in the last four finals of a since and his game matches up better against the world yesterday. Anke Huber at the 1993 French Open. The car- number one on grass despite losing their only Williams was in danger of a stunning quar- nage at the top leaves 11th seed Kerber-beaten two meetings on the surface. “It will be a differ- ter-final exit after world number 52 Camila by Serena in the 2016 Wimbledon final-as the ent match that we played in Paris a few weeks Giorgi became the first player in this year’s highest ranked player left. ago,” Del Potro told reporters. tournament to take a set off the former world Kerber takes on Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in “I will try to hold my service games most of number one. the other semi-final. The 30-year-old clinched the time. If I want to beat him, I have to come to LONDON: Germany’s Angelique Kerber returns against Russia’s Daria But Serena bludgeoned her way out of trou- her third appearance in the Wimbledon semi- the net very often and play hard with my fore- Kasatkina during their women’s singles quarter-final match on the eighth ble, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to stay on course for finals with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Russian 14th hands, with my backhands.” Del Potro trails day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn an eighth All England Club triumph. It was seed Daria Kasatkina. Nadal 10-5 in head-to-head meetings-his five Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, yesterday. — AFP Serena’s 100th career main draw victory on Meanwhile, Argentina’s Juan Martin del wins all coming on hardcourts. — Agencies