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Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Sha’baan 29, 1439 AH Ton-up O’Brien turns GULF TIMES Ireland debut against Pakistan around SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL / AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS PSG turn to Tuchel to Bounedjah brace boost Europe steers Sadd into QFs chances 2-2 draw at Al Ahli was enough to give Qatari side a 4-3 aggregate victory

By Sports Reporter

wo goals from Baghdad Bounedjah helped Al Sadd snatch a 2-2 draw away to Al Ahli of in the Reuters second leg of their 2018 AFC Cham- Paris pionsT League Round of 16 clash in yes- terday. The draw was enough to give the Qatari side aris Saint-Germain have turned to the un- a 4-3 aggregate win and a spot in the quarter- compromising German coach Thomas fi nals for the fi rst time since 2014. Tuchel to boost the club’s Champions Just like in the fi rst leg, Al Sadd seized the League record after years of relative failure. initiative early on. The 2011 champions found PFormer Mainz and coach the back of the net inside two minutes, with Tuchel signed a two-year contract to succeed tournament top scorer Bounedjah dribbling ’s Unai Emery, who achieved a domestic tre- into the box from the left before lashing in a ble but failed to establish PSG as top contenders in fi erce strike past Al Ahli keeper Mohamed al- Europe’s elite club competition. Owais. Despite spending a world record 222mn euros The visitors’ delight did not last long as Al ($265.8mn) to attract Neymar during the close sea- Ahli equalised in the ninth minute through son, the side were eliminated in the last-16 Claudemir. The Brazilian midfi elder was in of the Champions League by Real Madrid. The Bra- the right place in the right time to nod home a zil forward missed the second leg through injury. header to make it 1-1 on the night. PSG also signed Kylian Mbappe last year, but Al Ahli went on to score another goal and it ’s hottest prospect could not help them reach came just before halftime, when Mohannad the semi-fi nals, which was the team’s goal this sea- Aseri capitalised on ’s fail- son. ure to clear the ball and tapped in from close The Ligue 1 champions have failed to go past the range to level the aggregate scores in the 39th quarter-fi nals of the Champions League since Qa- minute. tar Sports Investments (QSI) took over in June, 2011. The goal strengthened the home side’s Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah (right) celebrates after scoring a goal against Al Ahli in the second leg of their AFC Champions League Round of 16 “It is with much joy, pride and ambition that I determination and Fathi Jebali’s men went tie in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday. (Below) Al Sadd’s (right) in action during the match yesterday. (AFC, AFP) am joining this big club, Paris Saint-Germain,” said in search of a goal to put them in the lead in Tuchel. the second half. Aseri came close in the 62nd Qatari sides in the Champions League. from 25 yards out into the top corner to put “I can’t wait to start working with all these great minute, getting to the end of Abdulfattah in front. players who are all amongst the best in the world. Asiri’s cross before somehow miscuing his LATE STRIKE SENDS PERSEPOLIS INTO Al Jazira boss Henk ten Cate responded to With my coaching staff , we will do everything we shot from a couple of yards out. QUARTER-FINALS going behind by introducing striker Ahmed can to help the team reach success, including on the In the 69th minute, the complexion of the In , Seyed ’s 89th minute Al Hashmi for defender Mohammed Fawzi, international scene. match changed dramatically after the referee strike gave hosts Persepolis a 2-1 win over and his attacking intent immediately paid “Paris Saint-Germain has enormous potential awarded a penalty to Al Sadd when Hamid UAE’s Al Jazira in the second leg. Persepolis dividends when Al Hashmi combined with and it is by so far the most exciting proposition in Ismail was brought down in the box by Clau- advanced to the quarter-fi nals on away goals inside Persepolis’ half before football. I am also impatient to get to know the Parc demir. after the tie ended 4-4 on aggregate. setting up Romarinho, who drilled in a shot des Princes, a famous European stadium and one Al-Owais blocked Bounedjah’s initial eff ort Al Jazira survived 45 minutes of one-way from outside the area into the bottom corner that boasts an incredible atmosphere.” but the Algerian made no mistake with the re- traffi c as Persepolis set up shop at their visi- to restore Al Jazira’s aggregate lead in the 70th It is undoubtedly on the European scene that bound to score his ninth goal of the campaign tors’ end of the pitch in pursuit of an early minute. Tuchel will be expected to deliver, PSG having this and send his side through to the quarter-fi - leveller. Persepolis piled the pressure for the re- season won the Ligue 1 title as well as the French nals. Despite the pressure, the Iranians could mainder of the game, but all their attempts and League Cups. Al Sadd had never failed to qualify to the only muster a weak header from Siamak to fi nd a winner were halted by an inspired Tuchel left Dortmund last year with one year left next round in the knockout stages of the AFC Nemati that was saved by goalkeeper Ali Khaseif who denied Godwin Mensha and Ali on his contract because of a strained relationship Champions League after avoiding defeat Khaseif and an effort from Farshad Ahmad- Alipour back-to-back headers inside the fi nal with the club’s board, just after winning the Ger- in the fi rst leg of the tie, and they kept that zadeh that missed the target by a small mar- 10 minutes. man Cup. record intact yesterday. gin as the two sides headed into the break As the strikers failed to fi nd a winner, it was His ability to deal with a locker room fi lled with But the match at King Abdullah Stadium level. skipper Hosseini who delivered, pouncing on big names will be closely monitored. was a feisty one with raucous local crowd ral- The home side fi nally found a breakthrough a poor defensive clearance from Musallem German media reported that the 47-year-old had lying around the home team. While a victory in the 63rd minute after a well-worked at- Fayez to volley home the winner with a minute met with Neymar, who posted a picture of himself eluded them, they ensured Al Ahli have only tacking move saw Ahmadzadeh lay-off a pass to play to send Persepolis into the quarter- on social media wearing the 2018-19 PSG shirt, on lost one of their eight home games against for who struck with venom fi nals. Sunday.

PREVIEW Duhail favourites, but wary of fi ghtback By Sports Reporter Lucas Mendes will return from sus- We know Ain are strong and organised, petition, but they face an uphill task to- Doha pension for the hosts, while both Hus- but we are team for them,” the Algerian day. The UAE champions are unbeaten sein El Shahat and do added. on the road this year, and triumphed likewise for the visitors. Brazilian Caio The victory at the Hazza bin Zayed 4-1 the last time they played in Doha NB Stars league champions Al is suspended for Al Ain after his late Stadium in Ain last Tuesday, extended – in last month’s Group D fi nale at Al Duhail will take a command- dismissal in the fi rst leg. Duhail’s 100 per cent record in this Rayyan. The same result on Tuesday ing 4-2 lead into the second Al Duhail’s incredible winning run season’s Champions League. Having would book Al Ain’s place in the quar- leg of the AFC Champions extended to 19 games at the weekend already topped their group with full ter-fi nals. LeagueQ Round of 16 match against Al when Ali scored the only goal of the points, Belmadi’s side became only the “OK, we did it last month, but Du- Ain at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on game against Al Sadd to ensure a place second team to open their campaign hail are a better team than Al Rayyan,” Tuesday as they look to seal a place in in next weekend’s Amir Cup fi nal. with seven successive wins. Mamic said. “Like I have said before, the quarter-fi nals. Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi said his However, Belmadi said it was not a everything is possible. We will try to do Goals from Youssef El Arabi and Nam team was not taking things lightly even time to delve on past results and called our best and we have to fi ght until the Tae-hee had the Qatari side two goals though they have two-goal and four on his players to focus on the match. end. Then only after the game we can up at the interval last week, before Is- away goal advantages. “We have to be organised in tomor- talk about what has happened. mail Mohamed and added a “We will go into the game with the row’s game, we have to be more fo- “Ninety minutes in football, every- further two inside the hour as a seventh aim of winning the match. We won the cused, and have the desire to qualify. thing is possible. We will give whatever AFC Champions League win on the fi rst leg comfortably but that doesn’t We need to forget our victory in the fi rst we can. Duhail are a good team, they bounce was all but assured. guarantee us a place in the quarter- leg and play the game without any cal- showed in the fi rst game that they have The 2015 AFC Player of the Year fi nals. We have to do well at home to- culations,” he said. big quality. But Al Ain will be much and Ibrahim Diaky pulled morrow as well,” Belmadi said on the Meanwhile, Al Ain manager Zoran better in the second game than in the two back, though, to mean Al Ain travel match eve yesterday Mamic said his team will fi ght until fi rst. We have more time to prepare for to Doha with at least a glimmer of hope “We know we haven’t qualifi ed to the the end to keep their Asian Champions this match. I’m sure Al Ain will try to ahead of a match in which they will next round yet. Al Ain will be looking to League hopes alive, do what maybe now looks impossible most likely need to post a three-goal make it diffi cult for us and would want Al Ain are the only Emirati side to because, again, everything is possible,” Al Duhail players train in Doha yesterday, ahead of their AFC Champions League winning margin to progress. to avenge their defeat in the fi rst leg. win the continent’s premier club com- he added. Round of 16 second leg match against Al Ain. PICTURE: Anas Khalid Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, May 15, 2018 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA Barcelona’s unbeaten season ended by fi ve- Levante Spanish champions were hoping to become the first ever club to finish a 38-game season as invincibles

AFP in league, the run we managed across Madrid two seasons - but, it is a shame.” For Levante, this is their eighth win in 10 matches under new coach Paco hilippe Coutinho hit a hat- Lopez, who took charge with the club in trick but could not save Barce- danger of relegation but has overseen a lona’s unbeaten season as the remarkable transformation. They move Catalans were left stunned by up to 15th. Paco’s players exploded out Pan extraordinary 5-4 defeat to Levante of the blocks and pulled ahead in the on Sunday night. Ernesto Valverde ninth minute when Boateng nipped in rested for his team’s pe- at the near post after Jose Luis Morales’ nultimate match of the campaign but weaving run down the left. Bardhi hit it was a defensive horror-show that the woodwork with a lifted fi nish over allowed Emmanuel Boateng to score Marc-Andre ter Stegen but Barca failed three times and Enis Bardhi twice at the to heed the warnings and Boateng made City of Valencia Stadium. it two after half an hour, latching on to The La Liga and Copa del Rey cham- Sasa Lukic’s threaded ball through. pions trailed 5-1 after an hour and still Coutinho pulled one back with a came within a whisker of a sensational rasping shot before half-time but three comeback as Coutinho’s second and Levante goals in 10 minutes after the third goals, and a Luis Suarez penalty, interval sent the home fans into de- set up a grandstand fi nish. lirium. Bardhi’s blistering shot restored But Levante held on for a thrilling the two-goal advantage before Boat- victory, which ends their opponents’ eng completed his hat-trick as Barca’s hopes of becoming the fi rst ever club defence was ripped apart again on the to fi nish a 38-game La Liga season as break. Another counter just before the invincibles. After drawing at home hour ended with another crisp Bardhi to Real Madrid last weekend, despite fi nish, as Barca were now staring at playing the second half with 10 men, a four-goal defi cit. The game looked and thrashing Villarreal, Barcelona sat dead but Coutinho scored twice in six just two games away from the histori- minutes, the fi rst a close-range fi nish cal feat. It was 1932 when the last side, after Ousmane Dembele’s shot spilled Real Madrid, went unbeaten in the top- loose, the second an instinctive shot fl ight but even that was across only 18 from the edge of the area. matches, in a 10-team division. This When Boateng brought down Bus- was Barcelona’s fi rst league loss since quets in the area and Suarez drove the slipping up against Malaga on April 8 Levante’s Enis Bardhi (left) celebrates after scoring penalty down the middle with 20 minutes last year and while it has minimal im- against Barcelona in the La Liga on Sunday. (AFP) left, it felt inevitable Barca would fi nd a pact on the table, Valverde will have fi fth. But without Messi even to bring questions to answer, not least with re- on, Levante withstood the late onslaught gards to leaving out Messi. Valverde said. “But in a season some like in Seville, we could also have lost.” an otherwise successful campaign. The league undefeated,” Sergio Busquets and should even have scored a sixth only “We are angry not to have come matches go your way and some don’t. This defensive collapse was reminis- unbeaten record was supposed to help said. “But this does not take away eve- for Ruben Rochina to prode wide after a through this game and not to have I think this result was harsh in all re- cent of their Champions League melt- atone for the European failure. rything we have done otherwise this dreadful backpass by Busquets. It was the the opportunity to fi nish unbeaten,” spects but at other times this season, down against Roma, which has soured “Obviously we wanted to fi nish the season - everything we have achieved fi nal mistake of an error-strewn display.

WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT Neymar headlines ’s squad Neymar wins player of the triker Neymar, who hasn’t played a Eriksen was among the 35 players named in game since breaking his foot in Feb- Denmark’s preliminary World Cup squad year prize, rejects transfer talk ruary, was named yesterday as the announced yesterday. The Danes are up star of the Brazilian national team against France, and in the whichS will seek a record sixth World Cup out group stage in . World Cup squads in Russia. Coach Tite announced the team must be reduced to 23 players by June 4. list in Rio de Janeiro. Neymar’s returning DENMARK PRELIMINARY WORLD CUP form will be a key factor for the team, which SQUAD: Goalkeepers: lost infl uential right-back Dani Alves to a (Leicester/ENG), Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield knee injury last week. ENG), Frederik Ronnow (Brondby), Jesper Tite’s 23-man squad, which was with- Hansen (Midtjylland) out major surprises, sees Alves replaced by Defenders: Simon Kjaer (Sevilla/ESP), Andreas Danilo (Manchester City) and Fagner, whom Christensen (Chelsea/ENG), Mathias Zanka Jor- Tite knows from his time at the helm of gensen (Huddersfield/ENG), Corinthians’ 2015 national championship- (Gladbach/GER), (Brentford/ winning team. ENG), (Brentford/ENG), Peter Fagner is currently carrying an injury of Ankersen (FC ), Jens Stryger his own but has been cleared by team doc- (Udinese/ITA), Riza Durmisi (/ESP), tor Rodrigo Lasmar to play in Russia. After (Ipswich/ENG), sweeping aside South American opponents (Copenhagen) in the World Cup qualifi ers, Brazil are seen Midfielders: (Copenhagen), as one of the favourites at the World Cup. (Werder Bremen/GER), Lukas Their campaign begins against Lerager (Bordeaux/FRA) Lasse Schone (Ajax/ on June 17. NED), (Rosenborg), Christian Erik- BRAZIL SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma/ sen (Tottenham/ENG), (Celta Vigo/ ITA), Cassio (Corinthians/BRA), Ederson (Man ESP), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton/ City/ENG), ENG), (Nordsjaelland), Michael Defenders: Danilo (Man City/ENG), Fagner (Cor- Krohn-Dehli (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP), Robert inthians), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), Filipe Luis Skov (Copenhagen) (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Miranda (/ Forwards: (Celta Vigo/ESP), Martin ITA), Marquinhos (PSG/FRA), Thiago Silva (PSG/ Braithwaite (Bordeaux/FRA), FRA), Geromel (Gremio) (Atalanta/ITA), (Copenhagen), Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid/ESP), Fern- (RB Leipzig/GER), Nicolai Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar poses with his trophy after receiving the best Ligue 1 player award at the andinho (Man City/ENG), Paulinho (Barcelona/ Jorgensen, (Feyenoord/NED), UNFP (French National Professional Football players Union) ceremony in Paris. (AFP) ESP), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan/CHN), (Rosenborg), (Ajax/NED), Ken- Fred (Shakhtar Donestk/UKR), Philippe Coutin- neth Zohore (Cardiff /ENG) AFP window comes around. “I am 2000 percent sure he will ho (Barcelona/ESP), Willian (Chelsea/ENG) Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Christian Paris I don’t want to talk about any- stay,” al-Khelaifi said, rejecting Forwards: Neymar (PSG/FRA), Gabriel Jesus Eriksen was among the 35 players named in SON LEADS DEFENCE-HEAVY thing at the moment,” he said. talk of a transfer to Real Madrid. (Manchester City/ENG), Roberto Firmino Denmark’s preliminary World Cup squad. SOUTH KOREA WORLD CUP SQUAD “Everyone knows why I came “The Spanish media have been (Liverpool/ENG), Douglas Costa (Juventus/ITA), Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung- eymar was named as here, what my objectives are. talking since October. I don’t re- Taison (Shakhtar Donestk/UKR) Cup, with Spain, and Morocco. min headlined South Korea’s preliminary France’s player of the Right now, my objective is the spond to rumours, I don’t have WORLD CUP SQUAD: Goalkeepers: 28-man World Cup squad unveiled yes- year at an awards cer- World Cup, not talking about the time. But I am sure he will be IRAN INCLUDES STARS BANNED (Persepolis), Seyed Hossein terday, as coach Shin Tae-yong included emony in Paris on transfers. I spend my whole life, a Paris Saint-Germain player.” 12 defenders in an attempt to plug leaks at NSunday night, and later brushed every transfer window, talking PSG’s dominance of the French FOR MATCH Hosseini (Esteghlal), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Iran announced its squad for the 2018 World Ahan), (Maritimo/POR) the back. The Taeguk Warriors struggled away questions over his future. about it. It’s a bit annoying.” game this season was refl ected in Cup late Sunday, with two midfi eld stars Defenders: (Ostende/BEL), in qualifying and have been drawn against The Paris Saint-Germain super- Neymar beat two of his PSG the awards. Mbappe was named making the cut despite being banned last Voria Ghafouri (Esteghlal), Steven Beitashour Sweden, and holders in a star took the prize despite miss- teammates to the prize, voted for young player of the year, beating year for playing against an Israeli team. (Los Angeles FC/USA), Seyed Jalal Hosseini tough Group F. ing the last three months of the by his fellow players – Edinson off competition from the Lyon and Ehsan Haji Safi were (Persepolis), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Pa- PROVISIONAL SQUAD (CLUB KOR UNLESS season due to injury. Cavani, Ligue 1’s leading scorer duo of Houssem Aouar and Tan- among the 35 players announced by Iran’s dideh), (Alsaad/QAT), Mo- STATED): Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Vissel The world’s most expensive this season with 28 goals, and guy Ndombele, and Bordeaux’s Football Federation on its website. hammad Ansari (Persepolis), Kobe/JPN), Kim Jin-hyeon (Cerezo Osaka/JPN), player scored 19 goals in just 20 Kylian Mbappe were also nomi- Brazilian winger Malcom. Sports offi cials said last August that Sho- (Esteghlal), Seyed (Esteghlal), Cho Hyun-woo (Daegu FC) league games for PSG before suf- nees, along with Marseille wing- “I have had a good season. I jaei, 33, and Haji Safi , 28, would be banned (Akhmat Grozny/RUS), Omid Defenders: Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Ev- fering a foot injury in February er Florian Thauvin. have changed universe. I had for life after appearing for their Greek club Nourafkan (Esteghlal), (Sepahan), ergrande/CHN), Jang Hyun-soo (FC Tokyo/JPN), that required surgery in his native Neymar was signed from Bar- to adapt right away because at Panionios against an Israeli team. Iran does Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal) Jung Seung-hyun (Sagan Tosu/JPN), Yun Yong- Brazil. He has not played since, celona for a world-record 222 clubs like PSG you don’t get not recognise the Jewish state and bars its Midfielders: (Amkar Perm/ sun ( FC), Kwon Kyung-won (Tianjin and only returned to France from million euros last August, and given the time,” said the 19-year- athletes from appearing against Israelis. RUS), Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens/GRE), Quanjian/CHN), Oh Ban-suk (Jeju United), Kim his homeland at the start of this helped PSG on their way to a old Mbappe, who joined PSG But there was uproar from fans and con- Ahmad Abdolahzadeh (Foolad), Saman Ghod- Jin-su (), Kim Min-woo month, fuelling speculation that clean sweep of the domestic tro- from on a loan deal last fusion reigned over the issue, with Shojaei dos (Ostersunds/SWE), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), (Sangju Sangmu), Park Joo-ho (Ulsan Hyundai), he could seek to leave the club af- phies. However, his injury ap- August. That move is set to be- returning to the squad in March and Haji (Notthingham Forest/ENG), Chul (Sangju Sangmu), Go Yo-han (FC ter just one season. peared to cost Unai Emery’s team come permanent this summer Safi never actually banned. Iran is unable (Esteghlal), (Olym- ), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) “I am very touched and very dear in their Champions League for a fee of up to 180 million eu- to openly discuss the ban on facing Israelis piacos/GRE), (Sepahan), Soroush Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City/WAL), happy with our season. It is an last-16 tie against Real Madrid ros. Mbappe, who has scored 13 because it breaches international sporting Rafiei (Al-khor/QAT), (Saipa), Jung Woo-young (Vissel Kobe/JPN), Kwon honour. Without my teammates, – he was unable to play in the league goals, won the same award regulations. There were no other surprises, (Persepolis) Chang-hoon (Dijon FCO/FRA), Ju Se-jong (Asan I would never have received this second leg, and PSG lost 5-2 on last year when he helped Monaco but Iranian fans will be pinning their hopes Forwards: (AZ Alkmaar/ Mugunghwa FC), Koo Ja-cheol (FC Augsburg/ award,” said the 26-year-old, aggregate. to the title, and so follows Eden on 24-year-old winger and attacking mid- NED), (Olympiacos/RE), Mahdi AUT), Lee Jae-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), who collected the prize from his He is hoping to be back to full Hazard in claiming the young fi elder Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who plays for Taremi (Al-Gharafa/QAT), (Rubin Lee Seung-woo (Hellas Verona/ITA), Moon illustrious compatriot Ronaldo. fi tness in time to lead Brazil at player gong two seasons running. The ’ AZ Alkmaar. Kazan/RUS), (Heeren- Seon-min (Incheon United), Lee Chung-yong Neymar, who joined in PSG’s the World Cup in Russia, which Now with Chelsea, Hazard Iran has been coached the past seven veen/NED), (Charleroi/BEL) (Crystal Palace/ENG) Ligue 1 title celebrations on starts in a month’s time. Club won it in 2009 and 2010 when years by Portugal’s , a former Forwards: Kim Shin-wook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Saturday night, refused to dis- president Nasser al-Khelaifi in- with Lille. Emery, who will leave one-season manager at Real Madrid and an ERIKSEN HEADS DENMARK’S Motors), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur/ cuss his future after collecting sisted on Saturday that there PSG at the end of the season, won assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester WORLD CUP SQUAD ENG), Hwang Hee-chan (FC Red Bull Salzburg/ his award. “We talk about these was no chance Neymar would be the coach of the year award. United. They face a tough group in the World Tottenham Hotspur’s midfi elder Christian AUT), Lee Keun-ho (Gangwon FC) things every time the transfer leaving. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 15, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

SERIE A FOCUS Arsenal-target Juve reign in but Allegri insists he will stay at Juve European success AFP Allegri has two years re- Rome maining on a contract extended last June, but has been touted as a replacement for Arsene assimiliano Wenger at Arsenal and also for Allegri on Sunday Chelsea’s Italian boss Antonio brushed aside Conte. eludes coach Allegri speculation he is set Mfor a move to English Premier RETIREMENT LOOMS league giants Arsenal after FOR BUFFON leading Juventus to a seventh Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi A draw with Roma sealed another triumph for Juventus with one game to go straight title. “If they Buff on will hold a press confer- don’t fi re me, then I think I’m ence on Thursday morning, Juventus’ players celebrate after winning the Italian staying at Juventus next year during which he is expected Serie A title in Rome on Sunday night. (AFP) too,” Allegri said after a goal- to announce his retirement, less draw against Roma sealed the Serie A champions an- a 34th Scudetto for the Turin nounced. The 40-year-old giants. It gave Juventus a four- Italian international has said he point lead over second placed intends to hang up his gloves Napoli and gave 50-year-old at the end of the season, but Allegri his fourth Cup and as yet has not made an offi cial league double in as many announcement. The club said seasons with Juventus. “It’s in a statement without giving not an issue of decisions on further details that the press the future, it’s about planning conference would take place what the future of Juventus will at the Allianz Stadium at 11.30 be, because once we’ve fi nished local time (0930 GMT). celebrating, we have to sit Buff on, who has won nine around a table with clear heads. Serie A titles with the club When the next season begins, since joining in 2001 from we all start from zero points Parma, is expected to play his and must continue proving we fi nal game on Saturday against are competitive.” Verona in Turin.

AFP Milan in 2014. Hundreds of fans to the lads for keeping their cool, “The Champions League is comeback victory over Inter Mi- Rome gathered at the Piazza San Carlo taking things one step at a time something imponderable that lan two weeks ago delivered the in Turin waving fl ags with the towards our fi nal objective.” we always see close but never killer blow to Napoli’s bid for a number 7 after Sunday’s goal- But the Turin giants failed to manage to grasp. In the Cham- fi rst title since the days of Ar- uventus were crowned less draw with AS Roma sealed reach their main goal of winning pions League the diffi culties are gentina legend Diego Maradona Serie A champions for the another triumph with one game a third Champions League title higher than those in the cham- back in 1990. “We needed to go seventh year in a row on to go after a gripping battle with and fi rst since 1996. Allegri had pionship, but we have this goal to bed early on that Saturday Sunday night maintain- Napoli. led them to two fi nals in three ahead of us and we will defi nite- night in Florence,” said Sarri. ingJ their dominance in Italian “We’re looking forward to seasons but this time their chal- ly go for it again next season.” “The only regret I have this football while European success celebrating with our fans on lenge ended in the quarter-fi nals Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri’s season is that we lost the Scu- continues to elude the Turin Saturday,” said Allegri of the to Real Madrid. Napoli won 2-0 in Sampdoria to detto in the hotel and not on giants. It was a double Roman fi nal game against Verona fol- And despite speculation link- give them the meagre consola- the pitch. The team suff ered a celebration fi ve days after Mas- lowed by an open-top bus pa- ing Allegri with the vacant Ar- tion of a new club record of 88 psychological blow and felt it similiano Allegri’s side won the rade through the city. senal manager’s job, club CEO points. for the timing and the way that Italian Cup title with a 4-0 win The trophy will be awarded Giuseppe Marotta said he was “It goes without saying Juve result came about. We played over AC Milan in the Stadio Ol- then and a farewell ceremony confi dent he would remain to are more powerful in every way,” after Juve 14 times in the last 16 impico. expected to honour retiring target the elusive European ti- said Sarri, who lamented that rounds and seeing as Juve pretty Allegri has won the league skipper Gianluigi Buff on. “Four tle. “There is a lot of optimism. I Napoli played many games after much always win, that badly and Cup double in all four sea- years like these don’t come along believe that this relationship can the champions. damaged us. This sport has be- sons since he arrived from AC often,” said Allegri. “Credit goes continue,” said Marotta. Juventus’s last-gasp 3-2 come a business for everyone.”

SPOTLIGHT ROUND-UP Griezmann set for Atletico Madrid Peru Guerrero to miss World Cup over CAS doping ban goodbye in Europa League fi nal eru captain Paolo Guer- help the team.” MANCINI TO SIGN ITALY rero will miss the World Last week Cherchesov an- CONTRACT TODAY AFP Cup after the Court of nounced a preliminary 28-man Roberto Mancini has agreed a Madrid Arbitration for Sport squad for his country’s home deal with the Italian football (CAS)P increase a previous sanc- World Cup. The coach also federation (FIGC) to take over tion by imposing a 14-month named seven players on the as national coach and will sign ntoine Griezmann’s fi rst major doping ban on him yesterday. standby list. his contract today, according to trophy with Atletico Madrid may Striker Guerrero had been reports in Italy. The 53-year-old well prove to be his last if they can included in Peru’s preliminary KANE CHALLENGES SALAH former Manchester City manag- overcome Marseille in the Europa 25-man World Cup squad an- TO PROVE HE’S NO er quit as Zenit Saint Petersburg LeagueA fi nal tomorrow. Griezmann’s future nounced on Sunday after an coach on Sunday, saying he now ONE-SEASON WONDER has dominated the build-up to this week’s initial six-month ban imposed Harry Kane has challenged felt free to open talks with Italy. showpiece match in Lyon, with the striker by world football governing body Mohamed Salah to beat him to A report said Mancini has widely expected to join Barcelona in the FIFA expired earlier this month. the Golden Boot for the Premier now agreed a two-year deal and summer. But less than a week after League’s top scorer again next will sign a contract in Rome A string of Atletico players were quizzed he attended a CAS hearing in a season. The Egyptian’s record 32 today. Italy have been without at a club ‘Media Day’ last week and even if bid to completely annul a ban goals for a 38-game campaign a permanent coach since Gian coach Diego Simeone insisted his focus was for testing positive for traces denied Kane a third consecu- Piero Ventura was sacked after like that of a racehorse — “head forward, I of cocaine, CAS increased his tive Golden Boot despite the they failed to qualify for the don’t see or hear anything but the fi nal” — it sentence for falling foul of “an English international’s best World Cup for the fi rst time in is impossible to ignore the noise surround- anti-doping rule violation ever campaign as his double in a 60 years after losing to Sweden ing the Frenchman. (presence of Benzoylecgonine thrilling 5-4 defeat of Leicester in November. Luis Suarez had stirred the pot by speak- metabolites)”. on Sunday took Kane onto 30 Mancini, former Man City ing about Griezmann as though a deal It means Guerrero will not league goals. and Inter Milan coach, signed with Barca was already completed, which be eligible to play until Janu- “Mo has done great this year, for three years with Zenit last prompted an angry response from Atletico ary 2019. Guerrero, who plays he deserves it, he deserves summer and led the club to a chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin. as a striker for Brazilian side the Golden Boot. I am look- fi fth-place fi nish in the Russian “We’re fed up with Barcelona’s attitude,” Flamengo, was initially banned ing forward to the competition league. Mancini led City to their he said in a statement. “How a president, for one year after traces of the again next year,” said Kane, who fi rst English league title in 44 player and board member speak the way banned drug were found in a was pilloried on social media years in 2012, and won three they have done about the future of a player sample following a World Cup for claiming a goal off team- Serie A titles with Inter Milan. with an existing contract and just a few days qualifi er against on mate at Stoke He also won Italian Cups with before disputing a European fi nal, is an ab- October 5 last year. FIFA reduced last month in his quest to catch Inter, Fiorentina and Lazio. The solute lack of respect towards Atletico.” the ban to six months on appeal Salah. “For me it is about doing Italian team play three interna- Griezmann has certainly not dampened last December. it year after year. This is my tional friendlies against Saudi the speculation, saying only that he wants fourth year now and the fi rst Arabia on May 28, France on June his future resolved before the start of the VETERAN IGNASHEVICH time I have got to 30 goals in the 1 and Holland on June 4. World Cup, while last week even Atletico’s ADDED TO RUSSIA’S . Now it’s about president Enrique Cerezo was hardly reas- WORLD CUP SQUAD getting to 30 goals for the next EDERSON SIGNS NEW SEV- suring when he said: “Antoine Griezmann is Antoine Griezmann’s future has dominated the build-up to this week’s showpiece match in Thirty-nine-year-old CSKA two or three years, that’s the EN-YEAR MAN CITY DEAL an Atletico Madrid player, as of today.” Lyon, with the striker widely expected to join Barcelona in the summer. (AFP) Moscow defender Sergei Igna- aim. Any player wants to do it Premier League champions It all suggests the fi nal could be amount shevich yesterday received a on a consistent basis and that’s Manchester City rewarded to a Griezmann farewell, after a bumpy four ed. Atletico had been hit with a transfer ban Marseille, meanwhile, are the club Griez- call-up from Russia’s national what defi nes a good player from Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson for years at Atletico, undoubtedly successful and Griezmann said it would feel “dirty” to mann was pictured managing while playing team manager Stanislav Cher- a great player. his role in a record 100-point as a whole but not without a few stumbles leave, with the club incapable of bringing in the game ‘Football Manager’ last year, when chesov to replace the injured He has done amazing this year campaign by extending his along the way. This term, he has 30 goals in his successor. he jokingly apologised to Valere Germain Ruslan Kambolov in his squad. and he looks like a great player, contract to 2025 on Sunday. 52 appearances and, since he joined, his La But a new contract looked more like a and Kostas Mitroglou for not picking them Kambolov suff ered a calf muscle and we’ll see if we can both con- Ederson, 24, signed a six-year Liga record stands at 79 in 142. stop-gap given it included a 100mn euro re- in his side. injury in Rubin Kazan’s season- tinue it next season.” contract when he joined from “I think Griezmann is big enough to know lease clause, which will activate from July 1. The furore surrounding Griezmann also closing encounter at Krasnodar Kane’s goals were good Benfi ca for £35mn just under 12 what he’s doing,” his strike partner Diego For a 27-year-old in the prime of his career, serves to highlight the brilliant job Simeone on Sunday, which ended in a enough, though, for Spurs to months ago. But such has been Costa said. “For a player, when Barca want before a World Cup, it is not a fi gure to deter has done, against the odds, and with rivals 1-1 draw. Ignashevich, who had edge past Champions League his impact since replacing the you, it makes you feel important, but he his suitors. “He would be cheap for the in- always circling his star players. But Griez- earlier announced his decision fi nalists Liverpool to fi nish third error-prone Claudio Bravo, City knows that he is important for us and that ternational market,” Filipe Luis said.”And it mann too has been key to Atletico’s run to to end his international career, behind Manchester City and have already extended that deal we want him here.” will be even cheaper if he wins the fi nal.” the fi nal and his talent would be diffi cult said: “Of course Cherchesov’s Manchester United. “The top by a further two years. Ederson A departure seemed likely last summer All the more reason then for Griezmann to replace. “Right now he is thinking about proposal came as a surprise. I six now is so strong, everyone’s was included in the Brazil squad when Griezmann rated his chances of join- to deliver against Marseille, and for the club winning a title,” Costa said. “If Griezmann considered it would be right to really competitive, so for us to that will aim to win a sixth World ing Manchester United at “six out of 10” but that took the gamble to sign him from Real can make history here with us, win that title, consent to participate in the fi nish in the top three for a third Cup later this summer. However, if his teasing was then deemed slightly dis- Sociedad in 2014 when other elite teams then afterwards there will be time for him to World Cup that will take place in year in a row is brilliant,” added he is likely to be the understudy respectful, his decision to stay was applaud- looked but decided to hold off . decide what to do.” our country. I will do my best to Kane. to Roma’s Alisson Becker. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, May 15, 2018 CRICKET

DUBLIN TEST PREVIEW Knight Riders face Ton-up O’Brien turns in crucial tie today

IANS Kolkata

olkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) Ireland debut against will look to outshine one another in their bid to secure a playoff spot when the two sides clash in the (IPL) at the Eden Gardens today. KBoth Kolkata and Rajasthan are on 12 points from the same number of outings and have two more matches to play before the knockouts stages commence. While KKR are placed fourth owing to slightly better net run rate (-0.189), Rajasthan are fi fth (NRR -0.347). Pakistan around A victory for either side on the morrow may not rubber-stamp their passage to the playoff s but would surely help in the cause ‘It’s a very proud and emotional moment. To get there, it’s a great honour’ going to the fi nal round of fi xtures. KKR take on already-qualifi ed Sunrisers Hyderabad away on AFP during the 2010 Lord’s Test, took May 19 while Rajasthan host Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Ban- Dublin his 100th in 31 matches at galore on the same day. this level when Gary Wilson was Rajasthan were slow to get off the blocks and almost put them- held in the slips by Haris Sohail. selves out of reckoning before some individual brilliance from evin O’Brien wrote a But Thompson’s single off all- England wicketkeeper-batsman catapulted them back fresh chapter in crick- rounder Faheem meant Pakistan into reckoning. et’s record books by be- would have to bat again. Against on Sunday night, Buttler racked up coming the fi rst Ireland Pakistan took the new ball but his fi fth consecutive IPL fi fty – a feat previously managed only by Kbatsman to score a Test century it was leg-spinner Shadab Khan, Virender Sehwag – while his team picked up their third back-to- as the hosts turned their debut in not the pacemen, who struck back win on the spin. the format against Pakistan up- next when he turned one sharply Even a week ago, Rajasthan, who won the inaugural IPL in side down at Malahide yesterday. to bowl left-hander Thompson 2008, were on the verge of elimination. But Buttler’s unbeaten In danger of an innings defeat for 53. O’Brien went steadily 94 ensured the Ajinkya Rahane-led side not only win but also after being made to follow-on through the 90s before a pushed improve their net run rate by reaching the target of 169 with two in their inaugural men’s Test, two off Amir saw him to a 186- overs to spare. Ireland ended the fourth day on ball hundred including 10 fours, Matching Buttler’s exploits with the bat, West Indian bowl- 319 for seven in their second in- the batsman punching the air in ing all-rounder has been in fi ne form for the Jaipur- nings – a lead of 139 runs – with celebration. based side. O’Brien 118 . Pakistan’s fi elding became In the last game, the 23-year-old removed Suryakumar for This was O’Brien’s fi rst hun- increasingly sloppy but shortly 38 and Rohit Sharma for a golden duck in successive deliveries, dred for Ireland in all formats before the close O’Brien, on 118, much like what did for Kolkata against Kings XI since he hit the all-time fastest- almost played on to Amir. Punjab. ever World Cup century by any But if anyone deserved the Rajasthan would, thus, bank heavily on Buttler and Archer batsman, off 50 balls, against traditional luck of the Irish, it to deliver the goods. Australian opener D’Arcy Short has disap- England at Bangalore in 2011. was O’Brien. pointed Rajasthan, mustering just 116 runs in his seven innings And it meant Ireland had a this season, at an average of 16.42. shot at becoming just the fourth SCOREBOARD Skipper Rahane made a good-looking 37 against Mumbai and side in the 141-year-history of Pakistan 1st Innings 310-9 dec joined hands with Buttler in an important 95-run stand for to win a match after (Faheem Ashraf 83, Asad Shafiq the second wicket, but his form too has been a concern, man- following-on. 62, Shadab Khan 55; T Murtagh aging single digit scores in his last three innings before this. “It’s a very proud and emo- 4-45, S Thompson 3-62) Coming to the hosts, and Co. bounced back in tional moment,” O’Brien told Ireland 1st Innings 130 style after succumbing to a 102-run defeat at the hands of Mum- reporters after stumps, having (Mohamed Abbas 4-44, Shadab bai Indians. batted for fi ve hours and 40 min- Khan 3-31) They defeated Kings XI Punjab by 31 runs by piling up the sea- utes yesterday. Ireland 2nd Innings (following- son’s highest total of 245/6, fourth highest in IPL history. Punjab “To get there, it’s a great hon- on, overnight: 64-0) fought hard riding K.L. Rahul’s 66 but in the end it was too tall a our. Hopefully now we’ve put E. Joyce run out (Faheem mountain to climb. ourselves in a good position to go Ashraf) ...... 43 There were many positives for KKR from that game. Karthik and win it.” W. Porterfield c Sarfraz Ahmed b continued to lead from the front with a belligerent 23-ball 50 Asked to compare this in- Mohamed Amir ...... 32 while smashed a 36-ball 75. nings with his World Cup ton, A. Balbirnie lbw b Mohamed There were important contributions from Chris Lynn, Robin the 34-year-old replied: “I still Abbas ...... 0 Uthappa and Andre Russell as well, and end-overs cameos from think for me Bangalore is defi - Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien plays a shot on day four of Ireland’s first Test against Pakistan at Malahide Cricket N. O’Brien b Mohamed Amir .. 18 and . nitely number one, just for the Club in Dublin yesterday. (AFP) P. Stirling lbw b Mohamed Russell was excellent with the ball too and so was M. Prasidh sheer moment it was and against Abbas ...... 11 Krishna who grabbed two . who it was, in the World Cup.” Ed Joyce and William Porterfi eld heartening sign for Pakistan was lbw to Mohammad Abbas K. O’Brien not out ...... 118 In the head-to-head tally, each team has seen the other off Ireland were 95 for four when not both been dropped in single ahead of their two-Test series in for nought. G. Wilson c Haris Sohail b seven times in 16 meetings with two tied games. O’Brien, who top-scored with fi gures off Mohamrd Amir on the England that will feature back- Amir was on target for the Mohamed Amir ...... 12 40 in their fi rst-innings 130, third day. to-back fi xtures at Lord’s (May fi rst time on Monday when Ni- S. Thompson b Shadab Khan 53 THE SQUADS walked into bat yesterday. Ireland were also helped by 24-28) and Headingley (June all O’Brien, Kevin’s brother, had T. Kane not out ...... 8 KKR: Dinesh Karthik (captain), Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris But as well as his own com- the fact that Amir, who earlier 1-5). Ireland gifted Pakistan an his stumps uprooted – a wicket Extras (b1, lb18, nb1, w4)..... 24 Lynn, , , Piyush Chawla, Nitish posed strokeplay, O’Brien had yesterday took his 100th Test early breakthrough when Joyce greeted with the bowler’s famil- Total (7 wkts, 122 overs, 504 Rana, , , Mitchell Johnson, Shubman support from Stuart Thompson wicket, was off the fi eld for much ran himself out for 43 after failed iar arms outstretched celebra- mins) 319 Gill, R. , , Cameron Delport, Javon Sear- in a seventh-wicket stand of 114. of the day’s fi nal session as he to beat Faheem Ashraf’s shy tion. And 94 for three became Fall of wickets: 1-69 (Joyce), less, Apoorv Wankhade, , Tom Curran. Sarfraz Ahmed became the struggled with the recurrence of from midwicket. 95 for four when Porterfi eld (32) 2-69 (Balbirnie), 3-94 (N O’Brien), RR: Heinrich Klassen, Benjamin Stokes, , Sanju fi rst Pakistan captain to enforce a knee injury that had fl ared up Fears that as soon as Ireland edged Amir to wicket-keeper 4-95 (Porterfield), 5-127 (Stirling), Samson, Jofra Archer, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jos Buttler, Ajinkya the follow-on in a Test in 16 again on Sunday. lost one wicket, another would Sarfraz. 6-157 (Wilson), 7-271 (Thompson) Rahane (captain), D’Arcy Short, , Dhawal Kulkarni, years when he sent Ireland back Ireland resumed on 64 for follow quickly, were proved cor- Amir, given a jail sentence : Amir 25.2-8-57-3; Zahir Khan Pakteen, Ben Laughlin, , Dushmantha in again on Sunday, a move that none but they lost four wickets rect as 69 for one became 69 for and banned from cricket for fi ve Abbas 25-9-54-2; Rahat 23-3-75-0 Chameera, Anureet Singh, Aryaman Vikram Birla, Midhun S, may have seen the tourists victo- before lunch, with Amir tak- two, with Andrew Balbirnie, for years as a result of his involve- (2w); Faheem 18-3-51-0 (1nb, 1w); , Prashant Chopra, Jatin Saxena, Ankit Sharma, rious by now had Ireland openers ing two for none in six balls – a the second time in the match, ment in a spot-fi xing scandal Shadab 30.4-7-63-1. .

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE Bangalore trounce Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets IANS to reach double fi gures on a fl at track. Indore Put in to bat, the hosts squandered a de- cent 36-run opening start from Lokesh Ra- hul (21 off 15 balls; 6x3) and Chris Gayle (18 oyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) off 14, 4x4) before losing both the openers in kept their slim hopes of making to the fi fth over of the innings. the play-off s alive after hammer- Umesh could have got RCB a dream start ing Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets had stumper Parthiv held on to Gayle’s nick inR an Indian Premier League (IPL) tie at the in the very fi rst over, but the bowler had Holkar stadium yesterday. the last laugh when he dismissed both the After the thumping win, the Virat Kohli- openers in the fi fth over off similar deliver- led side have 10 points in their kitty and vic- ies. tories in their remaining two games could While Rahul was caught by Colin de possibly help them advance to the top four. Grandhomme at deep square leg, Gayle Bangalore completely dominated their went out off a top edge caught by Moham- opponents as after bundling Punjab on a eed Siraj at the same position two balls later. paltry 88 runs, the openers guided their side Siraj immediately joined the party with home without throwing a wicket. the wicket of No.3 (1) brilliantly Chasing a meagre 89-run target, Ban- caught by skipper Kohli at slip before Aus- galore openers Kohli and Parthiv Patel re- tralians Aaron Finch (26) and Marcus Stonis mained unbeaten on 48 and 40 runs, re- (2) joined forces. spectively, to register a comfortable win. But the tourists were in no mood to let the While Kohli’s knock came off 28 balls, Aussies settle down as leg-spinner Yuzv- containing six fours and couple of sixes, endra Chahal broke through the defence of Parthiv faced 22 deliveries, smashing seven Stoinis. boundaries. The pair cautiously put nine Finch curbed his natural instincts for a runs for Bangalore in the fi rst over. They, patient knock but found the going tough however, switched gears from the next over, against the disciplined RCB bowlers before accumulating 25 runs off the subsequent eventually losing his wicket to off -spinner couple of overs, with the visitor’s scorecard Moeen Ali. reading 36/0. Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin (0) They soon took their side past the 50- departed the very next ball, thanks to a bril- run mark in 4.5 overs as each of the Punjab liant throw from as the home bowler struggled to get a breakthrough. side tottered at 78/7 after 12 overs. Later, riding on some lusty hits by the Coming back for his fi nal over, Umesh openers, Bangalore hunted down the target removed for a duck before RCB in just 8.1 overs with 10 wickets in hand. eff ected two more run outs of tailenders Earlier, Bangalore put up a spirited show Mohit Sharma (3) and Ankit Rajpoot (1) to on the fi eld to bundle out Kings XI Punjab end Punjab’s innings in 15.1 overs. for a paltry 88 - the second lowest total of this season. Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore Pacer Umesh Yadav (3/23) starred with 92/0 (Virat Kohli 48 not out, Partiv Patel the ball and was well complemented by the 40 not out) beat Kings XI Punjab 88 (Aaron fi elders eff ecting three run-outs as only Finch 26, Lokesh Rahul 21, Umesh Yadav Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Umesh Yadav (second right) celebrates with teammates and after taking the wicket of Kings XI Punjab batsman KL Rahul during three of the Punjab batsmen could manage 3/23) by 10 wickets. their IPL match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Tuesday, May 15, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA MLB Williams’ pinch-hit blast leads Phillies Celtics humble past New York Mets

Reuters Jorge Alfaro had three hits for Philadelphia the Phillies. Cespedes, Cabrera and Brandon Nimmo had two hits apiece for the Mets, who ick Williams hit a fi nished with 11 hits but hit into Cavaliers in playoff go-ahead three-run, three double plays and left the pinch-hit homer in the bases loaded in the fi rst inning. sixth inning on Sunday DeGrom, making his fi rst start Nafternoon as the Philadelphia since he suff ered a hyperextend- Phillies came back to defeat the ed right elbow while on New York Mets 4-2 at Citizens May 2, walked three batters and Bank Park. struck out two in the shortest The Phillies won for the fi fth outing of his career. The Phillies series opener time in six games to earn a split hit 20 foul balls off him. of the series shortened to two Zack Cozart’s single in the ‘We were great. We came out with a lot of energy. We fed off the crowd and we kept it games by rain. The middle game bottom of the ninth inning Saturday was postponed and scored Chris Young from sec- going throughout the game. We’re just out here playing hard and doing the best we can’ will be made up Aug 16. The fi rst ond base to lift Los Angeles past pitch on Sunday was delayed 59 visiting Minnesota in Anaheim, minutes by rain. The Mets have Calif. Angels two-way player lost 17 of 25 since an 11-1 start. Shohei Ohtani had another im- Yoenis Cespedes homered in pressive performance on the the top of the sixth to put the mound despite a no-decision. Mets in position to overcome an Ohtani gave up just one run on abbreviated start by ace right- three hits and two walks in 6 1/3 hander Jacob deGrom, who was innings, striking out 11. lifted after throwing 45 pitches Twins reliever Zach Duke (2- in a scoreless fi rst tinning. 2) hit Young with a pitch to start But Paul Sewald (0-3), pitch- the ninth inning. Martin Mal- ing his second inning, gave up donado followed with a sacri- a leadoff double to Carlos San- fi ce bunt, moving the runner to tana and issued a one-out walk second and bringing up Cozart, to Scott Kingery. With two outs, who swung at Duke’s fi rst pitch Williams stepped to the plate for and lined it into left fi eld, Young starting pitcher Aaron Nola and scoring without a throw. crushed a 2-1 pitch deep into the right fi eld seats for his second RESULTS career pinch-hit homer. Asdru- Phillies 4 Mets 2 bal Cabrera barely missed tying Angels 2 Twins 1 the game in the seventh, when White Sox 5 Cubs 3 his RBI double landed just shy of Yankees 6 A’s 2 the right fi eld wall. Santana pro- Nationals 6 Diamondbacks 4 vided an insurance run when he Tigers 5 Mariners 4 homered leading off the eighth. Red Sox 5 Blue Jays 3 The homer by Williams made Brewers 7 Rockies 3 a winner out of Nola (6-1), who Astros 6 Rangers 1 allowed the one run on nine hits Reds 5 Dodgers 3 and two walks while striking out Braves 4 Marlins 3 four over six innings. Edubray Padres 5 Cardinals 3 Ramos, the fi fth Phillies pitcher, Indians 11 Royals 2 earned his fi rst major league save Giants 5 Pirates 0 with a hitless ninth. Orioles 17 Rays 1

Jaylen Brown (centre) of the Boston Celtics is defended by LeBron James (left) and Kyle Korver of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA playoff s in Boston. (Getty Images/AFP)

AFP the game. We’re just out here ies (guarding James) all night,” fensively. Green’s jumper at the third- New York playing hard and doing the best Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue “They are just embracing quarter buzzer pulling Cleve- we can.” said. “When he thought he had this opportunity,” Horford said. land within 78-64 entering the Marcus Morris had 18 points driving lanes, they made him “We have a great opportunity fourth. aylen Brown scored and 11 rebounds for Boston and kick it out to other shooters.” in front of us and we’re enjoy- Boston answered with a 7-0 23 points and Al Hor- Jayson Tatum added 16 while The Celtics forced James to ing it game by game. I try to lead run to start the fourth. A Morris ford added 20 to power Brown had eight rebounds and work harder defensively and them the best way I can, lead by dunk, Marcus Smart 3-pointer the Boston Celtics over Terry Rozier contributed eight rotated several players on the example.” and Tatum layup stretched the ClevelandJ 108-83 Sunday, points and seven assists. four-time NBA Most Valuable Morris, who boasted he was Celtics’ lead to 85-64 as part humbling LeBron James and his James averaged 34 points, 9.4 Player to contain him off en- the best defender to guard of an 18-4 run that would put Cavaliers teammates in their rebounds and 9.0 assists in the sively. James, started and contained Boston ahead 96-68 and end NBA playoff series opener. fi rst two rounds of the playoff s “We lost,” Lue said. the Cleveland superstar, who Cleveland’s hopes. The Celtics seized the lead but the superstar playmaker, “We didn’t play well. We has more career playoff appear- Boston surged ahead 61-35 at in the best-of-seven Eastern seeking an eighth consecu- know we have to play bet- ances than the entire Celtics half-time, paced by Brown’s 18 Conference fi nals, with the tive NBA Finals berth, was shut ter. They attacked us early on. roster combined. points and seven rebounds and winner to face either season down by an aggressive, hustling We had some great shots we “He’s a tough player,” Hor- Horford’s 14 points and fi ve as- wins leader Houston or defend- Celtics squad. couldn’t make and it snow- ford said. “He knows how to sists. ing champion Golden State in “We just have to make it hard balled from there.” defend. He has a great feel for James shot only 3-for-8 in the NBA Finals. for him,” Celtics coach Brad Talented 20-something play- that.” the fi rst half and the Cavaliers The Celtics, who host game Stevens said of James. “Our ers Tatum, Rozier and Brown missed their fi rst 14 3-point at- two on Tuesday, jumped ahead guys played with good aggres- have fi lled the void left by in- Celtics dominate early tempts of the game. 36-18 after the fi rst quarter and sion. They will have to do that jured stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love led Cleveland The Celtics opened an early never looked back, the Cavaliers again Tuesday.” Gordon Hayward, combining with 17 points and eight re- 29-9 lead and a 25-2 run helped coming no closer than 14 points James fi nished with 15 points with Horford – who has been bounds. Tristan Thompson had carry Boston to a 36-18 edge af- in the second half. on 5-of-16 shooting with sev- eliminated by James four times a game-high 11 rebounds off the ter the fi rst quarter. “We were great,” Horford en rebounds and nine assists. in the playoff s – to become Cavs’ bench. Brown scored 13 points in Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Williams (right) celebrates said. “We came out with a lot He blocked two shots but also a formidable force that out- Boston seized a 63-35 lead the fi rst quarter while Horford his three run home run with second baseman Scott Kingery during of energy. We fed off the crowd made seven turnovers. hustled the more experienced early in the second half but the added 11 and the Celtics owned the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. and we kept it going throughout “They showed two bod- Cavaliers and dominated de- Cavs halved their defi cit, Jeff a 14-6 rebounding edge. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

NHL Road warrior Capitals grab control of Eastern fi nal AFP goal and two assists and Braden player Nicklas Backstrom who is the third but the Capitals did a Los Angeles Holtby made 33 saves for the out with a hand injury. His place good job of slowing them down Capitals, who are in the semi-fi - in the lineup has been taken by and not allowing them to utilize nals for the fi rst time in two dec- Eller who has stepped out of the their speed and skill around the vgeny Kuznetsov scored ades. They are playing for a spot shadows to give the Capitals the net. Holtby also made clutch off a lucky bounce late in the National Hockey League’s extra punch they need. saves when he had to. He had in the second period as Stanley Cup fi nals against either Eller was instrumental on back-to-back stops from in the Washington Capitals the Las Vegas Golden Knights or both plays when the turning close on Tampa forward Brayden seizedE command of the Eastern Winnipeg. point came in the fi nal minute of Point on the powerplay halfway Conference fi nal with a lopsid- The Jets have a 1-0 series lead. the second period. He scored the through the third. ed 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Russian forward Kuznetsov eventual winner with 62 seconds Washington forward Brett Lightning on Sunday. said he doesn’t know how to ex- left and then assisted on Kuznet- Connolly scored at 12:57 after Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy plain it but he performs better in sov’s powerplay goal. The Capi- taking a pass on his stick blade misplayed a Kuznetsov centring road games like Sunday’s contest tals were given a powerplay with and then, like a lacrosse player, pass that defl ected into the net at Tampa’s Amalie Arena. He 10 seconds left after netminder whipping the puck into the up- at the end of the second period to loves the idea of sweeping the Vasilevskiy tripped Washing- per half of the net to round out make it 4-2, helping the Capitals series with two wins at home but ton’s Andre Burakovsky, sending the scoring. take a two games to none playoff can’t wait to get back to Florida the Swedish forward hard into Russia’s Ovechkin, with his series lead. “We played hard and if the series goes that far. the end boards. team-leading 10th goal of the we played smart,” said Capitals “I don’t know man. The postseason, Tom Wilson and forward Alex Ovechkin. “All four last couple of years I just been Turning point Devante Smith-Pelly also scored lines did their job. We waited for dreaming to play all games on Vasilevskiy then attempted to for the Capitals. our opportunities.” the road. I don’t know why,” intercept Kuznetsov’s centring Point and Steven Stamkos The series now shifts from Kuznetsov said. “I feel bad for pass to Eller but the puck hit his scored goals for Tampa, who Florida to Washington tonight our fans. I want to play in front blocker and went in just before may have dug a hole too deep to where the Capitals will try to of them, but overall I really like the buzzer to give the Capitals a climb out of by losing the fi rst take a 3-0 stranglehold. to be on the road.” two-goal lead heading into the two games on home ice. Evgeny Kuznetsov (right) of Washington Capitals celebrates with teammates Lars Eller (centre) and T.J. Oshie Kuznetsov also had two as- The Capitals are also win- intermission. Vasilevskiy fi nished with 31 after defeating Tampa Bay Lightning during the game two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 sists, Lars Eller fi nished with a ning without their top two-way Tampa tried to battle back in saves. NHL Stanley Cup playoff s at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, May 15, 2018 SPORT

GOLF SPOTLIGHT Woods declares himself ready Simpson marches to to win again

Reuters Ponte Vedra Veach, Florida

fter fi nishing equal 11th at the Players Champi- 4-stroke Players win onship on Sunday, Tiger Woods declared him- self ready to win another title. ‘There’s so much noise in front of us with Tiger. His roars are definitely a diff erent sound...’ For the second day running, Woods plun- Adered the fi rst 12 holes at TPC Sawgrass, this time picking Reuters up six birdies. Ponte Vedra , Florida He was unable to fi nish quite so strongly, fi nding water at the island-green 17th for a double-bogey. He blamed a gust of wind, rather than a bad shot for ebb Simpson heard the roars that stumble, however. echoing across TPC Sawgrass “I fe1t good on every facet of the game and it’s weird as Tiger Woods made a charge not to mis-hit a shot today and only shoot three-under,” but in the end he had a large the 14-times major champion said. Wenough cushion to clinch a comfortable Generating as much club-head speed with his driver as four-stroke victory at the Players Cham- almost anyone in the fi eld, the 42-year-old showed he has pionship on Sunday. lost little of his power after last year’s spinal fusion. The 2012 US Open champion was never He also had good distance control with his irons and seriously challenged after starting the day bounced back on the greens after putting woefully in with a seven-shot lead, though Woods Charlotte. briefl y got within four strokes after making “I didn’t play particularly well the fi rst couple of days six birdies in the fi rst 12 holes. but I turned it around this weekend. Unfortunately just “There’s so much noise in front of us didn’t cash in,” he said after fi nishing seven strokes be- with Tiger,” said Simpson. hind winner Webb Simpson. “His roars are defi nitely a diff erent “If I would have had the game I had this weekend at the sound than everybody else’s but I knew beginning of the week I would have given Webb a little bit he started 10 or 11 shots back, so he would of a run.” have to do something really special.” Woods will have only one more start, at the Memorial Woods would stall later in the round, tournament in two weeks, to hone his game before the US dropping three shots. Simpson did not Open at Shinnecock Hills. hit the high notes of his previous three He has been in contention in the fi nal round in four of rounds, but he was able to enjoy his victo- his eight starts this year. ry march down the 18th fairway and even a “I’m not that far off from winning,” he said. “There’s double-bogey took nothing away from the no way at the beginning of the year that I would have pre- quality of his performance. dicted I would have been at this point.” He carded a 73 to fi nish at 18-under 270 for his fi fth victory on the PGA Tour and fi rst since late 2013. South African Charl Schwartzel (67) and Americans Xander Schauff ele (67) and Jimmy Walker (67) tied for second on 14-under. Woods shot 69 after a double-bogey at the island-green 17th and ended equal 11th on 11-under. Simpson was not expected to blow a lead bigger than anyone had ever blown in the fi nal round of a PGA Tour event but he said it was not as easy as it looked. “Over four years without a win, I never doubted myself but at the same time that’s a long time,” he said. “(Today) was harder than I thought. You don’t feel relaxed until that ball fi nds land on 17. So once that happened, internally I was celebrating.” Simpson dedicated the victory to his parents – his late father Sam who died last November, and his mother Debbie back home in Raleigh, North Carolina. “My dad got me started in the game,” Simpson said. “He kept me in other sports but he could Webb Simpson celebrates winning The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on Sunday. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports tell that I was better in golf. “I also felt unconditional love from my mum no matter how I played.” Simpson’s runaway Players victory destined to be soon forgotten Leading scores after final round Webb Simpson jumped from 41st to 20th either. But the man who sat unrecognised say I’m glad they banned it (anchoring), 270-Webb Simpson 66-63-68-73. in the world rankings with his victory at in a local coff ee shop on Saturday morning because I probably wouldn’t have ever 274-Xander Schauff ele 68-68-71-67, Charl the Players Championship on Sunday, is among a group of players fractionally swayed away from the belly putter,” he Schwartzel (RSA) 68-66-73-67, Jimmy still far from superstar territory in a sport below the top echelon, capable of win- added. Walker 69-68-70-67 with room for only a handful of household ning when they put all facets of the game “I had used this putter for 11 years, so it’s 275-Jason Day (AUS) 69-67-71-68, Jason names. Tiger Woods, at 42, will no doubt together at the same time. a learned skill. And to unlearn a skill in Dufner 72-69-66-68 dominate the golf landscape until he That is just the nature of golf. the middle of your career was the biggest 276-Harold Varner 71-67-70-68, Tommy retire while 20-somethings Justin Thomas, Simpson probably would have won more challenge. Fleetwood (ENG) 69-71-68-68, Keegan Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy have all than five times on the PGA Tour but for “I made the Ryder Cup team in 2014 and my Bradley 69-69-72-66, Danny Lee (NZL) occupied top spot at a young age. the rule change about two years ago game was pretty solid for a few years... but 68-66-70-72 U.S. Masters champion Patrick Reed and that banned players from anchoring long I had the resolve to take my focus off those 277-Brooks Koepka 70-70-74-63, Justin Dustin Johnson, world number one before putters against their chests. who enforce our rules and put my focus on Thomas 73-70-68-66, Adam Scott (AUS) Thomas deposed him on Sunday, were all Having enjoyed success with the long stick, trying to get better.” 69-68-72-68, Chesson Hadley 66-69-75- but ignored by fans, media and the televi- he floundered around until finding his com- Whether Sunday’s victory leads to a 67, Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-69-69-69, Tiger sion cameras alike at TPC Sawgrass, so fort zone with a 40.5-inch putter that he sustained level of excellence is an open Woods 72-71-65-69 Simpson would seem to have little chance rests against his left arm, but not his chest. question. 278-Alex Noren (SWE) 66-69-77-66, Jamie of being more than a 24-hour story. “I’ve never putted this well in my life,” “I want to build on it and be in contention Lovemark 76-67-68-67, Charles Howell If capturing a U.S. Open at age 26 did not Simpson said after cruising to a four-stroke more in big tournaments,” Simpson said. “I 68-67-74-69, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 71- earn Simpson fame, a Players Champion- victory in the Players with an 18-under 270 haven’t been able to do that as much as I Tiger Woods looks on during the final round of The 71-67-69, Matt Kuchar 66-71-71-70, Dustin ship six years later is unlikely to do so total. “This is probably the first time I can want, so I think this will help.” Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Johnson 66-71-69-72. Beach, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

RUGBY MOTORSPORT not to be Haskell, Cipriani keep World Cup among hosts for hopes alive aft er joining new clubs 2019 IANS London Africa next month – casting doubt on Santiago The Guardian his England future – but he has been Haskell joins Northampton in bid presented with an international lifeline to prolong England career. by Northampton’s incoming director hile will not be among the hosts in the 2019 edi- ames Haskell and Danny Cip- of rugby, Chris Boyd. tion of the Dakar Rally due to a policy of fi scal riani have kept their hopes of “I’m really excited and humbled to austerity, although the country hopes to return appearing at next year’s World be joining a giant of English rugby in to the motorsports competition in 2020, Chil- Cup alive by signing deals with Northampton Saints,” said Haskell, eanC Sports Minister Pauline Kantor has said. NorthamptonJ and Gloucester, respec- who won the last of his 77 England caps “We are facing a delicate fi nancial situation, which tively, as they prepare to leave Wasps at against Ireland during the Six Nations. is why we are implementing a very important austerity the end of the season. “It’s no secret that I want to con- programme. This means we must focus our resources The 33-year-old Haskell was told in tinue my international career for as and use them in a responsible manner,” Kantor told the January he would be released by Wasps long as possible; the only way I can do media on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. at the end of the season – ending a 12- that is by putting my best foot forward The minister said that various factors had led to the year career at the club – but after he re- in club rugby and helping Saints fi ght decision, including how to fi nance important social pro- vealed he was willing to take a pay cut their way back into contention for sil- grammes and the country’s upcoming participation in to stay in the Premiership, Saints have verware.” international sporting events. “We are facing an urgent announced his signature on a one- Wasps opted against renewing need considering our children, our elderly and our athletes, year-deal. Haskell’s contract with the New Zea- who need to qualify for 2019 (Pan American Games) As recently as last month, Haskell land-born fl anker Brad Shields joining and Tokyo 2020 (Olympic Games),” explained Kantor. still had no concrete off ers from within from the Hurricanes next season. While Chile will not take part in Dakar 2019, “we are the Premiership but he has repeatedly Give the majority of clubs had al- working to be present in 2020, along a route that allows stated his desire to shun a move abroad ready completed most of their recruit- us to have a course which respects our nature and our and remain eligible for England with a ment for next term, Haskell was strug- cultural heritage,” she explained. view to appearing a next year’s World gling to fi nd a new employer but with The Chilean government announced a budget adjust- Cup in . Boyd ringing the changes at North- ment of $4.6 billion two weeks ago, described as a fi nan- He was among the 20 players list- ampton – 17 players will leave Fran- cial defi cit. Chile last participated in the Dakar Rally in ed as unavailable when Eddie Jones klin’s Gardens in the summer – the 2015. Now the 2019 edition is set to traverse and named his 34-man squad to tour South 12-month deal suits all parties. Peru, after Argentina also pulled out. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 15, 2018 7 SPORT

FORMULA 1 Al Arabi take third place Hamilton ‘close’ to at GCC Club Basketball new Mercedes deal ‘We don’t want to lose him and l don’t think he wants to go anywhere else’

AFP While Ferrari faltered, with four-time Barcelona former champion Sebastian Vettel fi nish- ing fourth and Kimi Raikkonen retiring with power problems, Hamilton did not ewis Hamilton says he is close to put a wheel wrong on his way to confi - signing a new Mercedes contract dence-boosting victory. after winning Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix watched by several ‘HIGH NOTE’ Lmembers of the all-conquering German “I would like to hope that this race could constructor’s board. be part of a turning point,” said Hamilton. In the aftermath of his dominant tri- “I said that I wanted to come here and umph ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas win the way that I won and when I came ’s Al Arabi (in red) defeated Al Muharraq (in white) of the defending four-time world champion across the line I was just happy that I did 80-70 in the third-place playoff of GCC Club Basketball indicated he will soon be inking a long- as I planned. Championship at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in , awaited new deal with the champions. “The team have been working very Oman, yesterday. The tournament is a qualifying tournament for An announcement before or during the hard to understand the tyres and how the the Asian Champions Cup, which will take place from September Monaco Grand Prix later this month is car works so I think it all came together 25 to 30. now expected. this weekend. “All the bosses have been here and l don’t “We defi nitely go to Monaco on a high think there is anyone in the hierarchy who note, but we know that we still have a lot has any concerns,” said Hamilton. of work to do. That said, I will sleep like a CYCLING / TOUR OF “We do talk about it and we are not far baby tonight.” away from fi nishing things. It will happen Hamilton will hope also that Ferrari — hopefully in the near future.” fail to repeat the form that brought them The 33-year-old Englishman was so a one-two fi nish in the Mediterranean Gaviria wins stage 1 thrilled by both his own personal return principality last year where Vettel won. to form and the team’s work on improv- On Sunday, the German admitted: “No AFP Gaviria won a sprint to the fi n- ing his car’s performance at the Circuit excuses — they were faster than us and Long Beach, ish, edging (Mitchel- de Catalunya that he suggested, after the beat us fair and square this time, but we ton-Scott) and world champion race, that he may sign a long-term deal. can bounce back.” (Bora-Hansgrohe) in It had been rumoured that he was re- Wolff added that Hamilton’s triumph ernando Gaviria claimed the 134.5km (83 miles) opener. luctant to sign a new contract because he Team boss Toto Wolff was also more time and we both decided to park it.” would repair some of the damage done by the opening stage of the He picked up a 10 second bo- feared losing enjoyment of the racing and positive — not only about their perform- Hamilton, like team-mate Bottas, has his recent loss of form and confi dence. 2018 nus for winning the stage and had reservations about the sport’s future ance, but also securing Hamilton for the less than year remaining on his current “The best ones are very sensitive and on Sunday, winning the leads the overall classifi cation by direction under new American owners long-term future. contract and has been elusive on making fragile and that is something we know F30th stage of his career and pick- four seconds ahead of Ewan, who Liberty Media. “It’s almost all sorted,” he said. “We any fi rm commitments to both Mercedes and he knows,” he explained. ing up the 30th stage win of the secured a six-second bonus. But after securing his 64th career win don’t want to lose him and l don’t think and Formula One at various times in re- “He was solidly in the lead in Mel- season for his Quick-Step team. Pre-stage favourite Marcel in majestic fashion in a crushing Mer- he wants to go anywhere else... Every- cent months. bourne and suddenly he was behind the The 24-year-old became the Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) placed cedes one-two that hoisted both driver thing is going fi ne. We have had other But his emphatic win on Sunday, when Ferrari. It is diffi cult to cope with and in fi rst Colombian in four years to fourth, and Norway’s Alexander and team clear at the top of their respec- priorities in the last few weeks. he and Mercedes appeared to have re- the following races we struggled. win a stage at the biggest race in Kristoff (Team Emirates) was fth.fi tive championships, he said: “If I keep “We weren’t happy with the perform- discovered the form of past triumphant “But having such a good weekend here North America which began in In the overall standings, Tan- this feeling then I’m going to be racing for ance of the cars and we needed to sort seasons, may be seen as a major turning and winning by a solid margin is very im- Long Beach and ends on Satur- ner Putt (UnitedHealthcare), was a long time!” things out. Finalising a contract takes point for all concerned. portant for his confi dence.” day in Sacramento. in third, four seconds back.

FOOTBALL City Exchange TJSV clinch second QIA Champions League title

By Sports Reporter Doha

fter more than a month of intense footballing action, the City Exchange Ria-IME QIA Champions League 2018 came to an extravagant conclusion on FridayA at Al Arabi Stadium with City Exchange TJSV Tea Time FC lifting the trophy for the sec- ond time in the history of the competition. City Exchange TJSV Tea Time FC beat Team MBM 3-0 with Bijesh Balan and Nasar Aloor scor- ing in the fi rst half before Mousoof Naizan netting the third one in the fi nal minutes of the game. The winners were presented with the trophy in the presence of City Exchange CEO Sharaf P Hameed and Ria-IME Country Manager Jiten- dra Pandey. They also pocketed the winners’ cheque of QR20,000, which was presented by City Exchange TJSV Tea Time FC players and off icials celebrate their win in the City Exchange Naveed Abdulla of One FM Qatar 89.6, the of- Ria-IME QIA Champions League. Off icials and dignitaries at the prize distribution ceremony. fi cial radio partners. Naizan fi nished as the top scorer of the tour- The tournament’s closing ceremony was mittee for and Legacy. As the curtain fell on the sixth edition of the (YAAS Qatar) nament with seven goals, while Balan was ad- graced by a number of dignitaries, including During the closing ceremony, QFA offi cials QIA Champions League, tournament organisers Tournament top-scorer: Mousoof Naizan (City judged Man of the Match for the fi nal. Jithu of Baladna CEO Moataz al-Khayat, Ministry of brought the HH The Amir Cup Trophy to show- expressed gratitude to the sponsors and the fans, Exchange TJSV) YAAS Qatar was adjudged as the Best Goalkeep- Interior’s PR Offi cer Lt. Mubarak Shareeda al- case it to the spectators. QIA president EP Ab- and went on to confi rm their unending support QIA XI: Jithu (YAAS Qatar), Mufeer (21st Century er of the tournament. Mutlaq, Qatar Police Sports Federation Secu- dulrahman thanked QFA for their support of the towards promoting football in Qatar with further Care N Cure), Jafar (City Exchange TJSV), Anandhu The thousands of spectators, who fi lled the rity and Discipline Offi cer Lt. Rashid Mahmoud community and invited the audience to the fi nal of events in the upcoming months. (Team MBM), Prasanth (YAAS Qatar), Jijo (City Ex- stands were also treated to entertainment by not- al-Abdullah, Ministry of Interior’s Community Qatar’s most prestigious tournament, which will change TJSV), Rashid (Team MBM), Mahin (MAPH ed Indian singers and musicians, including Naresh Outreach Offi cer Faisal al-Hudawi, Qatar Foot- be held at the Khalifa International Stadium on AWARDS Trading), Faizal Rahman (YAAS Qatar), Faisal Iyer, Sharanya Srinivas, Yumna Ajin, Siddharth ball Association (QFA) Public Relations Offi cer May 19 in the presence of His Highness the Amir Man of the Finals: Bijesh Balan (City Exchange (Rusiya Adastra), Mousoof (City Exchange TJSV) Nagarajan and Navneeth Sunder, in an hour-long Ahmed al-Sai, QFA’s head of Media Ali al-Salat, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Fans may TJSV) Special Awards: Manjappada Qatar (Kerala musical show that preceded the fi nal. and Anish Gangadharan from Supreme Com- contact QIA offi cials for tickets to the big match. Best Goalkeeper of the tournament: Jithu Blasters FC fan group)

M PALLONJI DAY/NIGHT CRICKET TOURNAMENT SPOTLIGHT Mumbai XII clinch Div II title DPS-MIS win inter-school table tennis By Sports Reporter By Sports Reporter Doha Doha PS-MIS School bagged the umbai XII defeated QVC overall champion’s trophy in by 69 runs in the Divi- 2nd ISC Inter-School Table sion II fi nal of the 4th Tennis Tournament, which M Pallonji Day/Night wasD organised by Indian Sports Centre MCricket Tournament to lift the win- (ISC) in association with Qatar Table ners’ trophy. Tennis Association (QTTA), on Satur- QVC won the toss and asked day. Mumbai XII to bat fi rst. The latter The annual tournament, which was made good use of the opportunity held at QTTA Training Centre in Ras putting up a mammoth 186 runs on Bu Aboud, was started by Indian Sports board for the loss of six wickets in the Centre (under the patronage of Embassy Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) general secretary Mohamed Abdulla Saleh, allotted 15 overs. of ). ISC organised the tournament QTTA Technical Director and Qatar national team head coach Ziad Mahmood, Indian Fahad was in outstanding form, across three categories each for boys and Sports Centre (ISC) president Nilangshu Dey, ISC general secretary M Habibun Nabi smashing an 18-ball 42, a knock that Mumbai XII captain Mohamed receives the Division II winners’ trophy from girls, including U10, U12 and U14. MES and other off icials pose with the winners and runners-up of the 2nd ISC Inter-School included four sixes. Adam added a M Pallonji Regional General Manager Chidananda Nayak in the presence of Indian School, Ideal Indian school, DPS- Table Tennis Tournament. quickfi re 27 from nine deliveries, Contracts Manager Sharad Reddy and Qatar Veterans’ off icials. MIS School, Birla Public School, Al Khor hitting three sixes and a boundary. International school and Rajagiri Public and U14 categories with DPS-MIS tak- tary M Habibun Nabi. Shabab and Shahbaz pitched in with and Sultan scored 13 runs each. QVC’s Sanjay was presented with school participated in the tournament. ing the runners-up spot in both. Saleh, while expressing support for 19 runs each to the total. Baba, Shabab and Shariq scalped the Best Wicketkeeper award, while DPS-MIS swept the three categories for QTTA general secretary Mohamed the Indian community, mentioned that Kamran, Mushir, Fauzan and Sul- two wickets each for Mumbai XII Serandeep B’s Roshan picked up the girls, and topped the boys U10 category to Abdulla Saleh was the chief guest at they want to associate with the com- tan took a wicket each for QVC. while Mudassir, Sabir, Fahad and Na- Best Batsman Award. be crowned the overall champion. Al Khor the prize distribution ceremony. Other munity on many events, to be organised In reply, QVC were bundled out for deem took a wicket each. M Pallonji Regional General Man- International School fi nished as runners- dignitaries present for prize distribu- jointly. He cheered all the schools for 117 runs in 12.1 overs, with Jamil as the Fahad was adjudged Man of the ager Chidananda Nayak was the chief up in three categories behind DPS-MIS, tion ceremony were QTTA Technical their larger participation in the tourna- top-scorer. His 26-run knock included Finals, and also the Best All-rounder guest at the prize distribution ceremo- with Ideal Indian School fi nishing second Director and Qatar national team head ment and congratulated the winners and a six and three fours. Mushir hit two of the tournament. Teammate Shariq ny, while Contracts Manager Sharad in girls U14 category. coach Ziad Mahmood, ISC president runners-up. He distributed trophies, sixes and a four in his 18, while Fauzan was given the Best Bowler Award. Reddy was the guest of honour. MES Indian School won the boys U12 Nilangshu Dey and ISC general secre- medals and prizes to the winners.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

SHOOTING TENNIS / ITALIAN OPEN Qatar’s al-Marri Djokovic blasts into second round AFP Baldi two qualifi ers before a po- injury problem before losing Rome tential third round meeting with his opening-round in Madrid to bags double trap American eighth seed John Isner. Djokovic. And the 30-year-old said his “He used a lot of slice and ovak Djokovic got off focus was on the French Open great serves, but I think I han- to a winning start in where he won his last Grand dled his slice well,” continued his bid for a fi fth ATP Slam title in 2016. Nishikori who won his last title Italian Open title yes- “The French Open is where in Memphis in February 2016. Nterday with a straight sets win I want to play my best tennis “The fi rst set could have gone over ’s Alexandr Dolgo- that is one big goal for this part both ways, luckily I got it and bronze in Italy polov as he gears up for the of the season. I feel I’m going in after that, I was more confi dent French Open in two weeks time. the right direction.” and I was playing better tennis.” The 11th-seeded Serb, who Nishikori took a one-set lead ‘I hope to continue this performance and bring more success’ has reached eight of the last ten NISHIKORI BACK WINNING after a fi rst set-tiebreak that fi nals in Rome and won four — Earlier Japan’s Kei Nishikori featured nine -breaks. By Sports Reporter took 55 minutes to oust Dolgo- eased into the men’s second The pair exchanged serves Doha polov 6-1, 6-3 on the red clay of round with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win in the second set before 2016 the Foro Italico. over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez semi-fi nalist Nishikori broke Former world number one as Italy’s Roberta Vinci bowed again and served out to love to atar’s Hamad al- Djokovic has slipped six places out of her fi nal WTA tourna- book his place in the second- Marri (pictured, to 18th after his second round ment with a fi rst round defeat. round where he meets third centre) won bronze in defeat in Madrid, his lowest Former US Open fi nalist Vin- seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bul- the men’s Double Trap ranking since October 2006. ci fell 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Serbian garia. atQ the Amir of Interna- The 12-time Grand Slam qualifi er Aleksandra Krunic. Robin Haase of the Nether- tional Shooting Championship winner broke 54th-ranked The 35-year-old reached the lands needed three sets to get held at the Tiro a Volo Umbri- Dolgopolov three times in the US Open fi nal in 2010 and won past Russian Daniil Medvedev averde Shooting Range, in Massa opening set, with another break ten singles title in her career 3-6, 6-4, 6-,1 with ninth seed Martana, Italy. in the second helping him wrap spanning nearly two decades. Davis Goffi n of seeing Al-Marri, the 2010 Guangzhou up the match. Nishikori — who had lost his off Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer bronze medal win- “Today’s match is encour- two matches on clay in Spain in 6-1, 6-2. ner, shot 136 to qualify for the aging and gives me reason to the previous two weeks — need- In the women’s event, Japan’s fi nals behind leader and eventual believe I can go all the way, but ed 1hr 48min to hand Lopez his Naomi Osaka powered her way winner Andrea Vescovi from Ita- at the same time I have to be sixth defeat in seven trips to the past former world number one ly, the Rio Olympics silver med- modest” said Djokovic who has Italian capital. Victoria Azarenka of allist Italian Marco Innocenti and been battling his way back from “It wasn’t an easy match. It 6-0, 6-3 to set up a meeting UAE’s Khaled al-Kaabi. elbow surgery. was windy so conditions were with top seed Simona Halep of In the fi nals, the Qatari kept “The conditions here are tough for both of us,” said 24th- . his nerves to collect 56 for a third pretty suitable to my game. In ranked Nishikori, who hit 18 American Madison Keys, place fi nish. He missed out on the 2008 it was one of the fi rst titles winners to counter the seven seeded 13th, beat Russia’s silver medal, which was won by I won and I always play well in aces fi red down by Lopez. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, al-Kaabi, just by a shot. Rome.” Nishikori arrived in Rome 6-1, with Britain’s Johanna Young Italian Vescovi, the 2014 Djokovic, who last won in after losing his two matches on Konta easing past Slovak 17th- World Junior Championship gold Rome in 2015, next plays either clay in Spain — retiring in Bar- seed Magdalena Rybarikova medallist, fi red 58 to emerge as Nikoloz Basilashvili or Filippo celona due to a recurring wrist 6-4, 6-3. the champion. Out of 12 qualifi ers, there were nocenti for the second place but ing with the situation,” al-Marri success. just three non-Italian shooters. in the fi nals, did well to fi nish said. “We’re proud of what Hamad Al-Marri was also involved in runner-up, while his rival could “I’m very happy to get the achieved in the Amir Cup in Ita- a marathon shoot-off with Ital- manage only the seventh spot. third place out of 78 shooters in ly. We’ll continue our tough and ian Alessandro Chianese, the Al-Marri expressed his joy at the event. I cleared round after highly technical training pro- 2016 Nicosia World Cup and winning third place in the tough round. I hope to continue this gramme to raise the level of our 2010 World Championship silver competition. kind of performance and bring shooters in international events. medallist, to decide the fourth “I felt the pressure from other more successes home,” he said. The coming months are going best qualifi er after both collected shooters as the event progressed. Qatar Shooting and Archery to be very crucial for the Qatari 136 each in the qualifying rounds. But the confi dence gained in var- Association president Ali Mo- shooters and we’re aiming to gain He got the better of him by 11-10. ious competitions at the Losail hamed al-Kuwari congratulated maximum possible slots for the Al-Kaabi was edged by In- Ranges helped me a lot in deal- al-Marri and the team for the Tokyo Games in 2020,” he said.

SPOTLIGHT Coach confi dent Serena will play French Open

Reuters TSONGA WITHDRAWS Paris Meanwhile, Frenchman Jo-Wil- fried Tsonga has withdrawn from next week’s Lyon Open and the erena Williams’ coach French Open later this month af- ’s Novak Djokovic in action during his first round match against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov Patrick Mouratoglou said ter failing to recover from a knee at the Italian Open in Rome yesterday. (Reuters) he was confi dent that the surgery. 23-time grand slam sin- Tsonga, who is the defending glesS champion would take part in champion in Lyon, went under the French Open this month. The the knife in April and said on Federer replaces Nadal as No. 1, Djoko on the slide 36-year-old Williams, who has Twitter yesterday that he was not played on clay this season, disappointed he would not be AFP spot despite not having knocking out Nadal on his withdrew from the Madrid and able to play either tournament. Paris played since March. way to facing Zverev. Rome tournaments because she “I’m obviously very disappoint- Former world No. 1 Novak Thiem saw off Kevin Anderson was not ready to compete. ed, but I still want to come to Lyon Djokovic slipped six places to in the semi-finals and it is the “Serena will play the French as an ambassador and to Roland afael Nadal’s surprise 18th after his second round South African who inherits his Open to win it. Can she do it? Garros as a spectator,” he said. quarter-final exit at the defeat in Madrid, his lowest seventh spot, the 31-year-old’s Serena can achieve anything mitted she returned too soon af- Tennis Academy, around April The 33-year-old, ranked RMadrid Masters has ranking since October 2006. highest ever ranking. — after being her coach for six ter her pregnancy, which resulted 30, we realised that she was not number 37 in the world, has not seen the Spaniard replaced as Madrid winner Alexander The highest mover in the years, I’m even more sure of that in early exits in Indian Wells and ready yet,” said Mouratoglou. played since reaching the semi- world number one by Roger Zverev remains in third, but men’s charts is Madrid semi- statement,” Mouratoglou said in Miami in March. “The time she lost after the fi nals of the Montpellier Inter- Federer in the latest ATP rank- the man he beat in Sunday’s finalist Denis Shapovalov with an interview with tour organisers “After her pregnancy, Serena delivery, with all the medical is- national in February, where he ings published yesterday. final, Dominic Thiem, dropped the Russian teenager jumping WTA yesterday. had to rebuild her body. When sues she had to go through, was was beaten by compatriot Lucas Federer returns to the top a place to eighth despite 14 rungs to a best ever 29th. The Frenchman, however, ad- she arrived at the Mouratoglou missing.” Pouille.

BOTTOMLINE Second edition of Qatar Community Football League concludes

he second season of the Qatar we welcome Al Meera on board as we Community Football League strive towards the next steps of our (QCFL) came to an exciting journey together. conclusion on Friday night, as “The reaction to the league so far has Torganisers, partners and participants been incredible, with communities and praised the ongoing success and ‘re- cultures from every corner of the world markable’ growth of the grassroots represented. competition. “We look forward to expanding even The league – founded by the Su- further as we work alongside our part- preme Committee for Delivery & Leg- ners – old and new – for many years to acy (SC) in 2016 as part of its ongoing come.” commitment to help grow the grass- Mohamed al-Badr representing Al- roots game across Qatar – came to an Meera Consumer Goods (QSC) stated exciting conclusion, as ALYSG defeated how the company was proud to support MTM in front of more than 300 specta- the Qatar Community Football League tors at Aspire Dome. and to become a part of this exciting The match was preceded by a series initiative. of junior small-sided games on the He said: “As Al-Meera continues pitch – as the next generation of young in its expansion within every town in footballers from communities across Qatar, with its aim of becoming the Qatar got their chance to showcase Favourite Neighbourhood Retailer, the their skills in the shadows of proposed Al Meera Consumer Goods (QSC) were confirmed as the off icial retail partner for sponsorship of the community league 2022 FIFA World Cup venue, Khalifa the 2018-19 Qatar Community Football League (QCFL). builds upon the ideals of both organisa- International Stadium. tions. Al-Meera hopes that the supply Meanwhile, at half-time, Al Meera enabling grassroots football to be avail- across 36 teams and three divisions – As well as providing over 4,000 bot- with clear goals – to bring communities of refreshment to the league not only Consumer Goods (QSC) were con- able for all in Qatar. an increase in participation of over 100 tles of water for Friday’s fi nal event, together through the power of football, keeps the players and supporters ener- fi rmed as the offi cial retail partner for In 2017, Evolution Sports partnered percent since its launch. Such has been they have committed to supplying bot- and to provide anyone that wants to gised, but also gives a continued boost the 2018-19 Qatar Community Foot- with the league to provide logisti- the uptake in the new amateur league, tles for games throughout the 2018-19 play with the facilities to be able to do to the league. ball League (QCFL), during a pitch side cal support. Thanks to the support of organisers are projecting its growth will campaign. so. “Al Meera is honoured to support an shirt-exchange ceremony. its founders and partners, the league continue, eventually expanding to four Commenting on the league’s success “I am delighted to welcome Al Meera initiative that brings to life the objec- Since its inception the QCFL has has enjoyed spectacular year-on-year divisions. – and new partnership announcement to the QCFL family. Aspire and Evolu- tives of health to the various communi- partnered with two other local stake- growth. The onboarding of a third key local – Ali al-Khater, the SC representative tion Sports have already played hugely ties of Qatar, as defi ned by the leader- holders. Aspire joined the SC as main This culminated in 2017-18, with partner – Al Meera – signifi es a further and QCFL Chairman, said, “When we signifi cant roles in taking the league ship of the State of Qatar in support of sponsors of the league, with the goal of more than 1,500 registered players, expansion within the local community. launched the league in 2016, we set out from inception to a higher level – now the National Vison 2030.” (SC.qa)