GGOLFOLF | Page 3 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Relieved Trippier and Thomas beats Morata shine Cantlay by to give Atletico three strokes winning start

Tuesday, August 20, 2019 CRICKET Dhul-Hijja 19, 1440 AH Captain Root glad to GULF TIMES see Archer ‘shake up things’ on Test debut SPORT Page 2

FOOTBALL Let’s begin: new Qatar Stars League season launched Al Sadd will play Al Wakrah in the first match of the season tomorrow before Qatar SC take on Al Duhail

SPOTLIGHT It’s Ooredoo Cup now aft er new two-year partnership

Qatar Stars League (QSL) CEO Hani Taleb Ballan, Marketing, Sales and Communication executive director Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, Competitions and Football Development executive director Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Captain Saeed Juma al-Hitmi from Stadium Security Department and other off icials at the new season launch yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil

he Qatar Stars League everything related to their favour- the calendar was set in a way that (QSL) launched the new ite club and purchase of e-tickets doesn’t put pressure on the play- football season (2019- and Season Cards. There are two ers, instead letting them perform 20) at the W Hotel in more phases in the development, steadily throughout the season.” DohaT yesterday in the presence of including the possibility of buying As for the new ball, he ex- its CEO Hani Taleb Ballan. sports equipment and clothing for plained that the QSL analysed the Also present on the occasion clubs via the online store. balls used in the major leagues in were Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, The offi cial ball for the 2019- Europe and Asia, and tried this Executive Director of Market- 20 season was also unveiled. The one out last season. It has the ing, Sales and Communication; Qatar league is the fi rst to use it, same specifi cations as that of the Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Execu- with a special design only for the one used in the Asian Cup fi nal, tive Director of Competitions and QSL from Molten. won by the Qatar national team. Football Development; directors Captain al-Hitmi wished all It is being used for the fi rst time as well as heads of departments clubs success in the new season, in the QNB Stars League. at the QSL, Captain Saeed Juma praised the great co-operation Al-Kuwari said preparations al-Hitmi from Stadium Secu- between them and the QSL for for the 2019-20 season had rity Department and a number of the success of the football season started immediately after the club offi cials and representatives as well as their readiness after end of last season, through ar- of the media. having held many meetings with rangements and co-ordination Al Sadd will play Al Wakrah QSL for liaison and arrangements with football club companies. He in the fi rst match of the season for the new season. noted that there would be many tomorrow in a 5:20pm kick-off , On his part, Abbassi said that marketing initiatives, in addition while Qatar SC will face Al Du- everyone was waiting for the sea- to intense communication with hail in the 7:30pm kick-off on the son to start, and that the QSL had clubs in the upcoming period in same day. prepared and equipped itself in order to get their ideas on how to The QSL’s Mobile Applica- order to provide a special season. attract the public more. Moza Khalid al-Muhannadi (left), Director of Sponsorship, CSR tion for smartphones, designed He expected a strong league this On the QSL’s new mobile ap- & Media Strategy at Ooredoo, and Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, by Qatari company Al Konat, was season in view of the contracts plication, he said, “This is one Executive Director of Marketing, Sales and Communication at unveiled and will be a new media signed by clubs with foreign and of the initiatives that we were QSL signed the agreement. platform for Qatar football fans. local players. eager to off er to the public, in co- It allows users functions such as On the early start of the season, operation with Al Konat com- oredoo has signed name — Empower You To Win. news of tournaments organised he said, “Due to a hectic season pany. Due to our keenness to keep a two-year part- “The new Ooredoo Cup is by QSL, news and follow-up of during which many tournaments abreast of events, this app will nership agreement the perfect way in which we clubs, special pages about clubs to will be hosted by the State of Qa- be continuously developed with with the Qatar Stars can promote a healthy, active help the fans keep in touch with tar, we would like to point out that added features.” OLeague (QSL) to sponsor the lifestyle, encourage communi- The off icial ball for the 2019-20 season, by Molten, was also unveiled. QSL Cup, which will now be ty cohesion and support Qatari called Ooredoo Cup. sports teams. The tournament will start We’ve a wealth of talent here on September 6, 2019, with in Qatar, and we’re proud to be the participation of First Di- enabling development of this vision clubs. Teams will be talent as part of our commit- divided into two groups and ment to Qatar National Vision the top four from each group 2030. qualify for the knockout We look forward to the fi rst quarter-finals. The final has matches of the tournament been scheduled for March 30, and wish each team the best of 2020. luck!” Moza Khalid al-Muhannadi, Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, Director of Sponsorship, CSR Executive Director of Mar- & Media Strategy at Oore- keting, Sales and Communi- doo, said, “Supporting sport- cation at QSL, said, “We’re ing events is a key pillar of our proud to partner with Oore- corporate social responsibility doo, one of the largest com- strategy for a number of rea- panies in Qatar. The QSL sons, and to this end, we’ve seeks to support young play- a new slogan for all sporting ers and Qatari clubs in this events to which we put our tournament (Ooredoo Cup).” Team jerseys for the QSL clubs for the new season on display during the season launch yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, August 20, 2019 CRICKET

FOCUS SELECTION England unchanged Captain Root glad to for third Ashes Test as Anderson continues recovery see Archer ‘shake up AFP Anderson did not play in the London second Test because of a calf in- jury that restricted him to just four overs in Australia’s 251-run ngland named an un- win in the series opener at Edg- changed squad yester- baston. day for this week’s third He is, however, to step his re- Test against Australia at habilitation this week by play- things’ on Test debut Headingley.E ing for Lancashire 2nd XI against The injured James Ander- Leicestershire in a three-day son, England’s all-time leading friendly match in Liverpool. 24-year-old quick’s sheer speed gave England’s attack a new cutting edge Test wicket-taker, will continue Anderson’s fi tness will be as- his bid to return later in the se- sessed continually ahead of the ries by playing in a county 2nd XI fourth Test at his Old Traff ord match starting today. home ground starting on Sep- England’s selectors kept faith tember 4. with the XI that drew the rain- While England’s fallible top aff ected second Ashes Test at order remains a concern — World Lord’s on Sunday, with the hosts Cup-winning opener Jason Roy having the better of an exciting has made just 40 runs in four in- last day before Australia held out nings this series — the selectors to preserve their 1-0 lead in the have resisted the temptation to fi ve-match series. bring in new faces. Surrey left-arm seamer Sam They were under less pres- Curran, who did not play at sure to make changes after the Lord’s, retained his place in a uncapped duo of Dom Sibley 12-man squad for the third Test, and Zak Crawley, considered to which starts at England cap- be of the best young openers in tain Joe Root’s Headingley home England, were both out for low ground on Thursday. scores on Sunday. With just a four-day turna- Sibley got a duck for War- round between Tests in London wickshire against Somerset on and Leeds, major changes were Sunday and Kent batsman Craw- always unlikely. ley was dismissed for just fi ve Now England will hope that is against Essex. suffi cient time for World Cup- winning fast bowler Jofra Arch- ENGLAND SQUAD: Rory Burns, er, who took fi ve wickets while Jason Roy, Joe Root (capt), Joe repeatedly topping speeds of Denly, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, 90mph on his Test debut, to re- Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Chris cover from the 44 overs he sent Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart down at Lord’s. Broad, Jack Leach, Sam Curran

England’s Jofra Archer (centre) celebrates with captain Joe Root (left) after taking the wicket of Australia’s Usman Khawaja (unseen) on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Sunday. (AFP)

AFP with a fearsome bouncer that Root added: “When you’ve got Archer bouncer. his fi rst Test back after complet- London slammed into Steve Smith’s un- that and the skill of other guys “I thought Jofra bowled really ing a 12-month ban for his role in protected neck leading to a con- around it, it makes for a tasty well,” said Australia captain Tim a ball-tampering scandal. cussion that kept the star bats- combination and I think that’s Paine. “Guys bowling at that But on a more serious note, ngland captain Joe Root man off the fi eld on the last day one of the reasons why we always pace take time to get used to and wicketkeeper Paine added: said fast bowler Jofra at Lord’s and could rule him out felt we were in the game tonight. Jofra bowls from quite a height. “Marnus played superbly. Archer had “lived up to of the third Test in Leeds start- “It makes for a very interest- He gets steep bounce.” “He got hit hard in the face the hype” with a dra- ing on Thursday. ing last three games.” This result left Australia 1-0 second ball and I thought he maticE Test debut against Aus- “He’s come in and he re- England set Australia a target of up in the fi ve-match series fol- showed great character, great tralia at Lord’s. ally has made a massive impact, 267 to win in 48 overs after Root lowing a 251-run win in the fi rst skill and great technique. World Cup winner Archer, added a diff erent dynamic to our declared their second innings fol- Test at Edgbaston. “He came in today and bat- who replaced the injured James bowling group and has given lowing Ben Stokes’s 115 not out. But Root said: “I thought that ted as well as anyone in the Test Anderson in England’s team for Australia something diff erent to Archer and left-arm spin- we threw everything at them match in, I think, the hardest the second Ashes Test, took fi ve think about,” said Root. ner Jack Leach both took three there, gave ourselves a good conditions. It was dark, it was wickets in the drawn match, in- “It’s really pleasing to see wickets apiece but Marnus La- amount of overs to try and cre- spinning, it was fast and moving cluding 3-32 in Australia’s sec- someone come in on Test debut buschagne, Test cricket’s inau- ate things and sometimes you around a bit.” ond innings on Sunday. and really shake up things and live gural concussion substitute after need absolutely everything to go Paine insisted Australia were But Archer’s display, which al- up to the hype — even some of the coming in for Smith, top-scored for you. Credit to Australia, they well worth the draw. most helped England achieve an hype that he put on himself. with 59 in an Australia total of managed to hang on.” “I wouldn’t say it was a great unlikely and series-levelling win “He makes things happen 154-6 that secured a draw. escape at all. It’s 1-0, we go to a in a match severely aff ected by when not many others in world Labuschagne’s innings, which ‘SUPERB LABUSCHAGNE’ Test match next week in Leeds in rain, was about much more than cricket can. Such a unique ac- ended with a disputed catch by Much of that was down to La- a great position,” he said. “There economical fi gures. The 24-year- tion and way of bowling, and Root, was all the more impres- buschagne, with Paine joking will be times in the three Tests old quick’s sheer speed gave Eng- obviously natural pace, which sive given the second ball he Australia wanted two batsmen when England are in control, and land’s attack a new cutting edge. is always going to be in the game faced saw him hit fl ush on the to replace Smith, who scored we will be in control. It’s about Archer hit several Australians, on any surface.” grille of his helmet by a 91.6mph twin hundreds at Edgbaston in taking that winning momentum.”

BOTTOMLINE SPOTLIGHT Mandatory neck guards ‘not far Sharjeel says sorry away’ aft er Smith felled by Archer in bid to resurrect Pakistan career AFP That included the use of spe- want to make it a requirement to Sydney cially designed neck guards, wear but we want to make sure AFP Pakistan has a long and sordid known as StemGuards. we have the right products — we Lahore, Pakistan history of spot-fi xing — where a But they are not compulsory haven’t seen what the products specifi c part of a game is rigged, ompulsory neck guards and Smith, who collapsed to are at the moment,” he said. as opposed to match-fi xing, on helmets for Austral- the ground face fi rst after the “When we get to that point, isgraced former Paki- where the whole result is. ian cricketers are “not vicious ball from Jofra Archer I think we’ll be comfortable to stan opener Sharjeel Half of Khan’s ban was sus- far away”, the national smacked into the side of his say: ‘Let’s make it a require- Khan took the fi rst step pended. team’sC medical chief said yester- neck, in scenes reminiscent of ment’. There is still a little time towards resurrecting The PCB said he has been giv- day after a sickening blow felled the Hughes incident, was not to go but we are not far away.” hisD career yesterday by apolo- en a roadmap to revive his career. Steve Smith during the second wearing one. Peter Brukner, the former gising for indulging in the spot- “Sharjeel has completed his Ashes Test. He said afterwards they made doctor of the Australian team fi xing in 2017 that earned him a two and a half years of ineligibil- Australia have been at the him claustrophobic and uncom- from 2012-2017, said he was as- fi ve-year ban. ity and will now complete reha- forefront of pressing for better fortable. tonished that some top players The 30-year-old met with Pa- bilitation before the end of the safety measures after the death Cricket Australia’s sports sci- still don’t wear neck guards. kistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti- year and then reintegrate into top of Phillip Hughes, who was ence and sports medicine chief “I think it should be (manda- corruption offi cials who directed level cricket,” the statement said. hit on the base of the skull by Alex Kountouris said it was only tory),” he told The Australian him to undergo a rehabilitation The rehabilitation, among other a bouncer in a Sheffi eld Shield a matter of time before they be- newspaper. programme, putting him on track things, will also include attending game in 2014. came mandatory, revealing the Smith, by far Australia’s best to return to the sport. and delivering lectures on the PCB Following an independent International Cricket Council, bastman, is now facing a race “I off er my unconditional Anti-Corruption Code. investigation into the tragedy, Cricket Australia, the England against the clock to be passed fi t apology to the PCB, my team- Khan will also have to visit or- Cricket Australia introduced and Wales Cricket Board, and for the third Test at Headingley mates, fans and family for the phanages as part of community new rules for concussion sub- helmet manufacturers recently later this week. irresponsible conduct that service, and participate in inte- stitutes in domestic games. completed a major review. While Australia captain Tim brought embarrassment to eve- gration sessions with Pakistan’s These have now been adopted Paine said it would be “tough to ryone,” Sharjeel was quoted as national players and support by the International Cricket AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR stop Smithy walking out” for the saying in a PCB press release. personnel. Council and were used for the ‘THOROUGH’ match, the decision is ultimately “I request for forgiveness and In his statement, Khan re- fi rst time when Smith was re- “Helmet manufacturers did the up to team doctor Richard Saw. assure I will show more respon- minded fellow players to “strictly placed by Marnus Labuschagne right thing and came out with Australia’s Steve Smith (second from left) lays on the pitch after being Kountouris said at a press sibility in my future actions,” he and religiously” follow the PCB’s on Sunday against England at products (after Hughes’ death). hit in the neck off the bowling of England’s Jofra Archer (not pictured) conference yesterday he was said. anti-corruption code. Lord’s after medics ruled him There was no real knowledge of on the fourth day of the second Test in London on Saturday. (AFP) “100% happy” with how Saw The left-hander was a rising He said he planned to return unfi t to carry on. the mechanism, what exactly had handled the situation so far. star and playing in the second fi rst to club cricket as he needed The inquest into Hughes’ they were trying to protect or standing of that now.” Kountouris said it would take “Our doctor is an expert in his edition of the Pakistan Super time to build up his fi tness and death also recommended fi rst- stuff like that,” Kountouris told Now there was agreement on about six months for manufac- fi eld, he’s trained to pick up even League in Dubai when he was form. class players in Australia wear the Sydney Morning Herald. what the standard should look turers to complete the upgraded the minor signs of concussion,” charged with deliberately not At the time of the ban, Shar- helmets made to British safety “But since that time we have like, including the size and area product, which then would be he said. “Everything he did was scoring on two balls at a certain jeel had played one Test, 25 one- standards while batting against done a lot of research. We actu- that needs to be covered and the trialled by players. according to the protocol, he time of the match in return for day internationals and 15 T20 medium pace or fast bowling. ally have a pretty good under- force properties it should have. “Obviously, at some point, we was very thorough.” money from bookies. matches. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 20, 2019 3 SPORT

GOLF / BMW CHAMPIONSHIP Praneeth, Prannoy in second round at badminton Worlds

IANS Basel, Switzerland

Relieved Thomas huttlers Sai Praneeth and HS Prannoy reached the Ssecond round of the BWF World Championships here yesterday to hand India a good start in the prestigious event. While world no. 19 Praneeth beat lower-ranked Jason An- beats Cantlay by thony Ho-Shue of Canada 21-17, 21-16, world no. 30 Prannoy rallied to down Finland’s Eetu Heino 17-21, 21-10, 21-11. Praneeth, who has been recently nominated for the Arjuna Award, took just 39 minutes to get his campaign three strokes off to a flying start. He will now take on the winner of the 1st Victory was the 10th of the American’s PGA Tour career but the first this year round match between South Korea’s Lee Dong Keun and Reuters Australia’s Daniel Fan in the straight-game win over Diana Cary, United States second round on Tuesday. Corleto and Nikte Alejandra Indian women’s doubles pair of Guatemala to reach the of Jakkampudi Meghana and second round. They won the ustin Thomas faltered Poorvisha Ram notched up a contest 21-10, 21-18. in the fi nal round at the BMW Championship on Sunday but held on for an ultimatelyJ comfortable three- SPOTLIGHT stroke victory at Medinah in suburban Chicago. He carded a closing four-un- der 68 to fi nish on a 25-under- par total of 263, while fellow Li, Pan to make American Patrick Cantlay shot a 65 for second place on 22-under. Thomas started the day with a six-shot advantage but when Presidents Cup he bogeyed the 10th hole, after almost hitting his second out of bounds, the lead over Cantlay was down to two. But Thomas steadied with history for clutch play over the next three holes, twice holing putts of around 12 feet to re-establish his authority. China, Taiwan “Patrick made that very inter- AFP from December 12-15 against an esting,” a relieved Thomas said. Melbourne American team that has a com- “I hit the ball so bad to start bined 11 PGA Tour victories so far the day. I made it hard on myself this season. because usually I’m pretty good i Haotong, CT Pan and World number one and four- at hitting fairways and greens Abraham Ancer will make time major winner Brooks Koep- and I couldn’t hit a fairway... but Presidents Cup history ka leads the pack, along with I stayed patient and that birdie when they line up against Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, on 11 was huge. LTiger Woods’ formidable United Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauf- “I was really nervous today. States team in December. fele, Webb Simpson, Matt Ku- It’s hard to play with the lead. I They will become China, Tai- char and Bryson DeChambeau. was enjoying it, though.” wan and Mexico’s fi rst players Koepka, Johnson, Kuchar and The victory was the 10th of at the biennial event when they Thomas, who won the BMW his PGA Tour career but the fi rst represent the Internationals, or- Championship at the weekend this year in what has been an ganisers said yesterday. for his 10th PGA title, were all injury-interrupted season. Tho- Li, Pan and Ancer were among members of the US team that mas hurt his wrist in March and the top eight automatic qualifi ers won 19-11 in New Jersey in 2017, took six weeks off to rest. at the weekend deadline for an their seventh straight triumph. “I’d forgotten how hard it was Internationals team captained by Schauff ele, DeChambeau and to win,” said the 26-year-old Ernie Els and seeking their fi rst Cantlay will be playing for the former world number one. victory since 1998. fi rst time. “This game is so hard, you Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates his victory on the 18th green of the final round at the BMW Championship in Medinah, United They join fellow newcomer “This is the core of the team. don’t know how often things like States, on Sunday. (AFP) Cameron Smith of Australia and These guys have earned it,” said this are going to happen. the top four players in the stand- Woods, who has previously sug- “It’s not like I’ve been playing week’s season-ending Tour ment will use a staggered start the top 30 in the standings snuck Missing out was Ireland’s Brit- ings — Australians Mark Leish- gested he could be a playing cap- bad. I would argue I’ve played Championship in Atlanta. based on players’ position in the into the Tour Championship — ish Open champion Shane Lowry, man and Adam Scott, South tain. just as well this year as any other The top 30 players on the PGA points race, with Thomas start- Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and along with Americans Andrew Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and “You’ve got some veterans, year. It’s a very humbling and Tour’s FedEx Cup points list ing at 10-under-par. Americans Lucas Glover and Ja- Putnam and Harold Varner III. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. whether it’s Webby, Kuch or tough game and I learned to re- qualifi ed for the event, where The qualifi ers ranked 26th to son Kokrak. There will be no defending Four captain’s picks will be Dustin, who have been part of spect it and be patient.” the winner at East Lake will col- 30th will begin at even par. Matsuyama has never missed champion at East Lake, as Tiger made at a later date. the teams for a very long time, The result means Thomas lect $15mn. Three players who started the a Tour Championship since Woods did not qualify after fi n- “This is as good as I could have and we have some newcomers. is the number one seed at next For the fi rst time the tourna- BMW Championship outside joining the tour in 2014. ishing equal 37th on Sunday. asked for. I’ve got guys who have We have a nice mix.” played in the Presidents Cup many The only win by the Interna- times previously and I’ve got guys tionals in the event’s 25-year his- who are rookies,” said Els. tory was in Melbourne in 1998, Woods misses chance to defend Tour Championship title The Internationals will tee off when they were captained by the at Australia’s Royal Melbourne late Peter Thomson. Reuters Woods needed to place about day, I’m the one with the green Cary, United States sixth at the BMW Champion- jacket,” he told reporters on ship on Sunday to qualify, but Sunday. he tied for 37th at Medinah, a Still, Woods will be disap- here will be no defending distant 18 strokes behind win- pointed not to get a chance to champion at next week’s ner Justin Thomas. return to the scene of one of TTour Championship after Apart from his win at the the most memorable victories Tiger Woods failed to qualify Masters for his 15th major title, of his career. for the season-ending event. Woods had a relatively quiet Successfully returning last year Only the top 30 players on the season, which petered out with- from major back surgery, he PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup points out a whimper amid physical ended a five-year drought with list are eligible to play at East and emotional fatigue. his two-stroke win at East Lake, Lake in Atlanta, where $15mn “The rest of the tournaments the 80th of his PGA Tour career, will be up for grabs for the I didn’t really play as well as I which was at the time just two winner. wanted to, but at the end of the shy of Sam Snead’s all-time mark.

BOTTOMLINE European Tour sets stricter penalties for slow play Reuters but after being mandated by The European Tour’s initia- Li Haotong will be China’s first player at the biennial event. Bengaluru, India our Tournament Committee to tive stemmed from a meeting of be even fi rmer in dealing with its Tournament Committee in this issue, the time was right to May and the plan was approved uropean Tour players take these additional steps,” the in July. Curry sponsors creation of will incur a one-shot European Tour chief executive The new system will focus penalty from November Keith Pelley said in a statement. on four key areas — regulation, Howard golf programme if they are deemed to “I believe the plan we are im- education, innovation and fi eld tephen Curry is known told the newspaper. haveE breached slow play regula- plementing for the 2020 season sizes. for his threes. At Howard The three-time NBA champion tions twice in a single round. will bring about meaningful “There is no doubt that pace SUniversity, he’s all about will make the announcement In addition, players who con- change that will make golf even of play is a hot topic in golf and “fores”. at Langston Golf Course in sistently need to be timed or are more enjoyable for the players as players we were keen to ex- The NBA superstar is all set Washington, DC. “on the clock” will face stiff er and our fans, whether they are at plore ways to address these is- to announce a seven-figure Howard athletic director Kery fi nes from next season. the course in person or watching sues in various areas,” Tour- donation to establish the first Davis said Curry’s donation For example, a player who is on television.” nament Committee chairman Division I men’s and women’s “was sort of a jolt for us”. The timed on 15 occasions during Slow play has been a hot topic David Howell said. golf teams in the 152-year school has not off ered the a season will be fi ned 26,000 recently after American Bryson “We have had some very in- history of the historically black sport since a Division II golf pounds ($32,000), as opposed to DeChambeau took more than teresting and robust debates in college, The Washington Post team folded in the 1970s. the current 9,000-pound fi ne in two minutes to line up a putt the process of agreeing the new reported. “Golf has always been a game place. during at the Northern Trust initiatives. “No matter where you come of privilege,” Davis said. “An Players will, however, have tournament in New Jersey. “But with a combination of from or what socioeconomic association with the sport can the option to request one time The incident prompted the education, deterrents, technol- background you had, we all break down barriers.” extension per round, giving an PGA Tour to review its slow play ogy and modifi cations to the were that kid once upon a time Davis told the Post that it additional 40 seconds to hit a policy, with leading players, in- fi elds, we believe we have arrived that was just excited about will take about a year to hire shot. cluding Brooks Koepka and Rory at a set of fair and proportional finding out who they were as a coaches, recruit student- “We are already at the fore- McIlroy, among those criticis- measures to improve the experi- Slow play has been a hot topic after American Bryson DeChambeau person through athletics,” the athletes and find a course to front of pace of play manage- ing the tour’s inaction over slow ence for everyone involved in the took more than two minutes to line up a putt during the Northern Golden State Warriors guard practice and play on. ment in the professional game, play. game.” Trust tournament in New Jersey. (AFP) Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, August 20, 2019 RUGBY

SELECTION SPOTLIGHT Isa shock omission from Argentina Erasmus picks 36 World Cup squad AFP SQUAD Buenos Aires Backs (14): Back-three: Emiliano Boff elli (Jaguares), rance-based loose for- Joaquin Tuculet (Jaguares), contenders for Boks ward Facundo Isa was Santiago Carreras (Jag- a shock omission from uares), Bautista Delguy the 31-man Argen- (Jaguares), Ramiro Moyano tinaF Rugby World Cup named (Jaguares) Monday by coach Mario Centres: Jeronimo de la Ledesma in Buenos Aires. Fuente (Jaguares), Juan Cruz Instead, outsider Rod- Mallia (Jaguares), Lucas rigo Bruno got the nod and is Mensa (Pucara), Matias World Cup squad among 26 players from Super Moroni (Jaguares), Matias Rugby runners-up the Jag- Orlando (Jaguares) There were no shock inclusions or omissions; Coetzee was not considered because of injuries uares who will travel to Japan Fly-halves: Nicolas Sanchez for the September 20-Novem- (Stade Francais), Benjamin AFP ber 2 global tournament. Urdapilleta (Castres) Johannesburg “I was convinced more Scrum-halves: Tomas Cubelli by other players (than Isa),” (Jaguares), Felipe Ezcurra Ledesma told reporters after (Hindu) outh Africa coach Rassie revealing his hand for Pool C Forwards (17): Back rows/ Erasmus named a 36- matches against France, Ton- second rows: Rodrigo man pre-Rugby World ga, section favourites England Bruni (Jaguares), Javier Cup squad Sunday, from and the United States. Ortega Desio (Jaguares), whichS he will cut fi ve players on “And I wanted to give pri- Marcos Kremer (Jaguares), August 26 when those bound for ority to those playing at home Juan Manuel Leguizamon Japan are named. over those based abroad. Con- (Jaguares), Tomas Lezana There were no shock inclu- trary to what sections of the (Jaguares), Pablo Matera sions or omissions although media thought, Facundo was (Jaguares, capt), Matias Ulster loose forward Marcell not a certain choice.” Alemanno (Jaguares), Tomas Coetzee was not considered be- Two Argentina-based non- Lavanini (Jaguares), Guido cause of head and ankle injuries Jaguares were chosen, plus Petti (Jaguares) sustained in a 24-18 warm-up France-based fl y-halves Nico- Front rows: Agustin Creevy win over Argentina this week- las Sanchez and Benjamin Ur- (Jaguares), Julian Montoya end. dapilleta and prop Juan Figallo (Jaguares), Santiago Socino Erasmus is expected to choose from English club Saracens. (Jaguares), Nahuel Tetaz a traditional World Cup squad Jaguares fl anker Pablo Mat- Chaparro (Jaguares), Juan of 17 forwards and 14 backs, in era will captain a national Figallo (Saracens), Santiago which case four forwards and team that has won just eight Medrano (Jaguares), Enrique one back will drop out after a of 41 internationals since fi n- Pieretto (Jaguares), Mayco four-day camp in Bloemfontein ishing fourth at the last World Vivas (Jaguares) ends Thursday. Cup, in England and Wales Argentina World Cup Pool There are seven props and four years ago. Argentina went Fixtures looseheads Steven Kitshoff and down 24-18 to an experimen- Pool C Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira tal South Africa side in Preto- Sep 21: v France, Tokyo and tightheads Trevor Nyakane ria last Saturday - their ninth Sep 28: v Tonga, Higashi- and Frans Malherbe are consid- straight defeat since beating osaka ered certainties. Australia away last September. Oct 05: v England, Tokyo That would leave loosehead Former Pumas hooker Oct 09: v US, Kumagaya Lizo Gqoboka, tighthead Vin- Ledesma was chosen for four cent Koch and Thomas du Toit, consecutive World Cup tour- who can fulfi l either role, bat- naments between 1999 and Their World Cup record tling for one place. 2011 and loose forward Juan against their pool opponents With Nyakane able to scrum Manuel Leguizamon equals in Japan is mixed. They have either side of the hooker, Koch South Africa fullback Warrick Gelant listens to South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus during the warm up ahead of the Rugby Union World Cup that record after making the won two of three clashes with is the favourite as his inclusion warm-up match against Argentina at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, on August 17, 2019. (AFP) squad for Japan. Argentina France, beaten Tonga the only would give South Africa three have played 37 World Cup time they played and lost both loosehead and three tighthead fi nal standings and qualify for matches, winning 19 and los- meetings with England. They options. Boks have devised ‘right system’ for World Cup, says Jantjies the quarter-fi nals. ing 18, with the best showing a have never faced their fi nal Erasmus said after the victory Flyhalf Elton Jantjies praised the have come a long way. “From my The bodies are fresh and we are third-place fi nish at the 2007 pool opponent, the United the Pumas in Pretoria that locks plans of coach Rassie Erasmus personal point of view, I think all good to go.” TRAINING SQUAD tournament hosted by France. States, at the tournament. Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, and said South Africa have de- we now have the right system, Jantjies says the exit of attack FORWARDS (21) Franco Mostert and RG Snyman veloped the right systems to be defensively and in our kicking coach Swys de Bruin, who left Props: Lizo Gqoboka, Steven are going to Japan, so Marvin successful at the Rugby World game, as well as from an attack- the side earlier this month citing Kitshoff , Vincent Koch, Frans Orie will miss out. Cup in Japan. Jantjies started ing point of view. “Everybody is personal reasons having previ- Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Scotland need vast improvement With the coach also announc- at flyhalf as the Springboks aligned in terms of that. It is just ously suff ered from a stress- Trevor Nyakane, Thomas du Toit ing that the hookers will be defeated Argentina 24-18 in their for you as an individual do your related illness, has been a loss, Hookers: Schalk Brits, Malcolm aft er France thrashing: McInally 38-year-old Schalk Brits, Mal- one-off test at Loftus Versfeld on role in the system.” but adds that the team plans are Marx, Bongi Mbonambi colm Marx and Bongi Mbonam- Saturday, with Erasmus having Jantjies says Erasmus has been now firmly in place. “He set the Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Scotland must pull up their trying to make sure we’re bi, that leaves room for fi ve loose rested 18 players for the World a huge boost for the side after foundation, the attacking sys- Jager, Franco Mostert, Marvin socks after being hammered ready for that game when we forwards. Cup warm-up fixture. It is a the disappointments of 2016 tem is in place and everybody Orie, RG Snyman 32-3 by France and improve get to Japan,” McInally was Of the six in Bloemfontein, measure of the squad, according and 2017, where they racked up knows what they have to do. Loose forwards: Rynhardt El- in the three remaining warm- quoted as saying by Scot- captain Siya Kolisi, Francois to Jantjies, that they can have an records for the wrong reasons, What was amazing for me was stadt, Siya Kolisi (capt), Francois up matches before next tish Rugby. “We now have a Louw, Kwagga Smith, Pieter- entirely new starting XV on the including a first ever loss to Italy to see how everybody respond- Louw, Kwagga Smith, Pieter- month’s World Cup in Japan, starting point, and have lot Steph du Toit and Duane Ver- pitch from match-to-match, and and a 57-0 hammering by New ed so quickly at the training Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen captain Stuart McInally has to improve on, but we’ve put meulen are poised to get the nod still be successful after previous Zealand, who they will face in camps... the fundamentals of our Backs (15) said. France scored five tries in a lot of good training over ahead of Rynhardt Elstadt. wins over Australia and Argen- the pool stages at the World attack, how we want to attack, Full-backs: Warrick Gelant, Wil- in Nice, taking a 7-0 lead as these last two months and The unlucky back could be tina, and a draw in New Zealand, Cup. “The amount of knowledge how we want to cover the space lie le Roux early as the third minute as we’re in good shape. Andre Esterhuizen as inside cen- saw the Boks lift the Rugby they (the technical team) have, and where we want to attack. Wingers: Cheslin Kolbe, Maka- a dire Scotland side, who “We didn’t get it right on the tre rival Francois Steyn has two Championship this year for and the amount of knowledge “We had a lot of time with coach zole Mapimpi, Sibusiso Nkosi lost 27-10 against the same night but I’m confident we’ll advantages - he can also play the first time since 2009. “This the (playing leadership) group Swys, even though he has now Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Damian opponents in the Six Nations, put things right next week at full-back or fl y-half and is a group has been together for have, it goes hand-in-hand,” left. But we are all able to speak de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, never looked up for the before the Georgia games good long range goal kicker. three or four years with a similar Jantjies says. “Everybody knows the same language, so he did Jesse Kriel, Francois Steyn contest. Scotland host France and then looking forward to Injuries have ruled several composition,” Jantjies said. “I what to do on the field, we work enough. We are definitely going Fly-halves: Elton Jantjies, at Murrayfield in Edinburgh the World Cup.” stars out of contention, includ- know we have had diff erent hard in training and then on to do something special for him Handre Pollard on Saturday before wrapping Scrumhalf Ali Price said the ing the 2018 World Rugby Break- coaches, but we as individuals Saturday we are well prepared. at the World Cup.” Scrum-halves: Herschel up their warm-up games with result was a “wake-up call” through Player of the Year, wing- Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Cobus two more against Georgia. for players before head coach er Aphiwe Dyantyi, and former Reinach “We’ve got three more games Gregor Townsend named his Springboks skipper and No. 8 Cup campaign against defending Italy and Namibia in Pool B. won fi ve of the eight World Cup Note: the 31-man World Cup and then we’re going to play final 31-man squad for the Warren Whiteley. champions New Zealand on Sep- The Springboks and All fi nals, are hot favourites to oc- squad will be named on August Ireland, so all our focus is on World Cup. South Africa begin their World tember 21 and also meet Canada, Blacks, who between them have cupy the fi rst two places in the 26 in Johannesburg (1300 GMT).

FOCUS Veteran Parra not ‘bitter’ aft er France WC omission AFP combined and he featured at both Paris the 2015 World Cup as well as the edition four years earlier. Parra questioned Brunel’s xperienced scrum-half coaching methods following the Morgan Parra said yester- humiliating 44-8 defeat to England day he is not “bitter” about at this year’s Six Nations and has being left out of France’s not featured for his country since. squadE for this year’s Rugby World He was, along with centre Math- Cup. ieu Bastareaud and exciting winger Parra, 30, who has made 71 Test Teddy Thomas, the main omissions appearances, a Les Bleus record in by Brunel but said his focus had re- the number nine shirt, was a shock turned to playing for Clermont. omission in June from Jacques “Now I have other priorities, Brunel’s 31-man group as well as starting by getting back with my his reserve list for the tournament club,” he said. in Japan which begins on Septem- Last year’s Top 14 runners up ber 20. Youngsters Antoine Dupont start the new league campaign by and Baptiste Serin as well Racing hosting La Rochelle on Sunday. 92’s Maxime Machenaud are the France, who have appointed ex- half-backs picked by 65-year-old France captain Fabien Galthie as an Brunel. adviser before he replaces Brunel “I’m not bitter at all. It’s just in November, began their World like that. I believe in destiny enor- Cup preparations with a victory mously. I’m not there, no problem, over Scotland on Saturday before that’s how it is,” he said. a return match in Edinburgh this “There are three nines there, a weekend. lot of things have to happen... (to They host Italy in their fi nal get a call-up),” he added. warm-up on August 30 before The Clermont playmaker has playing Argentina, the US, Tonga more international caps than the and England in the pool stages of Dupont-Serin-Machenaud trio this year’s tournament. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 20, 2019 5 SPORT

BASKETBALL Lakers and Howard considering reunion AFP ened season in which he only 76ers’ Bolden pulls out of Australia Los Angeles played nine games for the Wash- ington Wizards due to back sur- World Cup campaign gery and injuries. But he missed he Los Angeles Lak- just 20 games over the three pre- Australia have suff ered a we have in this country ers might turn to one of vious seasons and holds career setback after Jonah Bolden available to take up this op- their former players to averages of 17.4 points, 12.6 re- joined Philadelphia 76ers’ portunity.” fi ll the hole left by the bounds and 2.0 blocks per game. teammate Ben Simmons as A replacement will be named potentiallyT season-ending injury Cousins suff ered a torn ACL in a no-show for the upcom- soon, likely ahead of the to center DeMarcus Cousins. his left knee during a workout in ing basketball World Cup in Boomers’ two pre-World Cup Centre Dwight Howard, Las Vegas, meaning the four-time China. clashes against a depleted who spent one season with the All-Star’s entire 2019-20 season The power forward, who United States in Melbourne Lakers in 2012-13, is expected to is in jeopardy, considering his re- starred for the Boomers in this week. have his contract bought out by cent injury history and the typical their 81-73 win over Canada Bolden’s withdrawal follows the Memphis Grizzlies and has nine-month recovery window. in an exhibition game on a decision by Simmons – a mutual interest in returning to Cousins, 29, signed a one-year Friday, with 12 points and five who recently signed a five- L.A., according to Shams Chara- deal with the Lakers in free agen- rebounds off the bench, cited year, US$170 million contract nia of The Athletic. cy after a season with the Golden “personal reasons”. extension with 76ers – to ESPN reported later Sunday State Warriors. He missed the Australia coach Andrej also skip the World Cup, that the Grizzlies have granted fi rst half of the 2018-19 season as Lemanis said he supported which tips off on August 31. Howard’s representatives to he recovered from a torn Achil- the decision. Other Australian NBA speak with other teams. The re- les. In nine NBA seasons, Cous- “My first thought is always standouts who will not be port added the Lakers’ interest ins has averaged 21.2 points and with the player in these situ- playing include Thon Maker in Howard is mostly “due dili- 10.9 rebounds per game. Joining ations – having to withdraw (NBA commitments), Ryan gence” for now. Howard averaged the Lakers on a $3.5 million pact from the national team is Broekhoff (birth of his child) 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds for reunited Cousins with former tough for anyone,” he said in and Dante Exum (injury). the Lakers that season, but they New Orleans Pelicans teammate a statement late Sunday. Despite their no-shows, Aus- fi nished 45-37 and were swept by Anthony Davis. “From a team perspective, tralia still boasts several NBA the San Antonio Spurs in the fi rst The Lakers reportedly also the timing is sub-optimal, but stars, including Utah Jazz’s round of the playoff s. are interested in free-agent vet- again, we are very fortunate Joe Ingle and Patty Mills of Heading into his 16th season, eran Joakim Noah as they look to to have the depth of talent the San Antonio Spurs. Howard, 33, is coming off a short- avoid playing Davis at center.

MLB NFL Raiders GM Mayock sounds off on Nationals hit eight absent Brown

Reuters of his favoured model – the New York Schutt AiR Advantage – it failed NFL testing. Brown’s agent, Drew Rosen- he Oakland Raiders’ haus, responded to Mayock’s homers in 16-8 rout Antonio Brown was comments later Sunday while absent from practice appearing on WSVN 7 News in Sunday, and gen- South Florida. Greinke earned his 200th career victory, eralT manager Mike Mayock “I’m not sure we’ve ex- sounded fed up with the star hausted all the options, as and Astros avoided a series sweep with wideout. Mike Mayock said, but there’s “Y’all know that AB is not no doubt it’s still an ongo- a 4-1 victory over the Athletics here today, right?” Mayock ing process,” Rosenhaus said. of Brewers said, addressing reporters in a “We’re trying to work with video that was distributed on the team and the league and Reuters the Oakland Raiders’ Twitter the union to come up with a Washington page. “So here’s the bottom solution. line: He’s upset about the hel- “To say AB is upset about met issue. We have supported the decision to not let him he Washington Nationals capped that; we appreciate that. OK? wear his helmet is accurate, off a productive week on off ense But at this point, we’ve pretty but we’re still processing it by slugging a franchise-record- much exhausted all avenues of and fi guring it out. I wouldn’t tying eight home runs in a 16-8 relief. So, from our perspec- make too much about him not Trout of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on tive, it’s time for him to be all being there today.” Sunday afternoon. in or all out. The league’s requirement Brian Dozier (three hits, four RBIs) and “We’re hoping he’s back of approved helmets techni- Juan Soto smacked a pair of homers, and soon. We have 89 guys bust- cally applies to all practices Matt Adams (three hits) and Anthony ing their tails. We are really and games, with teams at risk Rendon mashed three-run shots. excited about where this fran- of punishment for any of their Victor Robles and Adam Eaton notched chise is going, and we hope AB players who practice or play solo dingers for the Nationals, who tallied is going to be a big part of it, with disapproved helmets. 19 hits and won for the sixth time in seven Week 1 in Denver. End of story, The Raiders acquired the games, including a 17-7 win over Cincin- no questions.” seven-time Pro Bowl selection nati on Wednesday. Catcher Yan Gomes Brown was a full participant from the Pittsburgh Steelers went 3-for-5. Washington scored 66 runs in the team’s walkthrough on in a trade in March and later in going 5-1 during the week. Saturday, but he has had only signed him to a three-year, Erick Fedde (4-2) won his third straight one full-speed practice and $50.125 million contract. start by tossing fi ve innings and yield- two walkthroughs, in part be- Brown, 31, caught at least ing four runs and 10 hits. The Nationals cause he was recovering from 100 passes and exceeded rocked starter Chase Anderson (5-3), who foot blisters caused by a cryo- 1,200 receiving yards in each lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his worst out- therapy mishap and lately be- of the past six seasons with ing this season. The right-hander allowed cause of the helmet issue. the Steelers. nine hits – three of them homers – and 10 His old helmet is no longer He has appeared in 130 runs as Washington built a commanding approved for NFL use because games with Pittsburgh from 13-0 lead after three innings. it is more than 10 years old, 2010-18, catching 837 passes and when Brown used social for 11,207 yards and 74 touch- RESULTS media to fi nd a newer version downs. Nationals 16-8 Brewers Astros 4-1 Athletics Bears waive K Fry, will get Mets 11-5 Royals Braves 5-3 Dodgers better look at Pineiro Cubs 7-1 Pirates The Chicago Bears, still in for a conditional seventh- Indians 8-4 Yankees the hunt for a kicker, waived round pick in the 2021 NFL Elliott Fry on Sunday. Draft. This preseason, he has Red Sox 13-7 Orioles Still, no one should assume hit three of four attempts with Rockies 7-6 Marlins that Eddy Pineiro, the re- a long of 41 yards. Rays 5-4 Tigers maining kicker in camp, has The 24-year-old Fry, who Cardinals 5-4 Reds won the job. played in college at South “Is the competition over? Carolina, signed with the Bears Padres 3-2 Phillies Between those two, yeah,” in April after the Alliance of Mariners 7-0 Blue Jays head coach Matt Nagy told American Football league Twins 6-3 Rangers reporters on Sunday. folded. He kicked with the The team is searching for Orlando Apollos. D’backs 6-1 Giants a replacement for Cody With the Bears, he made one Angels 9-2 White Sox Parkey, who was cut after of two attempts, missing from Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (left), Nationals centre fielder Victor Robles (centre) and Nationals centre fielder Gerardo he missed a 43-yard at- 47 yards on Friday in a loss to For the Brewers, Mike Moustakas had Parra (right) celebrate in the outfield their victory against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports tempt that would have the New York Giants. three hits, two homers and fi ve RBIs, and given Chicago a win over the Cutting Fry now will give Pi- Ben Gamel went 4-for-5 with a homer. seven-run third inning. The Brewers got erased a 1-0 defi cit and allowed the As- (10-9). Anderson got two outs, but with Philadelphia Eagles in the neiro more chances, Nagy said. Keston Hiura was 3-for-4. one back when Gamel led off the fourth tros, who had lost the fi rst three games the baserunners at second and third, he wild-card round of the play- “Like any position we’re al- The clubs started the series fi nale a lit- with his seventh homer, and Moustakas of the series, to snap a fi ve-game losing got taken deep by Bregman for a 3-1 As- off s in January. Instead, the ways going to be looking for tle over 12 hours after Saturday night’s added a three-run shot in the fi fth for Mil- streak. Greinke (13-4) held the A’s to one tros’ advantage. The 30th homer for the Bears lost 16-15 after Parkey the best,” Nagy said. “I think epic 14-inning, 15-14 win by the Brewers waukee, which hit seven long balls on Sat- run and four hits in seven innings en route 25-year-old is one shy of his career-high, missed the kick with seconds for Eddy, though, he needs to that featured 11 home runs, 38 hits and 19 urday night. Washington made it 15-4 on to his third consecutive win since joining set last season. The Astros increased their remaining. Parkey missed understand that we feel re- pitchers and lasted fi ve hours and 40 min- solo shots by Eaton and Soto in the fi fth. the Astros in a trade last month. lead to 4-1 in the sixth when Carlos Correa seven field goal attempts ally good with where he’s at utes. Adams lined a 93 mph fastball off the Brewers outfi elder Hernan Perez made The 35-year-old improved to 4-1 in his walked and Yuli Gurriel drove him home and three extra points in the and now he’s never kicked in facing of the second deck in center for a his third pitching appearance this season career in Oakland and, coupled with his with a double. regular season. In June, the an NFL game before so that 3-0 lead in the fi rst, homering for the 19th and allowed Dozier’s second homer, a solo 6-0 record in San Francisco against the Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna com- Bears waived former Pitt can go a couple diff erent time. Robles followed by clubbing a 2-0 shot, in the eighth. Moustakas and Or- Giants, 10-1 in his big-league career in pleted a six-hitter with a shutout inning kicker Chris Blewitt, one of ways. It can go really good. fastball deep to left-center for his 16th lando Arcia homered in a four-run ninth. the Bay Area. He walked three and struck apiece. Osuna was credited with his 27th three kickers who took part It can go really bad. We don’t shot of the season. out six, giving up his only run on a Marcus save. Remaining winless in three starts at mandatory minicamp. know that answer but for Eaton, who fi nished a triple shy of the GREINKE, BREGMAN HELP ASTROS Semien leadoff homer in the fourth inning against the Astros this season, Anderson Pineiro, 23, kicked collegiate- right now we’re good with cycle on Saturday, banged his seventh tri- DISPATCH ATHLETICS that temporarily put Oakland on top 1-0. went fi ve innings, allowing four runs and ly at Florida and signed in where he’s at. We want him ple off the right fi eld fence to score two Right-hander Zack Greinke earned his Greinke had retired the fi rst nine A’s seven hits. He walked four and struck out May 2018 with the Oakland to just keep kicking like he’s to make it 6-0 in the second. Dozier took 200th career victory, and the visiting in order before serving up Semien’s 21st three. Bregman fi nished with two singles, Raiders as an undrafted free been but we’re always going Anderson deep in the third, stroking a Houston Astros avoided a series sweep homer of the year. The Astros rebounded a double and his home run for Houston, agent. He was placed on to keep that thing open and three-run shot to left for his 18th to make with a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Ath- immediately from their one-run defi cit which completed a 4-6 trip. injured reserve in September not just at that position but it 9-0. Rendon and Soto hit back-to-back letics. Alex Bregman went 4-for-4 and when Josh Reddick and George Springer Matt Olson had two hits for the A’s, who and missed the season. The every position until we make blasts – the 27th homers for both – off belted his 30th home run of the season, led off the fi fth with consecutive singles saw a four-game winning streak come to Bears acquired him in May that final 53.” Aaron Wilkerson to make it 13-0 in the a three-run shot in the fi fth inning that off Athletics left-hander Brett Anderson an end. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, August 20, 2019 SPORT

TENNIS Injured Osaka keeps top spot

Paris: Naomi Osaka held on Medvedev beats Goffi n to the top of the WTA rank- ings yesterday despite injury and elimination from the Cincinnati Masters. The Japa- nese lost to 20th placed Sofia Kenin in the quarter-finals on Sunday due to a knee injury. Her participation at the US for Cincinnati crown Open is still uncertain. Madison Keys jumped eight spots and is ranked 10th ‘It would be not a good feeling if I lost three finals in a row so it’s just a relief and I’m so happy’ after she won Cincinnati on Sunday. Also on the rise in an otherwise unchanged top 10 Reuters weeks,” Goffi n said. “He’s super solid. is Elina Svitolina who moved Mason, Ohio He doesn’t miss. It’s like playing against up two spots to fifth, a career a wall. That’s why everybody is strug- high for Ukrainian. gling, because he’s so consistent, now Sloane Stephens was ussian Daniil Medvedev sur- with more confi dence.” robbed of her 10th spot in vived cramps and tantrum Medvedev, who beat world number the rankings and sits at 11th where he cracked a racquet to one Novak Djokovic in the semi-fi nals, after her defeat to Svetlana clinch his fi rst Masters 1000 plans a short rest before the US Open Kuznetsova in Cincinatti’s titleR on Sunday with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win starts in eight days. “I need some days third round. Meanwhile, Kiki over David Goffi n in the fi nal of the off ,” he said. “I’ve been playing tennis Bertens took two steps back Cincinnati Masters. The 23-year-old for so long in a row. I just need to stay in to 7th place and Johanna became the fi rst Russian player in his- the bed for a few days watching the TV Konta was demoted to 16th. tory to win a Masters title. 24 hours a day. Hopefully I can regroup Medvedev saved two breaks points and get to the US Open fresh.” Top 10 WTA Rankings while serving for the match at 5-4 in the 1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6,606 second set before winning the next four, MEDVEDEV MAKES pts; 2. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) three of them with aces to close out his TOP FIVE DEBUT 6,501; 3. Karolína Plísková dogged Belgian opponent. It was the Meanwhile, Medvedev cracked the top (CZE) 6,315; 4. Simona Halep second title of the year for Medvedev, fi ve in the ATP rankings for the fi rst time (ROU) 4,743; 5. Elina Svitolina who had lost on the past two Sundays, in his career after claiming his maiden (UKR) 4,492 (+2); 6. Petra to Nick Kyrgios in Washington and Rafa Masters crown. The Russian is now fi fth Kvitová (CZE) 4,485; 7. Kiki Nadal in Montreal. in the rankings released yesterday and Bertens (NED) 4,325 (-2); 8. “It would be not a good feeling if I lost led by Djokovic. But it was Goffi n who Serena Williams (USA) 3,935; three fi nals in a row so it’s just a relief made the most notable jump in the top 9. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) and I’m so happy,” he said in a courtside 20 advancing four places to 15th. Mean- 3,320; 10. Madison Keys (USA) interview after playing his 16th match while, Gael Monfi ls has maintained his 3,267 (+8) in 20 days. “I started feeling cramps at title as France’s top player going up two 5-3 (in the second set), fi rst time in three spots to 13th. Kei Nishikori dropped weeks I started cramping, probably be- two places and fi nds himself at seventh cause of the nerves and it’s been 24 days while Roberto Bautista Agut made his in a row I played tennis. top 10 debut having reached the Cinci- “I started cramping quite hard, so natti quarter-fi nals. last game, 15-40, I know if it’s going to Juan Martin del Potro suff ered set- be fi ve-all I’m in a bad position. I made backs as he dropped four places and out four serves that he didn’t return and of the US Open after a devastating run three of them were aces. It’s just unbe- of injuries. The Argentine re-fractured lievable.” his knee cap during the Queen’s Club The pressure perhaps showed in Championship in June. the fi nal game when Medvedev hurled his racquet to the ground after losing Top 10 ATP Rankings: 1. Novak Djokovic a point, but the temper tantrum was (SRB) 11,685 pts; 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) short lived and he regrouped quickly to 7,945; 3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,950; 4. clinch his fi fth title in two years. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4,925; 5. Daniil Earlier, Goffi n did well to force a rst fi Medvedev (RUS) 4,195 (+3); 6. Alexander set tiebreak by holding serve, includ- Zverev (GER) 4,005; 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) ing winning a 29-rally point. But the 4,005 (-2); 8. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) Belgian, without a victory since 2017, 3,455 (-1); 9. Karen Khachanov (RUS) lost the tiebreak on a double-fault. 2,890; 10. Roberto Bautista (ESP) Daniil Medvedev of Russia poses with the trophy after defeating David Goff in of Belgium in the final to win the Cincinnati “He played unbelievable the last three 2,575 (+1) Masters in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Keys locks up Cincinnati title Berdych ends drought with opening win

Reuters matches, Robin Haase of Netherlands beat year, got her revenge with a convincing 6-0, with victory over Kuznetsova New York American Denis Kudla 6-4, 7-6(3). South 6-2 win over the Russian to set up a last-16 African’s Lloyd Harris took down Spain’s match with third seed Barbora Strycova who AFP Jaume Munar 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1. India’s Pra- received a bye. Cincinnati omas Berdych earned his fi rst ATP jnesh Gunneswaran beat Cedrik-Marcel Although Cornet also won in straight sets, win in six months with a 6-1, 3-6, Stebe 6-3, 6-4 and Romania’s Marius Copil beating Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova and 6-3 fi rst round victory over An- defeated Denmark’s Martin Klizan 6-4, breaking her fi ve times, she still needed 97 adison Keys came Tdreas Seppi at the Winston-Salem 3-6, 6-3. Former world number one Andy minutes to get over the line with a 6-4, 6-2 from a break down Open on Sunday. The Czech, who missed Murray will play his opening match against victory. in both sets to defeat four months prior to Wimbledon with a American Tennys Sandgren. The three-time It was not easy going for the qualifying Svetlana Kuznetsova back injury, had not recorded a triumph Grand Slam champion is continuing his seeds, however, with both second seed Fiona M7-5, 7-6 (7/5) on Sunday to win since February in Dubai. comeback from hip surgery back in Janu- Ferro of France and fi fth seed Kaia Kanepi of the WTA Cincinnati crown. The Against Seppi, Berdych fi red eight aces ary. He suff ered a fi rst-round loss to Richard Estonia needing three sets each to go past 2017 US Open fi nalist notched and broke his opponent’s service fi ve times Gasquet last week in Cincinnati. American Elizabeth Mandlik and Ukraine’s her fi fth career title and second as the match shifted momentum. Berdych, Nadiia Kichenok respectively. this season after a win in Charle- one of four wild cards in the fi eld, raced to PERA, CORNET ADVANCE Top qualifying seed Jil Teichmann saved ston in April. a 5-0 advantage in the opening set but bat- American Bernarda Pera and France’s Alize two match points to beat Laura Siegemund She’ll return to the top 10 in tled rust as Seppi rallied to take the second Cornet advanced to the second round with 0-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5) while third qualifying the world rankings with the US set before Berdych hit back. straight sets victories at the rain-hit Bronx seed Viktorija Golubic was ousted by un- Open a week away. Kuznetsova, Berdych will now face eighth-seeded Filip Open in New York on Sunday. Pera, who seeded Chinese Zhu Lin who came back a two-time Grand Slam champi- Krajinovic in the second round. In other lost to Veronika Kudermetova twice this from a set down to win 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. on working her way back up the rankings after a series of injuries, was broken back in the 10th game CYCLING of each set by 16th-seeded Keys — who fi red 13 aces on the way to victory. “If my team had told me a Veteran Gilbert returns to Lotto-Soudal week ago that I would be here, I would have laughed in their hilippe Gilbert, the 2012 road- due to an injury that cut short his Giro chal- face,” admitted Keys, who had race world champion, will return to lenge. While away from the action he began endured two opening-match Lotto Soudal next season at the age to think about his future and the “great” defeats since a second-round of 38 on a three-year contract, the off ers coming his way. exit at Wimbledon. Keys belted Pteam announced yesterday. Gilbert, who is “After the disappointment of missing the a total of 43 winners with 33 un- in his third season at another Belgian team, Tour and fi nding myself sitting at home, I forced errors and broke Kuznet- Quick-Step, made his mark in his fi rst spell started to consider that a new environment sova three times. at Lotto from 2009-11. could be refreshing,” he said. “There were Kuznetsova was the fourth The Belgian, who won the Paris-Roubaix great off ers and this phase of my career felt Grand Slam winner Keys beat race earlier this summer, said on the team like the right time to take it.” during the week, a string that in- website that the length of the contract had cluded Spain’s Garbine Muguru- helped persuade him. “I still wanted to BRITON CAMPBELL SMASHES za, reigning Wimbledon cham- race, without any doubt,” he said. “When I CYCLING SPEED RECORD AT 174MPH pion Simona Halep and Venus learned that I could prolong at my cur- British cyclist Neil Campbell has hit a speed Williams. “It was a tough draw rent team for only one year, it was clear record of more than 174mph to become from the very start,” Keys said. to me that I wanted to change. I know the the fastest man on bike with his pulsating “I defi nitely think I played team. And I will again be part of a Belgian ride at Elvington Airfi eld in North York- some of my best tennis consist- project.” shire. Campbell undertook the attempt on ently this week. I’m obviously Madison Keys of the US celebrates after defeating Svetlana Gilbert reached the world No.1 ranking Saturday using a 15,000 pounds ($18,175.50) really happy and really proud of Kuznetsova in the Cincinnati Open final. (USA TODAY Sports) with Lotto in 2011, a season when he won custom-built bike, which was pulled to myself,” she added, while stress- Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Amstel Gold, speed by a Porsche Cayenne before being ing she won’t let the perform- “I just really focused in on ob- 2017 US Open champion Sloane the Fleche Wallonne, the Tour de Lom- released on the runway, allowing the cyclist ance put more pressure on her viously really important games Stephens on her way to the fi nal. bardy, the fi rst stage of the Tour de France 28-year-old Dutchman, who was forced to break the record on his own steam. at the US Open. “It’s defi nitely and was able to make her play a “I had a lot of matches where and the Saint-Sebastien Classic. to sit out this year’s Tour de France with He was timed at 174.33mph after going more of a building block,” she lot of balls,” Keys said. “I think they could have gone either way, “He can pass on his experience to the a knee injury, had two years to run on his through a the 200-metre speed trap as he said. when I was doing a good job at including this one,” said Kuznet- current team, which is hungry for new Sunweb contract. beat the previous mark of 166.9 mph set Despite leading both sets, moving forward and kind of try- sova, who will jump from 118th success,” said team manager Marc Sargent, Jumbo-Visma said its goal was to win a by Dutchman Fred Rompelberg in 1995. Kuznetsova never had a set point ing to neutralise some of her to 31st in the rankings and said who also oversaw Gilbert’s fi rst stint at the Grand Tour with Dumoulin, a former Giro Campbell, who works as an architect in in either, Keys winning the fi nal deep, heavy, spinny shots, I was she’d had a “great week.” team. “His age is a relative term, you are as winner, in its ranks for the next three years. Essex, has said his next challenge will be to four games of the fi rst set before able to get out in front in the “I had chances but she hit old or fi t as you feel.” “I’m looking forward to contributing to that reach 220mph next year on a six-mile track dropping her serve in the third point and play a little bit more the ball well and was more ag- goal, winning a Grand Tour”, Dumoulin said at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. game of the second. Keys broke off ence.” gressive. I’m happy with how I FORMER WORLD CHAMPION on his new team’s website. “We want to be the fi rst team to go over Kuznetsova to level at 5-all and Former world number two played, I’m feeling great,” she DUMOULIN JOINS JUMBO-VISMA Earlier, Sunweb announced the 2017 200 mile an hour,” he said. “In fact, we ran out the winner in the ensu- Kuznetsova, who received a said. “It could give me more mo- Former world champion Tom Dumoulin, world champion was quitting the team “af- think we can do 220 plus. We think we can ing tiebreaker as the Russian sent wildcard into the draw, beat tivation in the future,” Kuznetso- second to Geraint Thomas in the 2018 ter an incredible eight-year journey fi lled go supersonic... we’ve got the bike, we’ve a service return long on Keys’s top seed Ashleigh Barty, world va added. “I just want to rest and Tour de France, joined Team Jumbo Visma, with countless successes...” Dumoulin was got the team, we looking at options with the second match point. number three Ashleigh Barty and get ready for the Open.” quitting Sunweb after eight years. The forced to sit out this year’s Tour de France car so you know, let’s do it.” Gulf Times Tuesday, August 20, 2019 7 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA SERIE A Balotelli happy to Trippier, Morata be home in Brescia AFP Balotelli, who has to complete a Rome four-game suspension for a red card while playing for Marseille, cannot make his debut until the ario Balotelli said fi fth round of Serie A on Septem- yesterday he had ber 25 when Brescia host cham- “thought of nothing pions Juventus. shine as Atletico else” after receiv- Balotelli made his debut in lo- Ming an off er from Brescia, the cal team Lumezzane in Serie C club in the city where he grew as a 16-year-old, before mov- up. “I chose Brescia because ing to Serie A giants Inter Milan when their off er came in, I didn’t in 2007. He later had two spells think about anything else,” the at AC Milan and also played for much-travelled striker said at Manchester City, Liverpool and make winning start his presentation press confer- Nice. A report said Balotelli has ence. “Here, I have everything I signed a three-year deal worth need, because it’s the team from 3mn euros for the fi rst year, plus Getafe striker Molina and Atletico left-back Lodi were sent off my city.” a further 3mn if the club remains Balotelli was born in Pal- in Serie A. In the following two ermo but grew up in Brescia, in years he will receive 6mn euros northern Italy, where he owns per season if Brescia remain in an apartment. The club were Serie A. promoted to Serie A this year, after being relegated in 2011. “I have spent more years abroad than in Italy,” said Balotelli who was without a club after his brief contract with Marseille ran out at the end of last season. “My mother cried when she heard that I was coming back to Brescia, she was very happy. And my father dreamed of see- ing me play at home. I have no fear. The objective is to make this team progress, by giving the team what I can give it. I think you’re the one who’s most afraid,” the striker also said. The 29-year-old has won 36 caps for Italy but only one since 2014. He said hopes to be called up again. “Absolutely, yes,” he said, adding that Italy coach Roberto Mancini had sent him a message of congratulations. Balotelli has been the victim of racism from fans in Italy. “I hope from my heart to fi nd a dif- ferent league and not experience new episodes of racism,” he said.

Messi, Ibrahimovic nominated for FIFA goal of the year Lausanne: Lionel Messi and the top three vote getters. Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the star The two other women can- names on the 10-player short- didates are Ajara Nchout for a list announced yesterday by dribble and shot for Cameroon Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata (centre) scores a header past Getafe’s Dakonam Djene (second left) during the La Liga match in Madrid on Sunday. (AFP) FIFA for its Puskas award for against New Zealand in the goal of the year. They are joined World Cup and Amy Rodriguez AFP The 19-year-old is supposed to be the ta in the middle after a brilliant pass from After motoring 30 yards, he was fi nally by three women and five men, of Utah for a dribble and long- Madrid heartbeat not only of a new team but a Saul Niguez. brought down by Bruno for a penalty, the with goals scored between July range shot in the US National diff erent style too, one that is more at- He had another chance moments later fans cheering as if they had seen a goal. It 16, 2018 and July 19, 2019. Women’s Soccer League. tractive to watch and that could even pip though and this time Trippier was more should have been worth one but Morata’s There are nominees from The remaining five choices lvaro Morata headed in a sump- Barcelona and Real Madrid to the title. precise. A bending cross from the right shot was pushed wide by David Soria and the Bundesliga, Spanish Liga are: Brazilian Matheus Cunha, tuous Kieran Trippier cross to But Getafe were stubborn opponents, allowed Morata to head in and Trippier Getafe remained in touch. Getafe kept it and women’s World Cup and of RB Leipzig, for a spin and ensure a new-look Atletico Ma- showing again why they fi nished fi fth last enjoyed the celebrations, rousing the close and Morata should have made it two one, a jaw-dropping shot by chip against Leverkusen in drid beat Getafe 1-0 on Sunday season, only narrowly missing out on a crowd on his way back and accepting a when sent through in injury-time. One Billie Simpson of Cliftonville the Bundesliga, Italian veteran andA made a winning start in La Liga. Trip- place in the Champions League to Valen- huge roar in return. was enough. Ladies, from a Northern Ireland Fabio Quagliarella for a back- pier looked right at home at the Wanda cia on the fi nal day. Felix aside, Atletico’s Getafe had struggled to fi nd a way into women’s league game played heeled volley for Sampdoria Metropolitano when his bending ball was other debutants impressed, including the match but two red cards in four min- LA LIGA RESULTS on what appears to be a public against his former club Na- nodded in by Morata before two red cards Lodi, before he was sent off , and Trippier, utes threatened to shift the balance. First, pitch in front of no spectators. poli, Colombian Juan Fernando in four minutes, one for each team, made the fi rst Englishman to play for Atletico referee Cuadra Fernandez turned a yellow Alaves 1 (Maripan 54) Levante 0; Espanyol Messi, who has yet to win Quintero for a free kick for it 10 against 10 before half-time. since the Spanish Civil War and 20th in card into a red for Molina after consulting 0 Sevilla 2 (Rodriguez 44, Nolito 86); Real the award, earned a seventh River Plate against Argentine Getafe striker Jorge Molina and Atleti- the history of the Spanish top fl ight. VAR, the striker catching Thomas Partey Betis 1 (Moron 68) Valladolid 2 (Guardiola nomination with a delicate chip rivals Racing, Andros Townsend co left-back Renan Lodi were the players The former Tottenham defender’s late down the back of his heel. Navarro 63, Plano 89)l Atletico Madrid 1 for Barcelona against Betis in of Crystal Palace for a volley sent off and then Morata missed a pen- pin-point cross was the highlight of a Then Lodi was handed a second yellow (Morata) Getafe 0. Seville. Ibrahimovic netted with against Manchester City and alty, earned after a mesmeric run from confi dent performance that earned regu- for planting his hand in the face of Dam- On Saturday: Celta Vigo 1 (Losada 90+1) a balletic volley for LA Galaxy Daniel Zsori for an overhead Joao Felix, Atletico’s 126mn euro signing lar praise from the home fans. The early ian Suarez. Atletico dropped Saul into left Real Madrid 3 (Benzema 12, Kroos 61, in Toronto in Major League kick for Debrecen in the Hun- from Benfi ca. It was enough for Felix to signs were encouraging as Trippier and back before Felix was sacrifi ced later in Lucas Vazquez 80); Valencia 1 (Gameiro Soccer. The award, which was garian league. depart to a standing ovation and Atletico Lodi pushed high and wide, like wing- the second half, Mario Hermoso coming 58) Real Sociedad 1 (Oiarzabal 90+11-pen); established in 2009, is named Last year the Puskas award held on, even if this was perhaps not the ers, and the former almost played Koke in on for his debut where Lodi had started. Mallorca 2 (Rodriguez 4, Paulo Oliveira 75- after the legendary Hungary, was won by Mohamed Salah statement opening to the season that Di- with a superb fi rst-time pass. But not before Felix produced the most og) Eibar 1 (Paulo Oliveira 57); Leganes 0 Spain and Real Madrid striker of Liverpool. Ibrahimovic won ego Simeone might have hoped for. After Felix showed some nice touches and his exhiliarating moment of the match, for Osasuna 1 (Chimy Avila 75); Villarreal 4 (Ca- Ferenc Puskas. Fans can vote in 2013. Cristiano Ronaldo and losing Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona, team-mates were quick to protest on his which an otherwise rather muted debut zorla 35-pen, Moises 53, Gerard 65, Chuk- until September 1 on the 10 can- Neymar have also won. The Atletico have spent close to 250mn euros behalf after Leandro Cabrera barged him will be remembered. Collecting the ball wueze 73) Granada 4 (Fede Vico 45+6-pen, didates nominated by FIFA. The winner will be announced at this summer, just over half of that on Fe- over. Trippier was the team’s best outlet in his own half, he slid past one Getafe Pena 62-og, Soldado 75, Puertas 81) governing body of world foot- the FIFA Football Awards in lix, whose electric run lit up an otherwise and Atletico might have scored had he opponent, nutmegged another and then On Friday: Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aduriz 89) ball will then choose between Milan on September 23. rather disjointed contest. managed to pick out either Felix or Mora- weaved through two more. Barcelona 0

SPOTLIGHT ROUND-UP Moved to Arsenal Brazil’s Dani Alves scores winner on Sao Paulo debut razil veteran Dani Alves scored There are 24 teams in MLS this season to experience new the winning goal on his debut with expansion FC Cincinnati start- for Sao Paulo on Sunday, weeks ing earlier this year. David Beckham’s after signing a three-year deal Inter Miami squad and a new team in challenge, says Luiz withB the club. Alves, 36, found the back Nashville, Tennessee, are set to debut in of the net in the 40th minute to score the 2020 with a club in Austin scheduled to Reuters happy in Chelsea and won many only goal of the game against Ceara. open in 2021. London trophies there. I had a real hon- Alves and Spanish international est conversation with Lamps and Juanfran, 34, are the stars for Sao Paulo, BELGIUM JOIN LIST OF Lamps had diff erent ideas for his who snapped up both players after their CONTENDERS TO HOST 2023 efender David Luiz said plans for the year,” Luiz told re- contracts with European clubs expired. WOMEN’S WORLD CUP he decided to move porters. Alves’ return to Brazil after 17 years play- Belgium has become the 10th coun- from Chelsea to Pre- “So the best way for me to re- ing for top clubs in Europe has had a big try to express an interest in hosting an mier League rivals Ar- spect the club where I can was impact on his home country. expanded women’s World Cup in 2023, senalD for a diff erent challenge to move on, try a new challenge The right-back played for Sevilla FIFA revealed. World football’s govern- after an “honest conversation” and give him the opportunity to before going on to play for Barcelona, ing body announced late last month with manager Frank Lampard do his job. I’m so happy here as Juventus and PSG, collecting nine na- that, following the success of this year’s about the Stamford Bridge club’s since the fi rst day I felt welcome. tional league titles along the way — six in Sao Paulo’s Dani Alves celebrates after scoring against Ceara during the Brazilian 24-team tournament in France, and in new direction. This is a big club and I want to be Spain, one in Italy and two in France. He Championship at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo on Sunday. (AFP) order to “foster the growth of women’s Luiz, 32, made a deadline day here and see it shine on the pitch has collected 40 trophies in all with club football”, the next World Cup in 2023 move across London to Arsenal and outside.” and country including three Champions French international left Bayern Munich 170mn euros ($190mn) takeover. would be expanded to feature 32 teams. where he signed a two-year con- Luiz said he could have re- League titles with Barcelona and two as a free agent at the end of last season Nine countries had already declared an tract after spending three sea- mained at Stamford Bridge, UEFA Cups with Sevilla He has also won after 12 seasons with the German giants. MLS SET TO EXPAND AGAIN interest in hosting the next tournament sons in a second stint with Chel- where he had signed a new two- two Copa Americas with Brazil, most Ribery won nine Bundesliga titles WITH 28TH TEAM IN ST. LOUIS before the decision was taken to change sea. He made his Arsenal debut year contract extension at the recently in July when he was named and the Champions League with Bayern Major League Soccer appears set to the format, including Australia, New last weekend in a 2-1 home win end of last season after help- player of the tournament as he captained after he joined the club from French side announce a new expansion club for St. Zealand, South Africa, Japan and South over Burnley. ing the club fi nish third in the them to victory over Peru in the fi nal at Marseille in 2007. Prade confi rmed that Louis on Tuesday, which would boost Korea, with the latter potentially making With Chelsea operating under league, but chose to seek a new the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Fiorentina defender Cristiano Biraghi North America’s top football league to a joint bid with North Korea. Argentina, a FIFA transfer ban, Lampard’s challenge. “I am a guy with am- was pushing for a move to Serie A rivals 28 teams. MLS announced in St. Louis Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia had also policy has been to build the side bition and that is why I moved,” FIORENTINA AWAIT RIBERY Inter Milan. Fiorentina fi nished 16th with league commissioner Don Garber, come forward before Belgium became with younger players, choosing Luiz added. “I could have chosen ‘WITH OPEN ARMS’ in Serie A last season and open their city mayor Lyda Krewson and members the 10th interested country. They each to start Andreas Christensen and a comfortable zone and got mon- Italian club Fiorentina have targeted campaign at home against Napoli next of the group seeking an expansion team have until September 2 to confi rm their Kurt Zouma in central defence in ey and be cool and that is it. But French winger Franck Ribery, the Tusca- weekend. The club changed ownership for the Midwest market known for its gi- participation and must then submit their his fi rst two league games. I like a new a challenge and new ny club’s sporting director Daniele Prade last June with Italian-American media ant Gateway Arch. St. Louis would land bids by December 13. The winning bid “Everyone knows I was so things in my life.” confi rmed. The 36-year-old former magnate Rocco Commisso completing a an MLS team this week, a reports said. will be announced in May next year.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Al Sadd primed for AFC Champions League title tilt l Sadd are in the right place in Riyadh on August 26. The return leg ahead of the kick-off of the will be played in Doha on September 16. 2019-20 QNB Stars League Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi, in his (QSL) and 2019 AFC Cham- post-match comments after the Sheikh pionsA League quarter-fi nals. The Xavi- Jassim Cup, said he was glad to have led reigning QSL champions are already won his fi rst title as Al Sadd head coach. in competition mode after their tri- “I want to congratulate the players umph over local rivals Al Duhail in the for their excellent displays, not just in 2019 AFC Champions League Round of this game but in the last three games 16 and Sheikh Jassim Cup and looking we have played since the start of the to continue their fi ne start. season. I also want to congratulate the The 4-2 Round of 16 aggregate win management and the fans, on win- over Al Duhail was followed by a 1-0 ning the fi rst title of the season. Also, triumph in Saturday’s Sheikh Jassim I congratulate the coaching staff who Cup and midfi elder Ali Asad said their worked a lot for this moment. We will good early season form is a confi dence now keep working hard to win more ti- booster for Al Sadd. tles,” Xavi said. “It is a good start to the season. This The Sheikh Jassim Cup was the 70th trophy (Sheikh Jassim Cup) will provide major trophy Al Sadd have won in their us with plenty of confi dence as we ap- illustrious history and the Doha-based proach the QSL and AFC Champions club are now aiming to add the 2019 League matches,” said Asad. AFC Champions League trophy to their His 13th minute strike ultimately cabinet in a remarkable year where they proved the diff erence but Al Sadd were will also feature in the 2019 FIFA Club on top for most of the match as they World Cup on home soil in December. laid an early marker on the defence of They ended a six-year wait when their QSL title. They open their 2019- they lifted the 2018-19 QSL title but 20 QSL campaign against newly-pro- their wait for an AFC Champions moted Al Wakrah tomorrow but it is League title has been longer, with Al the AFC Champions League which Al Sadd the last team from the West to Sadd are focused on at this part of their have lifted the title in 2011. campaign. They face Saudi Arabia’s Al Having hit the ground running, Al Nassr in the quarter-fi nals with the Sadd will be confi dent they will end this Saudi Arabia side hosting the fi rst leg wait too. (the-afc.com) Al Sadd players celebrate after winning the AFC Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Al Duhail at Jassim Bin Hamad stadium last Tuesday. (AFP)

LIGUE 1 FOCUS Bayern Munich sign PSG suff er defeat at Coutinho on loan from Barcelona

Reuters HOENESS CONFIRMS Munich HE WILL STEP DOWN AS BAYERN PRESIDENT Rennes in opener Meanwhile, Uli Hoeness has undesliga champions confi rmed he is stepping down Bayern Munich have as president Bayern Munich and signed Barcelona mid- will not stand for re-election in ‘We started well but we eased off a bit, I don’t know why, we lost concentration’ fi elder Philippe Coutin- November. The 67-year-old told hoB on loan for the season, the German daily Bild that he will two clubs confi rmed yesterday, remain on the board at Bayern, with the player hoping for better “but will relinquish my presi- times than at his previous team. dency when the time comes”. Bayern will pay a loan fee of That means Bayern members 8.5mn euros ($9.44mn) and pay will vote for a new head of the de- his wages. They have the option fending Bundesliga champions of making the deal permanent for at the annual general meeting in a fee of 120mn euros. November with Hoeness to step Coutinho, who joined Bar- down as head of the club’s board. celona in January last year for After 40 hugely successful years approximately 142mn pounds in charge, Hoeness will hand ($172.25mn), was the third most over the reins and former Adidas expensive transfer in history but boss Herbert Hainer, currently he failed to hit the same heights his deputy on the club’s board, at the Camp Nou as he did with is widely tipped as his successor. Liverpool. Coutinho will wear Since Hoeness fi rst took charge the number 10 shirt previously in 1979, Bayern have enjoyed worn by Dutchman Arjen Rob- phenomenal success — claiming ben, who retired at the end of last the Bundesliga trophy 24 times, season. The Brazilian told re- the German Cup on 14 occasions porters he hoped for better times and lifted the Champions League than in Spain. “In Barcelona a lot trophy in 2001 and 2013. of things did not turn out as we After a knee injury forced the had imagined,” he said at his of- West Germany international fi cial presentation in Munich. into retirement, Hoeness became “But this is now history. I hope general manager in 1979 and was to stay here a long time and win promoted to club president in many titles.” 2009. Bayern opened the new Coutinho, 27, had joined Barca league season with a disappoint- from Liverpool in January 2018 ing 2-2 draw at home to Hertha for a club record fee of 120 n eu- Berlin as two Robert Lewand- ros plus 45mn euros in variables. owski goals bailed the hosts out He played 76 games for the Cata- of trouble at the Allianz Arena. lans in all competitions, scoring However, reinforcements have 21 goals, but struggled to dovetail been signed with both Coutinho with his fellow attackers despite and forward Ivan Perisic, from winning two consecutive La Liga Inter Milan, joining on loan titles. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz deals. Hoeness joined Bayern as a Rummenigge said the price paid player in 1970, retiring nine years for the one-year loan was very later to manage the club and has reasonable. overseen its fortunes ever since.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (left) vies for the ball with Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga during their French Ligue 1 match on Sunday. (AFP)

AFP making his fi rst team debut in April. “It’s Rennes captain Damien da Silva. The Kylian Mbappe and Cavani had a late Rennes, France more than six months he’s been training centre-back received the ball in his own chances but they could not save PSG with the professionals. He’s settled in box but his mis-placed pass to goalkeeper and Thomas Tuchel’s blushes, losing well with the squad,” he said. Romain Salin was intercepted by Cavani to the side who fi nished in 10th place in hampions Paris Saint-Germain “We’ve prepared him with the play- who tucked it away to make it 1-0. the league last season. Earlier on Sunday slipped up in their second league ers, the staff and the whole club so he can The sides were back level just be- Saint-Etienne salvaged a late point at game of the season losing 2-1 evolve in the right conditions. He started fore the half-time whistle. Right-back home to promoted Brest with new sign- to Rennes on Sunday night in a doing it at the end of last season and he’s Hamari Traore found Niang in the box ing Denis Bouanga’s 83rd minute eff ort repeatC of April’s French Cup fi nal with a confi rming all the talent we think he has with a soft cross and the Senegal forward claiming a 1-1 draw and it fi nished goal- 16-year-old playing a starring role. Edin- at the start of this season,” he added. took two light touches, held-off Mar- less between Reims and Strasbourg. son Cavani scored after less than 15 min- PSG skipper Thiago Silva admitted his quinhos before smoothly curling his ef- utes of play for the visitors in Brittanny side stepped off the gas after their good fort past Alphonse Areola. FRENCH LIGUE 1 RESULTS before Mbaye Niang and Romain del Cas- start through Cavani’s eff ort. “We started The Bretons took the lead than four Rennes 2 (Niang 44, Del Castillo 48) Paris tillo responded for the home side. well but we eased off a bit, I don’t know minutes later of the second-half follow- Saint-Germain 1 (Cavani 36); Reims 0 PSG were without forward Neymar for why, we lost concentration,” he said. “It ing a sublime cross from Camavinga. Strasbourg 0 Saint-Etienne 1 (Bouanga 83) a third successive game this term with the wasn’t the real PSG. Rennes played well, Midfi elder Camavinga found a free Del Brest 1 (Faussurier 45+1) world’s most expensive player continuing they were solid defensively, they were Castillo, starting instead of suspended to be the subject of interest from Barce- more careful than us,” he added. Flavien Tait, who easily beat Areola with Played Saturday: Nantes 0 Marseille 0; lona and Real Madrid. The Parisians dominated the early pro- a header. The hosts refused to settle for Amiens 1 (Guirassy 70) Lille 0; Bordeaux 1 Angolan-born 16-year-old Eduardo ceedings and showed their quality with the one-goal advantage and had a superb (Maja 70) Montpellier 1 (Delort 22); Metz 3 Camavinga starred in Rennes midfi eld, two good chances within the opening chance to make it 3-1 on 62 minutes. (Diallo 11-pen, 53, Cohade 66) Monaco 0; and proved to be key in his team’s win- quarter of an hour of play. Firstly Julian Benjamin Bourigeaud played his cor- Toulouse 1 (Makengo 54) Dijon 0; Nimes 1 ning goal, along with experienced play- Draxler’s half-volley skimmed over the ner to front post and centre-back Jeremy (Ripart 45+1-pen) Nice 2 (Cyprien 10-pen, maker Clement Grenier. bar before Cavani’s header hit the post Gelin’s header glanced past Areola but hit Knepe Ganago 16) Rennes boss Julien Stephan said Ca- after 14 minutes. the post and dribble out for a goal-kick. Played Friday: Lyon 6 (Aouar 11, Dembele mavinga, the fi rst player born since Janu- Uruguay forward Cavani made up for Youngster Camavinga could have added 36, 65, Depay 42, 49, Jean Lucas 72) ary 2002 to feature in Europe’s top fi ve hitting the woodowrk by scoring 20 min- a third himself but his half-volley skied Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho poses with his wife Aine after leagues, had continued to improve since utes later after a defensive howler from over the crossbar. Angers 0 joining the Bundesliga club Bayern Munich yesterday. (AFP)