6 September 14, 2017 Iran Crush USA at FIVB Brilliant Persepolis World Grand Champions Cup Put Al Ahli to Sword TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iran record, while USA dropped to 1-1 battled back from a 0-2 deficit to in the 2017 edition of the World USA to win the match 3-2 (20-25, Grand Champions Cup. 17-25, 25-21, 27-25, 25-21, 15-12) at Iran, who have defeated Italy the Nippon Gaishi Hall at the FIVB 3-2 in their first match, will face Volleyball Men’s World Grand Brazil on Friday. Champions Cup on Wednesday. The 2017 FIVB Volleyball Milad Ebadipour, who was Men’s World Grand Champions contained by USA in the first Cup is the 7th staging of the two sets, stepped up on offence FIVB Volleyball World Grand and finished with 18 points. Amir Champions Cup, a quadrennial Ghafour and Mohammadjavad international men’s volleyball Manavinezhad were among the tournament organized by the Iranian players vital in comeback, Fédération Internationale de Theran (Dispatches) - Iran’s Despite being a man down, Persepolis scored 15 and 11 points, Volleyball (FIVB). Persepolis produced a fine display at the continued to show more Endeavour respectively. The tournament is being held Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium to book and were arguably the better of the two their spot in the AFC Champions League sides throughout the opening 45. Matthew Anderson and Taylor in Nagoya and Osaka, Japan on semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over Al Ahli Nonetheless, Al Ahli eventually The Iran men’s national volleyball team scored their second win at Sander made 17 points apiece on September 12 to 17, 2017, with of Saudi Arabia. found the equalizer in the 52nd minute; FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Grand Champions Cup on Wed. by a losing effort. the participation of 6 national Ali Alipour got the designated visitors Al-Amri gliding past a challenge trouncing USA with a 3-2 win. Iran maintained their clean win- teams. on their way with a cool finish after five and bending a lovely shot into the far minutes, only for Saleh Al-Amri to net corner. an equalizer for Al Ahli seven minutes It now looked as though the Saudi Messi Inspires Barcelona, PSG Win into the second half. giants would go on to claim the However, Persepolis reclaimed the ascendancy yet their opponents refused lead through a Godwin Mensha penalty to budge. Champions League Opener in the 83rd minute, before Mehdi Whenever they could, Persepolis still Taremi converted a second spot-kick in looked to attack and were rewarded for PARIS (AFP) - Lionel Messi netted after a brilliant exchange of passes with Neymar, the Brazilian is enjoying life defeat in Europe. injury-time to seal their progress with a their efforts in the 81st minute when a twice in Barcelona’s convincing 3-0 Luis Suarez. with PSG and scored the opener in PSG’s next opponents in Group B will 5-3 aggregate triumph. goal-bound shot from Shayan Mosleh victory over Juventus that kicked off their It was fine play from the Argentine that their superb 5-0 victory over Celtic in be five-time European champions Bayern Having conceded two away goals was handled on the line by Motaz Champions League campaign in style, led to Ivan Rakitic doubling Barca’s lead Glasgow. Munich, who began their campaign by in a 2-2 first-leg draw three weeks Hawsawi. while Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester on 56 minutes and Messi saved the best Neymar silenced the Parkhead crowd in brushing aside Anderlecht 3-0 at the earlier, Persepolis entered the tie at The referee had no hesitation in United and Chelsea also won big on for last with a sublime goal to complete the 19th minute for his fifth goal in five Allianz Arena. the Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium pointing to the spot and issuing Tuesday. the victory midway through the second appearances for PSG, and he then set The game was conditioned by the early knowing they would be in a precarious Hawsawi his marching orders. After a troubled summer, a home half. up Kylian Mbappe to make it 2-0. sending-off of Anderlecht’s Sven Kums position as long as they failed to score. When the dust settled, it was Mensha meeting with last season’s runners-up The result gave Barcelona revenge for Edinson Cavani -- the third member for giving away a penalty that Robert Alipour settled some of the nerves who took on the responsibility for the may not have been what Barcelona their defeat to Juventus in last season’s of PSG’s ‘MCN’ front three -- won and Lewandowski converted. just five minutes in as he chased down Iranians and coolly sent Al-Owais the wanted, but Messi was at his brilliant best quarter-finals and leaves them on top of converted a penalty to put the visitors out Alexandru Chipciu did hit the post a hopeful ball and shrugged off the wrong way. to give the Catalans the three points. Group D alongside Sporting Lisbon, who of sight before the interval. for the 10 men when it was still 1-0 challenge of Mohammed Al-Fatil, It was now just a matter of seeing New signing Ousmane Dembele was won 3-2 away to Olympiakos in Greece. A Mikael Lustig own goal on 83 but Bayern added two more goals in before finishing past Mohammed Al- out the remainder of the contest but handed a first Barcelona start at the Sporting, who had been three goals up minutes and another for Cavani put the the second half, with Joshua Kimmich Owais. Persepolis had other ideas. Camp Nou but it was Messi who got the at half-time, host Barcelona next. seal on PSG’s victory and left Celtic to setting up Thiago Alcantara to score But just six minutes later, the Persian Right at the death, they won another opening goal on the stroke of half-time While Barcelona adapt to life without contemplate their heaviest ever home before wrapping up the win himself. Gulf Pro League champions were dealt penalty and, this time, it was Taremi who a huge blow when Kamal Kamyabinia converted from the spot, confirming his was sent off for a studs-up challenge on side’s semi-final meeting with another Benfica Stunned at Home by CSKA Moscow Waleed Bakshween. Saudi side in Al Hilal. LISBON (Reuters) – Substitute forward put Benfica ahead in the 50th Hamilton Chasing Singapore Timur Zhamaletdinov scored minute by putting a neat finishing four minutes after coming on touch to a flowing move started by as CSKA Moscow hit back from a goal Grimaldo and continued by Andrija Hat-Trick But Wary of Ferrari behind to stun an uninspired Benfica Zivkovic. SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Lewis record 69th pole position. with a 2-1 away win in their Champions Benfica may have thought they had Hamilton arrives in Singapore as Vettel trailed home in third place, League Group A match on Tuesday. done the hard part but their troubles Formula One leader and the season’s more than half a minute behind the The Portuguese champions struggled were only just beginning. CSKA hit first back-to-back winner, but Ferrari Briton, and lost the overall lead he to get into gear in the first half as their back within 13 minutes when Andre rival Sebastian Vettel could dash the had enjoyed all season with Hamilton Russian opponents sat back, although Almeida handled and Vitinho Mercedes driver’s hopes of a third win now three points clear and seven races the Eagles nearly went ahead when converted the penalty. The visitors in a row on Sunday. remaining. Alex Grimaldo thumped a long-range sensed a chance to take all three Hamilton led team mate Valtteri Now Mercedes are braced for a shot against the post. points and eight minutes later, Viktor Bottas in a dominant one-two at the Ferrari backlash at the Marina Bay The hosts also had a penalty appeal Vasin’s shot from the edge of the box Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago to street circuit. turned down when Haris Seferovic was well blocked by Bruno Varela but take his second successive win from a Hamilton also expects a closer battle. appeared to be hauled down in the Zhamaletdinov followed up to score box. However, the Switzerland from close range. Lakers Set to Honor FIFA Still Resistant to Change: Former Official Bryant in December Los Angeles (AFP) - The Los season, wore number eight in his LONDON (Reuters) - FIFA is futures, a former top official said on its history, sparked in 2015 by the of FIFA’s independent governance Angeles Lakers will retire both jersey first 10 seasons before switching to struggling to implement reforms Wednesday. indictment in the United States of and review committee, also told a numbers worn by club legend Kobe number 24 for another decade. and change its operating culture The global soccer body has been several dozen soccer officials on British parliamentary hearing that Bryant before a December 18 game “As a kid growing up in Italy, because its leaders are more trying to overhaul its operations corruption-related charges. FIFA’s leadership tried to persuade against NBA champions Golden State, I always dreamed of my jersey worried about their own political in the wake of the worst crisis in Miguel Maduro, a former head him not to block Russian Deputy the team said on Tuesday. hanging in the Lakers rafters, but Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko Bryant, an 18-time All-Star who I certainly never imagined two of from being re-elected to its top won five NBA titles with the Lakers them,” Bryant said in a statement committee. before retiring after the 2015-16 released by the team. Celtic Charged by UEFA Over Pitch Invasion “The Lakers have bestowed a huge honor on me and I’m grateful for the LONDON (AFP) - European failed to make contact before PSG have also been charged Nadal Has Many More Years at fans’ enthusiasm around this game.” football’s governing body UEFA has being whisked away by stewards. after their fans were accused of In his two-decade career -- all spent opened disciplinary proceedings Celtic have been charged with a breaking seats at Celtic Park and Top: Coach Moya with the Lakers -- Bryant scored against Celtic following a pitch count of “field invasion” and will will have their matter addressed 33,643 points, the third-most in invasion during their Champions have their case heard by the UEFA at the same hearing as Celtic. MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has helped revitalize the 31-year- NBA history behind Kareem Abdul- League tie against Paris Saint- Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Celtic manager Brendan can compete at the top level for old Spaniard’s career. Jabbar and Karl Malone. Germain. Body on October 19, a UEFA Rodgers expressed his frustration years to come if he managed to stay Plagued by injuries and a loss of He’ll become the 10th Lakers A supporter raced onto the statement said. with Tuesday night’s incident and healthy, his coach Carlos Moya has form in the past two years, Nadal player to have his number retired, Parkhead pitch late in the first Celtic have already been fined said the Parkhead club would take said after the Spaniard won two has risen to number one in the joining Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin half on Tuesday with the hosts 3-0 11 times in less than six years its own action. grand slams titles this year. rankings and won his 10th French Baylor (22), Gail Goodrich (25), down and darted towards 18-year- over fan behaviour issues ranging “The crowd reaction said it all. Former world number one Moya Open title and third U.S. Open Magic Johnson (32), Abdul-Jabbar old superstar Kylian Mbappe. from pro-IRA chants to fireworks, It is disappointing at any ground joined Nadal’s coaching team to this year. He lost to his great rival (33), Shaquille O’Neal (34), James He aimed a fresh-air kick at crowd disturbances and illicit that a supporter gets on to the work alongside his uncle Toni Roger Federer in the Australian Worthy (42), Jerry West (44) and the former Monaco striker but banners. pitch,” he said. Nadal in December last year and Open final. Jamaal Wilkes (52).