SPORT

Thursday 19 October 2017

PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 34 Guardiola We were spot on DeDe VilliersV boundary ‘proud’ to from first second, blitz steers SA to defeat Napoli says Klopp series victory Imam hits Neymar on target for PSG; ton on debut as Pakistan clinch series Messi nets 100th in Europe Abu Dhabi AP

Brussels UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE providedroovidede thethe passpass forfor Paris Saint-Germain’s mam-ul-Haq became the Reuters YESTERDAY’S RESULTS lefteftt bbackacck LuLucasucas Brazilian forward third youngest player to GROUP A Digneignne to sscorecorre iinn Neymar (left) celebrates Iscore a century on his one- aris St Ger- Benfica 0-1 Manchester United thehe 66464ththh wwhenhen he after scoring a goal day international debut and CSKA Moscow 0-2 FC Basel main’s feared dribbledribbblb edd aroundaroounnd a with team-mate Dani Hasan Ali grabbed 5-34 as attacking trio GROUP B defenderefendn er beforebefore cut-cuc t- Pakistan hammered Sri Lanka Alves during their UEFA all got on the Bayern Munich 3-0 Celtic tingngg thethhe ballball backbback by seven wickets to secure a RSC Anderlecht 0-4 Paris Saint Germain Champions League scoresheet as throughhroouugh the areaarea forfor series victory yesterday. GROUP C Pthe French side completed thehe defenderded fendere to drivedrive Group B football match Pakistan took an unassail- FK Qarabag 0-0 Atlético Madrid a comfortable 4-0 away it hhome.ome.e against RSC Anderlecht able 3-0 lead in the five-match Chelsea 3-3 Roma at the Constant Vanden victory over Anderlecht in GROUP D NikolaouNiN kolaou scoredscored series, with Sri Lanka’s losing their Champions League Barcelona 3-1 Olympiakos Olympiakos’lymympip akoss’ coconso-onso-o Stock Stadium in streak in ODIs now stretching Group B clash yesterday. Juventus 2-1 Sporting Lisbon lationation ggoaloal witwithh a Brussels yesterday. to 10 matches. Kylian Mbappe, Edin- headereader fromfrom a cornercorner PSG won 4-0. The 21-year-old Imam is son Cavani and Neymar mark in 122 European inn tthehee 990th0th miminute.nutee. the nephew of Inzamam-ul- all netted, while Angel di matches when he curled a Barcelonaelona mamadede iitt ththreehreee Haq, the former captain and Maria added a fourth with a free kick over the wall in the wins fromm as manmanyy mamatchestcches Pakistan’s current chief selec- late strike, in a win that 61st minute. Goalkeeper Sil- in Group D aandnd eextendedxtendeed ititss tor. He hit 100 off 125 balls maintains the Ligue 1 side’s vio Proto got a hand on the unbeatenn rrunun at hhomeome iinn ththee with two sixes and five fours 100 percent record in the ball but couldn’t keep it out competitiontion to 2323 straightstraigghth to help Pakistan cruise to group stage with three wins as Messi took his career tally games. 209-3 in 42.3 overs. from three. in the Champions League to Olympiakosmpiakos Sri Lanka captain Upul They head the standings 97 goals. remaineded withwith Tharanga top-scored with 61 with nine points from sec- After Barcelona had gone zero points.ntn s.s after winning the toss and opt- ond-placed Bayern Munich, ahead thanks to an own goal Barcelonacelono a ing to bat first, but his team’s who have six. Celtic are in by Dimitris Nikolaou in the coach EErnestornesto batting woes in the series con- third with a single victory to 18th minute, the hosts were Valverdee ccoachedoached tinued before it was finally their name, while Anderlecht left a man down three min- Olympiakosakkoso ffromrom dismissed for 208 in 48.2 are still searching for their utes before halftime. Gerard 2008-099 aandnd 202010-10- overs. first points. Pique got a second booking 12, guidingng it ttoo ththreeree Ali became the quickest PSG should have won by for using his arm to steer the Greek leagueleague Pakistani bowler to complete a greater margin as they ball into the net. The strike titles. 50 wickets in ODIs, claiming spurned a number of was disallowed. Juven-en- the feat in 24 matches, three chances and will be confi- However, Barcelona tus beatat fewer than the previous record dent of victory when the continued to outclass Olym- Sportingg set by Waqar Younis. teams meet again in their piakos despite playing with Lisbonn Imam, replacing out-of- next fixture in the group in 10 men. 2-1 in thee other matchmatch form Ahmed Shehzad at the Paris on Oct. 31. Messi drew a foul from in Group DD.. top order, dominated two pro- In Group D, Lionel Messi Nikolaou near the edge of Bayernern Munich eased ductive stands -- adding 78 scored his 100th goal in the area to set up his free past Celticeltic 3-0 in thethe runs with Fakhar Zaman (29) European competition to kick. Messi’s strike gave him Championsons LeLeagueague ttoo hand and further 66 with Babar lead 10-man Barcelona to a 18 goals in 17 matches for coach Jupppp HHeynckeseynckes a vivic-c- Azam (30). 3-1 victory at home to Olym- Barcelona and Argentina torious return to the Imam looked confident piakos yesterday. side this season. competition he won with from the onset when he Messi hit the century Barcelona’s star them in 2013. smashed seamer Lahiru Gamage for a six over point. Wicketkeeper Dickwella twice dropped Imam, on 29 and 89, before finally catch- ing him down the leg side. Al Gharafa wary of wounded Al Kharaitiyat Pakistan’s Salim Elahi is the youngest century scorer on debut, also against Sri Lanka, as an 18-year-old in Fawad Hussain fair reflection on their game,” the Al fighting qualities during training ses- 1995. Imam will be 22 in The Peninsula Gharafa coach said before expecting a sions when it comes to real action. December. tough game. “There’s no point in repeating the l Gharafa will walk into Al Khor “It took us for a while to get our first mistakes. We’ve have repeating them SCOREBOARD Stadium as firm favourites win. Now that it has happened, we’ll in our last two league matches. We Aagainst Al Kharaitiyat as the two be more stronger as the league could’ve won the game over Al Khor, Sri Lanka sides meet in their QNB Stars League progresses. We adopt strategies for but conceded a goal towards the end. N Dickwella b Hasan ...... 18 (QSL) clash today, but coach Jean Fern- each game and I hope to field the best “Our club president Sheikh Khali- U Tharanga c Zaman b Shadab ...... 61 D Chandimal lbw b Shadab ...... 19 andez has warned his Cheetahs against possible eleven. Al Kharaitiyat are sure fa’s presence at training sessions really C Kapugedera c & b Hasan ...... 18 complacency, telling them to fire on all to desperately look for a win, so we motivates our players. We hope to have L Thirimanne c Ahmed b Hafeez ...... 28 cylinders in the ‘important game’. expect a tough game. They’re good at good luck in the coming games,” the M Siriwardana c Zaman b Junaid ...... 2 Al Gharafa will go into the game ball possession.” Tunisian coach said. J Vandersay c Ahmed b Hasan ...... 0 full of confidence after their impres- Al Kharaitiyatiyat coach Ahmad Al The game will kick oofffff aatt 77:35pm.:35pm. T Perera run out ...... 38 sive win against Al Khor in the previous Ajlani said he wwasas worworkingking mainmainlyly on A Dananjaya c Ahmed b Hasan ...... 1 round while The Thunders, who lost to his players’ lackck of concentration on L Gamage c Ahmed b Hasan ...... 10 D Chameera (not out) ...... 0 Al Sailiya in fourth round, will be hop- the pitch. Extras: (LB1, B3, W9) ...... 13 ing for reverse in fortunes. “That was mmoreore evievidentdent dduringuring our Total: (all out) ...... 208 Fernandez’s side are currently sixth last match againstnst Al Sailiya, which we Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-102, 3-112, 4-137, in the standings with five points while lost even after takingtaking thethe lead.lead. It’s time 5-140, 6-141, 8-163, 9-205 Al Kharaitiyat are struggling at 10th my players putt an end to it, especially Bowling: Junaid 8-0-32-1, Raees 7.2-0-52-0 with only one point. since we’ve managedanaged to earn ononlyly one (6w), Hafeez 8-0-39-1 (1w), Hasan 10-0-34-5 But Al Gharafa coach feels a better point so far,” saidaid AAll AjAjlani.lani. (1w), Ashraf 5-0-10-0, Shadab 10-0-37-2 (1w) Pakistan performance than Al Kharaitiyat in the “We’ve lostt some games because Imam-ul-Haq c Dickwella b Perera ...... 100 new season will count for nothing in of this factor. AlAlso,so, I want my warwardsds Fakhar Zaman st Dickwella b Vandersay 29 today’s match. to regain theirr fighting spirit. In Babar Azam b Gamage ...... 30 “We’ve had good preparations for football, tacticscs succeesucceedd ononlyly Mohammad Hafeez (not out) ...... 34 this game as there’s no room for com- when players implementimplement themthem Shoaib Malik (not out) ...... 0 placency,” said Fernandez at a on the field of pplay.lay. Extras: (B4, LB3, W9) ...... 16 Al Gharafa’s pre-match press conference “We knoww AlAl GharafaGharafa Total: (for three wkts) ...... 209 Fall of wickets: 1-78, 2-144, 3-203 Slovakian yesterday. are on a high afterter their first midfielder Did not bat: Sarfraz Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, “All matches are important in the victory. We’ree workingworking Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees, Jun- Vladimír Weiss QSL. We respect Al Kharaitiyat. They’ve harder to get someome pos- aid Khan celebrates a good coach and players, who can itive results andd go up Bowling: Gamage 7-1-35-1 (1w), Chameera after scoring a make a turnaround. They’ve the abil- the standings. We’reWe’re Al Gharafa 10-0-33-0 (3w), Dananjaya 10-0-57-0 (2w),

goal in this file ity to score goals. The results aren’t a not showing the coach Jean Vandersay 9.3-1-43-1 (1w), Siriwardana 2-0-

12-0, Perera 4-0-22-1 (2w) photo. Fernandez Result: Pakistan win by seven wickets 30 SPORT THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 Guardiola ‘proud’ to defeat Napoli

Manchester had lavished praise on Maurizio the first 13 minutes at the Etihad minute after Fernandinho was City’s tactics had invited pres- fighting,” said Sarri, whose side AFP Sarri’s Napoli, who are top of Stadium, at which point Premier penalised for felling Faouzi sure from Napoli, Guardiola said trail Shakhtar by three points. Serie A with eight wins from League leaders City looked set Ghoulam. the solution was not less passing “After this match, we must anchester City eight games, and afterwards he for a victory comparable to Sat- However, when asked if out from the back, but more. feel reassured and even more manager Pep made the surprisingg claim they urday’surday s 7-272 demolition of Stoke “WeWe have to do it more,” confident. I’ve seen a huge step Guardiola (pic- were the best opponentnent he had CityCity.. saidsaid Guardiola, whosew team are forward compared to the match tured) described ever faced. ButBut tthehe hhomeome siside’sde’s commit- nownow threethree pointspoint clear of Sha- in Madrid last year. his side’s 2-1 vic- “I think it was ann extraordi- mentment to buildingbuilding playplay up from khtar DonetskDonetsk at the top of “We were lucky enough to Mtory over Napoli in the nary game from bothth sides. We the back gifted Napoli opportu- Group F. score first there. Here we had to Champions League group phase faced one of the best ssidesides I faced nities that the visitors eventually “You play llongo balls against come back into the game after a as one of the proudest moments in my career, probablybly the best,” exploited.exploited. that team, in ttwow seconds they very difficult first 25 minutes. I of his storied career. said Guardiola, whoo previouslypreviously AlthoughAlthough Mertens squan-squan- are attackinattacking.g. InI football, how think we’ve definitely taken a City took a quick-fire 2-0 led Barcelona to two Champions dderedered their first penalty in the fast the ball goes,g how fast it step forward.” lead in Tuesday’s game through League titles. first half, drilling his spot-kick at comes back. With half an eye on Satur- Raheem Sterling and Gabriel “It is one of thee wins I am Ederson’s legs, Diawara made “You havehave to play better day’s Serie A summit clash with Jesus, but Amadou Diawara’s most proud of in myy career. no such mistake in the 73rd build-up,build-up, to contact with Inter Milan, Sarri started with penalty – after Dries Mertens had “We won againstt an incredincred-- Kevin (De Bruyne)Bruy and (David) Allan and Jorginho on the bench. squandered an earlier spot-kick ible team. To do that you have to Silva. If you pplay long balls, Lorenzo Insigne hobbled off – made for a nervy finale. do an incredible performance.”rformance.” (Kalidou) KoulKoulibalyi and (Raul) late on, but Sarri said he was Prior to the game Guardiola Sterling and Jesusus struck in Albiol are strongerstro than our hopeful about the winger’s fit- strikers. You sspendpe 90 minutes ness. “For Lorenzo I hope there’s running.running. nothing wrong with him,” Sarri “Instead, theythe run after the said. ball.ball. That is the point.p There’s a “He had some muscular It is one of the wins I am most proudud of risk,risk, but you scoscorer goals because problems. It’s probably just a bit afterafter that youyou cancan create chances. of fatigue.” in my career. We won against an YouYou have to playpla as much as Madrid went on to win the incredible team. To do that you haveave to possible.”possible.” Champions League after dispos- Sarri said his side’s perform- ing of Napoli last season and do an incredible performance, saysys anceance compared ffavourably with Sarri was sufficiently impressed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiolaola theirtheir last triptrip tot a European by City’s display to suggest Guar- heavyweight,heavyweight, wwhenh they lost 3-1 diola’s men could do the same. awayaway to Real MadridMa in the last “They’re a great team. They 1166 of last seasonseason’s’ competition. have everything,” he said. “Even after mmissing a pen- “They’re very quick, tactically alty,alty, we managedmanage to come back very savvy. Perez cannot Everton, AC Milan look for morale boost imagine La Liga without Barcelona

Madrid AFP

eal Madrid President Florentino Perez insists Rhe cannot imagine “Spain without Catalonia nor La Liga without Barcelona” but has admitted concern at the political crisis sweeping Spain amid Catalonia’s drive for independence. “There are hypotheticals that I do not consider. I am not considering a Spain with- Everton’s players train at Finch Farm, Liverpool yesterday. out Catalonia nor La Liga without Barcelona,” the Real president for nearly 15 years over two spells told online Arsenal seek to bounce back EUROPA LEAGUE (TODAY’S FIXTURES) newspaper El Espanol Paris from their 2-1 loss at Watford yesterday. AFP at the weekend. Group A “Obviously it worries me In other games, AC Milan Astana (KAZ) vss Maccabi Tel Avsivs (ISR) (1500 GMT) like everyone else, but I can nder-fire Everton will look to ease some of the Vsillarreal (ESP) vss Slavsia Prague (CZE) (1905 GMT) offer little assistance. will hope to kick- pressure building on coach Group B “I trust the government start their Vincenzo Montella with a win Dynamo Kievs (UKR) vs Young Boys (SUI) (1905 GMT) and the parties that back the campaign when at home to AEK Athens. Skenderbeu (ALB) vs Partizan Belgrade (SRB) (1905 GMT) constitution that have united they play host to Montella received the to solve the problem in the Group C ULyon today looking for a first backing of club chief Marco best possible way.” win in the Europa League Fassone in the wake of Sun- Hoffenheim (GER) vs Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR) (1905 GMT) Spain has been shrouded group stage. day’s 3-2 derby defeat to Inter, Braga (POR) vs Ludogorets (BUL) (1905 GMT) in uncertainty since an inde- The Premier League side Milan’s third straight defeat in Group D pendence referendum called have just one point from their Serie A. Reports in Italy have Austria Vsienna (AUT) vs Rijeka (CRO) (1905 GMT) by pro-separatist parties -- opening two matches in Group suggested that the coach must AC Milan (ITA) vs AEK Athens (GRE) (1905 GMT) and deemed illegal by the E, following up a comprehen- claim wins against AEK and Spanish government -- on sive 3-0 loss to Atalanta in Italy competition thus far, but Bruno against Genoa and Chievo in Group E October 1 was marred by a by drawing 2-2 at home to the Genesio’s side are fresh from Serie A if he is to keep his job. Atalanta (ITA) vs Apollon Limassol (CYP) (1905 GMT) violent crackdown on people Cypriots Apollon Limassol last beating Monaco 3-2 last week- Milan are one of nine sides Evserton (ENG) vs Lyon (FRA) (1905 GMT) trying to vote. month. end thanks to captain Nabil to maintain a perfect record Group F Barcelona is the capital of Ronald Koeman’s (pic- Fekir’s late free-kick. heading into the third round Zlin (CZE) vs FC Copenhagen (DEN) (1905 GMT) Catalonia, and the Barcelona tured) men required a late Desperate to go all the way of group games. Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) vs Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) (1905 GMT) Football Club have backed the Wayne Rooney penalty to to a final that will be played in Among the others are Nice region’s right to self-determi- Group G draw at Brighton and Hove their own Groupama Stadium, and Lazio, who meet each in nation, but stopped short of Albion on domestic duty at the Lyon are without injured the south of France with the Hapoel Beer-Shevsa (ISR) vs FCSB (ROU) (1700 GMT) supporting independence. weekend, and in the last two former Real Madrid striker French outfit looking to over- Lugano (SUI) vs Vsiktoria Plzen (CZE) (1700 GMT) La Liga President Javier months their only wins have Mariano Diaz. come Italian opposition Group H Tebas announced on Tuesday come against Sunderland in Everton’s Premier League -- something they failed to do Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs Arsenal (ENG) (1700 GMT) that he has delayed putting the League Cup and rivals Arsenal have fared when they lost to Napoli in the BATE (BLR) vs Cologne (GER) (1700 GMT) future international TV rights Bournemouth. rather better in the competi- Champions League play-offs. out to tender due to the uncer- Group I We just need to get results tion so far, beating both The surprise package so far tainty. According to Tebas, the and once we do that, the con- Cologne and BATE Borisov in in the tournament has been the Marseille (FRA) vs Vsitoria Guimaraes (POR) (1700 GMT) TV rights are likely to lose 20 fidence will come back into the Group H. Arsene Wenger now Swedish club Ostersund, who Konyaspor (TUR) vs Salzburg (AUT) (1700 GMT) to 25 percent of their value team and things will come a takes his team to Serbia to face have already won away to Group J should Barca leave La Liga. little bit easier for us,” £45m former European Cup winners Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine and Zorya Luhansk (UKR) vs Hertha Berlin (GER) (1700 GMT) However, Barca have ($58 m) summer signing Gylfi Red Star Belgrade, who would at home to Hertha Berlin. Ostersund (SWE) vs Athletic Bilbao (ESP) (1700 GMT) stressed their desire to remain Sigurdsson told the club’s web- leapfrog the Gunners to the top Coached by the English- in the Spanish league. Real Group K site. “And I think if we get a of the section with a win. man Graham Potter, once of Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane couple of results back-to-back Like in previous games, Stoke City and West Bromwich Zulte Waregem (BEL) vs Vsitesse Arnhem (NED) (1700 GMT) has also expressed his wish for then we’ll hopefully get going. Wenger will field a second- Albion amongst other clubs, Nice (FRA) vs Lazio (ITA) (1700 GMT) La Liga not to lose the world- I don’t think we’re too far string side with the likes of Ostersund qualified for Europe Group L famous Real-Barca rivalry. away.” Olivier Giroud and Jack by winning the Swedish Cup Vsardar Skopje (MKD) vs Real Sociedad (ESP) (1700 GMT) El Clasico clashes between Lyon travel to England Wilshere likely to feature along and overcame Galatasaray and Zenit (RUS) vs Rosenborg (NOR) (1700 GMT) the two are routinely the most having also failed to win in the with several youngsters as PAOK in the qualifying rounds. watched matches around the world, attracting a reported audience of 650 million. THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 SPORT 31

Hummels says Bayern Reds stun SIPG to reach final not among Europe’s best

Munich AFP

orld Cup winner Mats Hummels says Wfive-time defend- ing Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich cannot cur- rently be regarded as one of the top teams in Europe. “It is definitely the case that internally we have to improve a few things and pull together,” Hummels told Ger- man magazine Sport Bild. “Not everything is bad, but things are not at the level they need to be in order for us to be among the absolute top teams in Europe. “The cohesion in the squad has to grow again.” Bayern are second in the Bundesliga behind Borussia Dortmund after flooring Freiburg 5-0 last Saturday in Heynckes’s first match back at the helm. Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds’ Rafael Da Silva (left) However, Hummels did runs to celebrate with team-mate Yuki Abe after not deny there are currently scoring during the Asian Champions League semi- cliques within the Bayern final against China’s Shanghai SIPG in Saitama, squad. Japan yesterday. “The small groups must have a good relationship between themselves, which Saitama minutes in Saitama when he ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL RESULTS smother Elkeson’s follow-up. is important,” said AFP met a Yosuke Kashiwagi cor- But Shanghai’s performance Hummels. ner to power a header past Yesterday had Portuguese coach Andre “It is simply not the case razilian Rafael Silva Shanghai goalkeeper Yan Jun- Urawa Reds (Japan) - Shanghai SIPG (China) 1-0 (halftime: 1-0) Villas-Boas ranting on the that you can get on with all of snatched an early ling for what proved to be the First leg: Shanghai SIPG - Urawa Reds 1-1. Urawa Reds win 2-1 on aggregate. touchline a day after the your 22 team-mates in winner as Japan’s only goal of a fractious Tuesday former Chelsea boss turned 40. exactly the same way.” Urawa Reds beat encounter. Perspolis (Iran) - Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) 2-2 (halftime: 1-1) “It was a great effort from Hummels added Hey- star-studded Shang- Japanese clubs have strug- First leg: Al Hilal - Perspolis 4-0. Al Hilal win 6-2 on aggregate. the whole team to keep a clean nckes has taken Bayern back Bhai SIPG 1-0 at home yesterday gled to make an impact in the sheet,” said Urawa captain to basics with tougher train- to reach the Asian Champions competition since Urawa’s vic- Yuki Abe after the Reds ended ing sessions than the League final. tory in 2007 and Gamba Hulk, who tops the Cham- second half as a Tomoaki 10 years of hurt in the ACL. star-studded squad was used The Reds advance to face Osaka’s triumph a year later. pions League scoring charts Makino header clipped the bar “We knew the first goal to under Ancelotti. Saudi giants Al Hilal in next Although Shanghai largely with nine goals, brought a and Shinzo Koroki saw a close- would be crucial but we came “The first impressions are month’s two-leg final after dominated possession, with smart save from Reds keeper range effort brilliantly tipped into the match with no fear that Jupp Heynckes is very holding on for a 2-1 aggregate Brazil internationals Oscar and Shusaku Nishikawa with a dip- over by Yan. and got the result. Hopefully demanding, he expects a lot win that ended Japan’s miser- Hulk threatening in spells, the ping free kick after 24 Another Hulk rocket 12 we can do it again in the final.” from the team,” said able recent run in Asia’s visitors lacked end product, minutes. minutes from time forced a Al Hilal completed a 6-2 Hummels. premier club competition. allowing Urawa to complete a But the Reds could have decent block from Nishikawa, aggregate win over Iran’s “The training is a little Silva pounced after just 11 relatively untroubled victory. added further goals in the who then reacted quickly to Persepolis on Tuesday. harder, demanding more intensity, which stays at a high level.”

Tottenham We were spot on Hotspur’s Spurs boss hails Argentinian coach Mauricio from first second, Pochettino attends a training ‘huge’ potential session in Madrid says Klopp on Monday. London after Real draw Reuters uergen Klopp’s (pictured) Liverpool have been breath- Madrid “We are a team in construc- Jtaking and infuriating in AFP tion. Last year against Monaco, equal measure this season, but Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA it all came together on Tuesday ottenham Hotspur manager Moscow we managed just seven as they displayed their devas- Mauricio Pochettino hailed points, this year against teams tating attacking prowess in a This side’s maturity after like Real Madrid, Borussia Dort- 7-0 victory against Maribor. taking a huge step towards the mund and APOEL we already As has been the case too Champions League last 16 by have seven points. often this season, Liverpool’s holding defending champions “It has been an important opening two Champions League Real Madrid 1-1 at the Santiago step forward. The team is com- draws against Sevilla and Spar- Bernabeu on Tuesday. peting and that is something tak Moscow were characterised The English side had to rely that has to give us confidence by both defensive fragility and on two stunning second-half to continue on the way we have attacking frustration. saves from goalkeeper Hugo chosen to do things. Yet from the moment Rob- Lloris to deny Karim Benzema “The potential the club has erto Firmino opened the scoring and Cristiano Ronaldo, but were for the future is huge.” in the fourth minute against the “Our attitude was outstand- good value for a point that Lloris’ heroics also drew Slovenian side, Liverpool cut ing, we were spot on from the keeps them level with Madrid praise from his French compa- through the hosts’ defence with first second,” Klopp told BT on seven points at the top of triot and Real boss Zinedine irrepressible vim and vigour Sport. Group H. Zidane. and ended up recording the big- “We scored wonderful “It was a magnificent “Benzema’s header is one gest away win by an English goals, played wonderful foot- opportunity to show we can of those where Lloris saves it team in European Cup ball and it looked like they were compete and play against a one in every 10,” said Zidane, history. not very good, but it is difficult team used to playing at this who couldn’t hide his disap- The first half was only 19 to play against us. level,” said Pochettino. pointment at dropping two minutes old by the time “I love the fact we stayed Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 points at home. Philippe Coutinho and really concentrated in the sec- draw at APOEL Nicosia means But Lloris hailed Spurs’ Mohamed Salah added their ond half, we controlled the the Germans and Cypriots resistence against a side that names to the scoresheet -- the game and it was a very mature remain six points adrift of the has won the Champions League latter then netting his second, performance. group leaders. in three of the past four and the team’s fourth, in the “You can struggle in a game Spurs crashed out at the seasons. 39th minute. like this if you do not have a 100 group stages last year against “It was a great challenge for By the time Hungarian ref- percent attitude... Seven goals less exalted opposition, and a young team, to show the face eree Viktor Kassai blew the was wonderful, but the coun- Pochettino hailed the progres- of Tottenham against the best final whistle, Firmino, substi- ter pressing I was close to sion of his young side over the team in the world,” Lloris told tute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrating it, it was so good. past 12 months. BT Sport. and defender Trent Alexander- They are a really good football Arnold had scored second-half team and they could not cope goals. with this.” 32 SPORT THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 SPORT 33 PGA Tour makes Casey would be ‘fantastic asset’ Korean debut We lost the three Ryder Cups Jeju, South Korea CJ Cup : South Korea previously to at Ryder Cup, AFP Hazeltine if I op golfers brushed off the $9,250,000 remember correctly. says Bjorn “crazy” security tensions We haven’t won on Ton the Korean peninsula Total prize money ahead of the US PGA Tour’s inau- foreign soil in 25 gural CJ Cup, which begins today. Paris Ten of the world’s top 30 will years. So right now, AFP tee off on Jeju Island, south of the $1,665,000 that would be like mainland, in the second event of uropean Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn said on a three-week swing as the PGA Winner’s share trying to play the 14th Tuesday that Paul Casey would be a “fantastic Tour spreads its wings further hole when we are on Easset” if he were to make himself available for next into Asia. year’s matches in Paris. World number four and US Kim Jong-Un exchanging insults the first tee, right. Englishman Casey, ranked 14th in the world, missed PGA Champion Justin Thomas is in recent weeks. the 2016 Ryder Cup as he is not a member of the Euro- the top-ranked player at Jeju’s The US president dubbed Let’s take one at a pean Tour. par-72 Nine Bridges course for North Korea’s leader a “mad- time: US Ryder Cup The 40-year-old has an impressive record in the an event which carries a mas- man” after the reclusive regime biennial event, but has decided to base himself solely sive first prize of $1,665,000. hinted it may explode a hydro- captain Jim Furyk on the PGA Tour after rebuilding his career in the United There have been no big- gen bomb over the Pacific Ocean. States. name withdrawals from the Kim branded Trump “men- “I’ve said all along I have an open conversation with 78-man field despite nuclear- tally deranged” after tougher Paul,” Bjorn told reporters in Paris. armed North Korea recently sanctions were imposed by the “With the way he’s been playing for the last while... firing several missiles over Japan UN. Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn (left) and USA’s Ryder Cup captain, Jim Furyk look at I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t have those con- and claiming to have tested a “All the stuff that’s happen- the trophy during a press conference held in Paris on Tuesday in this combination of pictures. versations with him. hydrogen bomb last month. ing politically, the same sort of “Paul has said for a long time that he’s made his life “It’s a crazy situation, we can thing was happening 11 years in America with his family and that he’s extremely happy. all agree on that,” said Xander ago,” said Leishman. “He has to make that decision, he’s promised me Schauffele, who at 23 is one of “Once you’re here it feels that he will make that decision and that I’ll be the first the bright young talents to have fine. I feel very safe. I wouldn’t one to know when he makes that decision. emerged on tour this year. have come if I was at all worried. “He wants to be a part of it, but he really has for a “If any inch of my body felt I feel good about being back in while tried to prioritise his family and any man has to unsafe I wouldn’t be here,” added Korea.” Furyk urges US to go into Ryder respect that some people make those priorities, but hav- Schauffele, who triumphed at the Other notable players in a ing him in the Ryder Cup team would be a fantastic asset season-ending Tour Champion- strong international line-up if he plays the way he is at the moment.” ship last month. include another former Masters Former world number three Casey won five points “I don’t really know anyone champion in South Africa’s Charl in three Ryder Cups from 2004-2008 before sliding who didn’t want to come to Schwartzel, and English duo Ian down the rankings as he struggled with form and Korea.” Poulter and world number 14 fitness. Major-winner Graeme Paul Casey, who has had seven Cup with ‘a chip on their shoulder’ But he has been a model of consistency over the last McDowell of Northern Ireland top-10 finishes in the last five three seasons, with 27 top-10 finishes since 2015. agreed. “There’s things happen- months. European Tour rules mean that players have to play ing all over the world. We A 16-strong home challenge five regular Tour events to qualify for the Ryder Cup wouldn’t be playing an event spans the ages led by this year’s Paris Furyk wants his side to feel they won on foreign soil in 25 years. “He’s been a great, great back-to-back tournaments in the “Jim (Furyk) alwayss referefersrs points lists. here if it wasn’t safe,” said youngest ever Players Champi- AFP still have plenty to prove, having “So right now, that would be resource for Davis Love, for Steve last fortnight, look set to make to some of his older playersers hav- hav- “I can only say that, as a Tour, and having him avail- McDowell, the 2010 US Open onship winner, the 21-year-old not won on European soil since like trying to play the 14th hole Stricker. He’s very close with both their debuts in France. ing a lot of scars. Well,ll, ttheyhey able to the Ryder Cup team, would be great for us, but champion. Kim Si-Woo, and rounded out merican Ryder Cup triumphing at The Belfry in 1993. when we are on the first tee, right. of those players,” Furyk said. Home skipper Bjorn, 46, (rookies) have no scars. then also he has to make that team,” said Denmark’s McDowell has a taste for by KJ Choi, 47, who has eight captain Jim Furyk has “I don’t want (them) going in Let’s take one at a time.” “Tiger and I are good friends, insisted that he was not worried “Look at the Americanan si side,de, Bjorn. debut events on Jeju, having won PGA Tour titles to his name. called on his team to there being overconfident that Golfing legend Tiger Woods, as well... I would think and hope about his team struggling from a a guy like Patrick Reedw wantsants to to “But we really have had some open and honest con- the European Tour’s inaugural The inaugural $9.25m event go into next year’s they are the greatest team,” the who was cleared on Sunday to that he would want to be a part lack of experience. get out there and wants toto wwinin versations that have been great and I actually wish him Ballantines Championship in is the second stop of a new clash against Thomas 47-year-old told reporters in play full shots again after a of it and that his schedule, that “I don’t believe in the inexpe- points, and that’s a greatr oorookie.”kie.” luck in making a decision, because I know that it’s not 2008 at the nearby Pinx Golf three-week PGA Tour swing in Bjorn’sA Europe in Paris with “a Paris. lengthy spell on the sidelines with everything, would allow it. rience thing, I really don’t,” the The United Statess wiwillll a decision he’s taking lightly one way or the other.” Club. Asia, which started with last chip on their shoulder”. “I want them going in with a a back injury, appears set to play “But I would love to have him Dane said. undoubtedly field a formidablemidable When asked if he would give a potential captain’s America’s Thomas will be week’s CIMB Classic in Malay- The United States ended a run chip on their shoulder that they some part at Le Golf National. as an asset, as well. “Some of the greatest Ryder outfit in 11 months’ time,b butut a nyany pick to a home French player, Bjorn insisted he would making his second start in sia and concludes at next week’s of three straight defeats with vic- have something to prove.” Furyk, who won his only “He’s a great thinker. I love Cup players that came out when talk of Europe sufferinga a defea defeatt choose the strongest 12 players available, and as it stands, defence of his FedEx Cup title but WGC-HSBC Champions in tory at Hazeltine last year, before Furyk also downplayed talk major title at the 2003 US Open, seeing how he worked his way they were rookies were fantastic similar to the one the Americansericans Casey is among them without doubt. faces stiff competition from the Shanghai, dubbed “Asia’s an impressive young outfit of the US dominating the Ryder hinted that he would ask Woods around a golf course. He brings from the get-go. handed out to the Internation-nation- But even if he cannot give Casey a call, Bjorn is con- likes of ninth-ranked major- major”. crushed the Internationals 19-11 Cup for years to come, saying: “I to be a vice-captain should he not that same thought process to a “Some people learn it over als seems premature. fident he will have a side capable of beating a formidable winner Jason Day, former The CJ Cup was conceived at the Presidents Cup earlier this think that would be putting the make the team as a player. captaincy.” time and some people go straight Rahm, his fellow Spaniardpaniard AmericanA outfit at Le Golf National next September. Masters champion Adam Scott after the hugely successful Pres- month. cart before the horse right after The 14-time major champion Europe struggled with six into it. Sergio Garcia and four-timeur-time Although the top two players in the world rankings and their fellow Australian Marc idents Cup at Incheon two years Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka the bat. was a vice-captain to both Davis rookies in their loss at Hazeltine “But if you have six rookies major winner Rory McIlroy,cIlroy, are Americans -- Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth -- Leishman, who won last month’s ago, when the Internationals and Justin Thomas all won major “We lost the three Ryder Cups Love III at the 2016 Ryder Cup and the likes of world number five that can go straight into it and just among others, could bee out ttoo Europe boast 10 of the top 20. BMW Championship. were pipped 14.5-13.5 by the titles this year, while Dustin John- previously to Hazeltine if I and Steve Stricker at the 2017 Jon Rahm and England’s Tyrrell go ‘I want to go out there’, well, extend the USA’s 25 yearsears of “You tell me a time where there’s been 11 Europe- Leishman played on the Americans on the 18th green of son is the world number one, but remember correctly. We haven’t Presidents Cup. Hatton, who has won get them out there. hurt. ans in the top 21 in the world,” added Bjorn. Korean Tour in 2006 and is the final singles match in front “It might have happened but it’s not something that unfazed by Donald Trump and of huge galleries. you see very often. So that’s a very strong European team.”

Tiger Woods Golf ‘really healthy’ even without Woods: Rose Day ‘didn’t want to play’ after his mother’s cancer scare Hong Kong The Englishman added: “I think that AFP we want him back, just because of what’s he’s meant to the sport for the last 20 Jeju, South Korea time as I could with her,” he rise to the top of the world. this poor season. I was a little olf no longer needs Tiger Woods years.” AFP said, his voice cracking with Day was still number one bit burnt out from 2016 and to captivate global audiences Besides Rose’s loss to 37-year-old emotion. “Because I only get to at the start of 2017 but with his 2015,” said Day. because a new generation of So many young players Sergio Garcia in a thrilling playoff at the ajor-winner Jason Day see her once a year. last win coming a year and a “I didn’t know how to han- G (pictured) young superstars has emerged in his have come through and Masters, this year’s other men’s majors said yester- “Fortunately the surgery (in half ago at the Players Cham- dle being number one. Next absence, Olympic champion Justin Rose filled the void. I think were won by Americans Brooks Koepka, Mday that he was March this year) went well and pionship his ranking has time I get there again I will han- has said. Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, all in targeting getting back to world now I’m able to focus back on tumbled. dle it a little bit differently,” said Woods’ agent set the golfing world to have him back is just their early- or mid-twenties. number one after his mother’s golf.” He missed the cut at the US Day, who has not been outside abuzz this week after revealing the a bonus. I don’t think In a sport that traditionally favours cancer scare had left him not After making his major Open and finished outside the the world’s top 10 since the end 14-time major-winner had been cleared comparatively older athletes, other wanting “to bee on tthehe gogolflf championshipchampionship bbreak-reak- toptop 20 in tthehe Masters anandd ofof tthehe 220130 season. by his doctor to begin full practice as he golf is desperate for heavyweights in the current world top course”. throught hrough by the British Open.Open. “I“I stistilll worked very hard to prepares for yet another comeback from him back: Justin Rose 10 such as Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler “My mum gettingtting lung lung can- can- wwinninginning the DayDay has shown getget throughthro that burnt-out injury. and Jason Day are also yet to turn 30. cer was very ddifficult,”ifficult,” tthehe 20201515 USUS PPGAGA glimpsesglimpses ofof fformorm stage.stage. AAndn then my mum got But Rose, who won the US Open in “It was definitely a year dominated Australian told reporterseporters ahead ahead Championship,Championship, since, finishing ninth lunglung cancancer. 2013 and came runner-up at this year’s by the young guys on tour,” said Rose, of the US PGA TTour’sour’s CJ Cup, thethe 29-year- place in the US PGA “Hopefully“Hop the distrac- Masters, said the group of twenty-some- who will join Garcia next month at Fan- which begins inn South Korea ooldld went on a ChampionshipChampionship in tionstions ththata I’ve had on the golf things now claiming golf’s top prizes had ling for the Hong Kong Open. today. hothot streak to August and record-record- course anda off the golf course already eclipsed Woods’ absence. Rose, a Hong Kong winner in 2015, “I don’t havea anyny gran grandpar-dpar- ing two top 10s havehave gonego away and I can “I think golf has found itself in a he said he may never play at the top level said he was still disappointed to have ents. I don’t haveave my dad. I since.since. ffocusocus oonn climbing back to really healthy spot without Tiger at the again. missed out on Masters glory so nar- don’t have anyone.ne. IfIf II lostlost mymy ““ItIt was a little bit number one.” moment,” Rose, 37, said via teleconfer- But Woods, who has also been rowly to the Spaniard this year, but mum all I wouldd have woulwouldd of a comcombinationbination ooff Ten oof the world’s top 30 ence, as it was announced he will contest plagued by personal problems and added that he was looking forward to be my two sisters,”ers,” said the things why I had will tee ooff on Jeju Island, south next month’s Hong Kong Open. pleaded guilty to driving under the influ- the rematch. world number nine on Jeju of tthehe mmainland,a in the second “So many young players have come ence in August, recently posted a video “It was great to see him break- Island. eventevent ooff a three-week swing through and filled the void. I think to of himself using a driver, captioned through and win his first Major -- but “So realisingh howow much much she she asas the UUSS PGA Tour spreads its have him back is just a bonus. I don’t “Making Progress”. unfortunately it was against me,” he said. sacrificed for mee growing growing up up it it wings furtherfu into Asia. think golf is desperate for him back.” “Everyone just wants to see a healthy “It’ll be fun to have us both in the meant a lot to mmee to be there WorldWorl number four and US Woods, 41, has not won a tourna- Tiger Woods,” said Rose. “It’s almost same field (in Hong Kong)... Sergio and for her. And I didn’tdn’t wantwant toto PGA ChampionCha Justin Thomas ment in four years, and his Major gone past the point of thinking ‘Oh we I, we’ve joked all year long, had some be on the golf course.ourse. is the top-rankedtop player at the drought stretches back to 2008. After all really want to see Tiger win 18 fun with it all year long, so it will be a Justin Rose “I knew that ifif sheshe par-72par-72 Nine Bridges course undergoing spinal fusion surgery in April majors’.” continuation of that.” was going to die forfor an event which carries a then I wanted to first pprize of $1.665m as part spend as much ofoa a mmassive $9.25m purse. 34 SPORT THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 De Villiers’ boundary blitz Mercedes and Hamilton on brink steers SA to series victory of Formula 1 titles Paarl, South Africa AFP South Africa’s AB de Villiers plays a shot during the Austin Texas to finish eighth or higher to stay second one-day international (ODI) match against Reuters in the game. Reliability, or lack B de Villiers blasted a Bangladesh at Boland Park in Paarl, yesterday. of it, will be a key concern on career-best 176 to set up ewis Hamilton could be both sides. Vettel has failed to a series-clinching 104- crowned Britain’s first finish two of the last three races run win for South Africa Lfour-times Formula One in Asia, one due to a first lap in the second one-day world champion in Texas this collision and the other a spark internationalA against Bangladesh at weekend while Mercedes are plug problem, and cannot Boland Park yesterday. on the brink of a fourth consec- afford any further unreliability South Africa posted an impos- utive constructor’s title. on Ferrari’s part. ing 353 for six after being sent in to The chances of Mercedes, However, before his night- bat, while Bangladesh made a spir- 145 points clear of Ferrari with mare run the German had not ited start to their response before four races remaining, wrapping finished lower than seventh being bowled out for 249. things up in Austin appear to be since Malaysia in Oct. 2016, De Villiers raced to his 25th one- overwhelming. when he retired with damaged day international century off 68 Everything is also stacking suspension after a collision. balls with ten fours and a six. He up for Hamilton to become He was fourth in Austin last added another five fours and six SCOREBOARD only the fifth driver to win year, when Mercedes had a sixes off the next 36 deliveries in a South Africa more than three champion- one-two finish. display of dazzling footwork, pre- H Amla c Mushfiqur Rahim b Rubel Hossain ...85 ships since the first in 1950, This year Vettel has fin- cise placement and some audacious Q de Kock lbw b Shakib Al Hasan ...... 46 with British bookmakers offer- ished all but six races on the strokes, particularly after he F du Plessis b Shakib Al Hasan ...... 0 ing odds of 1/50 on him taking podium and three of those out- A de Villiers c Sabbir Rahman b Rubel Hossain 176 reached his century. J Duminy lbw b Rubel Hossain ...... 30 the title. side the top three were fourth Even so, De Villiers said he felt F Behardien (not out) ...... 7 That compares to 14/1 for places. Hamilton has won eight “quite nervous” at the start of his D Pretorius c Imrul Kayes b Rubel Hossain ...... 0 Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, times and finished second first international innings in four A Phehlukwayo (not out) ...... 0 Hamilton’s closest rival, and three times in 16 races. Extras (lb2, w7) ...... 9 months. But he said batting partner Total (6 wkts) ...... 353 300/1 on Mercedes’ Valtteri Austin has also been par- Hashim Amla was a calming influ- Fall of wickets: 1-90, 2-90, 3-226, 4-343, 5-353, Bottas. ticularly good to him with four ence as he embarked on a 6-353 While the team may be cel- wins in five years including the sensational 104-ball innings which Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-82-0 (1w), ebrating on Sunday night, last three. Vettel won with Red included 15 fours and seven sixes. Taskin Ahmed 9-0-71-0 (3w), Shakib Al Hasan 10- Hamilton may find he has to Bull in 2013. 0-60-2 (1w), Nasir Hossain 8-0-49-0, Rubel Hos- Already the holder of the sain 10-0-62-4 (1w), Sabbir Rahman 1-0-11-0, wait, however. Even if Mercedes dominate records for the fastest 50, 100 and Mahmudullah 2-0-16-0 (1w) To do it in Austin, the one-two, and Red Bull’s Dan- 150, De Villiers was on target to beat Did not bat: K Rabada, D Paterson, Imran Tahir Briton must finish in the top iel Ricciardo and Max Chris Gayle’s record of 138 balls for Bangladesh two and then see where Vettel Verstappen prove to be the Tamim Iqbal lbw b Pretorius ...... 23 the fastest one-day international Imrul Kayes c De Villiers b Imran Tahir ...... 68 ends up. closest rivals, the chances are double century before he hit a low Liton Das lbw b Phehlukwayo ...... 14 Hamilton currently enjoys that Vettel will still finish in the full toss from Rubel Hossain to deep Mushfiqur Rahim c Duminy b Pretorius ...... 60 a hefty 59-point advantage, top five in a race without midwicket with 14 balls remaining Shakib Al Hasan c De Kock b Imran Tahir ...... 5 with 100 still to be won. He incident. Mahmudullah b Phehlukwayo ...... 35 in the innings. Sabbir Rahman c Du Plessis b Imran Tahir ...... 17 must score 16 more than his In the constructors’ cham- “It did cross my mind,” he said Nasir Hossain b Phehlukwayo ...... 3 German rival on Sunday to pre- pionship, Ferrari need to of the possible double century, “but Mashrafe Mortaza lbw b Phehlukwayo ...... 0 vent the title battle continuing outscore Mercedes by 17 points that’s not something I play for. It Taskin Ahmed (not out) ...... 3 to Mexico City’s Autodromo to prevent them retaining the was all about how many balls I Rubel Hossain b Paterson ...... 8 Hermanos Rodriguez on the title in Austin. Extras (LB4, W9) ...... 13 could face at the end of the innings Total (all out) ...... 249 following weekend. Third place The only occasion Ferrari to get as many runs as I could for Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-69, 3-162, 4-171, 5-184, is worth 15 points and will not have done that this season was the team. If it all worked out I would 6-219, 7-234, 8-234, 9-239, 10-249 be enough. Even if Hamilton in Monaco in May when Vettel

have got there but I’m happy with Bowling: Rabada 9-1-40-0 (2w), Paterson 8.5-0- wins in Austin, he will be cham- and Kimi Raikkonen finished

67-1 (1w), Pretorius 10-0-48-2 (2w), Phehlukwayo the 176.” 10-1-40-4 (3w), Imran Tahir 10-0-50-3 (1w) pion only if Vettel finishes no one-two while Hamilton was higher than sixth. If the Briton seventh and team mate Valt- comes second, then Vettel has teri Bottas ended up fourth.

U-23 League: World Cup-bound Iceland to play in Qatar Al Duhail, Al

The Peninsula After making a splash in their Sailiya and Al first foray into international foot- atar will feature in two ball tournaments in Euro 2016; Ahli post wins international friendlies Iceland (ranked 21st in FIFA Rank- Qinvolving World Cup-bound ings) are going to feature at next The Peninsula Iceland and European power- year’s World Cup 2018. house the Czech Republic, Qatar In 2016, the Scandinavian side l Duhail produced a Football Association (QFA) presented a fierce appetite for landslide 6-0 victory announced yesterday. tough football by beating former Aover Al Kharaitiyat in Iceland will take on the world Champions England before the third round of the Qatar- Czechs on November 8. The open- losing in the quarterfinals to hosts gas U-23 League at Al Arabi ing international will be followed France. This great form contin- Stadium. Despite a strong by a game between hosts Qatar ued throughout their 2018 FIFA set of defenders in the Al and the Czech Republic on World Cup qualification campaign Kharaitiyat side, Al Duhail November 11. In the third inter- as they dominated group I above took the lead through Sul- national friendly, Qatar will play the likes of Croatia, Ukraine and tan Al Barik in the 25th Iceland on November 14. Turkey. minute. A QFA official said coach Felix The Czech Republic, a tradi- Muntari scored the sec- Sanchez will also be looking to try tional powerhouse in international ond and third goals for Al new players in a bid to form a football, did not qualify for the Duhail in the 46th and 52th powerful side in the build-up to 2018 FIFA World Cup. Currently minutes. the 2022 FIFA World Cup. ranked at 48, the Nároďák com- Abdul Rahman Moham- Earlier this month, Qatar beat peted in Group C in the European med (74), Mohammed Iceland’s players Johann Berg Gudmundsson (left) and Alfred Finnbogason celebrate after Singapore 3-1 in Doha before con- zone where they finished third Hussein (80, penalty) and ceding a 1-2 defeat at the hands behind Germany and Northern the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification match against Kosovo in Reykjavik, Iceland in this Nasser Khaled (92) added of Curacao. Ireland. October 9 file picture. the tally of goals for Al Duhail. Meanwhile Al Sadd suf- fered their first defeat in a 2-2 loss to Al-Sailiya at Grand Al Duhail’s El Arabi has twin targets on his mind Hamad Stadium Al Sadd opened the scor- ing in the 17th minute through Armstrong Vas season so far and was the top mistakes, but our team is better competition between them will Hassan Ahmed and two min- The Peninsula scorer in the previous season and stronger this time,” said El be very tough.” El Arabi also utes later, Saud Al Nasr added with 24 goals. This season he has Arabi in an interview with QSL wants to finish at the league’s top the second goal. NB Stars League (QSL) top been in the best form and the online. scorer this season too. Saeed Al Marri (27, pen- scorer Youssef El Arabi striker netted four goals in their “I’m very happy with such a “I’m very comfortable with alty and 37) scored the goals Q(pictured) of Al Duhail has last match against Al Ahli, which good start by our side. Four scoring goals as I contribute to for Al Sailiyah. twin targets on his mind as he they won 6-1. games… four wins. Yes, this team the team’s victories, I’ll do my In another match, Al-Ahli goes about scoring goals on a El Arabi team is leading the has the potential to defend the best (to finish as top scorer). I posted their first win of the consistent basis for his side. points standings with an all-win title and that’s our main target,” would like to score more goals season when they beat Al The Moroccan, who has record after four rounds and he said. this season, given that I had Gharafa 2-1. emerged as the top scorer with with 12 points in their kitty and Asked to name the rivals missed nine matches last year Al Ahli’s Ali scored the eight goals after four rounds of the striker said they will be teams which will pose a threat due to an injury,” he said. first goal in the 17th minute. action in the QSL, seems to have happy to lift the Flacon shield at to their title ambitions El Arabi “We’ve some very good Al Gharafa managed to began from where he left off the end of the QSL campaign. League are my main ambitions. said: “Al Sadd and Al Rayyan are players and when I get excel- equalize through Moham- from the last season. “Winning the QNB Stars In the previous season, we were also strong contenders for the lent support from them, I do med Ismael. Al Ahli then The striker has an average League title and making good knocked out of the AFC Cham- league title. These teams are the expect to score goals,” he scored the winner in the of two goals per match this progress in the AFC Champions pions League due to some minor best in the league and the added. 57th minute. THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 SPORT 35 Rockets spoil Warriors’ opening night

San Francisco when Curry missed a three- AFP pointer with five seconds left. A deflection brought the ball to he new-look Houston Durant, whose attempt from the Rockets roared back baseline fell to thrill the crowd, to beat NBA champi- only for a review to show it left ons Golden State his hand too late. 122-121 on Tuesday, “I knew I was cutting it Tspoiling a celebratory night at close,” Durant said. the Warriors’ Oracle Arena in James Harden had 27 points, Oakland. Gordon 24 and Tucker 20 for the The Warriors marked the Rockets. Former Los Angeles opening of the new season by Clippers point guard Chris Paul, handing out their championship brought in to help the Rockets rings and raising their 2016-17 challenge the Warriors in the championship banner. West, had just four points with Despite a furious rally by the 11 assists and eight rebounds in Rockets, the Warriors thought his debut for Houston. they had won the game with a Nick Young, a new arrival at last-gasp basket from Kevin Golden State this season, led the Durant, but the clock had Warriors with 23 points off the expired a fraction of a second bench. before the ball left Durant’s hand Curry scored 22 and Durant and it was the Rockets celebrat- 20 for the Warriors, who saw ing at the end of the night. Draymond Green depart in the PJ Tucker had given Houston third quarter with a knee strain. The NBA trophy displayed the lead with a two free throws Before exiting, reigning during the 2017 NBA with 44.1 seconds remaining. defensive player of the year Championship ring ceremony The Rockets trailed by as Green pulled down 11 rebounds on Tuesday. many as 17 and by 11 points and handed out 13 assists to go entering the fourth quarter. They with nine points. were down 114-107 after a three- “He was our best player pointer from Warriors star tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Stephen Curry with 5:12 Kerr said. “He was the guy bring- remaining. ing the energy and the life. We But the Rockets wouldn’t go didn’t have much energy from away, producing a late flurry most of the group tonight. that included a three-point play “As soon as he went out of by Eric Gordon and a three- the game things went south for pointer by Tucker. us,” Kerr added. “We just Two offensive rebounds couldn’t get any traction.” gave the Rockets another pos- The Warriors became just session in the final minute. They the fourth defending champions trailed 121-120 when Tucker was since 2000 to lose their opener fouled and made both his free the following season. throws. NBA RESULTS Golden State, who lost only 15 times last season, turned the Houston 122 Golden State 121

ball over on their next posses- Cleveland 102 Boston 99 sion. They had a chance to win Eric Gordon (10) of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball against the Golden State Warriors during their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Tuesday.

Dodgers on brink of World Series berth Flyers explode to beat Panthers 5-1

Philadelphia winner 58 seconds into over- AP time and the Penguins beat the struggling Rangers. ean Couturier, Shayne Gos- Patric Hornqvist, Phil Kes- tisbehere, Claude Giroux sel and ex-Ranger Carl Hagelin Sand Dale Weise all scored also scored for the two-time in the second period to lead the defending Stanley Cup cham- Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-1 win pions, who handed New York over the Florida Panthers on (1-5-1) its fourth straight loss. Tuesday. Rangers captain Ryan The Flyers followed an 8-2 McDonagh turned the puck over win against Washington with in overtime and Kessel set up another dominant offensive Malkin for the game-winning effort, capped by the four-goal goal. Just before that, the Rang- second. ers iced the puck, leading to a Wayne Simmonds stole the faceoff in their zone. show after the fourth goal when Michael Grabner put New he dropped agitated Panthers York ahead 4-3 when he and center Michael Haley with a David Desharnais completed a left-handed punch. Simmonds nifty give-and-go at the waved his arms toward the 8-minute mark of the third crowd and exhorted them to get period. Desharnais, Pavel Buch- louder as he skated toward the nevich and JT Miller scored in Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez (9) points at Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) after Puig was locker room to serve his major a span of 2:30 as the Rangers penalty. He high-fived fans and got three straight goals early in tagged out at second base in the ninth inning during game three of the 2017 NLCS play-off series at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. the orange-and-black faithful the second to take a 3-2 lead. went wild for a period on the Penguins goalie Matt Mur- Chicago drove in a run when he drew a The Cubs seized an early command, allowed at least two short list of the best in three ray and counterpart Henrik AFP bases-loaded walk in the sixth lead for the third straight game home runs for the second con- years under coach Dave Lundqvist each made 28 saves frame. when Kyle Schwarber homered secutive post-season start. Hakstol. in the first of four meetings this hris Taylor homered and “The story of the night, obvi- off of Darvish with one out in the Taylor put the Dodgers up 3-1 Michal Neuvirth made the season between the division drove in two runs, and Yu ously, is Yu Darvish,” Dodgers first inning. with a fifth-inning run-scoring lead stand with 40 saves in his rivals. CDarvish pitched six-plus manager Dave Roberts said. The Cubs got hits from three triple that scored Joc Pederson, first win of the season. Valtteri In Washington, Connor strong innings on Tuesday as the “After that first homer that he of their first five batters, but who led off the inning with a Filppula scored an empty-net- Brown scored the game-win- Los Angeles Dodgers beat the gave up ... he was dominant. He couldn’t add to their lead and double.The Dodgers loaded the ter for the Flyers. ning goal in the third period and Chicago Cubs 6-1 to move within just had that rhythm, the poise stranded two runners on base bases in the sixth and after get- In New York, Sidney Crosby Frederik Andersen stopped all one win of a World Series return. and didn’t allow whole lot of after Schwarber’s home run. ting Pederson to fly out for the scored the tying goal with less 30 shots he faced for the shut- The Dodgers, whose 1988 hard contact.” “I really didn’t change much second out of the inning, Cubs than a minute remaining in reg- out as the Maple Leafs championship marked their last The Cubs, who hadn’t man- appoach-wise from first inning reliever Carl Edwards walked ulation, Evgeni Malkin put in the continued their tremendous appearance in Major League aged a hit off the Dodgers until the end of the game,” Darvish on four pitches to extend start by beating the Capitals. Baseball’s title showcase, took a bullpen in the series, put runners Darvish said. “I just kept pitch- the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1. NHL RESULTS Toronto has won five of its commanding 3-0 lead over the on second and third in the ninth ing the same way.” Los Angeles tacked on two Carolina 5 Edmonton 3 first six games. Washington has reigning World Series champion inning when Alex Avila singled The Dodgers responded in runs in the eighth. After a walk Dallas 3 Arizona 1 now lost two in a row since top Cubs in the best-of-seven and Albert Almora followed with the second inning. Andre Ethier to Logan Forsythe and a Barnes Nashville 4 Colorado 1 defenseman Matt Niskanen National League Championship a double off of right-handed pulled them level with a solo single, Forsythe scored when Columbus 5 Winnipeg 2 went out with a long-term Series. relief pitcher Ross Stripling. homer on the first pitch he saw reliever Mike Montgomery’s Vancouver 3 Ottawa 0 upper-body injury. They’ll try to complete the But Dodgers closer Kenley from Kyle Hendricks. Taylor pitch bounced off the arm of New Jersey 5 Tampa Bay 4 After getting a promotion to sweep in Chicago. Jansen got Addison Russell to broke the 1-1 tie in the third catcher Willson Contreras. Pittsburgh 5 Ny Rangers 4 the third line, Brown picked up

Darvish struck out seven and pop out to first, and then struck inning with a 444-foot solo Barnes reached third base and Philadelphia 5 Florida 1 his second goal of the season scattered six hits and walked just out Tommy La Stella and Ian home run to center field. Hen- then scored on Kyle Farmer’s Toronto 2 Washington 0 and broke a 0-0 tie with 14:07 one over 6 1/3 innings. He also Happ to close out the victory. dricks, who struggled with his sacrifice fly. left in the third. 36 SPORT THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017 Qatar a global force in sport: Pakistan official

The Peninsula by Kuwaiti Sattam Ali Alsahli, a delegation from the AIPS-ASIA r Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, headed by a member of the Director-General of the Sports Press Committee of DPakistan Sports Council, Qatar, Mubarak Al Boainin, and says Qatar has become an inter- the newly elected Secretary national force on the sports General of AIPS-ASIA, Amjad front, especially after it won the Aziz Malik, visited the city of hosting rights of the 2022 FIFA Peshawar, located 186 km from World Cup. Islamabad. “Yes, we support the Qatari The media delegation government in this area and included the AIPS-ASIA treas- provide all kinds of assistance ure and Nepalese Sports needed to complete the 2022 Journalist Federation president World Cup,” he said. Niranjan Rajbanshi and his “The relationship with Qatar compatriot Prakash Timilsina is flawless and old and based on and Helen Chi, the newly mutual respect,” he said. elected executive member “There is no doubt that the from Chinese Taipei and a brotherly relationship between journalist from Qatar’s the two countries is based on national sports broadcaster Al firm foundations. Kass, Bassam Al Rawas. “Qatar is a safe place for “We came here to Pesha- Pakistani workers and we know war’s call on behalf of all the contribution of Pakistani Major General Salahedine Mehsud of Pakistan hands over a memento to Mubarak Al Boainin, member of Qatar Sports Press members of the AIPS-ASIA and workers to the construction of Committee during his visit to Pakistan. to emphasize the great trust and the 2022 World Cup facilities faith we have for this country and we consider Qatar’s success the AIPS-ASIA Congress in Pakistan in the international Ganjera. Dr Ganjera said that the National Museum and some after the great success of host- to be our success,” said Islamabad, Dr Ganjera said, community, especially when the Pakistan believes in sport as a ancient villages that mimic the ing Congress,” said Mubarak Al Ganjera. “The event was excellent on media is converging here for this noble message for future gen- city’s long history. The delega- Boainin. The Director-General of the more than one level, especially successful event in Islamabad. erations and is working to tions expressed admiration for “We will carry with us very Pakistan Sports Council since it included many Asian “We in Pakistan believe in provide support to this sector the great organisation and hos- beautiful memories from Islam- lamented, that the Western delegations that came to Paki- sport and provide all the sup- with all strength and pitality that characterised the abad and Peshawar. This is a media are spreading rumours stan and saw the safety and port for this vital sector, determination. hosting of the Asian capital. welcome reversal from what about Doha. Terming it false safety of the Asian Union here.” especially since we have been The Organizing Committee On conclusion of the AIPS- has been projected about Paki- “propaganda”, he added that Dr Ganjera confirmed that fighting terrorism since the last of the 20th AIPS-ASIA Congress ASIA Congress held in stan. Clearly, that is a false such things occur everywhere. hosting such events would 30 years, which has been com- organised a media tour of land- Islamabad, which witnessed the image people have about this Speaking about change the adverse image of ing to us from many sides,” said marks in the capital, including election of a new board headed beautiful and warm country.” Nadal withdraws from Brazil set up quarters clash with Basel with knee problem Germany in Under-17 World Cup New Delhi dream run to the quarter-finals. With four AFP wins from four matches, scoring 12 goals Madrid while conceding just two, Iran continued AFP triker Brenner scored twice as Bra- their unstoppable march through the U-17 zil beat Honduras 3-0 in Kochi World Cup by defeating Mexico 2-1 in their afael Nadal (pictured) yesterday to set up a mouth-water- Round of 16 encounter in Goa. Reaching on Tuesday announced ing quarterfinals clash with Germany the last eight marks Team Melli’s best he will miss this in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. result in the history of the competition month’s Swiss Indoors SBrenner scored a goal in each half -- in and continues a remarkable few months tournament, boosting the 11th and 56th minute -- to help the three- of success. Rarch rival Roger Federer’s dream time champions maintain an unbeaten run Coach Abbas Chamanian’s charges were of ending the season as world in the 24-nation event being hosted by India one of five Iranian national teams to qualify number one. for the first time. for five different FIFA tournaments in The 16-time Grand Slam win- After Brenner’s brilliant opener, Marcos 2016/2017 – an outstanding achievement ner told his Facebook followers he Antonio doubled the lead in the 44th minute unparalleled even by nations such as Brazil, was skipping the October 21-29 to take the steam out of Honduras’ resistance Germany and France. tournament due to a knee injury. in the first half. “Our first objective is to keep a clean “I sadly announce that I have The title contenders have conceded just sheet,” defensive maestro Taha Shariati to pull out of the Swiss Indoors one goal in the tournament so far, against said. Basel, after seeing my doctor in Spain back in the group stage. “Our second objective is to score a goal, Spain,” he wrote. Germany has had a contrasting campaign, and our third objective is to defend our advan- Federer beat the Spaniard at having to stage a turnaround after being tage and win the match.” the Shanghai Masters on Sunday over-stressing of the knee and the also on my matches with Roger. thrashed 4-0 by Iran in a group match. England, who will face USA, have also to close the gap at the top of the problems were already present at Hope to see you next year.” Germany will meet the South American looked a dominant side despite losing their ATP rankings. the tournament in Shanghai which Federer put on a masterclass football giants on Sunday in Kolkata. star midfielder Jadon Sancho, who was called Federer has closed to within now forces me to take a time off to beat Nadal 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday, In the first last-16 encounter yesterday, back by his German club Borussia 1,960 points of Nadal with 500 on on advice of my doctor. the 36-year-old lifting his sixth tro- two-time champions Ghana eased past deb- Dortmund. offer in Basel followed by the “After two great weeks in phy this season and underlining a utants Niger 2-0 in Mumbai to book their The 17-year-old Sancho scored three indoor tournament at Bercy in China, with the title in Beijing and turnaround in fortunes against his quarters clash with Mali. Meanwhile, under- times as the Steve Cooper-coached side Paris and the end-of-season ATP the final in Shanghai it is time for long-time nemesis. dogs Iran will challenge the might of Spain, advanced to the knockout stage with a 100 Finals in London. some rest. The world number two ended who edged past France 2-1 in another com- per cent record. In his social media statement, “I want to send a special mes- a sequence of five straight defeats pelling match on Sunday. The 23-day event culminates on October Nadal said he had seen his doctor sage to the many tennis fans in to Nadal at Basel last year, before Iran have turned out to be the tourna- 28 with the final in Kolkata, the eastern city on his return from China. Switzerland which have always winning their gripping Australian ment’s giant killers, and overcame a stiff known as the hotbed of football in cricket- “I am suffering from an showed great support and respect Open final in January. challenge from Mexico to continue their obsessed India. University League kicks off today at Education City

The Peninsula Eleven colleges and univer- University League.” Mohammed sities will battle it out to take Al Saoud, Head of Recreation he fifth University League, home this year’s title. Games will Services, QF, commented: a collaboration between be played on Thursdays and Sat- “We’re delighted to once again TQatar Football Association urdays, with the final match be collaborating with Qatar (QFA) and Qatar Foundation played on November 30. Football Association. Through (QF), is set to kick off today at An official awards ceremony this agreement, we aim to help Education City. to crown the first-, second-, and create a sports-loving society, Taking place on Pitch 1 of third-placed teams will imme- and, in turn, healthy, active QF’s Recreation Center, the first diately follow. communities, which is in line match will start at 7pm and will Hilal Al Mohannadi, Chair- with our overarching ethos at see Texas A&M University at man of the Sub-Leagues Qatar Foundation.” Qatar take on Carnegie Mellon Committee, QFA, commented: The University League, ini- University in Qatar, while the “We’re happy to join forces once tiated in 2013-14, is sponsored second game will see Georget- again with Qatar Foundation to by the Supreme Committee for own University in Qatar play host the fifth University League. Delivery & Legacy as the official Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar at This collaboration highlights our strategic partner, Ooredoo as the 8pm. The third match will begin objective of nurturing a football official telecommunications at 9pm in which the Academic culture among the youth. We partner, Qatar National Bank as Bridge Program will play against thank our sponsors for their the exclusive financial partner, Qatar University players and team officials celebrate with tournament officials after they emerged Virginia Commonwealth Uni- continuous generous support, Nike as the official supplier, and versity School of the Arts in which contributes directly to the Al Kass Sports Channels as the University League football champions at Qatar Foundation’s Recreation Centre Pitch 1 in this Qatar. success and development of the official broadcaster. file picture of February 2017.