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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2017

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GIRONA: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo falls to the ground as he tries to get through the Girona defence during the soccer match between Girona and Real Madrid. — AP Real suffer shock defeat to Girona

Home side struck the woodwork twice before the break

GIRONA: La Liga champions Real Madrid suffered a through the second half but a one-goal advantage was flags. The political heat intensified two days before Despite the political undertones, the atmosphere was shock 2-1 defeat in their first ever league visit to enough to give Girona their third win in their first cam- their visit when the region’s ruling party declared inde- no more intimidating for Madrid than any other Liga Catalan side Girona yesterday, conceding two goals in paign in the top flight and inflict a pendence from Spain ground and they were cheered on by hundreds of sup- quick succession and falling eight points behind leaders second league defeat on Zinedine and the central govern- porters who mixed with the home fans without any Barcelona. Spain midfielder Isco tapped in a rebounded Zidane’s side. ment responded by dis- trouble. Pablo Maffeo, the Manchester City loanee who shot from Cristiano Ronaldo to open the scoring in the Real are third in the standings on Real third in solving the Catalan par- gained fame for his man-marking job on , 12th minute in Real Madrid’s first visit to this 20 points, four behind second- liament. provided the first flash point of the game when his season amid the worst political crisis in Spain’s 39 years placed Valencia while unbeaten the standings Deposed president searching cross from the right wing pinged off the far of democracy. The home side struck the woodwork leaders Barca have 28. Although Carles Puigdemont is post. The ball remained in play and Madrid surged up twice before the break but rallied in the second half and Real Madrid have many supporters on 20 points from Girona province the other end where Ronaldo fired at Girona goalkeep- Uruguay international Christian Stuani fired them level in Catalonia, they are viewed as the but did not make an er Yassine Bounou and Isco was ideally placed to tap in the 54th minute. Forward Portu then turned in the club that most representative of appearance, despite in the rebound. Girona’s fighting spirit could not be winning goal four minutes later to the delight of the Spain and the arrival of the team reports he would be in crushed, however, and they staged an incredible turn- 13,500 fans crammed into the Montilivi stadium. bus at Montilivi was greeted with a the presidential box as around to record arguably the most significant win in Stuani came within inches of scoring again midway smattering of boos and pro-Catalan independence he was for the game with Barcelona in September. their 87-year history. — Reuters

backhand down the line, throwing her racquet Wozniacki tried to extend the rallies while her into the air and holding her hands to her face big-hitting opponent attempted to shorten in disbelief. “I am so happy I managed to win points through sheer power and rushes to the Wozniacki ends in the end,” Wozniacki said. “Eight is my lucky net. Wozniacki broke three times in the first number. If I was going to beat her (Williams) set and took a one-set lead when Williams once in my career, it had to be today. played a loose service game at 4-5 down-just Williams jinx to “It is really sweet, I couldn’t be happier she second set she had ever conceded to the right now.” Wozniacki has been in brilliant, Dane. Wozniacki, in her first WTA Finals since aggressive form in Singapore, beating Elina 2014, flourished in Singapore, with a tough win WTA Finals Svitolina and Simona Halep at the group three-set defeat to Caroline Garcia her only stage and Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals. slip-up. After an even start, she seized control of It completed a stellar comeback season for SINGAPORE: Former world number one the final by breaking four straight times the two-time Grand Slam finalist, who Caroline Wozniacki ended her career-long across the sets to lead 5-0 in the second set. endured an injury-marred 2016 and finished jinx against Venus Williams in spectacular But with the title in her sights, Wozniacki was ranked number 19, her lowest position since style to lift the WTA Finals trophy for the first unable to serve it out in the seventh game and 2007. Williams was denied a 50th career tri- time yesterday. the ninth, when Williams produced an umph and first for the year, having finished The Dane had won just one set from seven astounding crosscourt winner to win her runner-up at the Australian Open and harrowing defeats to Williams but she turned fourth straight game. Wimbledon. She will remain the world num- the tables with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 89 min- But Wozniacki finally triumphed in the 10th ber five after playing in her first WTA Finals utes at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. game with her backhand winner to celebrate since 2009. Wozniacki had some nervy moments after in style. Williams, 37, looked increasingly Earlier, world number three pairing Timea 37-year-old Williams, the tournament’s oldest weary as the match wore on after playing a Babos and Andrea Hlavackova won the WTA ever finalist, clawed her way back from 0-5 gruelling, three-set semi-final against Finals doubles title on debut with a 4-6, 6-4, SINGAPORE: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark lifts the trophy down in the second set. Caroline Garcia on Saturday. 10-5 comeback victory over Kiki Bertens and after winning against Venus Williams of the US during the WTA But she kept her cool to seal victory with a In a contrast of styles, counter-puncher Johanna Larsson. — AFP Finals single tennis tournament. — AFP