Juve clinches record Arsenal’s 20 year 6th straight Champs league run Serie A title comes to an end

MONDAY, MAY 22, 201718 19 Djokovic names Agassi as new coach Page 17

MALAGA: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo scores during the Spanish league football match Malaga CF vs Real Madrid CF at La Rosaleda stadium yesterday. — AFP Ronaldo leads Real to 33rd Liga title

MADRID: Real Madrid won their 33rd La Liga title and first for five clearance from Luis Hernandez and his sumptuous through ball Sandro then saw another fierce effort deflect inches wide off midfielder Takashi Inui had the visitors dreaming as he hit a pair years as Cristiano Ronaldo’s 40th goal of the season helped seal a freed Ronaldo to round Carlos Kameni and fire into an empty net. Keko, who then had a great chance himself when he headed over of sweetly struck half-volleys in off the underside of the crossbar 2-0 victory at Malaga yesterday. Ronaldo got Madrid off to the Madrid could have further built on a fast start as Benzema saw a unmarked from 10 yards out. However, Ronaldo should have had either side of half-time. perfect start after just two minutes before Karim Benzema’s goalbound effort deflected just wide. Malaga’s attitude ahead of the his second when Kameni got down low to his right to save from However, David Junca turned into his own net after Neymar close-range finish sealed the title 10 minutes into the second half. game had been questioned after comments by their coach Michel point-blank range. Benzema did make sure of the title early in the had hit the post to start Barca’s revival 25 minutes from time. Yoel Madrid beat out Barcelona at the top of the table by three points that he would have preferred his former club had won the league second half when he swept home the loose ball after Kameni Rodriguez produced an incredible save to deny Lionel Messi from as the Catalans’ come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Eibar in out- before their visit to La Rosaleda to give them a guard of honor. had saved Sergio Ramos’s first effort. the penalty spot moments later. Barca weren’t to be denied a going coach Luis Enrique’s last home game in charge wasn’t However, the hosts showed why they had taken 13 points In Barcelona, Enrique was given a warm send-off at the Camp sixth straight win to end the season though as Luis Suarez bun- enough for a third straight title. from their previous five games as the first half wore on. Keylor Nou as he was greeted with a giant banner reading “One of us dled home from close range before Messi made amends with his Real needed just a point to be assured of the title and any linger- Navas produced a stunning save to prevent Sandro Ramirez from forever”. And Barca at least salvaged some pride by fighting back second penalty 15 minutes from time. And Messi rounded off the ing nerves were dispelled within seconds. Isco latched upon a poor doing former employers Barca a favour with a superb free-kick. from 2-0 down to avoid a first ever defeat against Eibar. Japanese scoring with his 53rd goal of the season in stoppage time. — AFP Warriors beat Spurs, take 3-0 series lead SAN ANTONIO: The Spurs were injured but Golden guard Stephen Curry said of the lead. “Our goal State was expecting a fevered fight on the home is to win every game we play. We answered a floor of the five-time NBA champions. The Warriors’ lot of challenges throughout the course of the depth and talent settled things early. Kevin Durant playoffs and learned a lot of lessons through had 33 points and 10 rebounds as Golden State beat winning. Against the Spurs, they challenge you injury-riddled San Antonio 120-108 on Saturday to no matter who’s out there. You’ve got to play take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. well to beat them.” Curry added 21 points and “They were going to come out and hit us in the became the franchise leader in postseason mouth,” Durant said of what the Warriors anticipat- points, passing Hall of Famer Rick Barry. ing entering the game. “I think we did a good job of Already without leading scorer Kawhi Leonard taking that punch and just kept playing.” and starting point guard Tony Parker, the Spurs Golden State has a chance to complete its third lost David Lee to a left knee injury in the opening straight series sweep in Game 4 at San Antonio on quarter. “We have to fight with the soldiers we Monday night. The Warriors are the third team in have,” San Antonio veteran Manu Ginobili said. NBA history to win their first 11 playoff games. “Nobody is going to feel sorry for us.” Lee left with Cleveland is 10-0, with a 2-0 lead over Boston in 2:57 remaining in the first, unable to put any the Eastern Conference final. weight on his left leg after he landed awkwardly “I’m not surprised,” Golden State point on it following a foul by Draymond Green. Joel , : Indians pose with trophy after winning the (IPL) final match against Rising Supergiant yesterday. — AP Anthony had to take a free throw in place of Lee, who was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. Lee’s status is unknown. Johnson sees Mumbai to third IPL title San Antonio still managed to match a postsea- son high with 33 points in the opening quarter and HYDERABAD, India: Paceman knock went in vain as Pune, who needed 11 in the final Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26 ) of Sunrisers lead by as many as six points in the first half. The inspired to a landmark third Indian over, lost three wickets to Johnson’s left-arm pace and Hyderabad. Sharma broke the shackles with the first Spurs played on emotion but eventually suc- Premier League title with crucial wickets for a single some sharp fielding. boundary of the innings on the opening of the cumbed to the Warriors’ firepower. “It’s not easy. run victory over yesterday. Daniel Christian was run out while going for the sixth over. Three more followed with paceman Lockie Even if we were healthy, they’re a great team,” San Mumbai are the first team to win the IPL three times in third run to tie the game. Mumbai erupted with joy Ferguson at the receiving end. Antonio guard Danny Green said. “It wouldn’t be its 10 year history and said it had after becoming the only team to win three titles after But Sharma’s four boundaries were the only bright easy, regardless. With the bodies going down, very been a “brilliant effort” to turn just 129-8 into a winning triumphs in 2013 and 2015. Pune, who ended seventh spot in his 22-ball 24 before losing his to leg- much so an uphill battle.” Durant had 19 points in score in the tense final. “I couldn’t ask for more. in the eight-team event last season, lost an early wicket spinner . Mumbai slipped to 79-7, but the third quarter. “I feel I can make every shot I shoot Whenever you’re defending a total like that, the first but (44) played sensible cricket with a ’s heavy hitting 47 lifted the team to because I shoot good ones and I try to get to my thing you have to do is believe,” said Sharma. 54-run partnership with Smith. respectability. He put on a fighting 50-run eight-wicket spot,” Durant said. “So, when they called my num- Johnson (3-26) and (2-26) got assis- partnership with Johnson (13 ). Left-hander ber, I just tried to go out there and be aggressive.” tance from the pitch as they turned the screws on Pune NO FAIRY TALE Pandya smashed three fours and two sixes during his Golden State shot 55 percent from the field with time running out. “When three overs were left, I Pune seemed to be cruising at 98-2 in the 17th over 38-ball blitz to help Mumbai gather 48 in the last five and was 11 for 27 on 3-pointers. “Every time you had confidence in the bowlers. They’ve always done with Smith and Dhoni at the crease but Mumbai had overs. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa and fellow Australian look up, you’re playing against four All-Stars,” San the job wherever they’ve played. It was about giving other ideas in their fourth appearance in an IPL final. “It’s Christian also took two wickets each. Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. Klay freedom to them because they’re the masters and a hard one to swallow,” said Smith who called the Pune improved their tournament record but may Thompson had 17 points, and Javale McGee they’ve done it before. I just told them to do whatever Mumbai target “below par”. “It was a tough wicket to have played their last game of the cash-rich league. added 11 points, including 11 in the opening they want and set the field accordingly,” said Sharma. get runs, everyone could see that. We just couldn’t get Their two-year run along with the ended quarter for the Warriors. Ginobili led the Spurs with Australian Johnson’s three wickets included the over the line,” he added. “It’s just disappointing to lose. It this season. SAN ANTONIO: Golden State Warriors forward 21 points, joining Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul- prize scalp of Pune skipper in the final wasn’t the fairy tale finish we wanted.” They were denied an extension by the league’s Andre Iguodala (9) drives for two points over Jabbar as the only players 39 or older to score 20- over. Bumrah’s two strikes included the big wicket of Pune pace spearhead took an governing council this month and both will have to San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) plus points in a conference final. San Antonio has former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10), play- impressive 2-19 to restrict Mumbai after they elected place fresh bids in 2018. Pune and Gujarat got IPL and Spurs forward Jonathon Simmons (17) been outscored by 73 points since Leonard left ing in his seventh IPL final. Chasing 130, Pune batsmen to bat first. Unadkat, 25, who has played one Test and places after and during the first half of Game 3 of the Western Game 1 with 7:52 remaining and the Spurs lead- faltered on a slow track to end on 128-6 at Hyderabad’s seven one-day internationals for India, remained two were banned for two years in 2015 for their role in a Conference finals on Saturday. — AP ing 78-55. —AP Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Smith’s dogged wickets behind the highest wicket-taker in betting controversy. They can return for 2018. — AFP