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Sunday, April 18, 2021 FOOTBALL Ramadan 6, 1442 AH Coach Flick wants GULF TIMES to quit Bayern at end of season SPORT Page 3 HORSE RACING Mohamed al-Attiyah’s Sahab lands Qatar Prix Djebellaa II Jean de Mieulle-trained Zafraan Qardabiyah races to victory in the seven-furlong Qatar Prix Denouste

Al Shaqab’s Toro Strike wins seasonal debut at Thirsk For his first run of 2021, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Toro Strike cruised to an impressive victory in the Michael Foster Conditions Stakes for four-year- olds and older over 1,400m at Thirsk, UK, enhancing his strike rate to three wins, yesterday. The four-year-old colt, who is trained by Richard Fahey, was Paul Hanagan rides Toro Strike to Michael Foster Conditions Stakes quickly away before being victory at Thirsk yesterday. (Hannah Ali) settled towards the rear under jockey Paul Hanagan. Outpaced coming from last to first, won by iel Tudhope-helmed Azano was a Jerome Cabre (left) rides Sahab to victory in the Qatar Prix Djebella II at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat, France, yesterday. (Robert Polin) at the halfway point, he was two lengths and a quarter. The further half-a-length in third. ridden strongly by his jockey. Richard Hannon-trained Mota- Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Toro Agencies Despite being off the bridle, in khayyel finished runner-up with Strike is by Al Shaqab Racing Bordeaux, France the straight he managed to find Jim Crowley in the saddle. The sire Toronado, who stands at another gear to run on and, David O’Meara-trained and Dan- Haras de Bouquetot in France.

he race meeting at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat, confi rm on this run in the future, ladore, who produced the top- His Highness Sheikh Mohamed France, yesterday fea- but to show that kind of speed is class Amyr du Soleil. bin Khalifa al-Thani, had sweat- tured two QREC-spon- very promising.” ed up in the stalls. Coming with a soredT exciting Purebred Arabian She works well in the mornings ZAFRAAN QARDABIYAH WINS strong challenge at the beginning three-year-old maidens, the and does everything that we ask QATAR PRIX DENOUSTE of the home straight, his inexpe- Qatar Prix Denouste for colts of her,” said Fourcy. “However, An hour earlier, in the green and rience showed, and he lost es- and geldings, and the Qatar Prix she’s been very impressive today white silks of Waleed Ben Zaied, sential ground as his jockey had Djebella II for fi llies. Both run to accelerate like that. Nelkiane Zafraan Qardabiyah had won to battle to keep him straight in over 1,400m, these maidens have and Al Wakrah have both worked the Qatar Prix Denouste for the the closing stages. often played host to the debuts of well with her. They have a more young trainer Jean de Mieulle, Despite this, he nonetheless future Stakes’ performers. impressive physique than the who took his public training li- gained on Zafraan Qardabiyah to The Qatar Prix Djebella II saw winner. To win by seven lengths cense out just last year. Zafraan fi nish strongly, coming second a runaway victory for the repre- like that, she must be good. She Qardabiyah was a little keen in by half-a-length. Also making sentative of Mohamed bin Fahad is still very immature physically, the early stages of this 1,400m his track debut today, His High- al-Attiyah, Sahab. Trained by so now that she has won we will race and moved up to sit behind ness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Thomas Fourcy, this fi lly was one give her some time to mature. We the leaders in fourth position on al-Thani’s homebred Muntazah of his four runners, and was not won’t rush here – you need to the outside of GC Runner, under came in third two lengths further the most fancied prior to the race. be at you best for the end of the apprentice jockey Gary Sanchez, back, for trainer Didier Guillemin Smartly away, she went straight year.” claiming two-and-a-half kg. and under an educational ride to the lead and set a decent pace. Sahab comes from one of Josko led at a regular pace, from Olivier Peslier. Steadying in the bend, Ismee De the oldest and most successful with Syam in second. The lead- Former assistant to Alban de Bozouls moved up to join her. French Purebred Arabian pedi- ers picked up in the bend, and Mieulle in Qatar, Jean de Mieulle Once in the straight, jockey Jer- grees from the Haras de Pompa- Zafraan Qardabiyah came to is now in his second season as ome Cabre had just to open his Gary Sanchez (left) rides Zafraan Qardabiyah to victory in the Qatar Prix Denouste yesterday. (Robert Polin) dour; her dam Manella is none challenge at the beginning of the a licensed trainer in France and hands and she sped away, leaving other than a sister to the Group home straight. Shying from the commented on his winner: “Za- her rivals standing. She fl ew down the fi eld home for her owner and a short head. I took the advantage. She had a 1 producers Dormadora, dam of whip, he drifted slightly towards fraan Qardabiyah came here in to the rail to the line, professional breeder Al Shaqab Racing. In “She gave me a great feeling,” look around but breathed well. Dahor de Brugeres, Dormah De the centre, before fi nding his bal- good condition. I knew that he and untouchable. third by two lengths was ZF Al- enthused jockey Jerome Cabre When I asked her to accelerate, Brugere, the dam of Mahess du ance and accelerating to take the has a bit of speed – he’s run very Fourcy is also responsible for muzon, who just denied Nelki- after the race. “She was very she really showed something Soleil — Purebred Arabian Derby lead just after the 200m marker. well. I’m very pleased with his Al Wakrah, who led the rest of ane, the favourite of the race, by professional from the off , and so special. We will see if she can (Group 1 PA) winner — and Bal- Zain El Hala in the colours of performance today.”

FOOTBALL Al Sadd continue quest for fi rst 2021 AFC Champions League win

AFC half chances but Baghdad warded in the 59th minute when Riyadh Bounedjah came close in the 34th was brought down minute when he received a cross by Ali al-Hassan fi ve yards out- from Pedro Miguel but the Mo- side the box. wo late strikes by Al roccan’s right-footed shot from The Spaniard lined up for the Nassr meant that Al Sadd the centre of the box missed the free-kick and his sublime eff ort continue in the quest of top right corner. sailed over the Al Nassr wall, their fi rst victory in the Al Nassr’s response was almost dipped and settled in the net past AFCT Champions League after immediate as a speedy exchange the despairing Brad Jones in goal. the Saudi club won their Group D of passes saw Nordin Amrabat Both sides then went in search clash 3-1 yesterday. releasing the ball to Sami al-Najei of their second goals, with Sami Both sides went into the tie on the right. al-Najei coming close for Al needing the three points after Najei’s cross hit Al Sadd cap- Nassr in the 65th minute while having opened their campaigns tain on the , who scored Al with draws. Al Sadd needed a left hand, prompting the referee Sadd’s equaliser against Foolad, last gasp equaliser against ’s to point to the penalty spot, with saw his header saved by Jones Foolad Khouzestan, while Al 2020 AFC Champions League two minutes later. Nassr couldn’t fi nd a way past topscorer Abderazak Hamdallah Al Nassr, however, upped their the resolute defence of Jordan’s rifl ing the ball home in the 37th tempo and Hamdallah should Al Wehdat. minute to give Al Nassr the lead have done better with his header The win boosts 2020 AFC going into the break. in the 77th minute but the Saudi Champions League semi-fi nal- Al Sadd started the second half Arabian side were not to be de- ists Al Nassr’s hopes of advanc- on the front foot with Mohamed nied two minutes later with Ab- ing to the Round of 16 while Al Jadoua’s left footed shot from out- dulmajeed al-Sulayhim fi nishing Sadd have it all to do as they seek side the box just missing the top a fi ne team move which started their fi rst win. left corner in the 48th minute. with Jones, slotting the ball home Both teams started the match Nam Tae-hee had a half chance past Meshaal Barsham. cagily with play mostly concen- for Al Sadd fi ve minutes later but There was to be a third as Kha- trated in midfi eld with just the the Korea Republic player’s at- lid al-Ghannam fi nished a coun- occasional foray upfront by ei- tempt missed the target but the ter-attack in the fourth minute of ther side. Qatar champions kept pressing. added time to complete the win Both had to be content with Action from the AFC Champions League Group D match between Al Sadd (in black) and Al Nassr (in yellow) yesterday. Their perseverance was re- for Al Nassr. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, April 18, 2021 FOOTBALL

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW Duhail eye second successive win Persepolis come AFC diff erent for us,” said Lamouchi. Jeddah “We had a good start to the com- petition but we know that we will be playing against a strong team l Ahli can’t aff ord an- that wants to recover after their other slip up while Al opening defeat which means Duhail will be aiming to there are a lot of challenges for us. maintain their perfect “Al Ahli are a big team and they from behind to startA when the two sides meet in have excellent players but we will Group C of the AFC Champions try our best to improve and fo- League today. cus on our own team. There is no Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli are al- doubt that there are a lot of chal- ready in a diffi cult position fol- lenges like the heavy schedule, lowing their 5-2 defeat to Islamic the late kick-off s, in addition to Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal FC on the special conditions of Ram- Matchday One. Al Duhail, mean- adan. All of this means that we beat Al Rayyan while, enjoyed a much better will need to make the right deci- start as they breezed past Iraq’s sions in order to avoid any diffi - Al Shorta 2-0. Head coach Sabri culties.” Rayyan were left in search of their first win, having been held by Goa in the first match Lamouchi was delighted with Al Al Ahli head coach Laurentiu Duhail’s win over Al Shorta, de- Reghecampf felt his team did not AFC scribing it as hugely important deserve to lose by such an em- Margao, India in their bid to earn the automatic phatic margin as the Saudi side to the Round of 16. Al Duhail had their moments against an came into the tournament hav- impressive Esteghlal. The Roma- ersepolis FC fl exed their creden- ing seen Al Sadd run away with nian, however, knows his team tials as favourites as they came the Qatar Stars League title and a have no margin for error against from behind to defeat Al Rayyan prolonged run in the Champions Al Duhail, especially with only SC 3-1 in Group E of the 2021 League will go a long way in eras- the group winners assured of ad- PAFC Champions League in Margao, India, ing their disappointment. vancing to the Round of 16. yesterday. Michael Olunga and Edmilson One positive development for The Iran side turned on the power in Junior were the scorers against Al Al Ahli was the mercurial Omar the second half as they added to the 1-0 Shorta but Al Duhail have a very Al Soma scoring both their goals opening day win against UAE’s Al Wahda potent looking squad and Lam- and Reghecampf will be count- FSCC while Al Rayyan were left in search ouchi will be confi dent of anoth- ing on the Syrian to lead from the of their fi rst victory, having been held er three points against Al Ahli. front at the King Abdullah Sports 0-0 by FC Goa on Matchday One. Perse- “Tomorrow’s match will be City Stadium today. polis raced off the blocks and wasted no time in asserting themselves, coming close to opening the scoring after just three minutes when raced down the left fl ank and relayed the ball to Shahriyar Moghanlou, who found himself in a one on one situation with Al Rayyan goalkeeper Fahad Younis, but the forward was fl agged off side. The Iran Pro League champions con- tinued to press with their free fl owing passing but Al Rayyan were up to task with their sound defending. A lapse in concentration, however, saw Persepo- lis concede against the run of play in the 19th minute when Naif al-Hadhrami rose highest to head home Abdelaziz Hatim’s free-kick into the bottom right of the net. An undaunted Persepolis pushed for Al Duhail head coach Sabri Lamouchi checks on a player during the equaliser but Al Rayyan goalkeeper training session in Jeddah yesterday. Younis was at the top of his game, fi rst saving Mahdi Torabi’s eff ort from inside the area on 24 minutes and then denying Moghanlou’s drive in the 39th minute. The Al Rayyan shotstopper showed Norwich City promoted to his class just before half-time when he tipped Seyed ’s powerful the Premier League header over the bar while at the other London: Norwich City were clear of Swansea, who have end, Yacine Brahimi’s drive from inside promoted to the Premier four games left, and 16 ahead the area was saved by Persepolis custo- League without kicking a ball of Brentford, who have five dian . Al Rayyan’s Franck Kom (left) vies for the ball with Persepolis’ Omid Alishah during the group stage match of the AFC Champions yesterday as draws for Swansea matches left. Persepolis started the second half with League in Margao, India, yesterday. and Brentford sent the Cham- They are also eight points heightened intensity and their deter- pionship leaders back into the clear of second-placed Watford, mination paid off two minutes into the AL WAHDA, FC GOA TIE ENDS trouble Dheeraj Singh, the robust central Al Wahda cranked up the pressure top-flight. who lost 1-0 at local rivals restart when headed IN STALEMATE defender fi nding the FC Goa goalkeeper’s in the second half, with Lucas Pimenta Daniel Farke’s side have Luton. With promotion secured, home the equaliser off Torabi’s corner. Al In an earlier match, FC Goa maintained arms with a downward header. sending his header wide before Khrbin dominated the second tier with Norwich, who have won 11 of Rayyan found themselves 2-1 down two their unbeaten start to life in the AFC The side from the UAE increased the was left frustrated when he nodded Ibra- 27 wins from their 41 games their past 13 matches, can relax minutes later as weaved Champions League as Juan Ferrando’s tempo as the half wore on but were un- him’s cross from the right into the arms of so far, earning an immediate going into their game against his way down the right fl ank before tournament debutants held Al Wahda able to fi nd the fi nishing touch to some a grateful Dheeraj Singh. return to the Premier League Bournemouth at Carrow Road fi nding Moghanlou, who volleyed past from the United Arab Emirates to a 0-0 improved approach play. Ismaeil Matar’s The club from Abu Dhabi was almost to following last season’s relega- late last night game. They can Younis. draw in their Group E meeting. The draw intelligent, quickly taken free-kick found rue that miss 17 minutes from time when tion. clinch the Championship title Moghanlou scored his second in the followed the club’s goalless clash with Khalil Ibrahim, only to see his cutback to- Brandon Fernandes latched on to Jorge The Canaries’ promotion with five points from their 57th minute, fi nding space inside the six Rayyan while Al Wahda picked up their wards the penalty spot cleared. Ortiz’s ball behind the defence, sending was guaranteed after third- remaining five matches. yard box to collect Omid Alishah’s pass fi rst point of the campaign, having lost Tim Matavz forced Dheeraj Singh into in a low fi rst-time cross that Devendra placed Swansea were held to Farke and his players were before slamming the ball into an un- their fi rst fi xture against Persepolis. action a minute before the break when he Murgaokar met with his right foot but a 2-2 draw by bottom of the able to celebrate several hours guarded goalmouth. With the job done, Neither side was able to make much of hit Omar Khrbin’s pass fi rst-time towards which Mohamed al-Shamsi palmed away. table Wycombe, while fourth- before their own match be- Persepolis will now turn their focus to FC an impact during the opening quarter of goal and four minutes later the Slovenian Matar then saw his free-kick kept out placed Brentford drew 0-0 with cause of the slips from Swansea Goa on Tuesday while Al Rayyan will seek the game and it took until the 23rd minute saw an attempt from much closer range by Singh while Glan Martins saw his long Millwall. Norwich are 14 points and Brentford. their fi rst win against Al Wahda. for Al Wahda defender Fares Jumaa to blocked by the home defence. range drive defl ected wide.

PREMIER LEAGUE FA CUP Newcastle boost survival Chelsea end City’s quadruple quest to reach fi nal bid as Willock dents West AFP quick counter-attacks will be of con- London cern to Guardiola with the fearsome duo of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to Ham’s top four hopes come. AFP Staying up would be an im- helsea ended Manchester City’s From one slick break, Chelsea’s wing- Newcastle, United Kingdom pressive achievement for Bruce, quest for a historic quadruple of backs combined but Ben Chilwell could who has battled with dressing trophies as Hakim Ziyech’s goal only slice Reece James’s cross wide. City room rifts and distracting take- earned a 1-0 win to take the Blues got to half-time without any damage on ewcastle moved closer over talk. The defeat was a big intoC the FA Cup fi nal yesterday. the scoreline, but suff ered a potentially to Premier League sur- blow for West Ham as they chase A damaging day for City also saw them huge blow to their hopes of still clinching vival after Joe Will- an unexpected place in next sea- lose Kevin De Bruyne to an ankle injury a treble of trophies early in the second- ock’s late goal capped a son’s Champions League. just over a week away from the League half. Nthrilling 3-2 win against 10-man David Moyes’ side remain Cup fi nal, where they face Tottenham, Just 11 days before the fi rst leg of the West Ham that dented the visi- fourth, but Chelsea are just one and the fi rst leg of their Champions PSG tie, De Bruyne appeared to roll his tors’ bid for a top four fi nish in point behind with a game in League semi-fi nal against Paris Saint- ankle in a challenge with N’Golo Kante the Premier League. hand, while fi fth-placed Liver- Germain. and was replaced by Foden. City were still Steve Bruce’s side had squan- pool would go above the Ham- Chelsea were good value for another reeling from the loss of the Belgium at- dered a two-goal lead in the clos- mers if they beat today. impressive win under Thomas Tuchel tacker when they were fi nally caught out ing stages at St James’ Park, but On Friday, England forward and will be favourites for the German’s by the Chelsea counter-attack. Willock came off the bench to Harry Kane suff ered a worrying fi rst silverware in English football when Guardiola’s decision to retain Zack snatch a priceless winner. New- ankle injury ahead of next week’s they face Leicester or Southampton May Steff en in goal for domestic cup com- castle are nine points clear of League Cup fi nal after scoring 15. Tuchel could land an even bigger prize petitions backfi red as the American was the relegation zone with just six twice in Tottenham Hotspur’s in the Champions League just months caught in no man’s land when Werner games remaining in a turbulent 2-2 draw away to Everton. Gylfi after replacing the sacked Frank Lamp- raced in behind and once again squared season on Tyneside. Sigurdsson also grabbed two ard in January. “It was a very strong per- for Ziyech to roll into an empty net. The Magpies had taken con- goals for Everton in a result that formance. I’m very happy and proud,” Steff en made some measure of amends trol in the fi rst half thanks to Issa did little for either side’s Euro- said Tuchel, who has lost just twice in 19 moments later to deny Ziyech a second Diop’s own goal and a blunder pean hopes. games since replacing Lampard. when the Moroccan was clean through. from West Ham keeper Lukasz Kane, expected to lead Eng- “We took the opportunity to show up City took until the fi nal 20 minutes to get Fabianski for Joelinton’s strike. land’s attack in this year’s Euro- on the highest level and see how we are. going, but their best chance of sending West Ham defender Craig Daw- pean Championships, went off in You can only win against City if you have the game to extra-time came from a cor- son was sent off for two bookings stoppage time towards the end of everybody on the top level.” ner as Ruben Dias headed over from close in between those goals. the match after rolling his ankle His side showed they can get the bet- Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech (second right) scores against Manchester City in the FA Cup range. But the Hammers set up a when challenged in the box at an ter of City in what could be a dress re- semi-final at the Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. (Reuters) Instead, it was Chelsea who found the tense fi nale when Diop got one Everton corner. “It is too early to hearsal for the Champions League fi nal net again through in back before Jesse Lingard equal- say something,” should the English clubs see off PSG and among those rotated. That proved to be the only shot on tar- stoppage time only for the off side fl ag ised with a penalty 10 minutes Tottenham manager Jose Real Madrid in the last four. The physical Tuchel made just three changes and get of a cagey fi rst 45 minutes that did to again come to City’s rescue. But there from full-time. On-loan Arsenal Mourinho said when asked after- demands of City’s bid for a clean sweep Chelsea looked the far less disjointed side little to whet the appetite of a potential was no saving a bid for history for Guar- midfi elder Willock settled a pul- wards about Kane’s injury. Spurs of trophies was shown as Pep Guardiola in a bright start. ’s cross was reunion in Istanbul for European club diola’s men as they cannot now better sating encounter with his thun- remain seventh, fi ve points off made eight changes from the side that swept home by Ziyech after just six min- football’s greatest prize on May 29. De- Manchester United’s treble of Champi- derous header, putting Newcas- the top four having played one beat in midweek with utes, but the goal was ruled out for off side spite the number of changes, the ease ons League, Premier League and FA Cup tle in position to avoid relegation. game more than West Ham. goalscorers Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez against the German international. with which Chelsea were able to spring from 1998/99. Gulf Times Sunday, April 18, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE SERIE A Juve without Klopp admits Liverpool under pressure in top four race Ronaldo for

AFP side and he said: “We should not for- Atalanta game London get the opponents we face. We won the last three and that’s why we’re still due to fl exor around, still in the fi ght for the Cham- urgen Klopp admits Liverpool pions League spots. It’s clear we have to problem are under pressure as they try to win games. It would be best to win all of salvage a troubled season by fi n- them, but they are tough opponents and AFP ishing in the Premier League’s we have to respect all of them. We have Milan topJ four. Klopp’s side have failed to de- to win games and put pressure on teams. fend the Premier League title they won That’s all we know and we will try.” last term and were knocked out of the Injury-plagued Liverpool’s recent uventus forward Cris- Champions League by Real Madrid on strong form domestically has been tiano Ronaldo has been Wednesday. helped by the developing partnership ruled out of today’s Serie That quarter-fi nal exit means Liv- between centre-backs Ozan Kabak and A game against Champi- erpool’s only route back into Europe’s Nat Phillips. Liverpool have won the onsJ League rivals Atalanta with elite club competition next season is four Premier League games they have a fl exor muscle issue. Coach An- via a top-four fi nish in the league. The started together, off ering a solution to drea Pirlo said the 36-year-old sixth-placed Reds have been outside the defensive issues triggered by long- Portuguese striker, the top scor- the top four since early February and term injuries to Virgil Van Dijk and Joe er in Serie A this season with 25 they slipped as low as eighth before Gomez. goals, would rest to avoid risking winning their last three leagues games “Using the information you have just a more serious injury. to get back in the race. given me I’d better start them in the “We have an important absen- Fourth-placed West Ham’s 3-2 de- next game as well,” Klopp said. “These tee. Unfortunately Cristiano will feat at Newcastle yesterday was a major things have to develop. There was never not be taking part in the match boost to Liverpool’s hopes. With seven a question about their quality, the boys due to a problem with his fl ex- pressure-packed games left, they would have quality but you have to bring it to- or,” Pirlo told a pre-match press go above the Hammers on goal diff er- gether.” conference. “Over these past ence with a victory at Leeds tomorrow. Klopp has hailed Leeds’ fearless ap- few days he has not been able to “We just go for it, go and go and go proach under coach Bielsa and warned recover from the problem sus- and play our best football,” Klopp said. his players of the unique challenges the tained after last Sunday’s match “We are of course under pressure as Yorkshire outfi t pose, unlike any other against Genoa. He hasn’t been we want to fi nish in the top four but we team in the Premier League. “(Leeds) able to push himself this week. It don’t know in the moment if we will. We are tough opponents and we really re- would be too risky for us to bring have seven games to prove that and we spect that,” Klopp said. him to Bergamo tomorrow. We will try.” Klopp said he was surprised at how have decided to leave him in Tu- Leeds are coming off an impressive Leeds managed to deliver late coun- rin to rest and we will try to have victory at leaders Manchester City last terattacks despite their numerical dis- him back for Wednesday’s match weekend where they played half the advantage against City. “I watched the against Parma.” match with 10 men. Klopp is well aware game and it was really exciting to see Champions Juventus are third, of the threat posed by Marcelo Bielsa’s what is possible in football,” Klopp said. 12 points off leaders Inter Milan, with their nine-year reign look- ing set to end. They play fourth- placed Atalanta who are just a point behind, with next week’s game at relegation-threatened Parma. Pirlo blamed the fi ve-time Ballon d’Or winner’s problem on fatigue. “Cristiano has always been in excellent condition,” said the Juventus coach. “Un- Coach Flick wants to quit fortunately, the three matches in the national team have led to an accumulation of fatigue which is a problem for everyone. “Cristiano also told me that in the national team he should only Bayern at end of season have played two games, but then that goal not given against Serbia led him to play the third as well, Coach's shock revelation came after 3-2 win at Wolfsburg left Bayern seven points clear at the top otherwise he would have been back at Juve’s disposal before the AFP four days after head coach Adi Huet- third game. Wolfsburg, Germany ter confi rmed he will leave to coach “An accumulation of eve- Gladbach next season. Frankfurt’s de- rything, travel and games, can fence crumbled and their fi ve-match lead to fatigue. (Manchester City ayern Munich head coach unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt as manager Pep) Guardiola also Hansi Flick dropped a bomb- , Jonas Hofmann, Ramy said it, there have been too many shell yesterday by revealing he Bensebaini and netted for matches and the squads are too wants to leave the club world the hosts. tight and these are the conse- championsB at the end of the season. De- The Eintracht squad also had to con- quences. We also saw it in the spite Bayern winning six titles over the tend with sports director Fredi Bobic Champions League, with (Bay- last 12 months under Flick, he told Sky announcing in mid-week that he is ern Munich’s Robert) Lewand- that he “wants to be released” from his leaving to manage Hertha Berlin from owski who was unable to play contract, which expires in 2023. June 1. Fifth-placed Borussia Dort- the Champions League quarter- The shock revelation came after yes- mund, who host Werder Bremen today, fi nals League due to an injury terday’s 3-2 win at Wolfsburg that left can trim Frankfurt’s seven-point cush- picked up in the national team.” the Bavarians seven points clear at the ion in the last Champions League place Juventus can however count top of the Bundesliga. The 56-year- for next season. on Argentina striker Paulo Dy- old, who steered Bayern to last season’s Union Berlin are now within a point bala who will start for the fi rst treble which included the Champi- of the European places after their 2-1 time in over three months, after ons League title, told the star-studded home win over Stuttgart. Bottom side a long knee injury layoff , part- squad before making the news public. Schalke have only a mathematical nering Alvaro Morata up front. “I told the team that I informed the chance of staying up after their 4-0 Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci club during the week that I want out of thrashing at mid-table Freiburg, whose has recovered from Covid-19 my contract at the end of the season,” winger Christan Guenter netted twice. contracted while with the na- Flick said. “It was not an easy deci- Schalke have fi ve games left to bridge tional team, but will start on the sion for me. It was important that the the 14-point gap to escape the bottom bench. team heard it from me. I want to give three. Arminia Bielefeld climbed out of Meanwhile, Inter Milan, who my thanks and compliments to the club the bottom three thanks to a goalless are 11 points clear at the top of for giving me the opportunity to coach draw at Augsburg, which pushed Her- the serie A standings are clos- such a team.” tha Berlin into the relegation fi ght. ing in on a fi rst league title in 11 The news caps a turbulent week for The entire Hertha squad is in quar- years. But the Inter coach An- Bayern who were knocked out of the antine until April 28 and their next tiono Conte is taking nothing for Champions League quarter-fi nals on three games, starting with today’s away granted with an in-form Napoli, Tuesday by Paris Saint-Germain. Ten- match at Mainz, have been postponed who are chasing a top-four fi n- sions have been simmering behind the following Covid-19 cases at the club. ish, up next. scenes between Flick and Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic over player BUNDESLIGA RESULTS SERIE A RESULTS recruitment. “I have discussed things Tensions have been simmering behind the scenes at Bayern Munich between head coach Hans-Dieter Flick and sports Union Berlin 2 (Proemel 20, Musa 43) Crotone 1 (Simy 68-pen) Udinese internally with those responsible. The director Hasan Salihamidzic over player recruitment. (AFP) VfB Stuttgart 1 (Foerster 49); Borus- 2 (De Paul 41, 74); Sampdoria 3 reasons will remain internal for now,” sia Moenchengladbach 4 (Ginter 10, (Jankto 46, Gabbiadini 73-pen, added Flick, who said he made his deci- Euro 2020. He is one of the main can- early goals by , 18, and season. Maximilian Philipp gave hosts sion after “careful consideration”. didates to be Germany head coach after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Musiala Wolfsburg hope when he fl icked home Hofmann 60, Bensebaini 67, Wolf 90+5) Thorsby 82) Hellas Verona 1 The rift was triggered after Saliha- Joachim Loew steps down following the danced through the Wolfsburg defence a cross just after the break. The away Eintracht Frankfurt 0; VfL Wolfsburg (Lazovic 13); Sassuolo 3 (Be- midzic confi rmed Jerome Boateng will June 11-July 11 tournament. to put Bayern ahead after 15 minutes win could have come at a price as Bay- 2 (Weghorst 35, Philipp 54) Bayern rardi 59-pen, 62-pen, Lopez 75) not be kept on next season. Flick made Flick says taking charge of the Ger- before Choupo-Moting took advantage ern defender Lucas Hernandez had to Munich 3 (Musiala 15, 37, Choupo Mot- Fiorentina 1 (Bonaventura 31) it clear he wanted to keep the 32-year- man national team is “an option” but of a mistake by Wolfsburg goalkeeper be helped off late on. With fi ve games to ing 24); SC Freiburg 4 (Hoeler 7, Sallai Playing today (times GMT): AC old centre-back. Bayern forward Tho- he has yet to speak to Germany team to stab home the visitors’ go, Bayern can wrap up the league title 22-pen, Guenter 50, 74) Schalke 04 0 Milan v Genoa (1030), Atalanta mas Mueller said Flick did not tell the director Oliver Bierhoff who will ulti- second goal. within a fortnight having extended their Playing today: Borussia Dortmund v v Juventus, Bologna v Spezia, squad why he wants out. mately decide. Flick was Loew’s assist- pulled a goal back lead in the table after Leipzig’s goalless Werder Bremen (1330 GMT), Mainz v Lazio v Benevento (all 1300), However, being released from his ant coach when Germany won the 2014 for Wolfsburg, but Musiala made it 3-1 draw with Hoff enheim on Friday. Hertha Berlin — postponed Torino v AS Roma (1600), Napoli Bayern contract would clear the way World Cup title in Brazil. at half-time with a towering header to Eintracht Frankfurt crashed to a 4-0 v Inter Milan (1845) for him to take charge of Germany after Bayern raced into a 2-0 lead with leave him on four Bundesliga goals this defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach, Friday: RB Leipzig 0 Hoff enheim 0

LIGUE 1 Lirola double gives Marseille late win over Lorient

AFP Sampaoli, who has overseen four home minutes later after a neat ball through tory away to Angers earlier. Paris wins in four since his appointment. “I by Florian Thauvin, the Spaniard open- don’t know if these highs and lows are ing his account having joined on loan LIGUE 1 RESULTS part of my style, I hope not. It’s tough from Fiorentina at the start of the year. Angers 0 Rennes 3 (Doku 45+1, Terrier ol Lirola scored his fi rst two on the heart. We need to have more Moffi looked to have earned a vital point 63, Guirassy 90+1); Marseille 3 (Payet goals for Marseille and hit an control,” he added. for Lorient in their fi ght against relega- 53, Lirola 56, 90+1) Lorient 2 (Moff i 19, injury-time winner as Jorge Moffi , Lorient’s top scorer following tion when he raced clear to score for the Sampaoli’s side claimed a 3-2 his October arrival from Belgian club second time, and 11th this season, with 70) Phome victory over Lorient in Ligue 1 Kortrijk, fi nished off a sharp counter- 20 minutes to go. Playing today (GMT): Paris Saint- yesterday. Nigerian striker Terem Moffi attack to give the Bretons a fi rst-half But Lirola fi red in a low drive from Germain v Saint-Etienne (1100), Brest v struck twice for the visitors but hob- lead. The hosts had picked up 10 points the corner of the area to snatch victory Lens, Dijon v Nice, Nimes v Strasbourg, bled off with an injury before Lirola from a possible 15 since the appoint- late on for Marseille, their fourth in six Reims v Metz (all 1300), Bordeaux v won the game in added time. “Beyond ment of Sampaoli, and they levelled games under Sampaoli. Monaco (1505), Nantes v Lyon (1900) the emotion of the result and keep- through a sensational Dimitri Payet Marseille moved level on points with Played Friday: Lille 1 (Araujo 85) ing our 100% record at the Velodrome, volley on 53 minutes. fi fth-placed Lens and climbed back Montpellier 1 (Delort 21) Marseille’s Pol Lirola (left) vies for the ball with Lorient’s Laurent Abergel (centre) there are lots of things to correct,” said Lirola put Marseille on top three above Rennes, who eased to a 3-0 vic- during the French Ligue 1 match at the Velodrome Stadium yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, April 18, 2021 SPORT

CRICKET NFL Accuser off ers apology to Rams’ Donald MI condemn SRH to aft er seeing video

Reuters cated,” White said. New York “As he ducks, somebody from behind grabs him to stop him from interacting with this guy, he man who fi led a crim- Mr. Spriggs, so he holds Aaron third straight defeat inal complaint accus- back in a sense,” White said. ing Los Angeles Rams “At that point, that’s when defensive tackle Aaron other people come to Aaron’s aid ‘The two of us were set but it proves that if you don’t bat deep, you can’t win’ DonaldT of assault is now off ering and defend him by removing, so an apology to the NFL star. to speak, Mr. Spriggs from the Through his attorney Todd J area where he is punched, and Hollis, De’Vinzent Spriggs says he is fi ghting; it’s a mutual fi ght he mistook Donald for his at- at this point between other indi- tacker during the skirmish out- viduals who Aaron does not re- side the Boom Boom Room, a ally know.” Pittsburgh-area nightclub. The Rams issued a statement “I wanted to make this state- confi rming they were aware of ment public. And to extend an the incident and were gathering apology to Aaron for what he’s more details. gone through, but I clearly know Donald, 29, was a college star this was not him,” said Hollis, at Pitt and a fi rst-round draft per Pittsburgh’s KDKA CBS af- pick of the Rams in 2014. The fi liate. three-time NFL Defensive Play- This comes shortly after er of the Year works out in Pitts- Donald’s attorney Casey White burgh in the off season. claimed video and eyewitnesses at the scene will refute assault BEARS SIGN WR MARQUISE claims alleging Donald was re- GOODWIN sponsible for Spriggs’ injuries. Marquise Goodwin is chang- Spriggs fi led his criminal com- ing NFL teams for the third time plaint in Pittsburgh on Wednes- since he last played a game. day, alleging that he needed 16 The 30-year-old free agent stitches and suff ered a broken wide receiver signed a one-year orbital bone, broken nose, con- contract with the Chicago Bears cussion and a signifi cant arm in- on Friday. Terms of the deal were jury in a 3am bar fi ght on Sunday. not announced. At the time, Spriggs claimed Goodwin was traded by the he accidentally bumped into San Francisco 49ers to the Phila- Donald, who immediately be- delphia Eagles in April 2020, but came enraged, and things turned he later opted out of the 2020 physical. season amid the coronavirus White told ESPN on Friday pandemic. His rights reverted to that Spriggs started the fracas by the 49ers because he didn’t play digging his elbow into Donald’s for Philadelphia, and the 49ers back, then swinging a beer bottle cut him last month. over Donald’s head. Goodwin spent three seasons “He turned around and it’s in San Francisco after playing his this Mr. Spriggs... and Aaron fi rst four NFL seasons with the goes, ‘What’s up?’ and Mr. Buff alo Bills, who selected him in Spriggs starts yelling belliger- the third round of the 2013 draft. ently, ‘Did I mean to? Did I mean In 75 career games, Good- to?’ He keeps repeating, it’s kind win has 140 receptions for 2,323 of nonsensical, but he keeps yards and 13 touchdowns. His yelling, ‘Did I mean to?’ It’s ap- best season came in 2017, when parent to Aaron and it’s apparent he had 56 catches for 962 yards to all the witnesses that is intoxi- and two TDs for the 49ers.

Hardik Pandya of Mumbai Indians (second from right) celebrates the run out of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s David Warner with his teammates during their IPL match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai yesterday. (Sportzpics for IPL)

AFP hul Chahar taking three for 19 balls -including one six which out of wickets. They were all out it’s very diffi cult to adjust on Chennai and pace bowler Trent Boult went through a fridge door in the 13 runs behind with two balls this pitch when you only have a three for 28. Hyderabad are now Chennai stadium - and Warner left. “The way we came out and couple of balls, but that’s what bottom of the eight team league 37 but Hyderabad’s lower order bowled was very important,” we train for. It’s good when you hampions Mumbai In- already facing a mountain if they again failed to build on their fi ne said Sharma who acknowledged scrap the victories, it gives you dians infl icted a third want to qualify for the playoff s. start. The openers fell in chaotic that he was expecting more from confi dence. When it’s coming straight defeat on David Mumbai, who lost their open- circumstances, Bairstow stepping the batting. “We ticked some out nicely you want to bowl an- Warner’s Sunrisers Hy- ing fi xture to Royal Challeng- back on his stumps and Warner boxes, we have more to tick,” other one, but what the team derabadC yesterday to go to the ers Bangalore, must thank their leaving the fi eld fuming after be- said the Mumbai captain. needs at the moment is you need top of the Indian Premier League. powerful bowling and Pollard’s ing runout going for a single. Mumbai Indians Kieron Pol- the main bowlers. Just happy to Quinton de Kock hit 40 and big hitting for the win. “The two of us were set but it lard was declared man-of-the- do my job there,” Pollard said. Kieron Pollard a crucial unbeat- Pollard’s two sixes in the fi nal proves that if you don’t bat deep, match. “I think the situation dic- en 35 as Mumbai made 150 for over fi nally proved the diff er- you can’t win,” said Warner. tates who comes fi rst, we are all BRIEF SCORES fi ve off their 20 overs. ence between the two sides af- Chahar then accounted for padded up and whenever we’re MI 150/5 in 20 overs (De Kock 40, Australia star Warner and ter Mumbai to build on a strong Manish Pandey, Virat Singh and called on, we’re ready. There’s K. Pollard 35*; V. Shankar 2/19) England’s Jonny Bairstow hit start by South African de Kock Abishek Sharma in the middle no secret. We have to fi nd a way beat SRH 137 all out in 19.4 overs early runs but Hyderabad were and captain Rohit Sharma who order to leave Hyderabad scram- and again in the back end get- (J. Bairstow 43, D. Warner 36; all out for 137 with spinner Ra- made 32. Bairstow hit 43 off 22 bling for runs and fast running ting those extra runs helped us. Rahul Chahar 3/19) by 13 runs Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

CYCLING SPOTLIGHT Titmus warms up for New star Pidcock winning fans, Ledecky showdown races and rave reviews with 400m title AFP been up there in a few races al- AFP Pro Swim Series last weekend in Paris ready,” he said in reference to Sydney 3:59.25. the rave reviews he earned after Young prospect Elijah Win- Milan-San Remo and Strade Bi- nington took out the men’s title uch of the focus at anche, where he stood up well orld 400m freestyle in 3:45.69 — under Australia’s cycling’s upcom- among an elite clique of the champion Ariarne Olympic qualifying standard ing trio of Belgian world’s top riders. Titmus warmed up ahead of the offi cial trials in June. classics will be on “Winning this race is good for the Olympics Defending Olympic champion M21-year-old Briton Tom Pid- as it stops that trend of being Wby claiming the Australian title Mack Horton withdrew to focus cock, winner of the Brabantse up there but not winning,” Pid- yesterday in 4min 01.34sec as on his training regime. Pijl cobbled classic in midweek, cock said at the fi nish line on she eyes a Tokyo showdown with “I went faster a couple of leaving world-class riders trail- Wednesday. American great Katie Ledecky. months ago, so still some stuff ing in his wake. “Positioning is the most im- The 20-year-old, whose to work on defi nitely,” said Win- All this just three months portant thing in these races. I preparations were set back by nington. Veteran Emily Seebohm after the rider from Leeds in have to thank Luke and the team a shoulder injury, turned at the was also well under the quali- northern England signed his for that, Luke does a super good halfway mark in an outdoor pool fying standard in winning the fi rst professional contract with job,” he said. on the Gold Coast in 1:58.61 and women’s 200m backstroke in star-studded British outfi t In- Pidcock admitted that he was powered home, although missed 2:07.46 after Commonwealth eos, some of whose riders may feeling the pressure of the move out on going under the magic record holder Kaylee McKeown already be peering anxiously up in quality. four minute mark. opted not to race the fi nal. over their shoulders. “Before I could kind of cor- “Very happy with that... es- McKeown instead focused Pidcock’s bike-handling rect bad positioning or what- pecially knowing where I’m at in on the 200m medley, where she skills were picked up in cyclo- ever because I was stronger in my work at the moment. I kind has the fastest time this year, cross, and he says his main aim the younger categories,” he said. of forgot what a 400 felt like, but comfortably claiming the title this year is to qualify for the ’ British Thomas Pidcock of Great Britain celebrates as he crosses the finish line during “I might not even be in the now I defi nitely remember,” said in 2:09.78. Olympic silver med- Tokyo Olympics mountain bike the men’s ‘’ one day-cycling race, 201.7km from Leuven to Overijse, on April, 14 2021. (AFP) front group at the next race, Titmus, who won the 200m title allist Mitch Larkin also sat out event. consistency is hard now, the on Thursday. “I haven’t seen the the men’s 200m backstroke fi nal “I’ve been riding bikes daily the most feared man in one-day best man won”. Tour de France winners Brad- level is so high. splits yet, but it was more about after posting a sizzling 1:54.38 in since I was four, nothing is out classics, local hero Wout van Not that he celebrated much. ley Wiggins and Chris Froome. “But I’ll race Amstel, La my attitude going into the race the heats as he shapes up as a se- of my comfort zone,” the confi - Aert. “Now that was a proper “I feel a bit silly celebrating, I’ve Team chief has Fleche and possibly Liege too,” knowing I had to go for it. Hope- rious Tokyo medal prospect. dent youngster said in a recent bike race,” said Jumbo Visma’s grown out of it,” said Pidcock, a track record of bringing riders he said. fully, I’ll look back at my splits Like McKeown, he focused on interview on Ineos’ site. Van Aert, who also loves moun- who admits however he still through as he proved with Egan Ineos have handed the rookie and see that I did that.” the 200m medley and stormed Now the clean-cut Pidcock, tain biking and elbow-to-elbow loves the video game Fortnite. Bernal and his 2019 Tour de a lead role even with a string of Titmus stunned seemingly in- home in 1:56.74. He now holds who says he has never even racing. One of the top newspapers France win, when he was just 22. stars alongside him including vincible Olympic champion and two of the world’s three fastest drunk a coff ee or eaten a sneaky “I tried my best but there was in cycling-mad Belgium, Het Ineos’s Welsh road captain Giro winner world record holder Ledecky at times over the past 12 months. pot noodle, is a star in the mak- one guy stronger. I just saw the Nieuwsblad, ran an editorial the was instrumental and . the 2019 world championships, Meanwhile, Emma McKeon ing in road racing too. replay, he was stronger and I day following his win with the in teaching Bernal road nous, After this week the mixed with their upcoming rematch in won the Australian 100m but- With three high-profi le Bel- have to accept it,” Van Aert said. English title “Tom Pidcock is and Pidcock was swift to thank event rider will dovetail his ac- Tokyo one of the most antici- terfl y title in 56.44, the second gian one-day races coming up Matteo Trentin, who was the next big thing.” Rowe after his own fi rst win. tivities in order to qualify for pated. Ledecky has also been in fastest time over the past year as this week, Pidcock laid down a third on Wednesday, showed his Under the name of Sky, In- “I’m here (in Belgium) to fi nd Tokyo, with his fi rst mountain fi ne early-year form, winning she looks to better the sixth she landmark victory by out-racing respect for Pidcock, saying “the eos was the former home of my feet in road cycling, and I’ve bike race scheduled for May 1. the 400m at the Mission Viejo fi nished at the 2016 Rio Games. Gulf Times Sunday, April 18, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA MLB Schwarber homer lift s Nationals over Sixers beat Clippers, Diamondbacks

Reuters his stint on the Covid-related Washington injury list. Martinez said Lester felt good after throwing a three-inning, yle Schwarber homered 49-pitch simulated game in Fre- Utah down Pacers in the bottom of the dericksburg, Va. The left-hander ninth inning to give the is likely to make at least one more host Washington Na- rehab start before rejoining the ‘I don’t think teams really know what to do when guarding him’ Ktionals a 1-0, walk-off win over rotation. the Arizona Diamondbacks on AFP Friday. Facing Alex Young (0- Dodgers pull away from Los Angeles 3) with one out, Schwarber got Padres in 12th, win 7th straight under a 2-1 sinker for a 463-foot Corey Seager hit a two-run blast to right center. homer to open the 12th inning oel Embiid scored 36 points and It was Schwarber’s fi rst homer Friday night, triggering a fi ve- grabbed 14 rebounds as the NBA as a National, and it broke an run rally that led the visiting Los East-leading Philadelphia 76ers 0-for-12 skid. Angeles Dodgers to an 11-6 vic- snapped the Los Angeles Clippers’ “To be able to put that swing tory over the San Diego Padres. seven-gameJ winning streak with a 106- on the ball there and give us a The Dodgers earned their sev- 103 win on Friday. win, can’t ask for anything Embiid became the fi rst Philadelphia better,” he said during an RESULTS player since 2006 to score 35-plus points on-fi eld interview after in three straight games as the Cameroo- the game. Nationals 1-0 D’backs nian center has carried the off ensive load Brad Hand (1-0) pitched Dodgers 11-6 Padres since returning to the starting lineup two a scoreless ninth inning weeks ago. for the win. Three Wash- Reds 10-3 Indians Over the past half dozen games Embiid ington pitchers limited the Angels 10-3 Twins is averaging over 30 points and nine-plus Diamondbacks to three Mariners 6-5 Astros rebounds per game with his best per- hits and two walks while Braves 5-2 Cubs formance coming Wednesday when he striking out 13. ran roughshod over the Brooklyn Nets for Josh Harrison had two Pirates 6-1 Brewers 39 points and 13 boards. hits for Washington. Rays 8-2 Yankees But it is in the last three that Embiid One night after the Dia- Phillies 9-2 Cardinals has really shined. The last Sixer to score mondbacks clubbed four more than 35 points in three straight con- home runs off Washing- Marlins 4-1 Giants tests was Allen Iverson in 2006. ton pitchers in an 11-6 Orioles 5-2 Rangers Embiid heard muted chants of “MVP, win, Nationals starter Athletics 3-0 Tigers MVP” on Friday from the crowd of 4,100 Max Scherzer shut them at the Wells Fargo Center, the number of out for seven dominant spectators limited due to Covid-19 health innings. He allowed two singles enth consecutive win while the restrictions in Philadelphia. while striking out 10 and walking Padres lost for the third time in “I don’t think teams really know what two over 106 pitches. Scherzer four games. to do when guarding him,” teammate Ben (2,808 career strikeouts) passed Mookie Betts was the inning- Simmons said of Embiid. Cy Young (2,803) for 22nd place opening runner on second when on the all-time whiff list. Over Seager homered to center on the his past two starts, Scherzer has fi rst pitch he saw from Tim Hill RESULTS allowed one run in 13 innings. He (0-2). The Dodgers added on New York 117-109 Dallas has 24 strikeouts in 19 innings with RBI singles by Zach McK- over his three starts this season. instry and Luke Raley and a Portland 107-106 San Antonio Arizona’s Taylor Widener, sacrifi ce fl y by winning pitcher Toronto 113-102 Orlando making his third major league David Price (1-0) to Padres no- Memphis 126-115 Chicago start, matched zeros with hitter pitcher Joe Musgrove, who Denver 128-99 Houston Scherzer for six innings, giving as playing left fi eld. The Padres up only four hits while striking failed to score with the winning Minnesota 119-111 Miami out three with two walks. at third and one out in both the Detroit 110-104 Oklahoma Harrison and Starlin Cas- 10th and 11th innings. Philadelphia 106-103 Clippers tro singled with one out in the Both teams scored in the ninth Washington second, but Widen- against the other side’s closer. Washington 117-115 New Orleans er retired Alex Avila and Victor Los Angeles’ Justin Turner drove Utah 119-111 Indiana Robles. Before the game, Na- in Betts with a tiebreaking single Brooklyn 130-115 Charlotte tionals manager Dave Martinez off Mark Melancon with one out Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (in background) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis during said starting pitcher Jon Lester is in the top of the ninth to give the “I think he’s clearly the MVP this sea- the second-half of their NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. (USA TODAY Sports) getting closer to returning from Dodgers a 6-5 lead. son. He’s been so dominant. I don’t know how to stop him.” 2:50 left. Los Angeles then took their fi rs this right foot while attempting to steal a Blazers six-time all-star Damian Lil- Furkan Korkmaz fi nished with 18 lead of the game in the fourth when pass. lard sat out Friday’s game due to a right points on fi ve-of-12 shooting from be- Patrick Patterson nailed a three to make Mitchell walked gingerly to the dress- hamstring injury. yond the arc as Philadelphia snapped Los it 91-90. ing room with the help of some of his Lillard is having a standout season av- Angeles’ seven-game win streak. But the 76ers dominated the game on teammates. eraging 28.7 points and 7.7 assists. An- Simmons added 12 points, nine re- the boards and in the paint and shoot- The Jazz said that Mitchell would un- fernee Simons added 16 points for the bounds and six assists, and Danny Green ing guard Shake Milton drained a three dergo an MRI to determine the severity of Blazers, who snapped a two-game losing had 11 points and seven assists in the win. pointer with 3:38 remaining to make it the injury. streak. Paul George paced the Clippers with 97-94 as they never trailed again. “Donovan is so important to our team,” DeMar DeRozan fi nished with 26 37 points, nine rebounds and six assists. In Salt Lake City, Utah’s two-time All- point guard Mike Conley said. points and added 10 assists for the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard missed his fourth straight Star Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points “He’s what makes us go. I was proud of who have lost two straight. game for the Clippers with a sore right before leaving with a sprained right ankle the way we responded with Donovan go- Also, Joe Harris scored 26 points and foot. early in the third quarter, but the Jazz still ing down.” Kevin Durant poured in 25 points as the “I thought we did a good job,” Clippers stormed back to beat the Indiana Pacers Elsewhere, Norman Powell drained second place Brooklyn Nets defeated the coach Tyronn Lue said. 119-111. the clutch game winner with 22 seconds Charlotte Hornets 130-115 to keep pace “Overall, I like the way we fought and Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 24 remaining as the short-handed Portland with the Sixers atop the standings. competed.” points, and Jordan Clarkson scored 18 as Trail Blazers came from behind to beat Josh Jackson scored a team-high 29 Philadelphia roared out to a 20-3 lead Utah won for the 13th time in 16 games. the host San Antonio Spurs 107-106. points as the Detroit Pistons beat the in the fi rst quarter, but the Clippers Utah rallied for the win despite Mitchell CJ McCollum scored 29 points while struggling Oklahoma City 110-104, Washington Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber hits a walk-off clawed their way back in the third to leaving less than four minutes into the Powell delivered 22 for Portland, who had handing the Thunder their ninth con- home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at cut the margin to just three points with third quarter after landing awkwardly on lost four of their last fi ve games. secutive defeat. Nationals Park in Washington. (USA TODAY Sports)

NHL Bruins’ Swayman shuts out Islanders

Reuters as Krejci passed into the crease, where Hall got Boston his stick on the puck and fi red it past Sorokin 47 RESULTS seconds after faceoff . It was the second goal in as many games for Bruins 3-0 Islanders avid Pastrnak and Taylor Hall scored Hall, who had just two goals in 37 games for the Golden Knights 4-0 Ducks in a 50-second span bridging the fi rst Sabres. Canadiens 2-1 Flames and second periods Friday night and The Islanders pulled Sorokin with under two goalie Jeremy Swayman recorded his minutes left but didn’t mount a serious threat Wild 3-2 Sharks fiD rst NHL as the host Boston Bruins before Lazar scored the empty-netter. completed a two-game sweep of the New York vious two games. Gibson saved a penalty shot by Islanders with a 3-0 win. STREAKING GOLDEN KNIGHTS Stephenson with 5:27 to play. After a scoreless Curtis Lazar added an empty-netter with 1:12 SHUT OUT DUCKS fi rst period in which Vegas had a 15-6 advan- left for the Bruins, who have won three straight William Karlsson and Chandler Stephen- tage on shots, the Golden Knights needed just since acquiring Hall and Lazar from the Buff alo son both scored in the fi rst fi ve minutes of the nine seconds of the second period to get on the Sabres on Monday. second period and the visiting Vegas Golden scoreboard. The win Friday, coupled with the Bruins’ 4-1 Knights extended their winning streak to fi ve Karlsson picked up a loose puck in front of the victory over the Islanders on Thursday, pulled games with a 4-0 victory over the Anaheim Anaheim crease, after teammate Reilly Smith fourth-place Boston within four points of Ducks on Friday. lost possession in traffi c, and scored his 11th of second-place New York in the East Division. Robin Lehner made 16 saves in the season into a wide-open goal. The Bruins extended their lead over the idle his fi rst shutout of the season as Vegas won for Just over four minutes later, Stephenson to six points in the race for the fi fth time in its past six road games and im- made it 2-0 with his 10th of the season. Stone the fi nal playoff spot in the East. proved to 3-0-0 on a four-game trip to Los An- fed a charging Stephenson just inside the blue Swayman, pressed into duty earlier this geles and Anaheim. line, and the center fl ipped a shot inside the left month with starting goalie Tuukka Rask bat- Nicolas Roy and Brayden McNabb also had post and past Gibson. tling an upper-body injury and Jaroslav Halak goals for Vegas, while Mark Stone had two as- Roy completed a three-goal second period sidelined due to Covid-19 protocol, stopped 25 sists to give him a team-leading 34. for the Golden Knights when he scored with 22 shots as the Bruins killed off fi ve Islanders pow- The second-place Golden Knights inched seconds remaining before the second intermis- er plays. within two points of the West Division-leading sion. Goalie Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves for the Is- Colorado Avalanche, who had their next three Roy stole the puck from the Ducks’ Max landers, who have lost back-to-back games by games postponed because of Covid-19 con- Comtois, moved in on goal and beat Gibson over multiple goals for the fi rst time this season. cerns. his right shoulder. It was Roy’s fourth goal of the The Bruins took the lead in the waning sec- Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton (left) and New York Islanders right wing Kyle Palmieri Playing in front of fans for the fi rst time in season. onds of the fi rst when Patrice Bergeron fi red the (centre) eye the puck in front of Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (right) during the first more than a year, the Ducks hardly gave the McNabb’s second of the campaign came at puck to Mike Reilly, who was stationed behind period at TD Garden in Boston. (USA TODAY Sports) crowd of 2,000 anything to cheer about as Ana- the eight-minute mark of the third period off the net. heim’s modest two-game winning streak came assists from Stephenson and Stone. Reilly tucked a pass through the legs of Is- net with 2.4 seconds left. A nifty exchange be- Hall took a pass from Steven Kampfer and to an end. The teams will complete a two-game set Sun- landers defenseman Scott Mayfi eld to Pastrnak, tween Hall and David Krejci capped an end-to- passed to Krejci as Mayfi eld tried picking off Ducks goaltender John Gibson had 47 saves in day at Anaheim. Vegas can move into a tie for who fl icked a shot off the top post and into the end rush in the fi rst minute of the second period. the puck. Hall then sprinted ahead of Mayfi eld his return after Anthony Stolarz played the pre- fi rst place in the West with a victory. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, April 18, 2021 SPORT

FIGURE SKATING SPOTLIGHT Biden backs Japan PM on holding ‘safe Shcherbakova and secure’ Games hails Japan’s virus measures Shcherbakova topped the women’s free programme with a score of 160.58 to AFP Paralympic Games this summer.” lead Russia to its first title at the biennial competition, ahead of the US and Japan Washington “Both leaders expressed their pride in the US and Japanese ath- letes who have trained for these S President Joe Biden Games and will be competing in has given his backing to the best traditions of the Olym- Japan’s eff orts to hold a pic spirit,” the statement said. “safe and secure” Ol- The Tokyo Games are due to Uympic Games this year after talk open in July, with only Japanese of cancellation due to the Cov- spectators in the stands, after al- id-19 pandemic. ready being postponed by a year Japanese Prime Minister due to the pandemic. Yoshihide Suga, meeting Biden Uncertainty about their vi- as the US president’s fi rst for- ability has grown amid rising vi- eign guest, said his country was rus cases. listening to experts and doing its Organisers said Friday that “utmost” to prepare for the To- they scrapped another leg of Ja- kyo Games. pan’s Olympic torch relay – the “They are doing everything third leg to be aff ected by a surge possible to contain infection and in infections – and that a BMX to realise safe and secure games Freestyle test event scheduled from scientifi c and objective for April 24 and 25 would now perspectives,” Suga told a joint be postponed. A top offi cial from news conference. the ruling Liberal Democratic “I expressed my determina- Party, Toshihiro Nikai, caused a tion to realise the Tokyo Olym- stir on Thursday by saying that pic and Paralympic Games as a Japan may need to cancel the Ol- symbol of global unity this sum- ympics, which have become in- mer, and President Biden once creasingly unpopular among the again expressed his support,” the Japanese public. prime minister added. “If infections spread because A joint statement afterwards of the Olympics, I don’t know said that Biden “supports Prime what the Olympics is for,” said Minister Suga’s eff orts to hold Nikai, the party’s second-most a safe and secure Olympic and powerful fi gure.

FOCUS Olympic President Bach to visit Japan

Reuters Tokyo

nternational Olympic Com- mittee President Thomas Bach will visit Japan in May, the Kyodo News agency said Russia’s Anna Shcherbakova competes in the women’s free skating during the ISU World Team Trophy figure skating event in Osaka yesterday. Iyesterday, as the nation strug- gles to contain a surge in Cov- AFP this week over virus fears. vaccinated, but will have to limit the title already in the bag by the Canada bringing up the rear. id-19 cases before the start of the Osaka A senior Japanese politician movements and be tested regu- time Shcherbakova began her Shcherbakova, who also won Games. said Thursday that cancelling larly. free programme. the women’s short programme, Bach will attend a torch relay the Games remains a possibility, Several test events set to in- Russian skaters were banned fi nished the free programme ceremony in the western city of orld fi gure skating as the country deals with a surge volve overseas athletes and of- from competing under their ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto Hiroshima on May 17 and meet champion Anna in infections. fi cials have been postponed in country’s name and fl ag at the in second on 150.29 and Tuk- with Prime Minister Yoshihide Shcherbakova But Shcherbakova said she Japan in recent months. world championships in Sweden tamysheva in third on 146.23. Suga the next day, Kyodo said, helped Russia win was “not scared” during her But American skater Bradie last month because of a doping Russia’s Anastasia Mishina citing sources close to the mat- Wthe World Team Trophy in Osaka time in Osaka, and that coming Tennell said she felt the World dispute. and Aleksandr Galliamov won ter. Bach is expected to back Ja- yesterday – then gave Japan’s to Japan was “a great joy”. Team Trophy had “run so The ban will also apply at next the pairs free programme with a pan’s commitment to safely host antivirus measures the thumbs “Japan has very stringent an- smoothly”. year’s Beijing Olympics. score of 151.59. the Summer Games, Kyodo re- With fewer than 100 days un- up ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. tivirus measures in place,” said “I think Japan has done a But it was not in place at this Mishina and Galliamov, who ported. til the Olympics are due to start Shcherbakova topped the the 17-year-old, who had pre- wonderful job with this compe- week’s event, and team captain also won the world title last “We are aware of President in Tokyo, Japan expanded quasi- women’s free programme with a viously been infected with the tition,” she said. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva said month in Sweden, fi nished top Bach’s intention to come to Japan emergency measures to 10 re- score of 160.58 to lead Russia to virus. “So, no, I haven’t felt any- hearing the national anthem on in the short programme the pre- and would welcome such a visit,” gions on Friday as a fourth wave its fi rst title at the biennial six- “Abiding by the rules is some- thing other than really happy to the podium was “a great mo- vious day. the Tokyo Olympic organising of Covid-19 cases spread. nation competition, ahead of thing I’ve become accustomed be here, and really grateful.” ment”. “We’ll have to prepare a new committee said in a statement. Suga, who is on a state visit to the US and Japan. to, so there was no problem.” Around 3,000 fans – half the “We were so happy because programme, then we’ll take a lit- “However, nothing concrete has the United States, said at a news The World Team Trophy is Organisers insist the Games venue’s capacity – were allowed we had a Russian fl ag here, and tle time off to rest,” said Mishi- been decided.” conference on Friday that he told being held in Japan less than 100 can be held safely, and have re- into the event each day, although that means a lot,” she said. na. “Then we’ll go into the spe- Representatives for the Tokyo President Joe Biden he was com- days before the start of the coro- leased virus rulebooks to allay cheering was strictly forbidden. Russia fi nished on 125 points, cifi cs together with the coach on Olympics could not be reached mitted to moving forward with navirus-delayed Tokyo Games, public fears.Athletes will not Russia won the World Team ahead of the US on 110 and Japan how to prepare for the Olympic when called for comment out- the Games and that Biden off ered which were again cast into doubt be required to quarantine or be Trophy for the fi rst time, with on 107, with Italy, France and season.” side regular business hours. his support.

BOTTOMLINESWIMMING Olympic champ Chalmers ‘hungry for more’ AFP for a multi-event campaign at the out doing fi nals in the morning and Sydney pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, in- I’m really happy with that time,” said cluding the 100m free. McKeon, adding that she was able to “It defi nitely makes me happy, but fi nish strongly after working hard on efending Olympic 100m I’m defi nitely hungry for more,” added her kick. freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers, who won the 200m free- Elsewhere, the rapidly improving Chalmers yesterday said he style title on Thursday. Chelsea Hodges won the 50m breast- was “hungry for more” after Australia holds its Olympic trials in stroke in a highly competitive 30.20 to aD dominating swim to clinch the Aus- June. go with the 100m crown she claimed tralian national title. Emma McKeon, part of Australia’s on Thursday, positioning her as an The 22-year-old, who is on the gold-medal winning 4x100m relay Olympic challenger to American star comeback from shoulder surgery, ex- team in Rio, upset sprint star Cate Lily King. ploded from the blocks and comfort- Campbell to take out the women’s Matt Wilson, a former world ably led at the turn on the Gold Coast, 100m. record-holder in the 200m breast- fi nishing strongly in 48.04sec ahead McKeon had been the fastest quali- stroke, lifted the men’s 50m title in of Jack Cartwright (48.81) and Louis fi er in the 200m freestyle but opted 27.55. Townsend (49.10). out of the fi nal on Thursday – won by Brianna Throssell, a fi nalist at the “I’ve got to like the time, it’s very Ariarne Titmus – to save herself for 2016 Rio Games, won the women’s close to 47. It would have been nice to the 100m and it paid off . 200m butterfl y in 2:07.20 with a dom- go 47, but it will come,” said Chalmers, She was always a head in front and inant Bowen Gough (1:57.08) taking who was pipped to the 2019 world title kicked hard in the fi nal 15 metres to out the men’s title. by American Caeleb Dressel in a jaw- book the win in 52.49. Meanwhile, fast-rising star Kaylee dropping 46.96. Commonwealth and Australian McKeown backed up her win in the Dressel, who fi nished sixth at the record-holder Campbell touched in 50m backstroke by clinching the 100m Rio Olympics, has since claimed a 52.85, slower than her 52.43 heat time. in 58.60 ahead of Emily Seebohm, who host of world titles and is gearing up “It was a good chance to get a hit is targeting a fourth Olympics. Gulf Times Sunday, April 18, 2021 7 SPORT

GOLF Ko grabs lead at LPGA Lotte Championship AFP 20-under total of 196. der for the day, then grabbed day, the American added four Los Angeles Saso, a 19-year-old from back-to-back birdies at 14 and more birdies, her birdie-birdie the Philippines seeking a fi rst 15 before her closing brace. fi nish briefl y giving her the LPGA title after two wins on “I stayed patient,” said Ko, clubhouse lead. Lydia Ko of New Zealand chips ormer world number the Japan LPGA, got off to a who got up and down for birdie “I was just really consistent out of the bunker during the one Lydia Ko fi red sev- rocky start playing alongside from a greenside bunker at the off the tee, hit it really close to- third round of the LPGA LOTTE en birdies in a seven- Ko in the fi nal group. par-fi ve 14th. She was short of day,” Korda said. “I had a cou- Championship at Kapolei Golf under par 65 on Friday But she steadied herself to the green at the par-fi ve 17th ple of tap-ins, which is nice. Club in Kapolei, Hawaii. toF take a one-stroke lead over post a one-under 71 that left but got up and down for birdie “I hit every green on the Nelly Korda heading into the her alone in third on 17-under before rapping in a long birdie front nine. I just feel really fi nal round of the LPGA Lotte 199. Ireland’s Leona Maguire putt at the last. solid with the putter and my Championship. was a further stroke back bu- “I felt like I had a few good whole game.” New Zealand’s Ko, trying oyed by an eagle at the par- looks at birdies that just didn’t Saso, who had held the half- to end a three-year victory four 15th in a 65 that put her drop,” she said. “When it’s that way lead after two rounds of drought, capped her round at at 200. kind of day I think you just 64, bogeyed three of her fi rst Kapolei Golf Club in Oahu, “I obviously didn’t go on a have to be committed and do a fi ve holes and four of the fi rst Hawaii, with back-to-back fl ying start compared to the good job with the next one and eight. birdies to post a 54-hole total two days before today,” said not get too carried away about Three birdies on the front of 21-under 195. Ko, who nevertheless found what else is happening.” nine kept her in the hunt, and Korda, who started the day herself tied for the lead after a That what else included she added birdies at 14 and 17 fi ve shots behind overnight birdie at the fi rst, where Saso Korda, who had six birdies on to notch an under par round. leader Yuka Saso and three opened with a bogey. the front nine to make the turn “I just stuck to my plan,” she behind Ko, had 10 birdies in Ko added a birdie at the sev- with a one-stroke lead. said, “have fun and learn every her nine-under par 63 for a enth to make the turn two-un- After her lone bogey of the day.”

SPOTLIGHT RUGBY Force keep fi nals dream alive with Veteran Cink takes thrilling win

AFP perfect start with a try in the Perth fourth minute after a lineout. But the Waratahs, who have shown more fi ght since the re- late penalty from Do- cent sacking of coach Rob Pen- fi ve-shot lead in mingo Miotti ensured ney, hit back shortly after with a the Western Force re- try from Will Harrison. mained in the hunt The improved Force, who were Afor Super Rugby AU fi nals after winless last season, regained a dramatic 31-30 victory over the lead almost immediately NSW Waratahs yesterday. through the brilliance of Feleti In a virtual must-win contest Kaitu’u, who stripped teammate in Perth for the hosts, the Force Santiago Medrano and raced RBC Heritage clinched a remarkable win when away for a spectacular try. Miotti nailed the penalty kick at The Waratahs struggled to ‘I didn’t really have any anticipation about shooting a certain number or anything’ the death before being mobbed stem the tide and were fortunate by teammates. to only be down eight points at Agencies The Force have made an im- half-time. Hilton Head, USA pressive late run for a fi nals But the visitors came out of spot after a pulsating 16-15 road the long break with confi dence win over Melbourne Rebels last rarely seen this season marked wo-time former champion week. by superb inter-passing result- Stewart Cink carded his second The thrilling victories mean ing in a try to Jack Maddocks. consecutive 8-under 63 at Har- the Force have jumped past the They then hit the front in the Tbour Town Golf Links on Fri- Rebels midway through the pe- 48th minute when Alex New- day to take a commanding fi ve-shot lead nultimate round before the fi - some crossed over in the right into the weekend at the RBC Heritage in nals. corner to silence the crowd. Hilton Head, S.C. The Rebels host second- A penalty kick from Miotti cut Cink posted a bogey-free second round placed ACT Brumbies today to the defi cit to three points but that kicked off with a fl ourish on the sec- complete round nine. the Force’s lack of off ensive fl air ond hole when he made eagle on the par-5 “I knew he had it, he’s a very proved costly as they struggled second hole and followed up with birdies confi dent man. I was never in to make inroads. on Nos 3 and 6. He carded four more bird- doubt,” Force captain Kyle God- With their fi nals dream slip- ies on the back to fi nish at 16-under 126 win said of Miotti’s close-range ping away, the Force buckled un- and fi ve strokes ahead of Canadian Co- conversion. der the pressure and conceded rey Conners, who shot 64 on Friday and The winless Waratahs’ miser- two obstruction penalties to trail stands 11 under. able season continued with their by nine points. His second straight 63 is Cink’s best- seventh straight defeat. But Jordan Olowofela breathed ever score at Harbour Town following 74 “For large parts of the game life into the contest with a try in previous professional rounds (22 tourna- we controlled it. It’s been a tough the 73rd minute before Miotti’s ment starts) on the track. The 47-year- year for us,” Waratahs captain late heroics. old has won the event in 2000 and 2004. Jake Gordon said. The Force host league-leading Cink, a 25-year PGA veteran and sev- The Force vowed to play with Queensland Reds next week, en-time Tour winner, came in confi dent a fi nals mentality and came out while the Waratahs aim to fi nish after fi nishing tied for 12th at last week’s aggressive in a contrast to their their season positively against Masters and a top-20 fi nish in his previ- preferred dour style. the Rebels in Sydney in a game ous event, The Honda Classic. Tom Robertson gave them a with major fi nals ramifi cations. “I try to control what I can control,” said Cink, who is making his 22nd start at the event and has his son on the bag. FOCUS “When you shoot a really low round, a lot of times the things that lead to that, you can’t control all that and you just, you al- low those things to happen. Waikato Chiefs “And so the things I can control, I did a good job of today, just like I did yester- day, and it just so happened that I holed a pip Canterbury couple of key putts and got up and down a few times — made an eagle on No 2 — and you know, the round just added up to in dramatic fi nish some really good stuff and a really good score again today. Stewart Cink of the United States reacts to his shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town AFP ertson to rest several frontliners “I didn’t really have any anticipation Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Wellington for the Chiefs’ match, so they can about shooting a certain number or any- recharge. thing, I just wanted to come out here and First-round leader Cameron Smith, “Wasn’t actually too bad out there,” “So, everything is looking good. Look- His fresh-looking echelon continue to be disciplined and stay in the who recorded a career low with a 62 on said 27-year-old Smith, who holed a ing forward to tomorrow.” 78th minute Dam- came up one point short and vic- moment, in the present, and working our Thursday, failed to get any momentum 3-footer for birdie on his fi nal hole of the Defending champion Webb Simpson ian McKenzie penalty torious Chiefs captain Brad We- plan.” going and balanced three bogeys with day. “I think the golfi ng gods got a few shot 68 and stands tied for 40th. saw the Waikato Chiefs ber acknowledged the result was Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo matched three birdies to fi nish with an even- back on me today. They let everything The cut was 2 under and sent several snatch a 26-25 victory no indicator of which two teams Connors’ 64 on Friday, posting a bogey- par 71 to stay at 9 under. He’s tied for in yesterday, and today I thought I was notables packing before the weekend in- Aover Canterbury in a Super Rug- will make the fi nal. free round that featured fi ve birdies on fourth place with Collin Morikawa (68), putting really good and just had a lot of cluding 2015 champion Jim Furyk, Eng- by Aotearoa thriller in which the “If you want to be the best the front and a birdie-birdie fi nish, and South Korea’s Sungjae Im (65) and Billy putts that went over the edge, didn’t go lishmen Paul Casey and Tommy Fleet- lead changed six times in Hamil- you’ve got to beat the best and stands in third place at 10 under. Horschel (67). in. wood and Spaniard Sergio Garcia. ton yesterday. that wasn’t the best Canterbury Canterbury scored three tries team tonight,” Weber said. to two, but were punished for in- “We still need to be better at BOTTOMLINE fringements within kicking range fi nishing our long breaks but as McKenzie landed four penal- the good thing is we are creating ties including the match-winner. them.” Leicester Fainga’anuku, It completed a Super slam for the fi lling in at centre for the injured Couples fi res 63 for two-stroke lead at Chubb Classic Chiefs who snapped an 11 match Jack Goodhue, scored Canter- losing streak by beating the other bury’s opening try. Agencies Couples, who won the event in and I hit the ball solid all day. But hitting Friday to eagle the par-5 sixth hole. four New Zealand Super sides in McKenzie banged over three Naples, USA 2010 and 2017, hit all 14 fairways the fairways was huge.” Stricker’s bogey-free round extended his their past four matches. penalties to have the Chiefs and made nine birdies, includ- Langer, a three-time winner of the streak of consecutive subpar rounds in It was the second defeat in the ahead 9-7 before Canterbury ing fi ve straight on Nos 5-9. The Chubb Classic (2011, 2013, 2016), also Champions events to 13. competition for the defending struck back. red Couples carded a bogey-free 61-year-old, a 13-time winner on was stellar off the tee, hitting all 14 fair- Defending champion Scott Parel (70) champions Canterbury but they They regained the lead with 9-under 63 on Friday on the the Champions tour, is seeking his ways and countering one bogey with birdied three of his last four holes Fri- remain at the top of the table on a Richie Mo’unga penalty and Black Course at Tiburon Golf fi rst win in 35 starts, dating back eight birdies en route to a 65. day to fi nish at 2 under and tied for 22nd 23 points. The Chiefs on 16, the Mo’unga featured again when he Club to take a two-shot lead to the 2017 American Family Langer has 10 top-10 fi nishes in 13 ap- place. Auckland Blues on 15 and the opened up a gap for Scott Barrett overF Germany’s Bernhard Langer at the Insurance Championship pearances at the event including a tie for Charles Schwab Cup leader Kevin Otago Highlanders on 14 fi ll the to barge through and set up Will Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida. third in 2020 and tie for second place in Sutherland also shot 70 and notched the next three places and all remain a Jordan for the try. Couples, who won the event in 2010 2019. The round marked his eighth con- lone eagle of the day at the par-5 15th. chance to make the fi nal. Mo’unga’s conversion had and 2017, hit all 14 fairways and made “I think anytime I putt well and feel secutive round in the 60s in the event, Germany’s Alex Cejka (68), who turned Canterbury have been below Canterbury ahead 17-9 at the nine birdies, including fi ve straight on like I’m seeing the putts, I’m going to dating back to 2018. 50 in December and earned his start par in recent weeks, fi rst losing to turn. Within minutes of the re- Nos 5-9. The 61-year-old, a 13-time make a few,” said Couples. “... I hit a lot Gene Sauers, Steve Stricker and Swe- through his second successful Monday the Highlanders and then need- start, the Chiefs closed to within winner on the Champions tour, is seek- of fairways. I don’t know if I hit every den’s Robert Karlsson are tied for third qualifi er, stands tied for eighth at 5 under. ing to come from behind to beat one point when Lachlan Boshier ing his fi rst win in 35 starts, dating back fairway, but I kept the ball in play, kept at 6 under. Sauers’ 66 matched his best Steve Jones withdrew prior to the start the Hurricanes in extra time last scored in the middle of a power- to the 2017 American Family Insurance it below the hole, and like I say, the hole round in nine appearances at the Chubb of the fi rst round with a rib injury; Steve week. ful forward drive to ignite a hel- Championship. got big there for about a fi ve-hole stretch, Classic, and he was the only player on Pate (72) took his place in the fi eld. It prompted coach Scott Rob- ter-skelter second half.

Sunday, April 18, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

FORMULA 1 MOTOGP Quartararo claims pole in record time, Hamilton sees off Marquez returns on second row

AFP Rins said: “We too have decent Portimao, Portugal pace but not as much as Fabio, the Red Bulls to we’ll see what we can do.” Third-placed Zarco, aiming to rance’s Fabio Quartararo, go one better after two succes- on a Yamaha, claimed sive runner-up fi nishes, com- the qualifying honours mented: “It wasn’t enough but in style and on the back it’s good to be on the front row.” ofF a rival’s misfortune in Porti- The third row is occupied by mao yesterday to take pole for the Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro, seize his 99th pole the Portuguese MotoGP with re- Luca Marini, the half-brother to turning six-time world champi- Valentino Rossi, and defending on Marc Marquez on the second champion Joan Mir. Perez lines up for his first front row start ahead of teammate Verstappen row of Sunday’s grid. Mir is competing this weekend Marquez has wasted no time handicapped by a late change in Reuters failed to make it through to the getting back in the thick of things his chief mechanic, absent after London, England fi nal shootout and starts 11th. nine months after his crash in the contracting Covid-19. Both Williams drivers reached Spanish Grand Prix which ruled Rossi, who swapped places the second phase for the fi rst him out of the entire 2020 sea- with Quartararo in Yamaha’s sat- ewis Hamilton celebrat- time since last July, with George son, and the fi rst two races this ellite SRT stable, qualifi ed in only ed his 99th Formula One Russell still sounding disap- year. 17th. pole position after seeing pointed with 12th despite be- Despite losing precious track Honda-LCR’s Japanese rider off Red Bull’s Sergio Pe- ing ahead of former champions time with mechanical issues on Takaaki Nakagami (Honda-LCR) Lrez and Max Verstappen in qual- Sebastian Vettel and Fernando his Honda the Spaniard posted skipped qualifying after his crash ifying for the Emilia Romagna Alonso. the sixth fastest time after sneak- on Friday in practice and will de- Grand Prix at Imola yesterday. Four-time champion Vettel ing through from Q1 reserved for termine if he is race fi t on Sunday Mexican Perez, in only his will line up 13th for Aston Mar- riders fi nishing outside the top morning. second race for Red Bull, lines up tin and Alonso, a winner at Im- 10 in practice. Saturday practice was marred alongside Mercedes’ seven-time ola with Renault in 2005 on his Quartararo, winner of the by a sickening crash that saw world champion for what will be way to the fi rst of two titles, 15th Doha MotoGP last time out, se- Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) his fi rst front row start. for Alpine. cured the 11th pole of his career stretchered off the track straight Verstappen, fastest in fi nal Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda with a new lap record time of to hospital for further medical practice at the Italian circuit and was the big casualty of the fi rst 1min 38.862sec, at the main ex- checks. chasing a hat-trick of poles, had session, losing control at the pense of Alex Rins (Suzuki) and The Spaniard was conscious, to settle for third with Ferrari’s Variante Alta and smashing his early championship leader Jo- but with contusions to his head, Charles Leclerc a strong fourth AlphaTauri backwards into the hann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac). right hand and right ankle and on a home track for the revived tyre wall. Marquez shares the second misses the rest of the weekend. Italian team. “For me that was a huge mis- row with Ducati’s Australian rid- Hamilton did enough with take and I feel really sorry for the er Jack Miller and Italian Franco GRID FOR PORTUGUESE his fi rst fl ying lap of one minute team,” he said, with the session Morbidelli for the Yamaha-SRT MOTOGP (TOP 12) 14.411 seconds, but Perez came red-fl agged as the badly damaged team. Front row close at the end with an eff ort car was removed from the track. Italian Francesco Bagnaia had 1. Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) only 0.035 slower. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates after qualifying in pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Qualifying was brought for- set the quickest time but he had 2. Alex Rins (Suzuki) “I defi nitely didn’t expect us at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) ward by an hour as a mark of his lap wiped off the time sheets 3. Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac) to be ahead of two Red Bulls,” respect to ensure there was because of a yellow fl ag warn- 2nd row said Hamilton, who won the no overlap with the funeral in ing after a Miguel Oliveira crash, 4. Jack Miller (Ducati) season-opener in Bahrain last Windsor of Britain’s Prince leaving Quartararo feeling that 5. Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha-SRT) month after Verstappen started Philip, who died last week at the “it doesn’t feel like pole” and 6. Marc Marquez (Honda) on pole. age of 99. Bagnaia down in 11th. 3rd row “I think they have been so The teams, most of whom are “It doesn’t have the same taste 7. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) quick this weekend, there were based in England, held a minute’s as usual,” Quartararo, who domi- 8. Luca Marini (Ducati-Avintia) times when they were six-tenths silence before qualifying. nated Saturday’s third and fourth 9. Joan Mir (Suzuki) ahead. practice, added. 4th row “I came around the last corner EMILIA ROMAGNA GP GRID “I feel good, I know the pace I 10. Miguel Oliveira (KTM) and heard I’d got the pole and I Front row can reach.” 11. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) was super grateful,” added the Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) Fellow front row occupant 12. Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) 36-year-old, who has now taken Sergio Perez (Red Bull) poles on a record 30 diff erent 2nd row circuits. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) Perez, who boasts more than a Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) decade of experience in Formula 3rd row One, was brought in to put more Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) pressure on Mercedes than Ver- Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) stappen’s recent teammates had 4th row managed and duly delivered. Lando Norris (McLaren) The Mexican still felt he could Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) have done better. 5th row “I’ve been improving, P2, but Esteban Ocon (Alpine) I should’ve been on pole and I Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) did a mistake on the fi nal cor- 6th row ner,” said Perez, a fi rst time win- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) ner with Racing Point (now As- George Russell (Williams) ton Martin) in Bahrain last year. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (left) and Sergio Perez speak after the qualifying session for the Emilia 7th row It was the fi rst time Verstap- Romagna Grand Prix at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, yesterday. (AFP) Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) pen had been outqualifi ed by a Nicholas Latifi (Williams) teammate in regular conditions BOTTAS DISAPPOINTS Hamilton’s teammate Valt- and Verstappen also on medi- 8th row since Australian Daniel Ric- AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly quali- teri Bottas, on pole at Imola last ums. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) ciardo was alongside at Red Bull fi ed fi fth with Ricciardo sixth for November and fastest on Friday, “Anything can happen, we are Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) in 2018. McLaren and team mate Lando qualifi ed a disappointing eighth on a diff erent strategy to Lewis 9th row “You can’t be good every time, Norris seventh. – leaving Hamilton exposed in and Max,” said Perez. “It is go- Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) so we’ll see what went wrong,” Norris would have been on the today’s race with the Red Bulls ing to be interesting, see what Mick Schumacher (Haas) said the Dutch driver. “It’s still front row had his fastest lap not also on diff erent tyre strategies. we can do.” 10th row Monster Energy Yamaha’s French rider Fabio Quartararo competes P3, which is a good starting po- been deleted for exceeding track Hamilton will start on me- Spaniard Carlos Sainz, in his Nikita Mazepin (Haas) during the MotoGP qualifying session for the Portuguese Grand Prix sition.” limits. dium tyres, with Perez on softs fi rst race in Italy with Ferrari, Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) in Portimao yesterday. (AFP)

TENNIS Tsitsipas, Rublev in fi nal with maiden Masters title at stake AFP Monaco Nadal rues missed chance aft er Rublev shock in Monte Carlo tefanos Tsitsipas and An- drey Rublev will clash in afael Nadal said he missed the opportunity to get today’s Monte Carlo fi nal his claycourt season off to a title-winning start after with both men looking to Ra 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 defeat by Russian Andrey Rublev in confiS rm their top 10 credentials the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday. with a maiden Masters crown. Playing his first tournament since losing to Stefanos With world number one Novak Tsitsipas in the Australian Open quarter-finals, 20-times Djokovic and 11-time champion Grand Slam champion Nadal struggled on serve as he Rafael Nadal already knocked out crashed to only his sixth defeat at the tournament he has and world number two Daniil won 11 times. Medvedev forced to withdraw due “It’s been such an important tournament during my ca- to a positive Covid-19 test, it’s a fi - reer. I’m always sad to lose here because it’s an important nal few would have predicted. one for me. I missed an opportunity to start the clay Greek fourth seed Tsitsipas de- season in the right way,” Nadal told reporters. feated Dan Evans, the man who “But that’s it... It’s not the moment to complain. When stunned Djokovic in the third you’re not able to do the things you had to do on court, round, 6-2, 6-1 in his semi-fi nal Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates a point during the Monte Carlo Russia’s Andrey Rublev celebrates after winning a point against Norway’s then it’s not the moment to complain after. yesterday. Masters semi-final against Britain’s Dan Evans (not pictured). (Reuters) Casper Ruud (not pictured) in the semi-final yesterday. (Reuters) “The only thing that I can do is go to Barcelona and keep Eighth-seed Rublev of Russia, practising, try to fix the things that didn’t work well... Lots having shocked Nadal in the quar- igmatically, simply specifying that straight win over Tsitsipas in to- said Rublev. Hubert Hurkacz earlier this month of mistakes... A few things that make a big diff erence on ter-fi nals, beat unseeded Norwe- he would say more on Sunday and day’s fi nal. “It’s going to be tough match. could work in his favour. the result and on my game that I wasn’t able to make gian Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-5. that these “things” concerned his Rublev beat the 22-year-old We had already many battles with “It’s lesson that I learn in Mi- today.” Tsitsipas has yet to drop a set mother in particular. Greek en route to the Rotterdam each other last year. Some of them ami, and that’s it. That’s why I lost, Rublev said his first victory over Nadal was among the in Monte Carlo this week and is The 2020 ATP Finals champion title last month to tie their head- he won, some of them I won.” because of my emotions. best of his career but acknowledged the Spaniard was through to his third Masters 1000 added: “I know I’ll have to raise my to-head series at 3-3. However, Tsitsipas will likely be “In the end if you want to learn, off his game. Nadal served seven double faults and was championship match. level of play to the limits. On clay, they are 1-1 with Tsiti- the fresher player today. you will improve this. I hope I want broken seven times. He fi nished runner-up in Cana- “It’s more about how much I spas winning their most recent Rublev has spent seven hours to learn and I want to improve. “If we look (at) a player like Rafa, the best claycourt player da in 2018 and Madrid the follow- want the victory. It’s a question clash on the surface in straight and 44 minutes on court in Monte That’s why I’m doing better.” in history, then it’s one of my best victories,” Rublev said. ing year. of pure determination, of willing- sets in the Roland Garros quarter- Carlo compared to his opponent’s Ruud, 22, knocked out 2019 “But if you look at it from the other side... for sure he didn’t “A lot of beautiful things hap- ness to surpass myself to get what fi nals last year. fi ve hours and 13 minutes. winner Fabio Fognini to make the play his ‘good’ level. In his position it’s tough when people pened in Monaco, for my family I want.” “Of course, I’m feeling great and But the Russian believes his bitter last four in Monte Carlo 24 years expect that... you have to win every time. and I would really like to carry on The 23-year-old Rublev will happy to play one more fi nal, espe- experience of losing in the Masters after his father Christian had “... It’s so tough to play with this feeling.” this tradition,” Tsitsipas said en- now look to record his second cially my fi rst ATP Masters fi nal,” semi-fi nal to eventual champion reached the quarter-fi nals.