FOOTBALL | Page 2 TTENNISENNIS | Page 4 More Europa Kvitova To Advertise here woe for Inter, dismisses Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Totti shines Halep to reach for Roma Wuhan fi nal

Saturday, October 1, 2016 Dhul-Hijja 29, 1437 AH De Kock blasts South GULF TIMES Africa to ODI win against Australia SPORT Page 7 HORSE RACING GOLF / RYDER CUP Postponed looks Spieth and Reed inspire primed for the Arc foursomes Stall 10 for Al Mourtajez in Qatar Arabian World Cup sweep for US By Satya Rath Paris Motrag, Zikreet make it a one-two for AFP ing. I didn’t want to miss my chance.” Chaska, Minnesota he lots have been picked, the Al Shaqab Racing MOST CUP PRESSURE FOR PHIL draw is over, the stage is set for Third-ranked Rory McIlroy and Eng- the ‘greatest horse race in the he United States white- land’s Andy Sullivan twice seized world’, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc washed Europe 4-0 in yes- 2-up leads over Phil Mickelson and deT Triomphe. terday’s opening alternate Rickie Fowler, but the US duo won Over the next two days, the world’s shot foursomes session at the four of the last fi ve holes for a 1-up best thoroughbreds and Purebred Ara- RyderT Cup, the fi rst time in 41 years victory. bians, ridden by the most celebrated the Americans blanked their rivals to “I felt more pressure than any jockeys, will descend on the Chantilly start the team golf showdown. Ryder Cup,” said Mickelson, who racecourse, the fi rst time ever that the Not since a 1975 squad captained matched a record with his 11th Cup iconic race is being hosted by one of the by Arnold Palmer, who died last appearance. “I didn’t play the way I most historic and picturesque race- Sunday at age 87, had the Americans wanted off the tee. We showed a lot courses in the world. dominated an opening session as of heart those last four holes to win.” As many as 220 horses will feature in they did at Hazeltine, never trailing Mickelson parred to win the 15th 15 races over the Arc weekend, of which to win two matches and coming from and Fowler birdied the 16th to square nine are Group 1 races. With a fi ve mil- behind in two more with impressive the match. Sullivan found water off lion euros prize purse, the big race is late fi ghtbacks. the par-3 17th tee while the US duo among the top three richest races in the “A dream start,” US Davis birdied to retake the lead for good. world. Love said of his players. “The guys “To fi nally get my fi rst full point is Just before yesterday’s draw, Japa- have really come together. It has been great,” Fowler said. nese raider Makahiki was tipped to be an emotional couple of weeks with PGA Championship winner Jimmy the surprise package. But once he drew Arnold’s passing. Walker and two-time major winner gate 14, the focus shifted to Postponed. “There’s a long way to go. There’s a Zach Johnson lost the second hole to The son of Dubawi drew stall 7, and now lot more points out there.” Spain’s Sergio Gercia and Germany’s looks like overwhelming favourite for A US squad that was outscored 7-1 Martin Kaymer with a par and could the Arc. in foursomes in 2014 swept an open- not square the match until the 12th The Roger Varian-trained colt has Yousuf al-Nisf presents the trophies to the winners in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy for Colts after Motrag won the race. ing session for only the third time hole, but they won that and the next been unbeaten this season. His last ever against Europe, having also gone four in a 4 and 2 romp. three victories have all come at the By Sports Reporter 4-0 in 1947. Walker birdied 13 and 14 and John- highest level – the Dubai Sheema Clas- Paris It bodes well for America’s chances son took 16 to end the match, then sic, the Coronation Cup and the Jud- to snap a three-Cup losing skid and downplayed the US sweep. dmonte International – and his win end domination that has seen Europe “Lot of talent on both teams,” he streak dates back to last year’s King t was a one-two finish for Al win eight of the past 10 Cups. said. “A lot of matches left. It is not George. Endurance and durability have Shaqab Racing as Motrag came “Their guys fought better than we like we were that far off . It is not been his strengths, and he looks to have Ifrom behind to edge stablemate did and 4-0 is a worthy result for how rocket science. It is just getting back the best chance to land his fi rst Arc to- Zikreet to win the Qatar Total Arabian they played,” Europe captain Darren to the basics.” morrow. Trophy for Colts, at the Saint Cloud Clarke said. US spectators screaming in sup- The other name that could be a close racecourse here yesterday. “It’s not an ideal start but we have port helped. contender is New Bay. The Andre Fa- The third spot in the 2,000m Group 1 come back from starts worse than “It was quite the crowd,” Walker bre-trained colt went down all guns PA race was clinched by Ahzar. this in the past. It’s a big hole we’ve said. “I wasn’t prepared for it. It was blazing in a three-way battle for second The 100,000 euros race was the first dug but they are keen to get back out quite intense early. Nothing in golf is with Flintshire and Treve in last year’s of the two races to kick off the Qatar there.” like this.” Arc and has been looking good coming Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. Al Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed into the Arc weekend. Shaqab had four representatives in never trailed in downing Olympic JOHNSON, KUCHAR ROMP Qatar’s hopes will rest on Mig- the 12-horse race. champion Justin Rose of and US Open winner Dustin Johnson and war. The Irish bay colt, owned by HH Qatar also topped in the other Group British Open champion Henrik Sten- American Matt Kuchar led from the Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, 1 race of the evening, when Samaa, son of Sweden 3 and 2 in the opening fi rst hole in routing England’s Lee is trained by Freddy Head and won at owned by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin matchup of two duos that went un- Westwood and Belgian Thomas Pi- Saint Cloud last year but hasn’t looked Khalifa al-Thani, won the Qatar Total QREC Board member Khalid al-Ali presents the trophies to the winners of Qatar defeated in 2014. eters 5 and 4. at his best this season so far. Arabian Trophy for Fillies with an Total Arabian Trophy for Fillies after Samaa won the race. PICTURES: Juhaim “It was a tight match. They made a “Any time we made a shot they put Frankie Dettori, who has won Eu- imperious run after turning the bend. few putts and we couldn’t quite buy one in on top of us,” Pieters said. rope’s richest race four times before, Samaa was trailing second-placed second coming for me in a way. I have tomorrow, the only one from Qatar in one,” Rose said. “There were a lot “The way DJ hits the ball, I just try including last year on Golden Horn, Djaikiri Safinat and fourth-placed been working with Sheikh Abdul- the 16-horse field. “Yes, I am keeping of double breaking putts. They are not to mess him up,” Kuchar said. would be riding Order of St George but Muneera for the better part of the lah bin Khalifa al-Thani for almost my fingers crossed. He’s a fine colt tough to read because you’ve got to Four afternoon four-ball matches faces a tough ask in his attempt to win 2,000m race but jockey Olivier Peslier 20 years now and we haven’t been and I hope he shall do justice to his be spot on.” will follow with Saturday featuring a fi fth one after drawing stall 16, the managed to extract that little bit extra getting the desired results in the last talent in the Arc,” added De Mieulle. Reed, known for his fi ery style, four more foursomes and four-ball widest of all the gates. Trainer Aidan from the filly in the final straight to few years for some reason or other. Jerome Cabre, Motrag’s jockey, said it sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par- matches ahead of Sunday’s conclud- O’Brien’s other runners, Highland Reel win by almost a length. Diva Du Paon This win is a big motivational boost was the start that mattered. “We got a 5 16th to close out the match, his fi sts ing 12 singles matches. and Found, will race from gates 11 and edged past Muneera near the finish to for me and my team. We hope this is good start. He is a good sprinter and pumping as the crowd roared. Europe needs 14 points to retain 12 respectively. end third. a sign of bigger things to come,” said once we were ahead I knew it was go- “It was a lot of fun to be part of that the trophy while the Americans need A total of 16 runners will be in fray for Samaa’s trainer Alban de Mieulle was De Mieulle. ing to be diff icult for others to catch match,” Reed said. “I live for those 14 1/2 points to take the Cup for the the Arc, which will be run over 2,400m. elated with his filly’s win. “It’s like a He also has Migwar running in the Arc him,” he said. kind of moments. It just gets me go- fi rst time since 2008. The 2016 and 2017 editions of the Arc are being staged in Chantilly as its traditional home at Longchamp under- The fi ve-year-old son of Dahess has goes a major renovation. been running great and looks the one to land the Qatar Arabian crown to- AL MOURTAJEZ THE ONE TO BEAT morrow – he won last year’s race at IN QATAR ARABIAN WORLD CUP Longchamp by almost fi ve lengths — The Arc weekend will also stage the though his stall 10 start could prove to Qatar Arabian World Cup — a Group 1 be a slight hiccup. But Thomas Four- race for Purebred Arabian horses aged cy’s ward, who has seven Group 1 wins four years or older. It is the second of overall, has looked unstoppable wher- the three legs of the Doha Triple Crown ever he has run this season, including initiated last year, the other two races a victory in Qatar Prix – Dragon Stakes being the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1 PA) at Chantilly on September 11 which was run as part of the Qatar this year. Goodwood Festival in July, and the The other Al Shaqab horse in fray is HH Emir’s Sword, to be run in Doha Macha’Allah, who shall start from gate in February 2017. The series links to- 5. gether three of the most prestigious Al Shahania Stud will have three international events and also carries representatives in the race in Gazwan a $1,000,000 bonus to any horse who (Gate 2), Rawah (Gate 4) and Reda (Gate can win all three stages. 13). Gazwan could be the biggest threat Going by current form, Al Shaqab to Al Mourtajez’s Triple Crown quest, Racing’s champion Al Mourtajez looks having beaten him in the Emir’s Sword on track to land the triple-crown bo- in Doha earlier this year. Team USA’s Patrick Reed (right) and teammate Jordan Spieth celebrate after nus, having won the Qatar Interna- A total of 15 horses are in fray for winning their match against Team Europe’s Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson tional Stakes at Goodwood in imperi- the Group 1 Qatar Arabian World Cup, Jockey Julien Auge rides Al Mourtajez to victory in the 2015 edition of Qatar on the 16th green during the Morning Foursome in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine ous fashion. which will be run over 2,000 metres. Arabian World Cup at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. National Golf Course in Chaska, Minnesota, yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 1, 2016 FOOTBALL

EUROPA LEAGUE BUNDESLIGA Ancelotti poised for Inter suff er more next record Europa woe, Totti shines for Roma Bayern Munich’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. AFP their 1-1 Champions League draw. Berlin “We are not in a state of ‘One week, three defeats. One week, three victories. But I was not depressed by the shock, we’re in good shape and we can take a lot of confi dence,” defeats and I am not over the moon with three wins’ sixth straight Bun- said Leverkusen coach Roger desliga win for Bayern Schmidt. “We will now regener- Munich, at home to ate and get ready to attack Dort- Cologne today, will see mund again.” coachA Carlo Ancelotti equal the Fresh from their 2-1 home de- record for the best start in Ger- feat to Barcelona in the Cham- many’s top fl ight. pions League, fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Borussia Moenchengladbach Andre Schubert, who managed head to Gelsenkirchen to face the feat last year, and Willi En- bottom side Schalke. tenmann, with Stuttgart in 1986, Five straight league defeats are the only two Bundesliga means Schalke’s new coach coaches to have won their fi rst Markus Weinzierl is enduring six league games. the worst start to a season in the Ancelotti had already steered club’s history. Bayern to the best start to the “I think the worst thing we season in the club’s history can do now is to drown in self- with eight straight victories be- pity,” Schalke’s captain and Ger- fore Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at many international Benedikt Atletico Madrid in the Champi- Hoewedes told Sport1. ons League. “Now the situation demands But Cologne will provide a de- that we grow as a team. The cent test of Bayern’s staying pow- present situation is a question of er: Peter Stoeger’s side, along with mentality.” Bayern, newly promoted RB and Markus Gisdol has a hard test Hoff enheim, are one of the four for his fi rst match as Hamburg’s unbeaten teams after fi ve rounds new coach when he takes his team of Bundesliga matches. to sixth-placed Hertha Berlin. Andre Schuerrle, whose goal three minutes from time gave FIXTURES Borussia Dortmund a 2-2 draw at (1330 GMT unless stated) home to Real Madrid on Tuesday Today in the Champions League, hopes Bayern Munich v Cologne, Hertha to be fi t for their away match at Berlin v Hamburg, Ingolstadt v Bayer Leverkusen. Hoff enheim, Darmstadt v Wer- The Germany winger fi nished der Bremen, Freiburg v Eintra- the Real draw with a heavily cht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen v strapped right knee. Borussia Dortmund (1630) Mid-table Leverkusen are still licking their wounds after Javier Tomorrow Hernandez’s 73rd-minute header VfL Wolfsburg v Mainz, Schalke Players of Inter Milan react after losing their UEFA Europa League Group K match against Sparta Praha at the Generali Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. was cancelled out by a 94th- v Borussia Moenchengladbach minute equaliser at Monaco in (1530) Reuters The three times European champions Key results second-half winner. have made a good start to Serie A under He was rewarded with a third consec- new manager Frank de Boer but came Group A utive win in all competitions to lift the SERIE A into Thursday’s encounter looking to re- Manchester United (ENG) 1 (Ibrahi- mood at the club after they had previ- nter Milan’s aversion to Europa bound from a shock defeat in their open- movic 69) Zorya Luhansk (UKR) 0 ously suff ered three straight losses. League football continued with a 3-1 ing Group K game at home to Israel’s Ha- “One week, three defeats. One week, defeat at Sparta Prague, while AS poel Beer-Sheva. Group E three victories,” Mourinho said. “But I Juve, Napoli back to Roma ended a continental hoodoo Their hopes were hit within 25 minutes, AS Roma (ITA) 4 (Strootman 15, Fazio was not depressed by the defeats and I Istretching back seven games with a 4-0 however, as they fell two goals behind after am not over the moon with three wins.” 45+2, Fabricio 47-og, Salah 55) Astra home win over Romanian side FC Astra a double strike by Vaclav Kadlec. Giurgiu (ROM) 0 Ajax Amsterdam ended a run of fi ve basics aft er dream on Thursday. Rodrigo Palacio pulled one back in the successive home draws in Europe as they The second round of group stage 71st but any hopes of a recovery ended Group F beat Standard Liege 1-0 to join FC Kras- matches featured a string of high-scor- when Andrea Ranocchia was sent off four Genk (BEL) 3 (Karelis 8, Bailey 25, Buf- nodar, Schalke 04, Shakhtar Donetsk, dates in Europe ing encounters as Fiorentina, Zenit St minutes later and Mario Holek restored fel 61) Sassuolo (ITA) 1 (Politano 65) Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL Nicosia Petersburg and Krasnodar all hit fi ve in the Czechs’ two-goal advantage. on maximum points from their opening comprehensive victories. Inter’s Serie A rivals Roma had no such Group G two group games. Yet while the goals fl owed freely problems with talismanic forward Franc- Ajax (NED) 1 (Dolberg 28) Standard Krasnodar won 5-2 against Nice, with throughout the continent, Manchester esco Totti continuing to defy the ageing Liege (BEL) 0 the visiting French side’s Italian striker United were made to sweat as they edged process as he played a pivotal role in their Mario Balotelli scoring his fi fth goal in to a 1-0 win over Ukrainian outfi t Zorya comprehensive demolition of Astra two Group K four games, while Schalke won 3-1 at at Old Traff ord. days after his 40th birthday. Sparta Prague (CZE 3 (Vaclav Kadlec home to Salzburg and Shakhtar defeated It is six years since Inter last won the Totti had a hand in three of Roma’s 7, 25, Holek 76) Inter Milan (ITA) 1 visitors Braga 2-0. Champions League but they have not goals, teeing up Kevin Strootman for the (Palacio 71) Zenit’s Aleksandr Kokorin scored played in Europe’s top club competi- opener, rattling the crossbar with a free twice in a 5-0 thrashing of AZ Alkmaar, tion since 2012 and have now got a losing kick for Federico Fazio to net the rebound while APOEL sneaked a 1-0 win at Ol- habit in its second-tier cousin. They are and playing a clever fl ick to release Mo- without a win in European fi xtures. ympiakos Piraeus thanks to an early goal already facing a diffi cult task to escape hamed Salah for Roma’s fourth. Manchester United also needed the from Pieros Sotiriou. from their group after suff ering a second The only one he did not play a part in intervention of an ageing great to beat Fiorentina brushed aside Qarabag 5-1 straight defeat this season, which was was a 47th-minute own goal by Astra’s Fa- minnows Zorya as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Khouma Babacar and Mauro Zarate Napoli players celebrate after scoring against Benfica. their fourth in a row in the competition. bicio as Roma ended a run of seven matches who turns 35 on Monday, headed home a both scoring twice. AFP erners are not suff ering from his Milan absence. Indeed, some believe LIGUE 1 his departure has liberated Na- poli from Higuain’s obsession uventus and Napoli get of breaking Gunnar Nordahl’s back to Serie A basics af- 66-year-old record of 35 goals in ter impressive Champions a single season. League wins while Inter Higuain succeeded with a Milan’sJ league-leading scorer new tally of 36, but when asked PSG seek to continue momentum how Napoli had adapted to life Mauro Icardi looks to add to his tally away to Roma tomorrow. without him, former teammate AFP cott it after authorities restricted with the French giants indebted Champions Juventus, favour- Dries Mertens said Wednesday: Paris Saint-Etienne to just 771 plac- to an Edinson Cavani brace that ites for a record sixth consecu- “We’re playing more as a team.” es, considerably fewer than the spared them from a potentially tive ‘scudetto’, can feel confi dent Mertens hit a brace as Napoli 2,000 seats in the away section, embarrassing result against Lu- of maintaining their one-point swept Benfi ca aside 4-2 at the ucien Favre’s extended with Lyon denying accusations of dogorets Razgrad in the Cham- lead on Napoli at Empoli. San Paolo to underline their last honeymoon on the Cote complicity in the decision. pions League. Having limped to a scoreless 16 credentials but, like Allegri, d’Azur pits his surprise With just one win in their last “It’s not a question of work- draw at home to Sevilla, Mas- coach Maurizio Sarri won’t let Ligue 1 leaders Nice fi ve outings, Lyon head into the ing harder or better because the similiano Allegri’s men put four complacency creep in. Lagainst Lorient this weekend, contest trailing Saint-Etienne team is working well. We need goals past Dinamo Zagreb that Napoli face Atalanta in Berga- while Lyon host bitter foes Saint- by two points, and forward Max- confi dence,” said Emery, in left them top of Group H. mo Sunday, and Sarri said: “We Etienne in the Rhone derby. wel Cornet is fully aware of the quotes published by French daily Although veteran Empoli striker secured a great win against a top Favre, who replaced South- magnitude of the occasion. L’Equipe, after his side fought Massimo Maccarone has recov- European side (Benfi ca), but we ampton-bound Claude Puel in the “We have to be ready to deliv- back to claim a 3-1 midweek vic- ered from a sore back, the Tus- have to curb our enthusiasm. summer, has overseen a remark- er but I have no doubts about the tory in Bulgaria. can minnows’ usually formidable “The reality is we now face able start to his tenure at the Alli- team’s spirit. I understand what “With that and the quality of home form could be hit by a rash Atalanta in Bergamo. We risk let- anz Riviera with Nice the league’s the derby represents here. the players, we’ll get by. We can’t of late injuries to their defence. ting our concentration slip, but sole remaining unbeaten side. Anthony Lopes can’t wait for buy confi dence in the transfer Yet the smaller sides in Serie hopefully this team is mature “To have 17 points after seven this match,” Cornet told OLTV, market, we have to go and fi nd it.” A often fi nd an extra gear against enough not to let that happen.” matches is magnifi cent,” said with the Lyon goalkeeper hav- Now to see what happens. the Turin giants and Allegri — Favre, following Sunday’s 1-0 File picture of Paris Saint-Germain’s Spanish head coach Unai Emery. ing come up through the club’s who saw Miralem Pjanic, Gonzalo FIXTURES (GMT) victory at Nancy that kept Les youth ranks. “It’s a match that FIXTURES (ALL TIMES GMT) Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Dani Today Aiglons a point clear of neigh- back Mario Balotelli from a thigh pool on a free transfer and struck is also close to my heart. It’s up Today Alves hit the net in the Croatian Pescara v Chievo (1600), Udinese bours Monaco. problem in Russia, will fancy again with a superb long-range to us to do what we need to do. Paris Saint-Germain v Bordeaux capital — remains cautious. v Lazio (1845) However, Nice’s domestic his team’s chances of prolong- eff ort against Krasnodar before There’s some revenge to be had (1500), Caen v Toulouse, Dijon v “When you have to win, it’s success starkly contrasts their ing their stay at the top in he was withdrawn due to illness. after the (1-0 defeat) at Saint- Montpellier, Lille v Nancy, Metz v never easy,” Allegri said. Tomorrow faltering form in the Europa with Lorient languishing in 17th A squabble over the number Etienne last season.” Monaco, Nantes v Bastia (1800) “The lads did great, but we Empoli v Juventus (1030); Ata- League where they have lost despite two wins in their last of allocated tickets for away fans have to maintain our concentra- lanta v Napoli, Bologna v , their fi rst two group games, three matches. has stoked tensions ahead of the ‘CAN’T BUY CONFIDENCE’ Tomorrow tion and hunger for Empoli.” Cagliari v Crotone, Sampdoria v the second a 5-2 defeat away to The striker has netted a brace fi rst meeting between arch rivals Reigning champions Paris Saint- Angers v Marseille (1300), Nice Despite Juve signing Higuain Palermo (1300); AC Milan v Sas- Krasnodar on Thursday. in both of his Ligue 1 appearanc- Lyon and Saint-Etienne. Germain have made a stuttering v Lorient (1500), Lyon v Saint- from Napoli on a 90m euro deal suolo, Torino v Fiorentina (1600); But Favre, who welcomed es since his arrival from Liver- Visiting supporters plan to boy- start to life under Unai Emery, Etienne (1845) earlier this summer, the south- Roma v Inter Milan (1845) Gulf Times Saturday, October 1, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

EPL COMPLAIN Mourinho bemoans ‘poisoned’ Man Conte doesn’t have United schedule magic solution ‘We haven’t got a magic wand to change the situation... We don’t forget the past. The past is there, it’s very clear. We finished in 10th place last season’

AFP London

ntonio Conte admits he doesn’t have an instant an- swer for the problems that Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho. have plagued his spluttering ChelseaA team in recent weeks. Con- work” and while he praised Zo- AFP te’s side slumped to lacklustre defeats Manchester rya’s defensive organisation, he against Liverpool and Arsenal in their bemoaned what he saw as their last two Premier League matches. delaying tactics. Chelsea have only one clean sheet in 15 anchester United Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed matches in all competitions ahead of to- manager Jose Mour- home a 69th-minute winner af- day’s Premier League trip to Hull, when inho rued the “poi- ter substitute Wayne Rooney’s they will again be without injured captain soned gift” of his mishit volley, which struck his and key defender John Terry. Mside’s fi xture schedule as he con- knee, hit the ground and looped Terry has missed the last three match- templated a potentially seismic towards the back post. es with an ankle injury sustained against run of matches in October. Swansea and his earliest possible return United got their Europa ZLATAN ‘EXPECTS MORE’ will be on October 15 against . League campaign off the ground “He was laughing and saying that Until the January transfer window with a hard-fought 1-0 win over he made a great assist,” Mour- opens, Conte knows he has to make do Zorya Luhansk at Old Traff ord on inho said of Rooney, who started with the current squad, many of whom Thursday and host Group A lead- on the bench for the second game are once again underachieving after their ers Fenerbahce in their next game running after overcoming a back dismal 10th-place fi nish last season. on October 20. problem. “We haven’t got a magic wand to Prior to that, they face a Mon- Ibrahimovic has now scored six change the situation in two months, day night match at arch rivals goals in 10 appearances for United three months, four months,” Conte said Liverpool, with a trip to Chel- since his close-season switch from yesterday. sea, in the Premier League, and a Paris Saint-Germain. “We don’t forget the past. The past is crunch game against Manchester “If you want to go through, there, it’s very clear. We fi nished in 10th City in the League Cup to follow. you need to win the game. We did place last season. “We could play Liverpool on that,” said the Swedish striker. “When you fi nish 10th, it means you the Saturday or the Sunday. We “We could have done much have problems. We must change the situ- play Liverpool on the Monday,” more though and I expect much ation and we must work hard together said Mourinho, whose side are more from the team. We did not and we are doing this. level on points in Group A with score as we did against Leicester, “At this moment, that’s the most im- Feyenoord. but it is good for confi dence. portant thing: not to win or to lose. “So maybe we don’t have the “If we continue this and step it “But to understand that only through best conditions, especially be- up, we will do good.” great work, hard work, can we fi ll the gap cause we play against two top United had strolled to a 4-1 win that now we have.” Premier League teams that don’t over league champions Leicester play in European competition City last weekend, having lost Fixtures (GMT) Chelsea manager Antonio Conte during the press conference. (Liverpool and Chelsea). their three previous matches. “We have this kind of poisoned They entertain Stoke City, the Today Chelsea’s only victory in their last four now at the top (of their games). very passionate about football,” Conte gift of playing on the Monday that Premier League’s second-bot- Swansea City vs Liverpool (1130), Hull games in all competitions came in the “We have a lot to improve. This is the added. creates a very diffi cult situation. tom side, on Sunday and Mour- City vs Chelsea (1400), Sunderland vs League Cup at Leicester and their 3-0 great diff erence. This is also the great “To talk with him about football is very But we want to try to qualify for inho warned against reading too West Bromwich Albion (1400), Watford defeat at Arsenal last weekend exposed hope that we must have.” interesting. To discuss and explain my the next round. We want to try. much into the league position of vs Bournemouth (1400), West Ham numerous fl aws in Conte’s team. Conte was reported to want to overhaul idea of football. “Long time to go, almost a Mark Hughes’s team. United vs Middlesbrough (1400) Former Italy and Juventus coach Conte his squad in the January transfer window “I don’t see an opportunity in January month. But we want to try so we “Let us concentrate on Stoke says Chelsea’s recent problems have been after failing to land his top targets before to spend money or to change. Now I see play against Fenerbache with a because Stoke is another poi- Tomorrow instructive because he now has a better the August deadline. the present. team with possibilities to beat soned gift,” he said. Manchester United vs Stoke City idea of what needs to change. He spoke to owner Roman Abram- “I see in the present the opportunity to Fenerbahce.” “Because Stoke is not what the (1100), Leicester City vs Southampton “In these two games against Arsenal ovich this week after the Russian billion- improve, to continue to work, to under- United struggled to break table sees. The manager is very (1315), Tottenham Hotspur vs and Liverpool we saw, and we learned, a aire made an appearance at the training stand it’s not easy. down a well drilled Zorya team, good, the players are good, the Manchester City (1315), Burnley vs lot of important things,” he said. ground, but denied he had demanded to “We know this in the club. And we who were playing their fi rst game team is good. Arsenal (1530) “We faced two teams who are very splash out on a host of new signings. must continue to change the story of last against English opposition after “So when I look to the table, strong and, for me, these two teams are “I’m lucky because Mr Abramovich is season.” fi nishing fourth in the Ukrainian that’s not Stoke’s position. I play Premier League last season. against a good Stoke and not the Mourinho conceded that Stoke that is in that position in PREVIEW United’s win had been “hard the table.”

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Spain’s big three renew battle Rangers seek to lift sense of gloom for supremacy in La Liga petitive,” said Warburton, who AFP Glasgow will sit in the stands as he serves AFP Spanish giants as they repeated a one match ban for an outburst Madrid their 1-0 semi-fi nal success over at John Beaton, the referee in the Bayern Munich from last season cottish giants Rangers’ 2-1 defeat by Aberdeen last Sun- to seal a superb September. return to the top tier is day. fter another stellar After disappointing draws to proving a rude awaken- “You guys (the media) said week for Spanish clubs open the campaign against new- ing to those fans who about challenging Celtic and in the Champions ly promoted Alaves and Leganes, thoughtS they would be automat- challenging Aberdeen. I said League, Real Madrid, Atletico reeled off fi ve wins in ically challenging bitter rivals we’d be highly competitive and BarcelonaA and Atletico Madrid six games in the past month, Celtic for the Premiership title. that won’t change. resume their three-way battle only failing to win in a 1-1 draw They host bottom side Partick “I think you saw on Sunday we for La Liga supremacy tomor- at Barcelona, to close to within Thistle today badly in need of a were highly competitive — but row. two points of city rivals Real at win to off set recent troubles on we have to get the rewards for it.” Real were the only Span- the top of the table. and off the pitch that threaten to Warburton, who got the Rang- ish side not to win in midweek, “In life there are moments that derail their season. ers job on the back of having but got a creditable 2-2 draw at are diffi cult to repeat and we are A 5-1 thrashing by Celtic was impressed in his spell as man- Borussia Dortmund to remain on living one of those in terms of our bad enough but the suspension ager of unfashionable English course for the last 16. ownership, football, fan base and by the club of hotheaded Eng- side Brentford, says things could However, the European cham- a fantastic new stadium to come,” lish midfi elder Joey Barton, the change in a couple of games. pions have now failed to win any said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. arrest of veteran striker Kenny “You can say you are four of their last three games as draws “They are moments that can’t Miller outside a restaurant for his points from the bottom or three to Villarreal and Las Palmas have be repeated.” alleged involvement in a brawl points from second,” he said. seen their lead at the top of the Atletico can go top for a few and last weekend’s defeat by Ab- “At this stage of the season, in table whittled down to just a hours at least as they kick off erdeen has deepened the gloom any league, you win two games point by Barca. Sunday’s programme away at at Ibrox. and the whole picture changes. Zinedine Zidane’s men con- Valencia. Caretaker boss Voro Without a Premiership win The same if you lose two.” ceded a late equaliser for the will once again take charge of in their last four matches they While Warburton battles to get second time in four days in Valencia after leading Los Che lie seven points adrift of lead- Rangers back on the winning trail, Dortmund, but defender Danilo to their first two wins of the ers Celtic — who restored their his Celtic counterpart Brendan insisted Eibar will bear the brunt season since Pako Ayestaran Champions League pride this Rodgers travels with an extra of Real’s frustration when they was sacked to move them out week following the 7-0 hammer- spring in his step with his side to visit the Bernabeu this of the relegation zone. ing by Barcelona with a thrilling take on Dundee, who are fourth weekend. 3-3 draw with Manchester City from bottom with just one win “We drew again, but we are Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone reacts during his team’s Champions league match. FIXTURES — and having played a game from their seven games this term. playing well and we’re calm,” (all times GMT) more. Rodgers, though, will hope his said the Brazilian international. tory, but travel to the Berna- to Celta Vigo. turn to the club he managed for a Today However, despite being closer players don’t allow one good re- “We are not satisfi ed with the beu full of confidence after a Arda Turan came off the season before taking charge of the Granada vs Leganes (1100), Se- to the relegation zone than the sult in the Champions League to draws but Eibar will pay for that fine start to the season that has bench to turn the game in Bar- Catalan giants in 2014. villa vs Alaves (1415), Osasuna vs title race, Rangers’ combative distract them from maintaining at the weekend.” carried the Basque minnows ca’s favour with the equaliser in Sergio Busquets admitted Las Palmas (1630), Deportivo la English manager Mark Warbur- their unbeaten record in the Pre- Real are still without the in- to eighth in the table, just four Germany and is expected to start Barca do still desperately miss Coruna vs Sporting Gijon (1845) ton believes the club is perform- miership. jured Brazilian duo of Casemiro points behind Real. in Messi’s place on the right side Messi. “We always miss Leo. ing as he had predicted before and Marcelo, but Zidane is likely Barcelona continued to shrug of the front line alongside Ney- When you win by the slimmest Tomorrow the campaign got underway and TODAY’S FIXTURES to rotate his squad again with off the absence of Lionel Messi mar and Luis Suarez in Vigo. margin, you notice it more.” Valencia vs Atletico Madrid blamed the media for exaggerat- Dundee vs Celtic, Hamilton vs Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio as they came from behind to beat “All my players are full of confi - (1000), Real Madrid vs Eibar ing their aims. Inverness, Kilmarnock vs Ab- and Pepe in contention. Borussia Moenchengladbach on dence. I am happy with how all of ATLETICO CLOSE GAP (1415), Malaga vs Athletic Bilbao, “What I said at the start of the erdeen, Motherwell vs Hearts, Eibar have never taken a Wednesday and face a third away them are performing,” said Barca Atletico secured the best Cham- Espanyol vs Villarreal (1630), season, and I was very, very clear, Rangers vs Partick, Ross County point off Madrid in their his- game in a week when they travel boss Luis Enrique ahead of his re- pions League result of the three Celta Vigo vs Barcelona (1845) was that we’d be highly com- vs St Johnstone. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 1, 2016 SPORT

WUHAN OPEN FORMULA 1 Hamilton fi nds Kvitova dismisses groove in Sepang Halep to reach fi nal ‘From the time (Rio) I felt better as well mentally, and the confidence was there. I played great matches in Rio. I think that helped me for the tournaments after Rio’

AFP Wuhan, China

wo-time Wimbledon champion Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton. Petra Kvitova dropped just three games to dismiss Simona Halep Reuters being hit with a 30-place en- in two sets in the semi-fi nals at Sepang gine-related penalty for running Tthe Wuhan Open yesterday. a new power unit but the modi- The Czech displayed the tennis that once fi cations appeared to help as he saw her two match wins from ascending to ewis Hamilton outpaced had been fi fth in the morning. world number one as she beat Halep 6-1, his championship-lead- 6-2 to reach her second fi nal at the $2.6 ing Mercedes team mate BURNING CAR million hard court event in China. Nico Rosberg in practice Kevin Magnussen, whose burn- The Romanian fourth seed denied Kvi- Lfor the Malaysian Grand Prix ing car provided an early mo- tova her fi rst match point with an unu- yesterday, the Briton topping the ment of drama that brought out sual backhand volley, taking the second timesheets with the fastest lap of the red fl ags in the opening ses- set to 5-2, but was unable to swing the the day. sion, went 19th fastest. momentum of the game in her favour. The defending Formula One He completed 19 laps after “I tried, but (it) was too late to change champion fi nished behind Ros- managing just two in the morn- something at 6-1, 5-1. It’s a bit too late berg in the morning but found ing. The Dane was forced to hot with someone that is playing this way,” his groove around a resurfaced foot it out of his Renault after it Halep told reporters after the match. Sepang circuit in the afternoon was engulfed in fl ames while be- Despite the loss, by reaching the Wuhan to set a benchmark time of one ing wheeled into the garage after semi-fi nals Halep has booked her spot in minute, 34.944 seconds. just seven minutes of action. the year-ending eight-player WTA Finals Hamilton trails Rosberg by Renault mechanics initially for the third consecutive year. eight points after the German brought the fi re under control, Kvitova’s return to form in China won the last race in Singapore squirting extinguisher all over the comes after a choppy year that began but his prospects of striking back car, but fuel gushing out of the top with her splitting from coach of seven with a 50th career win were lifted of the airbox continued to reignite, years David Kotyza and has seen her slip by an improved performance in leaving the vehicle stranded in to 16 in the world rankings -- her lowest practice following a disappoint- the pit-lane and prompting a spot since 2011. ing Friday a fortnight ago. 15-minute stoppage. She made a series of early round exits Rosberg, who led his team Renault, who were running this season, failing to get beyond the fourth mate by a comfortable margin in the car in an experimental con- round at any of the Grand Slams, until a the morning, ended the day with figuration in preparation for bronze medal at the Rio Olympics appeared a time 0.233 seconds slower than next month’s high-altitude to turn the tide for the 26-year-old. the Briton with the Ferrari pair of Mexican Grand Prix, put the “From the time (Rio) I felt better as well Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raik- cause of the fire down to a fuel mentally, and the confi dence was there. I konen fi nishing third and fourth leak from the breather. played great matches in Rio. I think that respectively. There was little drama other- helped me for the tournaments after Rio,” The duo were closer to the wise on a straightforward day of Kvitova said after the semi-fi nal win. dominant Mercedes in the af- practice, with a few minor spins Kvitova will meet Dominika Cibulkova Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic celebrates after beating Simona Halep of Romania. ternoon but still more than half and lock-ups as drivers got to grips a second adrift as they swapped with changes to the track, includ- Results in the fi nals on Saturday, after the Slovak after having surgery on her left foot. I’m really consistent playing the whole positions from fi rst practice ing tweaks to the camber and gra- rallied from one set down to beat double A left calf injury also forced her to year,” the Slovak said. when the 2007 world champion dients of some of its 15 corners. Results from the sixth day of the Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznet- withdraw from the Rio Olympics. Meanwhile, 31-year-old Kuznetsova — edged out last year’s race winner. Mercedes head into Sunday’s Wuhan Open yesterday (x denotes sova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. “It’s never easy to come back after who reached world number two in 2007 Max Verstappen celebrated his race on the brink of claiming a seeding): Rain delays meant that Cibulkova has injury, especially when your ranking — is enjoying a late-career resurgence 19th birthday by improving from third constructors’ title but the spent more than six hours on court in the drops,” said Cibulkova after the match. and reaching the semi-fi nals at Wuhan seventh to fi fth for Red Bull, as battle for individual honours Women’s singles last two days, playing both a fourth round But she has reached fi ve fi nals this year will likely see her reach her highest rank- Sergio Perez came sixth ahead between the team’s drivers is a Semi-finals and quarter fi nal match on Thursday -- and the quarter fi nals at Wimbledon, and ing in six years when next week’s leader- of McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, lot closer, with Rosberg holding Petra Kvitova (CZE x14) bt Simona and claiming the scalp of US Open fi nal- is now just points away from qualifying board is released. who ended a promising day of a points advantage and the mo- Halep (ROM x4) 6-1, 6-2 ist Karolina Pliskova en route. for the year fi nale in Singapore for the “I lost little bit my way when I got broken running with Honda’s upgraded mentum over Hamilton. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x10) bt Svet- Her strong run at Wuhan marks an im- fi rst time. “I’m a good player, I can beat in second set because I felt like I was on top power unit in seventh. The German regained the lana Kuznetsova (RUS x9) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 pressive return for the 27-year-old who top players. But I was missing consisten- of the game after I won fi rst set,” Kuznet- The Spaniard is set to start the overall lead after scoring his third missed four months of the season in 2015 cy in my game. This is the fi rst year that sova told reporters after the match. race at the back of the grid after win in a row in Singapore.

BOTTOMLINE GOOD NEWS Alonso encouraged Winning grand slams is no by Honda progress longer my priority: Djokovic

Reuters much pressure. after his Wimbledon and Ol- Belgrade “It doesn’t mean I no longer ympic disappointments that the want to contribute to the sport eff ort had drained him mentally but I also don’t want to keep on and physically, raising question ovak Djokovic no long- playing just for the sake of win- marks over his ability to equal er sees winning grand ning titles.” Swiss maestro Roger Federer’s slam titles or stay- Djokovic, who steamrolled career tally of 17 grand slams. ing top of the men’s to Australian and French Open Appearing to enjoy a light NATP rankings as a priority in titles in the fi rst half of the sea- workout in the morning sun at his tennis career, Serbia’s world son, has suff ered a dramatic loss a hardcourt complex overlook- number one said yesterday. of form since and pulled out of ing the banks of Belgrade’s Sava “I don’t want to think about next week’s China Open with an river, Djokovic stressed that he McLaren Honda’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso. winning titles and being the elbow injury. He lost to Ameri- was still keen to add more titles number one any more in order to can Sam Querrey in the Wim- to his bulging trophy cabinet. Reuters Honda have made steady avoid putting pressure on myself,” bledon third round before he “If the wins and titles come Sepang progress after a diffi cult renewal Djokovic, the winner of 12 major was knocked out in the opening I will embrace them with both of their once dominant partner- tournaments, told reporters. round of the Olympic Games by arms,” he said. ship with McLaren last season. “I put too much pressure on Argentine Juan Martin del Potro. “I am on an active vacation ernando Alonso was en- The upgrade Alonso tested in myself after winning this year’s Djokovic was unstoppable in now and the Shanghai Masters is couraged after trying Malaysia, featuring a lighter en- Roland Garros and I didn’t like 2015 when we won three out of the next tournament. out an updated Honda gine block and a redesigned ex- it,” the 29-year-old added. four major titles and this year “It’s a micro injury I am deal- engine in his McLaren, haust, was the latest in a series “I always enjoyed tennis and he fi nally completed a career ing with but its nature is such evenF if running it in yesterday’s of enhancements they have been relished the game away from slam after clinching his maiden that it could develop into a long- practice sessions means he will making to the engine over the tournaments too but in the last French Open title by beating term issue. I am close to being be forced to start Sunday’s Ma- course of the year. few months, all the talk about Briton Andy Murray in the fi nal. fully fi t but the injury is still af- laysian Grand Prix from the back. Alonso plans to run just one lap making history has brought too Novak Djokovic during a training session in Belgrade yesterday. He pointed out several times fecting my serve.” The Spaniard carries a in qualifying quick enough to se- 30-place grid penalty into Sat- cure him a spot on the 22-car grid. urday’s qualifying session as the But he is planning to drive an Berdych breaks down new power unit fi tted to his car attacking race from the back and countryman in Shenzhen with Tomic winning their last clash three Ramos-Vinolas got off to a command- The ITF said yesterday that Serkan Aslan pushes his use of engine-related is hopeful of handing McLaren years ago in the US. Third seed Richard ing start in the first set and never and Mehmet Ulker had their ITF off iciat- components further beyond his a double points fi nish together Top seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Gasquet of France meanwhile squeezed looked back, winning 84 percent of his ing certificates permanently revoked permitted allocation. with Jenson Button, who will Republic overcame his countryman and past German qualifier Mischa Zverev first serve points and scoring his first after being found guilty of the off ences But Alonso enjoyed a strong start his 300th grand prix, es- eighth seed Jiri Vesely 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2 at 7-6(4), 7-6(2) to win a place in the semi- ATP head-to-head win over the world under the Code of Conduct for off icials. day testing the new powerplant, pecially if Sepang’s notoriously the Shenzhen Open yesterday, bouncing finals against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. number 10. Third seed Grigor Dim- Ulker was accused of using his mobile which he will not be using today fi ckle weather comes into play. back from a second-set loss to secure a While knocking down only three aces to itrov of Bulgaria meanwhile bounced phone to communicate the scores of or in the race, setting the fi fth “Qualifying will be very short spot in the semi-finals. Zverev’s 10, he won 77 percent of his first back from a first-set loss to prevail in a matches over which he was off iciating to and seventh fastest times in yes- for me - I’ll do just one timed lap, The 31-year-old Berdych, ranked 9th in serve points in the two-hour clash. two-hour, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 clash with Diego a third party at the ITF Futures event in terday’s two sessions. “Today to get within 107 per cent of the the world, will face Thomaz Bellucci on Schwartzman of . Belek, Turkey in October 2015. was a good day,” said the double pole time and then I’ll watch the Saturday after the Brazilian bulldozed Top seed Thiem drops in He also delayed the inputting of scores world champion, who completed rest of the action on TV,” he said. over fourth seed Bernard Tomic 6-2, 6-2, Chengdu Turkish offi cials handed life “to allow one or more third parties to a total of 45 trouble-free laps. “Then I’ll save as many new winning 93 percent of first serve points Top seed Dominic Thiem of Austria was bans for corruption benefit by placing bets on matches in “We managed to complete tyres as possible for the race to and slamming 14 aces to Tomic’s three. upset in less than an hour by Albert Two Turkish tennis off icials have been which he was off iciating”, said the ITF. a good number of laps and do attack from start to fi nish. Winning the hour-long quarter-final con- Ramos-Vinolas at the ATP Chengdu banned for life after being found guilty The pair were also accused of failing to all the tests we had planned for “We are expecting rain, I don’t test gave the Brazilian a 2-1 edge in their Open yesterday, as the Spaniard sailed of betting-related off ences by the Inter- report the fraudulent manipulation of today, including some parts al- know if it will come for qualify- head-to-head record in ATP competition, to a 6-1, 6-4 victory. national Tennis Federation (ITF). the live scoring system. ready for next years car, so it was ing or for the race, but whenever a very good day in that way.” it comes it will help us.” Gulf Times Saturday, October 1, 2016 5 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Canada rally late to win World Cup of Hockey ‘When you come into a tournament like this, you’re just trying to take everything in. It’s the biggest stage in the world’

AFP guys has been a lot of fun.” Toronto Europe made them work to close it out. Chara gave Europe a 1-0 lead at 6:26 rad Marchand scored a short- of the fi rst period, taking a feed from handed goal with 43 seconds Andrej Sekera and fi ring a shot off left as Canada rallied in the Canada goalie Carey Price’s arm into Bclosing minutes to win the the net. World Cup of Hockey 2-1 over Team Although Price made 32 saves, it Europe. looked like Europe would make the Canada won the best-of-three title one-goal lead stand up. series 2-0, after taking game one on Crosby said he and his Canada Tuesday 3-1. teammates were conscious of trying to Marchand’s goal was his fourth in avoid a game three. the tournament, an eight-team global “Anything can happen in one game,” showcase that was revived this year af- Crosby said. “The last 10 minutes we ter editions in 1996 and 2004. were really pressing. We had some re- Marchand’s Boston Bruins team- ally good chances, and regardless of mate Patrice Bergeron scored on a getting the power play or not, I thought power play to knot the score at 1-1 we had one good push left in us.” with less than three minutes to play, Anze Kopitar, the best penalty killer thwarting upstart Europe’s bid to take on a Europe team featuring players the series to a decisive game three. from eight diff erent countries, was “The whole thing has been a bit of called for holding Corey Perry with a whirlwind,” Marchand said. “When 3:35 left in the third. you come into a tournament like this, Canada took advantage, when you’re just trying to take everything in. Bergeron defl ected Brent Burns’s shot It’s the biggest stage in the world right Canadians celebrate their past Halak to tie the game. now, and to be a part of it is an incred- world Cup victory on Thursday. “To get that power play goal was ible honour. defi nitely big, but then we ended up “Then to be put on the line with Sid getting shorthanded there for the last (Crosby) and Bergy is another big hon- two minutes,” Crosby said. “So you’re our. A lot of pressure that goes with It wasn’t enough, however, as Can- Crosby had three goals and seven games in so-called best-on-best com- Canada brought a weight of expecta- thinking, all right, let’s just get this to that, but it’s been an incredible experi- ada captain Sidney Crosby was named assists in the tournament, in which petition. tions, but it was one he was happy to overtime, see what we can do.” ence every day.” Most Valuable Player of the tourna- Canada went 6-0 en route to the title. Their last defeat in a top-fl ight tour- shoulder. But with Europe on a power play af- Team Europe goaltender Jaroslav ment, becoming the third player to win “It’s special,” Crosby said. “I don’t nament was to the United States in “Everyone wants to be playing for ter Drew Doughty high-sticked Tobias Halak made 32 saves and Europe led NHL MVP, the Conn Smyth as playoff have to look too far to think about how pool play at the 2010 Vancouver Olym- Team Canada,” he said. “It’s an unbe- Rieder, Marchand managed to grab a most of the night after a fi rst-period MVP, and World Cup MVP. He joins tough it was a year ago, starting out the pics — where Canada went on to win lievable atmosphere, to play here at crisp pass from Jonathan Toews and goal from another Bruins stalwart, all-time greats Wayne Gretzky and season, I appreciate this a lot.” gold. home, to be a hockey player playing for fi re it past Halak. Zdeno Chara. Bobby Orr. Canada have now won 16 straight Crosby admitted that playing for Team Canada and be with this group of

NFL BASEBALLNFLNFL Orioles down Green unstoppable as Blue Jays to bolster Bengals shred Dolphins playoff pursuit AFP Ortiz, retiring after this season, was The Sports Xchange Washington lifted for pinch runner Brock Holt after Miami drawing a walk in the fourth and exited to mild applause, mostly from the Red baldo Jimenez allowed one Sox fans in the crowd after getting a .J. Green had 10 catches for hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings standing ovation before his fi rst at-bat. 173 yards and a touchdown Thursday as the Baltimore The Yankees had honoured their and Mike Nugent tied a ca- Orioles beat the Blue Jays longtime nemesis in a brief ceremony reer high with fi ve fi eld goals, U4-0 to tie Toronto for the fi rst Ameri- — one that Ortiz said he appreciated, liftingA the Cincinnati Bengals to a 22-7 can League wild card berth. even if it felt strange to be feted at victory over the Miami Dolphins on The Orioles took the rubber match Yankee Stadium. Thursday. Green, who missed an as- of the three-game series in Toronto That was just one oddity on a night signment and dropped a third-down after the Blue Jays took the opener. that saw the Chicago Cubs and Pitts- pass to stall a key drive in Sunday’s loss Baltimore’s victory eliminated the burgh Pirates play to a rare tie. to Denver, came out with a vengeance Houston Astros and the New York They were level at 1-1 in Pittsburgh on Thursday with eight catches for 123 Yankees from wild-card contention. after 4 1/2 innings when rain washed yards and a touchdown in the fi rst half The Yankees’ already dim hopes out the remainder of the Pirates’ fi nal alone. were extinguished despite a 5-1 vic- home game of the season. Linebacker Vontaze Burfi ct returned tory over the Red Sox in New York. Since the regular season ends Sun- from a three-game suspension and had “It’s not what we wanted,” said day, the suspended game will not be three tackles for the Bengals (2-2). Mi- New York manager Joe Girardi, whose resumed and goes into the books as the ami quarterback Ryan Tannehill was Yankees have missed the post-season fi rst Major League Baseball tie since sacked fi ve times and hit eight times. for the third time in four seasons. the Houston Astros and Cincinnati He managed to pass for 189 yards with “It’s diffi cult. There were some Reds fi nished 2-2 on June 30, 2005. The a touchdown and an interception. The good things that happened but again St. Louis Cardinals kept their bid for a banged up Dolphins (1-3) played with- Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. we fell short and we didn’t have a suc- National League wild card berth going out several starters with third-stringer Uzomah (87) carries the ball past cessful season.” in controversial fashion, rallying for Kraig Urbik at center, Billy Turner at Miami Dolphins linebacker CC Sabathia pitched 7 1/3 eff ective a 4-3 victory over the Reds on Yadier left guard and Laremy Tunsil moved to Spencer Paysinger (42) in the innings, fi nishing his eighth season Molina’s two-out run-batted-in dou- left tackle. Miami also is without run- first half of their NFL game on with the Yankees by allowing one run ble in the bottom of the ninth inning. ning back Arian Foster and tight end Thursday. PICTURE: Aaron and four hits. He struck out the fi rst With Matt Carpenter on base, Mo- Jordan Cameron. Doster-USA TODAY Sports four hitters, eight overall and threw lina belted a 2-0 pitch to left fi eld and Bengals left defensive end Carlos 105 pitches. the ball appeared to bounce off a sign Dunlap had two sacks and a forced yards in the first half. Nugent’s five had drives of 54, 80, and 85 yards on its fi rst possession but failed to con- One of Sabathia’s strikeouts came behind the wall — which would have fumble on Thursday. Geno Atkins field goals were a product of the Ben- but came away with a field goal each vert the only third down it faced and against David Ortiz, who was 0-for-1 made it a dead ball. But the ball was had 1-1/2 sacks. Bengals quarterback gals’ continued problems cashing in time. settled for a 42-yard fi eld goal by Nu- with a walk in his fi nal game against ruled in play and Carpenter scored Andy Dalton passed for 197 of his 296 on red-zone opportunities. They Cincinnati drove 54 yards in 11 plays gent to go ahead 3-0. the Yankees. from fi rst.

PREVIEW Patriots face Bills test ahead of Brady return

AFP back-up Jimmy Garoppolo for the opening two games. are, how tough it’s going to be and how much work we have “(Carr) hasn’t been sacked very much and hasn’t had a lot Los Angeles An injury to Garoppolo opened the door to third choice ahead of us,” said Belichick. of turnovers — very few fumbles that he’s caused,” Harbaugh quarterback Jacoby Brissett starting in last week’s shutout of The Patriots are one of fi ve teams who remain unbeat- said. the Houston Texans — before Brissett suff ered an injury to en heading into week four. Two of the other 3-0 teams are “That’s a formula for success on off ense. They’ve done a ew England Patriots coach Bill Belichick will at- his thumb. from the American Football Conference, the reigning Super good job of that, and we’re going to have to fi gure out how to tempt to extend his dominant reign over Buff alo Both Garoppolo and Brissett have trained lightly this week, Bowl champion Denver Broncos and the in-form Baltimore counter that.” Bills rival Rex Ryan tomorrow as the AFC giants aim with Belichick refusing to give any clues as to who may start. Ravens. In the National Football Conference, the injury-hit Min- to maintain their perfect start to the season. That in turn has led to speculation that receiver Julian Edel- Temperatures in Florida today are expected to top 90 de- nesota Vikings will look to their fearsome defense to preserve NBelichick’s rivalry with his outspoken Bills counterpart man — an accomplished college quarterback — could fi ll in. grees, prompting the Broncos to adopt some unconventional their unbeaten start when they face the New York Giants in stretches back several years, from when the pugnacious Ryan Ryan is nonplussed by Belichick’s quarterback dilemma. training measures as they prepare for what are expected to be Minneapolis. was head coach at the New York Jets. “Hey, you know, I can sit back and say I don’t care who oppressive conditions. The Vikings have moved to 3-0 despite serious injuries To date, Belichick has rarely been troubled by anything plays quarterback because I know (Tom) Brady ain’t,” Ryan “I know a lot of us practiced in hoodies just to try to get that have deprived them of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater Ryan has thrown at his teams, with the Patriots coach lead- said. “I don’t care who plays quarterback. If (Bill) Belichick’s used to that heat,” safety T.J. Ward said. and running back Adrian Peterson. ing 9-1 in their last 10 meetings. playing quarterback, we’re coming after him. I promise you Baltimore meanwhile face a searching examination when Just as Denver did last season, the Vikings have shown that This season the Patriots have once again defi ed the con- that.” they host the potent Oakland Raiders (2-1), with quarterback a powerful defense can often be enough. ventional wisdom by making a pristine 3-0 start to the sea- The Bills (1-2) head into the game fresh from an impressive Derek Carr in exceptional form. Minnesota sacked Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam son despite the absence of the suspended Tom Brady. 33-18 demolition of the Arizona Cardinals, a result that has Carr tormented the Ravens last season with 351 yards and Newton a record eight times last week in a 22-10 win and Brady, who will serve the fi nal game of his four-match ban left Belichick warning against complacency. three touchdowns in a Raiders victory, leaving Baltimore Giants signal-caller Eli Manning could be in for a similarly for the “Defl ategate” scandal this weekend, was replaced by “I think the Arizona game really highlights how good they coach John Harbaugh wary of the task facing his team. rough ride on Monday. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 1, 2016 SPORT

RUGBY PREVIEW Hooper believes Australia can end All Blacks three jinx

AFP Johannesburg wins away from ustralia fl anker Michael Hooper be- lieves the Wallabies can end a Pretoria jinx to- dayA by winning there for the fi rst time and infl icting further Rugby Championship misery on . world record The teams enter the round 5 match having experienced con- Argentina proved stubborn group opponents to NZ during the same tournament in trasting fortunes lately with Australia seeking a third straight England, leading for much of a game they eventually lost 26-16 in London win and the Springboks desper- ate to avoid a fourth consecutive loss. South Africa believed they ble. should have won in Brisbane last “A desperate Springbok team New Zealand coach Steve hansen has rested some month instead of throwing away is a dangerous Springbok team. regular starters for the match against the . an early 11-pont lead in a 23-17 They are hurting, just like we defeat that was followed by a were recently after six consecu- hammering from New Zealand. tive losses.” While the Springboks fell Wallabies coach Michael apart in the second half to lose Cheika has reacted predictably 41-13 in , Australia to the recent change of fortune, scored three tries in the open- making only one injury-enforced ing 12 minutes en route to a 36- change to the team that over- 20 triumph. With the All Blacks came Argentina. winning the championship after Sean McMahon makes his round 4 thanks to an unassailable fi rst start at No. 8 since a June 11-point lead, pride and second loss to England in place of David place are at stake when South Pocock, who broke his hand in Africa and Australia clash. the triumph over the Pumas. Australia have lost all six pre- South Africa coach Allister vious Tests at the 50,000-seat Coetzee, who has lost four of in a leafy seven Tests since succeeding Pretoria suburb, including a 61- Heyneke Meyer this year, warned 22 drubbing 19 years ago. that there would be “conse- But 58-cap loose forward quences” after the heavy beating Hooper told reporters that he is by New Zealand. convinced hours of hard work on But he resisted calls from the the training grounds is about to public and media to make whole- pay off . sale changes, keeping faith with “You can sense the will to win 12 Christchurch starters. within the camp,” he said. “These Repeated underwhelming guys are desperate to succeed in performances by fl y-half Elton Pretoria and I am convinced that Jantjies and scrum-half Faf de they are going to do so this week- Klerk have seen them axed from end. the matchday 23. Veteran Morne “We are not underestimating Steyn replaces Jantjies, who has the Springboks for one minute. been unable to replicate the form They are hurting after three con- that helped the Johannesburg- secutive losses and that means based Golden Lions reach the we must be extra careful. “ Super Rugby fi nal this year. Australia skills coach Michael Scrum-half Rudy Paige will Byrne agreed that dismissing start a Test for the fi rst time, fi t- AFP winners of the World Cup a record three While New Zealand currently appear He changed four of the Kieran Read- South Africa after away losses tingly in the stadium where he times, started the latest winning streak invincible, star fl y-half Beauden Barrett skippered team that began a 41-13 demo- to Argentina, Australia and New plays provincial rugby for North- with a 41-13 hammering of the Wallabies stressed that Argentina are a rising world lition of South Africa in Christchurch Zealand would be inviting trou- ern Bulls. in August last year. rugby force. two weekends ago. ew Zealand tackle Argentina in Since that triumph, they have beaten “The Pumas challenged us for 50 min- In come centre Anton Lienart-Brown, Buenos Aires today seeking a Australia a further three times, utes and if they can play like that for an scrum-half TJ Perenara, lock Patrick DEVELOPMENT Rugby Championship round 5 three times, South Africa and Argentina entire match, it will be very diffi cult for Tuipulotu and fl anker Liam Squire for win that will move them closer twice each and Namibia, Georgia, Tonga us to beat them,” he told a Buenos Aires Malakai Fekitoa, Aaron Smith, Sam Nto a world-record 18 consecutive Test and France once each. media conference. Whitelock and the injured Jerome Kaino. victories. Many of the All Blacks’ victories “They rank among the top rugby teams Argentina, beaten 36-20 in Australia in Japan approves Should they succeed at the Estadio have been by wide margins with a 62-13 — we saw that at the World Cup last year round 4, will look to a hoped-for 50,000 Jose Amalfi tani, the All Blacks will then thrashing of the French in a 2015 World when they reached the semi-fi nals. crowd to inspire captain Agustin Creevy need to beat South Africa away on Octo- Cup quarter-fi nal the most one-sided. “Argentina have always been big and and a team boasting star half-backs new $1.5bn stadium ber 8 and Australia at home on October Argentina proved stubborn group op- strong, now they are skilful as well and Nicolas Sanchez and Martin Landajo. 22 to rewrite the record books. ponents to New Zealand during the same play a nice brand of rugby,” said the “New Zealand are the best team in the New Zealand twice and South Africa tournament in England, leading for much 25-year-old successor to legend Dan world and we have prepared to the best AFP second Olympics, promised to once have won 17 internationals in a row of a game they eventually lost 26-16 in Carter, who retired last year. of our ability,” said Daniel Hourcade, the Tokyo keep a close eye on progress with with Australia playing party-poopers London. With the Rugby Championship title coach credited with making the Pumas a the city’s preparations already through a win and a draw each time the When the teams met this month in secure two rounds from the fi nish after stronger all-round team. dogged by controversy. All Blacks sought to win 18 Tests on the Hamilton, the Pumas matched the All four bonus-point victories, New Zealand “Good though the All Blacks are, play- he Japanese government “Given we are sharing the (fi - trot. Blacks for 50 minutes before collapsing coach Steve Hansen has rested some reg- ing them does not intimidate us — it mo- yesterday approved nancial) burden, I will raise my The rugby giants in the black strip, and fi nishing 57-22 losers. ular starters. tivates us.” plans for the building of voice when necessary to ensure the main stadium for the the stadium is utilised by the cit- TokyoT 2020 Olympics at a cost of izens of Tokyo,” she told report- BOTTOMLINE almost $1.5bn. ers after a meeting at the prime Construction of Tokyo’s new minister’s offi ce. national stadium is scheduled to Japanese Olympic offi cials begin in December, more than a have come under fi re after a se- year after the original blueprints ries of embarrassing gaff es since were torn up on the orders of beating out Madrid and Istanbul Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid in the bidding race three years Coach Jones holds out slim public anger over skyrocketing ago. costs, according to offi cials. Prime Minster Abe tore up The showcase Olympic sta- initial plans for the Olympic sta- dium is set to be completed by dium, designed by the late Iraqi- the end of November 2019, said British architect Zaha Hadid, as hope for England exile Cipriani the Japan Sport Council — fi ve costs soared beyond $2bn. months behind schedule, the Tokyo organisers then had to AFP Rebels star has been And when he plays well enough delays already having forced the scrap the original Games logo Twickenham restricted to just 14 Tests since to be number one he’ll be in the 2019 Rugby World Cup to switch after accusations of plagiarism making his debut in 2008. squad.” As for Farrell, Jones said: venues for the fi nal match. from a theatre in Belgium. Jones has never picked Cipri- “He’s the sort of player that can The $1.47bn price tag for ar- Most alarmingly, French pros- ngland coach Eddie ani for England and has made it come back very quickly, he needs chitect Kengo Kuma’s design ecutors launched an investiga- Jones insisted it wasn’t clear he wants to stick with Mike only a small amount of game time. comes in just under the $1.55 cap tion into $2mn in payments they the “end of the road” for Ford and as his fi rst- “So we’re still confi dent he can for the contractors, led by con- suspect were made to help Tokyo Danny Cipriani after the choice fl y-half/inside centre come back for November.” struction giant Taisei Corp secure the Olympics. flE y-half was left out of a 37-man partnership. Loose forward , New Tokyo governor Yuriko Japanese Olympic offi cials training squad announced yes- Even though Farrell is now out impressive against Australia, will Koike, who has been eager to have strenuously denied any terday. with a back injury, Jones decided miss all the upcoming four Tests further slash costs for Tokyo’s wrongdoing. Jones has overseen a run of to select the uncapped Alex Loz- with a toe injury. nine straight wins, a sequence owski — Farrell’s Saracens stand- Teimana Harrison is the only that includes a Six Nations Grand in and the son of former Eng- openside still fi t from the Aus- Birmingham to bid for Commonwealth Games Slam and a 3-0 series win in his land international Rob — in an tralia tour. Sale No 8 Josh Beau- native Australia, since taking expanded 45-man squad rather mont, the son of 1980 England Birmingham: Birmingham is leader John Clancy told British charge of England following their than recall Cipriani. Grand Slam captain Bill Beau- entering the race to stage the media. fi rst-round exit at last year’s “Danny knows what he’s got mont, now the chairman of 2026 Commonwealth Games “In addition to the huge eco- World Cup on home soil. to do,” said Jones. “Look he’s a World Rugby, and fellow back- with the British city’s council nomic impact, these events That perfect record will be at talented player but I said it quite row forwards Nathan Hughes leader saying the event would showcase the very best of our stake when England face South clearly to him: at the moment and Mike Williams were among provide an enormous boost to city and wider region to the Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Aus- he’s not one or two in England in seven uncapped players in the the region’s economy. world.” tralia on successive weekends terms of stand-off s.” 37 for this weekend’s training The West Midlands city, which Liverpool was also planning a at Twickenham, starting with The former Australia and Ja- camp in the south coast town of hosted two games for last rival bid for the same event, ac- the Springboks on November 12. England rugby coach Eddie Jones speaks during a press pan coach added: “We see George Brighton. Jones said he wanted year’s Rugby World Cup, staged cording to British media reports. “We’ve left some good players conference at yesterday. and Owen together as one and to stay on the a Diamond League meeting The Commonwealth Games out, , Kieran Brookes, two. They are 23 and 24 years old, blindside fl ank after a frustrat- earlier this year and will also are held every four years and Dave Attwood, , Joe “We’ve got a number of players So you need great depth in your they are the heart of the England ing World Cup where the former provide the venue for the world feature athletes from more than Simpson, Danny Cipriani, Luther injured at the moment, probably squad to do that,” he added. The side. “So for Cipriani to get into England captain struggled on the indoor athletics championships 50 countries, mostly former Burrell,” Jones told reporters at seven of our top 23 are not play- 28-year-old Cipriani, now back the squad he’s got to be able to openside. “We’re pretty happy in 2018. British colonies. Twickenham on Friday. ing rugby at the moment. at Wasps, is one of the most tal- show he can be number one. with Chris at six. “We have proven ourselves Australia’s Gold Coast will “It’s not the end of the road for “It’s a great opportunity for ented playmakers of his genera- “I don’t see him as a player “Then at seven we’re looking to be warm, welcoming and host the 2018 Commonwealth those guys, they’ve got an un- us, particularly against high- tion. who comes in the squad as a for a destructive defensive player, friendly hosts to a number of Games before the South African derstanding of what they need quality opposition. “To win the Yet a combination of injuries number three or four player. not your traditional seven player, international events in recent city of Durban stages the event to do to push themselves into the World Cup in 2019 we’ll have to and disputes with several Eng- “To me he’s not that sort of because at the moment we don’t years,” Birmingham council four years later. squad. win seven games in seven weeks. land coaches mean the former player, he likes to be the main man. have that in England.” Gulf Times Saturday, October 1, 2016 7 CRICKET

PAK VS WI, 1ST ODI SA VS AUS, 1ST ODI De Kock hits 178 as Azam, Nawaz star South Africa cruise as Pakistan thrash past Australia Azam’s maiden century, Nawaz’s four help West Indies Pakistan win by 111 runs

AFP Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

abar Azam hit his maiden century while spinner Mo- hamed Nawaz grabbed four wickets as Pakistan thrashed theB West Indies by 111 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the fi rst day-night international yesterday. Azam’s rapid-fi re 139-ball 120 helped Pakistan post a challenging 284-9 in a match reduced to 49 overs South Africa’s Quinton de Kock in action against Australia during their first ODI in a side due to a 70-minute fl oodlight Centurion, South Africa, yesterday. (Reuters) failure at Sharjah Stadium in the UAE. West Indies — set 287 to win — nev- AFP in Australia’s innings of 294 for nine. er got close and folded at 175 in 38.4 Centurion, South Africa Playing in his second match after an overs. unremarkable debut against Ireland The victory gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead last Sunday, Phehlukwayo was hit for in the three-match series, building on uinton de Kock hit a dazzling 16 runs in his fi rst over by their 3-0 whitewash in the century to lead South Africa but came back strongly. series. to a six- win in the He had Finch caught at backward Like in the Twenty20 matches, the fi rst one-day international square leg and Smith leg before wicket West Indian batsmen had little clue againstQ Australia at SuperSport Park in his second over. He followed up with against Pakistan’s spin , with yesterday. the wicket of Mitchell Marsh, caught only Marlon Samuels (46) and John- The left-handed De Kock thrashed by a diving wicketkeeper De Kock. son Charles (20) off ering any resist- 178 off 113 balls, with 16 fours and 11 George Bailey and John Hastings dug ance. sixes, as South Africa made a challeng- Australia out of a trouble with a 79-run Nawaz ran through the batting with ing target of 295 look easy. stand after they had been in danger of fi gures of 4-42 in his ten overs, eas- The hosts won with 13.4 overs to not batting out their overs when they ily his best bowling fi gures in his sixth spare. slipped to 192 for six in the 29th over. one-day international. “He was magnifi cent,” Australian Bailey (74) and Hastings (51) steadied Nawaz had Darren Bravo (12), De- captain Steve Smith said of De Kock. the innings, with Hastings going to a nesh Ramdin (eight), Kieron Pollard “It was a 370-380 wicket if you look maiden international half-century be- (nine) and Carlos Brathwaite (15) out back at it now. Someone (for Australia) fore he became Phehlukwayo’s fourth in an incisive spell of spin bowling to had to get a big hundred like Quinton victim when he was caught on the rock the West Indies. did.” long-off boundary. Samuels hit two sixes and a four in De Kock and stand-in fellow opener With David Warner setting the tone his 59-ball fi ght but was fi nally bowled Rilee Rossouw put an inexperienced with 40 off 36 balls, Australia scored by fast bowler Wahab Riaz in the 34th Australian pace bowling attack to the rapidly after being sent in but kept los- over. Pakistan’s Babar Azam (left) and Shoaib Malik run between the wickets during the first ODI against West Indies at the Shar- sword in an opening partnership of 145 ing wickets before Bailey and Hastings Sunil Narine (23) and Sulieman jah Cricket Stadium yesterday. (AFP) off 104 balls before Rossouw missed came together. Benn (16 ) added 31 for the a reverse sweep against the fi rst ball ninth wicket but it was too little, too ball of the match, caught behind off SCORECARD WEST INDIES bowled by leg-spinner SCORECARD late and medium pacer Hasan Ali end- paceman Shannon Gabriel. PAKISTAN J. Charles c Ahmed b Amir 20 and was leg before wicket for 63, made AUSTRALIA ed the innings with fi gures of 3-14. Sharjeel hit six boundaries and A. Ali c Ramdin b Gabriel 0 K. Brathwaite c Ahmed b Hasan 14 off 45 balls. D. Warner c Phehlukwayo b Parnell 40 The victory lifted Pakistan to sec- three sixes in an aggressive 43-ball S. Khan c Narine b Benn 54 D. Bravo b Nawaz 12 Rossouw, playing his fi rst match A. Finch c Parnell b Phehlukwayo 33 ond in overall one-day international knock before miscuing a drive off B. Azam c Pollard b Brathwaite 120 M. Samuels b Riaz 46 since being injured against the same S. Smith lbw b Phehlukwayo 8 wins with 455 in 864 matches, behind spinner Benn and was caught at short S. Malik c Benn b Narine 6 D. Ramdin c Ali b Nawaz 8 opponents in Guyana in June, was add- G. Bailey c Miller b Steyn 74 Australia. third man. S. Ahmed c Ramdin b Holder 35 K. Pollard c Sharjeel b Nawaz 9 ed to South Africa’s squad when regu- M. Marsh c De Kock b Phehlukwayo 31 Earlier, Azam added 82 for the sec- Shoaib Malik fell to spinner Narine M. Rizwan run out 11 J. Holder b Wasim 1 lar captain AB de Villiers was forced to T. Head st De Kock b Imran Tahir 18 ond wicket with Sharjeel Khan (54) for six and from 93-2 both Azam and I. Wasim b Brathwaite 24 C. Brathwaite b Nawaz 15 have surgery for an elbow injury. M. Wade run out (Miller) 5 and 99 for the fourth wicket with Sar- Ahmed batted sensibly, rotating the M. Nawaz c Holder b Brathwaite 19 S. Narine c Wasim b Hasan 23 He then found himself in the start- J. Hastings c Behardien b Phehlukwayo 51 fraz Ahmed (35) after Pakistan were strike and hitting boundaries off bad W. Riaz run out 0 S. Benn not out 16 ing team yesterday when Hashim Amla A. Zampa c Miller b Steyn 12 sent into bat on a fl at pitch. balls. M. Amir not out 3 S. Gabriel b Hasan 2 was ruled out by illness. D. Worrall not out 6 Pakistan were 260-6 after 44.3 Azam, whose previous best of 83 H. Ali not out 2 Extras (lb6, nb1, w2) 9 De Kock was in imperious form vir- S. Boland not out 3 overs when a fl oodlight failure stopped came against New Zealand at Auck- Extras (b1, lb3, nb1, w5) 10 Total (all out; 38.4 overs) 175 tually from the start of his innings, hit- Extras (lb5, w8) 13 play for over an hour. land earlier this year, reached his hun- Total (for nine wkts; 49 overs) 284 Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Charles), 2-41 (K. ting a six off John Hastings in the sec- Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 294 Azam hit eight boundaries and three dred with a single off Narine. Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Ali), 2-82 Brathwaite), 3-54 (Bravo), 4-89 (Ram- ond over. He reached 50 off 38 balls and Fall of wickets: 1-64 (Warner), 2-88 sixes in a commanding knock before Imad Wasim (24) and Nawaz (19) (Sharjeel), 3-93 (Malik), 4-192 (Ahmed), din), 5-99 (Pollard), 6-103 (Holder), reached his 11th one-day international (Finch), 3-90 (Smith), 4-131 (Marsh), he was smartly caught one-handed by gave the fi nal touches as Pakistan add- 5-211 (Rizwan), 6-239 (Azam), 7-125 (C. Brathwaite), 8-135 (Samuels), century off 74 balls when he pulled 5-172 (Head), 6-192 (Wade), 7-271 (Hast- Pollard at long-on boundary, lobbing ed 24 more runs after the delay. 7-269 (Wasim), 8-269 (Riaz), 9-281 9-166 (Narine) Daniel Worrall for his fourth six. ings), 8-278 (Bailey), 9-286 (Zampa) the ball inside as he was going over the Paceman Brathwaite was the pick of (Nawaz) Bowling: Wasim 8-0-36-1, Amir It took him only 27 more balls to Bowling: Steyn 10-0-65-2, Rabada ropes to complete a stunning catch. the West Indies bowlers with 3-54. Bowling: Gabriel 8-0-53-1 (1nb, 2w), 5-1-21-1, Hasan 5.4-0-14-3, Riaz 6-0-27-1 reach 150 with his eighth six, hit off 10-0-63-0 (4w), Parnell 8-0-56-1 (1w), Azam’s two strong partnerships laid The second match will also be played Holder 7-0-35-1, Brathwaite 10-0-54-3, (1w), Malik 4-0-29-0 (2w), Nawaz 10- Zampa, which he celebrated by hitting Phehlukwayo 10-1-44-4 (3w), Imran the foundation of the total after Paki- in Sharjah tomorrow, while the third will Benn 10-0-46-1, Narine 10-0-58-1 (1w), 0-42-4 the next two balls for six as well. Tahir 10-0-46-1, Behardien 2-0-15-0 stan lost skipper Azhar Ali off the fi rst be in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Pollard 4-0-34-0 (2w) “During the evening the ball comes on nicely,” said De Kock. “Me and Rilee SOUTH AFRICA didn’t have to do anything extravagant.” Q. de Kock c Head b Boland 178 IND VS NZ, DAY 1, 2ND TEST It was an opinion which the Austral- R. Rossouw lbw b Zampa 63 ians and everyone else at Centurion F. du Plessis b Boland 26 might not agree with. J. Duminy c Warner b Boland 9 “At night it’s diffi cult to defend,” said D. Miller not out 10 South African captain Faf du Plessis. F. Behardien not out 5 Kiwi bowlers put India on backfoot “But that doesn’t take anything away Extras (w4) 4 from Quinton.” Total (4 wkts, 36.2 overs) 295 AFP claim the big wicket of Indian skip- India, who denied the visitors a De Kock broke a favourite bat during Fall of wickets: 1-145 (Rossouw), 2-268 Kolkata per Virat Kohli (nine), who was guilty wicket in the post-lunch play, lost his innings but shrugged it off . “Wood (Du Plessis), 3-280 (Duminy), 4-280 (De of chasing a wide , as Tom four of their batsmen in the fi nal ses- is wood,” he said. Kock) Latham took a splendid catch at gully. sion that was dominated by the bowl- In a match in which the pace bowlers Bowling: Worrall 7.2-0-50-0 (1w), Hast- ew Zealand bowlers put In- The in-form Pujara, who played a ers. of both teams took heavy punishment, ings 7-0-52-0 (2w), Boland 7-0-67-3, dia on the backfoot despite key role in India’s win in Kanpur, then “It’s not a typical Kolkata wicket, 20-year-old medium-pacer Andile Marsh 8-0-66-0 (1w), Head 2-0-16-0, fi ghting half-centuries from struck his third consecutive half-cen- there is something in the wicket here Phehlukwayo had fi gures of four for 44 Zampa 5-0-44-1 Cheteshwar Pujara and tury of the series. and it’s two-paced. We did not expect NAjinkya Rahane, to leave the hosts on Coming in at number three, Pujara this kind of a wicket. But really happy 239 for seven yesterday in the second built his innings patiently and hit 17 with the way I and Pujara batted,” said Test. boundaries during 219-ball stay at the Rahane. England cricketers arrive in New Zealand’s recalled pace bowler crease. “I and Pujara will take the blame af- Bangladesh amid tight security Matt Henry and off -spinner Jeetan Pace bowler Neil Wagner plotted ter getting 77 and 87 (respectively)... Patel shared fi ve wickets between Pujara’s wicket with a consistent line If either one of us would have made a AFP heavy protection. them on the fi rst day of a must-win outside the off stump, which fi nally hundred then our position would have Dhaka Bangladesh authorities had earlier match for the visitors in Kolkata. got the batsman to drive uppishly and been diff erent,” he added. promised England’s cricketers “un- Wriddhiman Saha was on 14 and be caught at short cover. At the start of the match, World precedented security” in a desperate Ravindra Jadeja was yet to score when “Obviously coming over here you Cup winning captain Kapil Dev rang a ngland’s one-day interna- attempt to prevent the country from bad light stopped play at Kolkata’s probably don’t expect conditions like bell newly installed at the iconic Eden tional cricket side arrived in becoming a no-go zone for interna- Eden Gardens. that at the start of the day so we knew Gardens, following a similar tradition Ethe Bangladeshi capital Dhaka tional sport. Pujara (87) and Rahane (77) put to- we had to make the most of that, espe- at Lord’s. yesterday amid huge security for a England’s tour, which also comprises gether 141 runs for the fourth wicket cially being put in with the ball,” said three-match series, off icials said. two Tests, was thrown into doubt after India, who elected to bat fi rst in Henry. SCORECARD The visiting side landed at Dhaka’s after an attack on a cafe in Dhaka in their 250th home Test, were in trouble INDIA 1st innings Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport July that killed 18 foreigners, many of early at 46 for three. TWO-PACED WICKET S. Dhawan b Henry 1 shortly before 9.00pm (1500 GMT) whom were mostly hacked to death, New Zealand need to win the Test to Rahane, who hit his ninth Test fi fty, M. Vijay c Watling b Henry 9 and was immediately surrounded by by suspected Islamist militants. keep their series hopes alive after India tackled the New Zealand bowlers with C. Pujara c Guptill b Wagner 87 a big security presence, police said. Some members of the England Test secured a comprehensive 197-run vic- aplomb, until he was done in by Patel’s V. Kohli c Latham b Boult 9 “Huge number of security personnel team will arrive in the coming days. tory in Kanpur in the fi rst of the three India’s Ajinkya Rahane (left) and wily off spin in the final session. A. Rahane lbw b Patel 77 were deployed here at the airport After their own security expert car- matches. Cheteshwar Pujara scored half cen- “I think we lost two extra wickets R. Sharma c Latham b Patel 2 for the visiting England side,” said ried out an assessment in Bangla- Henry claimed the scalps of openers turies on Day One of the second Test (in the day). Five wickets (at the end R. Ashwin lbw b Henry 26 airport police chief Nur-e-Azam. desh, the England Cricket Board Shikhar Dhawan, who disappointed against New Zealand at Eden Gardens of day’s play) would have been ideal on W. Saha not out 14 “In addition to regular security decided to go ahead with a month- on his return, scoring just one run, and in Kolkata, India, yesterday. (AFP) this kind of wicket. R. Jadeja not out 0 forces, members of other forces long tour that begins with a one-day Murali Vijay. “But if get 75 to hundred runs to- Extras (b 8, lb 6) 14 including the elite Rapid Action warm-up match on October 4. Henry’s eff ort of 3-35 put behind day with the heat and things like that. morrow, 325-330 is a good fi rst innings Total (7 wickets; 86 overs) 239 Battalion and police were deployed While Alistair Cook will continue the disappointment of losing skipper “We just have to keep playing the total,” said Rahane. Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Dhawan), 2-28 in providing security to the visiting to captain the Test team, one-day Kane Williamson to viral fever on the long game and apply it as best we can. Ravichandran Ashwin, whose 26- (Vijay), 3-46 (Kohli), 4-187 (Pujara), side,” he said. international (ODI) side skipper Eoin morning of the match as Ross Taylor I’m not a batter but we are in a good run cameo was laced with 4 bounda- 5-193 (Sharma), 6-200 (Rahane), 7-231 Hossain Imam, chief security con- Morgan has decided not to travel donned the captain’s hat. position and it is going to be an im- ries, also tried to counter attack with (Ashwin) sultant of the Bangladesh Cricket on security grounds, handing over “We have a great batting line-up portant day tomorrow,” Henry told some aggressive strokeplay, but be- Bowling: Boult 16-8-33-1, Henry 15-6- Board, confirmed that the visiting the responsibility to wicketkeeper- and obviously it is a shame not to have reporters yesterday. came Henry’s third victim of the day, 35-3, Wagner 15-5-37-1, Santner 19-5-54- side was escorted to a hotel under batsman Jos Buttler. Kane there...It is going to be a tough Trent Boult piled on the pressure to trapped lbw. 0, Patel 21-3-66-2

Saturday, October 1, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS FINA/AIRWEAVE SWIMMING WORLD CUP Le Clos, Hosszu set Memorable day for kids for return to Doha 2016 World Cup with Xavi on Generation By Sports Reporter Doha

‘You can feel what it means for he swimming world will return to Doha once these kids to be involved’ more as Qatar’s capital Amazing pitch of sport hosts the FINA/ airweaveT Swimming World Cup for the fi fth consecutive time from October 8-9 in the Hamad Aquatic Centre. The FINA/airweave Swim- ming World Cup will see some of the greatest athletes ever take to the waters of Hamad Aquatic Centre, many of whom will be energised by their new-found glory in the pools of Rio during the 2016 Olympic Games. Spec- tators can expect lightning fast times, more world records, and incredible action over two days. Fans will be delighted to know that two favourites of the Doha Hungary’s three-time Olympic leg of the Swimming World Cup, champion Katinka Hosszu Katinka Hosszu and Chad Le Clos, will return this year as well. Hungarian swimming super- Le Clos, 24, dubbed the “gold- star Katinka Hosszu – arguably en boy” will head to Doha af- one of the most talented swim- ter winning two Olympic silver mers in history – will also head medals in Rio 2016 in the 200m to Doha once again. Dubbed the freestyle and 100m butterfl y. “Iron Lady” thanks to her un- secretary general Nasser al-Khater and and they have put this fantastic facility The South African swimming stoppable stamina and appetite Advisory Unit and Special Projects chief here for the community. You can really star has a fantastic track record for competition, the 27-year-old Khalid al-Kubaisi. feel what it means for these kids to be in- from the 2014 and 2015 editions displayed amazing performances Xavi received an incredible reception volved.” of the FINA/airweave Swimming in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from the local community unable to con- Al-Thawadi also participated in the World Cup in Doha. The talented where she devastated the com- tain their excitement at the visit of one of session and highlighted the importance swimmer took home three gold petition and snagged three gold the world’s most successful and recog- of the programme in order to leave a medals in 2014 in the 50m and medals in the 400m, and 200m nisable footballers. From the moment he lasting regional legacy for the 2022 FIFA 100m butterfl y and the 100m individual medley and the 100m arrived at Al Baqa’a camp, the local popu- World Cup Qatar. freestyle events and managed to backstroke and a silver medal in lation battled for selfi es and the chance to “We saw today once more how impor- carry over his success to the 2015 the 200m backstroke. get close to their hero. tant this programme has become in in- edition of the Swimming World The Iron Lady set a new world The sight of Xavi high-fi ving the play- spiring new generations across our region Cup where he snagged the same record in the 400m individual ers and joining in the Generation Amaz- and changing their lives through football. number of gold medals. medley after demolishing the pre- ing football drills was an iconic moment To play a game of football with Xavi, and The Olympian Le Clos is also vious record set by China’s Ye Shi- for a programme designed specifi cally to meet a world football legend in person, the Commonwealth Games wen at the 2012 London Games, change the lives of youngsters through will help these youngsters understand Champion where he collected two almost by an entire 2 seconds. the power of football. what they too can achieve. I hope the kids gold medals, one silver and two Hosszu added this new World He added: “Generation Amazing is a here today take inspiration from the pas- bronze medals. Le Clos has built Record to her ever-growing list of fantastic initiative to help improve the sion and commitment Xavi has for this upon a great repertoire of experi- accomplishments including world lives of those who most need it, through programme and for them.” ence which includes two Olym- records in the 100m, 200m and the power of football. I am here to help The training session at Inspiration Hall pic medals in London 2012; a gold 400m Individual medal events you with anything you need, because I was the fi rst of a number of activities medal in the 200m butterfl y and a and 100m and 200m backstroke. think it is very important in life to help if which Xavi will be conducting with Gen- silver in the 100m butterfl y. The Hungarian has had a stellar you have the opportunity to do so.” eration Amazing ambassadors and other Commenting on his return history with competing in Doha, Al Sadd player and Generation Amazing ambassador Xavi takes part in a training One of the highlights of the session was kids in Jordan on a two-day visit. to Doha for the FINA/airweave one which she surely hopes to rep- session during his visit to the Al Baqa’a camp near Amman, Jordan, on Thursday. (AFP) a special question and answer session “The fantastic reactions we have seen Swimming World Cup 2016, Le licate this year. Hadeel al-Thamane – one of the 2014 so far on the ground here in Jordan show Clos said: “As athletes we travel Speaking ahead of her par- hen Xavi Hernandez walked programme. Generation Ambassadors – conducted how important Xavi will be for the pro- the globe to compete in many ticipation in Doha, Hosszu said: out onto the Generation “The warmth and energy from eve- with the Spanish superstar. gramme going forward,” al-Thawadi con- meets and championships but “I am very excited to continue Amazing pitch at Al Baqa’a ryone was amazing,” Xavi told SC.qa on When asked about who the best player cluded. “He has won everything there is the Doha FINA/airweave Swim- the FINA/airweave Swimming refugee camp in Jordan, he his fi rst impressions from Inspiration he had ever played with was, Xavi re- to win in football, and yet remains com- ming World Cup is very special World Cup series in Doha – Wmade an instant impact on the lives of the Hall. “This visit was about the boys and ceived a round of applause by responsing: pletely humble and has never forgotten to me and I always make sure competing there is always a great kids who passed the ball to him in foot- girls and the people of this camp. It was “For me, it is Messi. He is the best.” what football in its purest form repre- that I prepare for it accordingly. experience. When you com- ball drills and a mini-football game. The a pleasure to be here and do what I can to Looking back on his hour-long session sents. It’s about bringing people together Doha has always been very warm pete against the best swimmers former FC Barcelona and Spain captain help.” with the kids, the legendary midfi elder and trying to make a diff erence for the and welcoming to us – the wa- from around the world you end greeted the youngsters one by one with Less than 24 hours after he was an- said: “It was an honour for me to share better in their lives. I hope the people ter in Hamad Aquatic Centre is up pushing yourself the hardest a handshake and smile, and had words of nounced as an offi cial Generation Amaz- a pitch with the kids, to hear about their from Al Baqa’a always remember today’s incredible to compete in so I’m you possibly can and that’s what encouragement and advice for each one ing ambassador, the Al Sadd midfi elder lives, to share some of my experiences experience, and take inspiration from the really looking forward to head- I hope to do in Doha – to push of them as he directed a training session and FIFA World Cup winner travelled to and to play football with them. This pro- passion and commitment both Xavi and ing out there and winning more myself harder and achieve even at the pitch constructed by the Supreme Amman, accompanied by SC secretary gramme is more than just one day, just Generation Amazing have for them.” medals and maybe even setting more – it’s a great environment Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) general Hassan al-Thawadi, SC assistant one football session, because it continues (SC.qa) new records.” for that.”

UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2016 Team Time Trialling most beautiful race in road cycling: Pinotti

By Sports Reporter Doha How are the competitors of the UCI RWC Doha 2016 selected? he historic UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 TEAM TIME TRIALS pions and current Continental Champions will kick off on October 9, The Team Time Trial events are the only are entitled to participate in their events if with the women’s and men’s ones where trade teams compete. they come from a nation that has failed to TTeam Time Trial events. Far from be- In order to be invited to the female event, a qualify for said event. ing a mere appetizer, they are regard- women’s squad has to be placed amongst ed as the climaxes of an exciting week the top 30 of the UCI Women’s Team Rank- SELECTION CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUAL of competition, as the Team Time ing or apply for one of the five wild cards TIME TRIALS Trial is considered one of the most that the UCI Road Commission is entitled In the case of Individual Time Trials, every beautiful disciplines of road cycling. to award. Meanwhile, the men’s teams have country is automatically allocated two After being a regular feature in to either be part of the UCI World Tour, places in every category. . the UCI Road World Championships road cycling’s top level, or to place high on between 1962 and 1994, the Team their UCI Continental circuit. In addition, SELECTION CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUAL Time Trials were reintroduced to the UCI Road Commission can accept up to ROAD RACES the programme in 2012. They are the 10 requests from UCI teams that have not WOMEN: For the Women Junior Road only trade team races of the sched- qualified by any other criterion. Race, the first five countries of the UCI ule, as the remainder of events are Women Junior Nation’s Cup can enter up contended by national teams. INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIALS AND ROAD to five riders each. The rest of the coun- Three teams have been victorious RACES tries can start with four. The Elite Road in this event in its recent history. In The remaining events in the UCI Road Race selection depends fully on the UCI the women’s version, the current several straight sections of road hadn’t won that Vuelta TTT. He spent “We basically lost three riders in World Championships are contended by Women Elite classification by nations. The Canyon-SRAM team has won four where raw power was important, 10 minutes speaking to every member 400 meters, losing their power and national teams. There are two types of first five countries can enter seven riders; straight titles with its diff erent in- seemed ideal for the American team. of the team, even the team mechanics. many seconds that cost us the TTT,” races - Individual Time Trial and Road Race the following 10 countries, 6; and the next carnations. In the men’s version, However, the team lost by seven sec- The attention to detail revealed Pinotti diagnosed. - and five categories depending on the sex five, five. The rest of the countries can get Belgium’s Omega Pharma-Quick onds to Team Sky, placing 4th in the that one brief spell under a bridge Even with this disappointment and the age of the competitors: Men and up to three riders to start. Step netted the fi rst two titles, and fi nal standings. made the crucial diff erence. fresh in his mind, Pinotti wasn’t shy Women Juniors (17 and 18 years old), Men MEN: The Men Junior Road Race criteria USA’s BMC Racing Team got the fol- The team’s coach, Marco Pinotti, While the team had accomplished of stating his love for this discipline. Under 23 (19 to 22 years old, except those are also based on the UCI Nation’s Cup: lowing two, thus being the reigning one of the best time triallists of the most of the necessary factors for a “It’s the most beautiful race in road who have previously participated or are depending on their place in its final champion ahead of Doha 2016. world in the last decade, was clearly successful TTT, such as remaining cycling because it highlights the rel- intending to participate this same year in standings, every country is entitled to Besides the rainbow logo they disappointed by the result. as a compact squad, getting as much evance of the team. Cycling is a team the Men Elite events), Women Elite (aged enter between three and six riders. As for proudly wear on the chest of their He had assigned a specifi c task: draft as possible and saving energy, sport, yet usually is one guy who gets 19 and above) and Men Elite (aged 19 and the Men Under 23 Road Race, a country outfi t, members of the BMC Racing use the team’s strong roster of rou- and powerful and well times pulling. the victory and stands on the podium. above, except those participating in the can qualify riders by a number of means, Team regularly prove why they are leurs to earn the World Champion- Even the lighter rider hadn’t pulled Meanwhile, the TTT recognises the Under 23 events). namely the UCI Continental circuits’ U23 kings of Team Time Trialling. This ships TTT the following year. until the end, “not because he is not collective nature of victory.” Places are allocated by country, and are country rankings, the UCI Continental cir- season, they’ve triumphed at prestig- They succeeded immediately: in strong enough to keep the necessary Pinotti and his team will defend based on the performance of the coun- cuits Elite individual rankings and the UCI ious events such as Tirreno-Adriático Ponferrada in 2014, the squad de- speed,” Pinotti pointed out, “but be- their World Championships TTT try’s racers during the full road cycling U23 Nations’ Cup; they can nominate up to and Eneco Tour, two stage races that feated Australia’s Orica-GreenEdge cause he is so small he doesn’t shel- crown in Doha on Sunday, October campaign in every category before the a maximum of six riders. form part of the UCI World Tour, road and outgoing champions Omega ter the guy behind him and therefore 9, against a fi eld that includes an- cut-off date of August 22. Each National Finally, the Elite Road Race has similar cycling’s top-notch circuit. Pharma-Quick Step, duly becoming makes the whole team weaker.” other eight UCI World Teams. The Federation then selected which riders will provisions to the Men Under 23 Road Race. And, when they don’t succeed, world champions of the discipline. Yet there was one box the team course, between Lusail and The represent their country, and the entry must Countries can qualify riders through the they diligently analyse why. They confi rmed their excellence by hadn’t ticked; maintaining its com- Pearl-Qatar, is ideal for the most be submitted to the UCI by October 2 the UCI World Ranking, both individual or by This was the case at the fi rst winning an outstanding four races pactness under the bridge. Some powerful cyclists of the world to latest. nations, and through the UCI Continental stage of the Vuelta a España, the fi - the next season. riders didn’t hold their teammates’ shine. Yet the diff erence won’t be There is only one exception: outgoing UCI Circuits, both individual or by nations as nal Grand Tour of the season. The That’s why Pinotti was devoted wheels, creating a gap others weren’t made by strength, but by technical World Champions, current Olympic Cham- well, up to a maximum of nine riders. 28-kilometre TTT, tricky but with to fi nd an explanation to why they able to close. excellence and team spirit.