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Thomas adds 5th Bolt predicts his world title to an records could stand already13 big year for 15-20 years WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 14 Germany thrash Norway, while England survive Slovakia scare Page 15 TEHRAN: Syria’s Omar Alsoma, left, vies for the ball with Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji during their Round 3 - Group A World Cup qualifier at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, yesterday. — AP S Korea qualifies for World Cup, Syria goes to playoff TASHKENT: South Korea overcame a troubled included surprise losses to Qatar and China. keeper Alireza Salimi’s legs. Conflict at home put Socceroos for the second direct spot from Group nodded in a cross from Aaron Mooy. Pokklaw campaign to qualify for next year’s World Cup Despite the war raging at home, Syria had huge obstacles in Syria’s path. The team played B. The Saudis entered the last matchday in Asian Anan got a surprise equalizer for Thailand against yesterday, while war-torn Syria kept its dream come close to qualifying for its first World Cup, all its home games in Malaysia, 4,500 miles (7,240 qualifying tied with Australia with 16 points but the run of play in the 82nd, but Mathew Leckie alive. A goalless draw away to Uzbekistan was and would have done so had it held on to a 1-0 kilometers) away to the south-east. But it still with a superior goal difference. ensured Australia’s win in the 86th with a left-foot enough for South Korea on the final day of Asian lead away to Iran. Syria must now get through managed strong performances against some of The top two teams in each group go directly drive from close range after Sinthaweechai failed group games. Syria goes to a playoff following its two playoff rounds to reach the tournament in Asia’s best teams, earning draws with South to the World Cup, and the third-place teams go to punch the ball clear of the goalmouth. “A little 2-2 draw with Iran, which had already qualified. Russia. Tamer Mohamed’s 13th-minute header Korea and Iran in previous qualifiers. into a playoff for a shot at an intercontinental bit frustrating,” Juric said. “Leaves us in a position The South Koreans hit the woodwork twice in put the Syrians ahead, but Iran fought back to qualifier. The Australians went in with an attack- of waiting for another result to go our way. the first half, but endured some nervy moments show why it was unbeaten in competitive games AUTOMATIC ENTRY ing mindset but were unable to capitalize on “Obviously the win is what we need, but we in the second against Uzbekistan, which was in for over three years. Sardar Azmoun pulled Iran Earlier, a nervous Australia lineup wasted almost three-quarters of the possession in the needed more goals for the goal difference. That contention to make its first World Cup appear- level in first-half stoppage time, using his chest dozens of opportunities and needed a late win- first half, when they twice hit the post and forced was the frustrating thing tonight - it could have ance. When the final whistle blew, several South to knock in a rebound, and he struck again from ner to edge Thailand 2-1 yesterday and maintain two good saves from Thai goalkeeper been five, easily.” Australia was unbeaten in quali- Korean players sank to the ground in relief close range in the 64th when Syria failed to clear hope of gaining automatic entry to the World Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool. fying until it lost at Japan last week, a result that before starting some low-key celebrations. South a long throw-in. Cup. Australia moved into second place, mean- Tommy Rogic hit the post again in the 67th ensured Japan secured first place in Group B and Korea had risked missing the World Cup for the Syria made it 2-2 in stoppage time when ing Saudi Arabia has to win at home against minute, Australia’s 24th shot, two minutes before a spot in Russia next year. Thailand finished last in first time since 1982 after a campaign which Omar Al Soma put the ball between Iranian goal- already-qualified Japan to overhaul the Tomi Juric finally broke the deadlock when he the group with two points. — AP Keys advances to US Open quarter-finals Del Potro sets up US open NEW YORK: Yes, Madison Keys was excited to give 418th-ranked qualifier Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. compiled a 19-4 edge in winners in the opening showdown with Federer the United States four women in the US Open Svitolina’s loss means she is no longer in the set, then had problems at the start of each of the quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years. And, of running to move up to No. 1 in the rankings after remaining two sets. She fell behind 5-0 in the sec- NEW YORK: Juan Martin del Potro shrugged every game. I will always remember this.” course, it was significant that she got this far at the US Open. A race that once involved eight ond and 4-2 in the third before running away with off sickness to save two match points and Flushing Meadows, something she’d never done. women with a shot at the top spot is now down to the victory. “It’s definitely more than just a win,” defeat Dominic Thiem in a five-set US Open FEDERER’S ‘BUM’ NOTE Truly, though, the reason Keys was near tears at the two: Pliskova, who needs to get to the final to hold Keys said. “So often a match like that could have epic on Monday to book a quarter-final Federer has a 16-5 advantage over Del end of her 7-6 (2), 1-6, 6-4 victory over No. 4-seed- onto No. 1, and Wimbledon champion Garbine gone really quick for me, and I could have lost that showdown with five-time champion Roger Potro but they have split their last six meet- ed Elina Svitolina on Monday night, and went over Muguruza, who can rise despite losing to third set fairly easy, come off and been really disap- Federer. Argentina 24th seed Del Potro ings. The 36-year-old Swiss maestro didn’t to slap palms with coach Lindsay Davenport and Kvitova in the fourth round. Against Svitolina, Keys pointed.” — AP claimed a heroic 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 face a break point against Kohlschreiber others afterward, was how far away this sort of per- victory over the sixth-seeded Austrian on a with his biggest challenge having to take a formance seemed earlier this year. rocking Grandstand court, describing it as medical time-out off court at the end of the Keys missed the first two months of 2017 after night he would remember forever. second set. “I needed a rub on my back... or offseason surgery on her left wrist, then had a fol- Del Potro famously defeated Federer in bottom and I didn’t want to do it in front of low-up procedure in June because of lingering the 2009 final for his only career Grand Slam you guys,” he explained before he turned his pain in that arm. The way she powered her way to title before his career was almost torpedoed attentions to Del Potro. “It’s great to see him take the last four games against Svitolina was proof by a succession of wrist surgeries. back on tour. He’s had a rough ride with wrist that Keys is back to being at the top of her game. “I Federer, the third seed, eased into the problems. He’s a good guy.” World number mean, it means the world to me to make the quar- last-eight with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 win over Philipp one and 2010 and 2013 champion Nadal, terfinals. It was a really rough start to my year. This Kohlschreiber, taking his record over the who could meet Federer for the first time in is just amazing,” said the 22-year-old Keys, a semifi- German veteran to 12-0. Elsewhere, top seed New York in the semi-finals, crushed nalist at the 2015 Australian Open. “I’m really proud Rafael Nadal claimed his 50th win at the US Ukraine’s Alexander Dolgopolov 6-2, 6-4, 6-1. of myself for digging deep and figuring that out Open and will meet Russian teenager The 31-year-old Spaniard goes on to face tonight.” Andrey Rublev. Russian 19-year-old Rublev, who stunned The 15th-seeded Keys joined No. 9 Venus In the women’s event, world number one Belgian ninth seed David Goffin 7-5, 7-6 Williams, No. 20 CoCo Vandeweghe and unseeded Karolina Pliskova set-up a quarter-final date (7/5), 6-3 to become the youngest quarter- Sloane Stephens in the final eight at Flushing against America’s CoCo Vandeweghe. finalist since Andy Roddick in 2001. Meadows. “I think it shows how hard we’ve been Estonia’s world number 418 Kaia Kanepi also “I played a solid match with not many working,” Keys said. “We’re all cheering for each reached the quarter-finals, just the second mistakes,” said Nadal, the reigning French other.” Well, at least until they might have to play qualifier to make the last eight. Open champion. Rublev, ranked 53, has won one another. Each is in a separate quarter of the But the day belonged to Del Potro, who 13 of his last 17 matches after breaking the draw, so none will meet in the quarterfinals - celebrated his win, which came off a Thiem top 100 for the first time in June.