Sports Thursday, September 12, 2019 13

Valencia appoint Ronaldo’s 4-star show for Portugal; Celades to replace sacked Marcelino

Reuters England, France stroll to victory cluding a second for Lazio Marcelino has been The star player is Berisha, but the sacked as coach af- 5-3 victory put England three ter an indifferent start to the now 16 goals shy Captain Ronaldo, making points clear in Group A, season, with former Spain ahead of the second-placed Under-21 boss of Iran’s Ali Daei’s his 160th international Czech Republic, who beat replacing him, the Spanish La int’l goals appearance, scored four to Montenegro 3-0. Liga club said on Wednesday. take his international goals “A bizarre game,” said It is a first senior role in Southgate. “The outstanding club management for Ce- AFP to 93 as Portugal won 5-1 parts of our play were obvi- lades, who previously also Paris in Vilnius and strengthened ous. The errors were obvious.” worked as ’s In Paris, the world cham- assistant during his ill-fated England and Portugal both their position in Group B pions made light work of reign at Real Madrid last year. scored five goals while France after a sluggish start. beating 136-ranked Andorra The 43-year-old, who as scored three as they overcame 3-0. It was Les Bleus’ 100th a player represented both lowly-ranked Kosovo, An- match at the Stade de France. and Real as well as dorra and Lithuania in Euro Antoine Griezmann earning four caps for Spain, 2020 qualifying on Tuesday. missed a penalty for his coun- has signed a deal until 30 Captain Ronaldo, making try for the second game run- June, 2021 and will take his 160th international ap- ning but Kinglsey Coman, charge of his first training ses- pearance, scored four to take Clement Lenglet, with his first sion on Wednesday evening. his international goals to 93 on the international , and Marcelino, who won the as Portugal won 5-1 in Vilnius Wissam Ben Yedder clinched Copa del Rey and secured and strengthened their posi- three points. Champions League football tion in Group B after a slug- “It is really annoying. I’ll last season, leaves after two gish start. just need to keep working. campaigns at the helm. For Ronaldo it was a sec- You can’t be on top of your “Valencia told Marcelino ond hat-trick in three inter- game all the time,” Griez- Garcia Toral on Wednesday nationals. The victory over mann said. that he is no longer first team Lithuania, 130th in the world Coman also scored two coach,” a club statement said. rankings, brought Portugal against Albania on Saturday. “The club would like to five points behind Ukraine at “It has been a very good thank him for his work and the top of Group B. week. It has gone well person- dedication during his time at Portugal, who opened ally and collectively,” Coman our entity and wish him suc- the group with home draws Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their fourth goal against Lithuania during the Group B Euro 2020 Qualifier at the LFF Stadium told television station TF1. cess for the future.” against Ukraine and Serbia, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday. () Cenk Tosun scored twice The departure had been started their recovery with as the Turks beat Moldova mooted in what turned out to a victory in Belgrade on Sat- this triumph would make no ried into the air by the diving fore William Carvalho added trailed early on to Kosovo, with ease in a 4-0 victory in be a tumultuous pre-season urday. They have a game in sense, and we are closer.” Ernestas Setkus. a fifth for the reigning cham- ranked 120th in the world, Chisinau. But Iceland, who for the club, with local media hand on all the other teams in Ronaldo’s first goal was The dropping ball hit the pions at the end. when Valon Berisha scored had been level with the top reporting the coach was not the group. a penalty. The second, with back of the goalie’s head be- Serbia beat Luxembourg after 34 seconds. England two, suffered a blow as they happy with owner . “We were better, we are the scores level after an fore rolling in. The third was 3-1, as Aleksandar Mitrovic replied with a first-half goal lost 4-2 in Albania. It appeared that the dif- better, and we won because of hour, was a scuffed low shot a clinical volley from close netted twice, to solidify their binge that ended with Jadon That result meant Iceland ferences had been resolved. it,” said Fernando Santos, the from outside the penalty range. The fourth was a low grasp on third place. They are Sancho scoring twice to make dropped three points behind. However, after taking four Portugal coach. area which took a couple of shot into the corner. a point behind Portugal. it 5-1 at the break. It also changed the tiebreak, points from their opening “We kept the pace after strange bounces off the arti- Vytautas Andriuskevicius In Southampton, Gareth The visitors claimed two allowing Turkey to take first three games. the win at Serbia, otherwise ficial turf before it was par- scored the hosts’ only goal be- Southgate’s England side back in the second half, in- place from France.

Al Rayyan a huge test for Manchester City to build statue in Al Duhail, says Edmilson honour of club legend Kompany AFP Genk last month. London “Unfortunately I can’t aulo Edmilson has Which Al Rayyan ons League was sad for all of start or even play. I have a a key role to play in player worries you the us, but this is football and we Manchester City will The road connecting the City slight hamstring injury and Al Duhail’s Portu- most? must move forward. There’re honour former captain Vin- Football Academy youth and can’t risk it. It’s typical me,” guese coach Rui Far- I’m not worried about many tournaments ahead cent Kompany with a statue community pitches with the said Kompany. ia’s scheme of things, any particular player. Gener- of us. We must be on top of the Belgian outside the Club’s First Team Centre However, the Belgian in- Pmainly because of his untir- ally, we’ve to be wary of our physically and technically to club’s Etihad stadium. has been renamed ‘Vincent ternational played down his ing efforts, high technical opponents. achieve our goals. Kompany will miss play- frustration at missing out abilities, skills in dribbling, ing in his City testimonial on Kompany Crescent’ and with the most important goal passing as well as creating There’ve been talks Al Rayyan are moti- Wednesday due to a ham- is marked by a mosaic raising funds for charity. opportunities and scoring. that Al Duhail’s perfor- vated to score their first string injury, but was in at- inspired by Vincent’s Current City stars David The Brazilian forward spoke mance is on the decline… win after two successive tendance as the club also unforgettable Silva and Sergio Aguero will exclusively to qsl.qa ahead of Injuries have forced draws… named a road at their train- goal-celebration in the line-up alongside the likes their 2019-20 season QNB many of our players to be Every club wants victo- ing base after the centre- of Mario Balotelli in a team Stars League’s Week 3 match out of action. Certainly, this ries and positive results. Al back. 2012 Manchester derby. managed by . against Al Rayyan. has had a big impact on us. Duhail are motivated enough “The road connecting the – Man City Club statement They will face an all-star Teams missing the services to win this game. City Football Academy youth side littered with former Q: How do you view of their regular players hap- and community pitches with Manchester United greats your match against Al pens around the world. It’s Your message to Al the Club’s First Team Centre Kompany had been due like Edwin van der Sar, Gary Rayyan? normal in football. We work Duhail and Al Rayyan has been renamed ‘Vincent to feature in the star-stud- Neville, Paul Scholes and A: Certainly, it won’t be hard to win games. We all fans? Kompany Crescent’ and is ded charity match that will Ryan Giggs, but also boast- an easy game. Al Rayyan are perform strongly in training We hope there’ll be a lot marked by a mosaic inspired see a City legends team face ing Thierry Henry and Robin a big team in the Qatar league in order to fulfil our mission of fans out there and that’ll by Vincent’s unforgettable an all-star XI of former Pre- van Persie in attack. and are working hard to win on the pitch. increase the players’ determi- goal-celebration in the 2012 Vincent Kompany during Man- mier League players to raise “We are specifically deal- the title. I think fans will en- nation on the pitch. It’ll also Manchester derby,” City said chester City Premier League title money for his homelessness ing with homelessness in joy a strong performance. It’ll What do you think are encourage them to give off in a statement. celebrations in May. (Reuters) charity Tackle4MCR. Greater Manchester. You be a good game because both the reasons for changes their best to delight the fans. “At the unveiling, the The 33-year-old left the can’t have a successful pro- teams play offensively. in the team’s perfor- Chairman (Khaldoon Al ebrate his achievements and Premier League champions ject without Manchester mance? What’re your ambi- Mubarak) revealed to Vin- contributions to Manchester in May to become player- United involved. We have Are Al Duhail able I don’t think there’s a tions with the team this cent that the Club has also City. When completed the manager at Anderlecht and, our differences - that is clear to win it or will you face change in the team’s perfor- season? begun the process of com- sculpture will take pride of much like the latter half of - but if we can get together difficulties during the mance, but we can say there’s Any footballer will’ve am- missioning a sculpture to place outside the Etihad Sta- his City career, was hit by a for these sort of events the match? a mismatch in some games. bitions to win trophies with publicly recognise and cel- dium.” muscle injury in defeat to city is stronger.” Difficulties exist in every his club and give the perfor- game, but the ability to win Is exit from the AFC mance expected from him. comes from the players’ de- Champions Now we’re facing a new sea- termination and successful League still son, new challenges and we implementation of the plan haunting must work hard to regain our Gilbert wins rapid stage as Quintana rides into picture drawn up by the technical Al Du- pride on the domestic front staff as well as performance hail? and also in Asia. Reuters 00:03:42 behind Roglic. on the pitch. All these factors Exit- GUADALAJARA “We knew how to move, and can help Al Duhail win this ing from Are Al Duhail capable hopefully I’ll get better physi- contest. If we can give our the AFC of regaining the league Philippe Gilbert claimed cally,” Quintana said after team maximum, we’ll be able to Champi- shield? a second stage victory at this mate Nelson Oliveira conceded defeat Al Rayyan. year’s Vuelta a Espana as Nairo his breakaway effort had not Quintana rode himself back been planned for by Movistar. What’re the into overall contention with a “We were able to profit on strengths of fine performance in the breaka- a day when anything could’ve both teams? way on stage 17. happened. I’m feeling a bit bet- Both teams Starting the day in sixth, ter having been suffering with have good play- seven minutes, 42 seconds be- a cold, but we’ll see how I do in ers in all de- hind race leader Primos Roglic, the mountains tomorrow.” partments Quintana finished ten seconds The 219.6km flat course - and that re- behind Gilbert to leapfrog the longest in this year’s race - flects on their team mate Alejandro Val- from Aranda del Duero to Gua- strength. Al verde into second place after dalajara was marked by strong Duhail’s performance Indeed, Al Duhail are ca- gaining five minutes on the red crosswinds, which led to a fre- Team Deceuninck rider Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert celebrates as he can rise to great heights pable of regaining the league jersey. netic pace of racing; a remark- crosses the finish line to win the 17th stage of the 2019 La Vuelta when we play with high shield. It can be achieved by The Colombian now sits able 50.6kph was the average cycling Tour of Spain on Wednesday. (AFP) spirit. working more on the pitch 00:02:24 back, with two of his speed throughout. Al Rayyan players and rectifying our mistakes favoured mountain stages still The wind saw the sizeable on stage winner Gilbert. seal a second stage victory of the have high physical that affect our performance. to come as the race nears its breakaway gain a huge ad- It had looked as though race for himself. capabilities, which The season is still long, we’re conclusion. vantage over the main pelo- sprinter Sam Bennett was go- Thursday’s stage 18 sees the is reflected on their at the beginning of the jour- Valverde is 00:02:48 be- ton, including Valverde and ing to claim a third stage of this riders tackle four punishing cat- speed on the pitch. ney. (TNN) hind, while fourth-placed Tadej Roglic, which they were un- year’s race, however Gilbert egory one climbs over 177.5km Pogacar looks to be out of con- able to claw back, finishing strode away from the Irishman between Colmenar Viejo and tention for a podium spot at five and a half minutes down inside the final 100 metres to Becerril de la Sierra in Madrid.