ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 SPORTS 14

Ronaldo scores 20th goal of season Morata returns to set Juventus on way to win over Spezia TURIN, Italy, March 3, (AP): Ál- little short on numbers and we have varo Morata made a scoring return to to dig in. set Juventus on its way to a 3-0 win “It’s not been an easy season, but over Spezia and boost its faltering ti- there are still plenty of points to play Mercedes unveil car for Hamilton’s record-breaking F1 bid tle defense. for and we’ll fi ght until the end.” BRACKLEY, England, March 3, six world titles - moving him level whether I still enjoy it.” Alpine car winning the Le Mans Fellow substitute Federico Ber- Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech (AP): Mercedes has unveiled the with Schumacher with a record Hamilton will be teaming up 24 hours race in 1978. nardeschi set up Morata moments af- Szczesny saved a stoppage-time pen- car Lewis Hamilton will drive this seven for his career. with Valtteri Bottas for a fi fth con- The new A521 will be powered ter they had both come off the bench. alty from Andrey Galabinov after season while trying to win an un- Hamilton, who has won 74 secutive year. by a Renault engine and driven Bernardeschi then provided another Emmanuel Gyasi had been tripped precedented eighth Formula One races with Mercedes, said earn- The 2021 F1 season begins by Fernando Alonso and Esteban assist for Fed- by Merih Demiral. title. ing an eighth title “is the ultimate this month in Bahrain. Ocon, who is French. erico Chiesa, Juventus moved up to third, seven The W12 car, presented Tues- dream, but I don’t think it will be Meanwhile, the rebranded A two-time world champion nine minutes points below league leader Inter Mi- day, retains the black introduced the deciding factor as to whether Alpine team presented its new with Renault, the 39-year-old later. lan and three below AC Milan. Spe- last year as part of the team’s I stay or keep going.” Formula One car on Tuesday, re- Alonso is making his comeback Cristiano zia remained seven points above the campaign against racism and dis- vealing a new livery of blue, white in F1 after retiring at the end of crimination, and adds a touch of and red matching the colors of the 2018 season. The 39-year- Ronaldo sealed relegation zone. its more traditional silver. MOTOR RACING the French fl ag instead of yellow old Spaniard has won 32 races, the match late The 36-year-old Hamilton, who and black. with 97 podium fi nishes. He won on with his SOCCER signed a one-year contract ex- “I got into racing because I love The Renault Formula One his titles in 2005 and 2006. 20th goal of the tension last month, is bidding to racing and that has to be the core team changed its name to Alpine “I’ve been working hard to season. He is move one title clear of Michael of what I do. If all you are going at the end of last season and said prepare myself for racing back the fi rst player The Biaconeri were still without Schumacher. Meanwhile, Mer- for is accolades and titles, I feel the new colors are “synonymous in Formula One and the target cedes will be chasing an eighth like I could lose my way,” Hamil- to Alpine’s heritage and pedigree is to attack from the beginning,” in Europe’s top Morata Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiel- fi ve leagues to lini, Juan Cuadrado, Arthur and Pau- drivers’ and constructors’ double. ton said. “It is whether I still have in motorsports.” Alonso said. reach that fi gure for the 12th succes- lo Dybala, who were all injured, but Since joining Mercedes for the that smile when I put on that hel- Alpine has a history in motor- Ocon starts his second year sive season. Morata recovered enough from sick- 2013 season, Hamilton has won met and leave the garage and sports with the Renault-powered with the team. Morata had missed Juve’s disap- ness for a place on the bench. pointing 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona Spezia looked the more dangerous last weekend with illness. The Ju- side in the fi rst half, although Ron- Morata to tap in at the near post, with rebound. McKennie has been at Juventus signed a contract through to June 30, ventus forward had also not scored in aldo hit the post three minutes from his fi rst touch of the match. The goal Spezia was still seeking a way since August, after joining on loan 2025. the league since December, although halftime. was initially ruled out for offside on back into the match but Ronaldo from German club Schalke, but the McKennie, who is the fi rst Ameri- he scored in both Italian Cup games Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo made Bernardeschi but awarded on video dashed the visitor’s faint hopes when Bianconeri have exercised the option can to play for Juventus, has scored and the Italian Super Cup last month. a double change in the 61st minute, review. he drilled in a through ball from Rod- to purchase the player’s full rights. fi ve goals – including one in a Cham- “I’m pleased with the goal, but bringing on Morata and Bernard- Juventus doubled its lead follow- rigo Bentancur, a minute from time. Juventus said the fee was 18.5 pions League win at Barcelona – in the three points are more important,” eschi for Weston McKennie and Gi- ing another Bernardeschi cross from Meanwhile, Juventus made Wes- million euros ($22 million), payable 31 appearances. Morata said. “I’ve not been among anluca Frabotta. the left. Chiesa’s initial shot was bril- ton McKennie’s move to the Serie A over three years, plus up to 6.5 mil- The 22-year-old has already won a the goals, but above all, I was a bit That had an immediate effect as liantly parried by Spezia goalkeeper giant permanent, tying the American lion euros ($7.8 million) in bonuses. trophy at Juventus, helping it lift the low on strength because the last three Bernardeschi ran onto a ball over the Ivan Provedel from close range, but midfi elder to the club for the next The nine-time defending Serie A Italian Super Cup in January with a weeks have been tough, but we’re a top and rolled across from the left for the Juventus forward fi red home the four seasons. champion added that McKennie has 2-0 victory over Napoli.

Schalke hire Grammozis as coach Sancho fi res Dortmund into German Cup semis

BERLIN, Mar 3, (AP): scored to send into the semifi nals of the German Cup with a 1-0 win at Borussia Mönchenglad- bach. The game’s buildup had been over- shadowed by Gladbach coach ’s move to Dortmund next sea- son, but it was the 20-year-old Sancho who emerged as the main fi gure in a cagey quarter-fi nal. Sancho made the breakthrough in the 66th minute on a counterattack after a Gladbach corner. Nico Schulz intercepted a pass and played the ball forward through and , who sent Sancho on his way. The England for- ward fi red in off the left post. Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, (left), Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud celebrates after scoring on penalty Dahoud, one of several players fac- kick his side’s second goal during the ing their former team, was sent off German soccer match in injury time with his second yellow between Borussia Dortmund and card for a dangerous lunge at Ramy Arminia Bielefeld in Dortmund, Ger- Bensebaini, who was booked for his many, on Feb 27. (AP) reaction. Dahoud will miss the semi- final. Reus, the Dortmund captain, also Ledecky returns previously played for Gladbach, as did substitutes Schulz and Thorgan Haz- ard, while Gladbach’s to ‘competition’ and previously played for their opponents. WASHINGTON, March 3, (AP): Like everyone else, Katie Ledecky SOCCER was forced to shelve her plans when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Instead of looking far into the fu- Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo (right), scores a goal during the Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Spezia, at the Turin Allianz Stadium, Italy, It was Gladbach’s fourth straight on March 2. (AP) ture, the fi ve-time Olympic champion defeat across all competitions and it swimmer switched to a more immedi- stretched to its winless run to six games ate mindset. - Rose’s worst stretch as a coach. Forget that the four-year cycle lead- Both sides missed good chances to ing to the 2024 Paris Olympics is al- score. should have ready underway. Ledecky is still work- scored early for Gladbach before Reus ing toward making a big splash at this replied with another wasted opportu- summer’s delayed Tokyo Games. City top Wolves, extend nity at the other end. “In some ways not traveling over Dortmund suffered a blow in be- the past year and just being able to tween with Raphaël Guerreiro going train has been really good for me and off injured. The Portuguese wing- something I hope will pay dividends,” back was lying down with his left she said from Northern California in a shin-guard off after just three min- recent virtual interview. “I’m someone utes played. Schulz came on in his that really loves training. I kind of like winning run to 21 games place. the day-to-day of just going to work The next big chance fell to Haaland, and putting in that work in the pool and but got back and some- eventually seeing the results.” how did enough to just put the young Guardiola’s winning machine powers to Premier League title star off in the 36th. Thuram had a goal ruled out for off- SWIMMING side before the break, and Haaland had matches - tying a club record also achieved MANCHESTER, England, March 3, another ruled out through VAR after it. Ledecky will take a measure of (AP): A 15-point lead, 21 victories in under Guardiola in 2017. Replays showed the Norwegian caught herself when she returns to national City hasn’t trailed for a single minute in any of Bensebaini, causing him to fall, before a row, a club record-tying 28 games he swept in Reus’ cross. competition on Wednesday for the its last 19 league games. fi rst time in a year. She’s entered in unbeaten. Asked how impressed he was by City’s recent More chances went untaken after Sancho scored. six events at the TYR Pro Swim Series The extraordinary numbers are stacking up run, Guardiola said: “Man United” - referring to meet in San Antonio, Texas. for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s win- Defender came clos- City’s next opponent at the weekend. est for Gladbach when he fi red just Ledecky is among several big names ning machine powers to the Premier League Pressed to expand, he said: “We talk about over with the fi nal kick of the game. diving back in with three months to title and - whisper it - a potential quadruple. records and everything we have done in the The fi rst quarterfi nal between Jahn go until the US Olympic trials. Cae- Guardiola particularly liked what he saw in Regensburg and Werder Bremen was leb Dressel, Simone Manuel, double league when it is over.” backstroke world-record holder Regan the 4-1 win over Wolverhampton. And it nearly is over. Second-place Manchester called off Monday due to a number Heading into the final 10 minutes at Etihad of coronavirus infections among the Smith, and Ryan Lochte will swim Stadium, City’s players were in the unusual United can restore the 12-point gap to City by second-division team. over four days in the fi rst single-site position of being held, 1-1, but there was no beating Crystal Palace on Wednesday but Meanwhile, Schalke hired the rela- American meet since the pandemic panic. Instead, they just stepped up a gear, over- doesn’t have the consistency being shown by tively unknown Dimitrios Grammozis began. Guardiola’s side, which also is in the final of the as its fi fth coach of a turbulent season Aiming to make his fi fth Olympic whelmed Wolves with their pressing and scored team, Lochte is entered in fi ve events. three goals. League Cup, the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and on Tuesday. The 42-year-old Grammozis – a Ledecky is entered in her usual “When you have a run of 20 wins, you’re leads 2-0 after the first leg of its matchup with events: 200-, 400-, 800- and 1,500-me- Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions former midfi elder with 143 Bundes- not always going to win 3-0, 4-0, 5-0,” liga appearances for Hamburger SV, ter freestyles. She’s also set to swim Guardiola said. “So that is why how you League’s round of 16. Kaiserslautern and Cologne – signed the 50 and 100 free. recover from difficult situations is what I’m City has players in supreme form, too. a contract through June 2022, the Her Olympic schedule will focus on looking for.” Mahrez is one of them, the Algeria winger Gelsenkirchen-based club said in a the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500, plus any playing a key part in the opening goal by con- statement. relays. The 1,500 is a new women’s event in Tokyo. SOCCER trolling a searching pass by Rodri and driving over a cross that would have been turned into the net by Raheem Sterling if Dendoncker hadn’t Gabriel Jesus scored in the 80th minute and done so himself. again from close range with virtually the last Wolves’ only good spell of the game came kick of the game after Riyad Mahrez had made after Coady scored his first Premier League goal, it 3-1, capping a period of incessant pressure by with Adama Traore blazing two shots over the City after Wolves equalized in the 61st minute bar. through Conor Coady’s header - the visitors’ Manchester City’s Kyle Walker jumps next to City regrouped and after Jesus swept in a first touch in City’s box. Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri Leander Dendoncker had given City the loose ball from the edge of six-yard box after during the English Premier League soccer Kyle Walker’s cross was blocked near the goal lead for the first time with an own-goal in the match between Manchester City and Wolves at 15th. the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, on line, Mahrez placed a shot into the bottom corner Another test passed by City in its march to March 2. (AP) in the 90th after Wolves were hounded out of reclaiming the title from Liverpool, with Wolves possession. having proved a tough opponent for City in this season, though. The team has won every Jesus converted from close in for the fourth recent years - winning their meetings home and game it has played in all competitions since Dec. goal in stoppage time after goalkeeper Rui In this, July 27, 2019, fi le photo shows United States’ Katie Ledecky swim- away last season, for example. 19 and now has 15 victories in a row in the Patricio could only parry out a shot from substi- ming in the women’s 800m freestyle fi nal at the World Swimming Champi- City’s class of 2020-21 is made of sterner stuff league. Its unbeaten streak stretched to 28 tute Ilkay Gundogan. onships in Gwangju, South Korea. (AP)