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Saturday, March 19, 2016 FOOTBALL Jumada II 10, 1437 AH Rooney not a GULF TIMES guaranteed starter at Euro 2016: Hodgson SPORT Page 6 SPOTLIGHT Promoting motorsport and engaging local community key targets: Saud al-Attiya h ‘Our plans are huge. We are looking to develop the club. We want to compete with other circuits in the region and the world. Our plan will start at the end of the top event’

By Sports Reporter Doha Iannone throws down the gauntlet in FP3 Ducati’s Andrea Iannone capped ence of 0.137 seconds. ans of motorsport in Qatar off a great Free Practice run at the In third place was Honda rider have more reason to rejoice as Losail International Circuit by topping Marc Marquez while Yamaha rider the Losail Circuit Sports Club the FP3 times. In second place was Valentino Rossi could only manage (LCSC) is looking to increase Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo with a diff er- to finish in seventh. itsF activities with the focus on devel- oping motorsport and engaging the lo- cal community. “We have a 100-day plan that we have recently prepared,” said Saud al- Attiya, Chairman of LCSC during a press conference yesterday. The newly-formed LCSC is looking at a three-prong strategy to promote the sport. “We have three new objec- tives at the club. Number one, we want to promote motor sports in partnership with QMMF and Dorna,” said al-Atti- yah yesterday. “Number two, we want to engage the local community into the circuit. FP3 - Top 10 Times We open the circuit every Wednesday 1. Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati for walking, running and cycling ses- (L-R) QMMF President Rashid al-Mannai, LCSC Chairman Saud al-Attiyah, Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta and Commercial 2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha sions. We have seen that this has be- Bank Chief Executive Off icer Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi during the press conference yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil 3. Marc Marquez ESP Honda come a major success with sports fans 4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati here,” he added. tor sport in Qatar,” al-Attiyah said. track and the lighting system,” he at the top level,” al-Mannai said. 5. Maverick Viñales ESP Suzuki And the third aspect is to have more “We will be working together with added. Dorna chief Ezpeleta praised the 6. Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda Team activities which will also boost the rev- QMMF, Dorna and our sponsors Com- QMMF President al-Mannai said his long association of Qatar with Mo- 7. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha enue of the Circuit. “Also, we want to mercial Bank of Qatar,” he said. “We organisation was working to see top toGP. “It is a special week. It is the start 8. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing have a commercial model that is a sus- will be working as a team,” he added. Qatari riders ‘competing at the highest of the season. We have been coming 9. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac tainable model. We plan to introduce The LCSC Chairman said the plans level’ in the future. here every year. During these 13 years, 10. Pol Espargaro ESP Yamaha Tech 3 new activities that will run all year for the Losail Circuit were to ensure “There is no doubt that there has Qatar and Losail Circuit has been around,” al-Attiyah said. that they want to compete with cir- been a huge success in Qatar in mo- improving. I want to thank (former The newly-appointed LCSC Chair- cuits all over the world. “Our plans are tor sports. We are not satifi ed with. At QMMF President) Nasser bin Khalifa man was speaking ahead of the much- huge. We are looking to develop the QMMF, we want to focus on our new al-Attiyah who had been working with awaited MotoGP, which will take place club. We want to compete with other ambition,” al-Mannai said. us since the beginning. Today we start at the Losail Circuit this weekend. circuits in the region and the world. “Our focus will be on somebody with the new management.” Alongside al-Attiay were Dorna chief Our plan will start at the end of the top competing at the highest level,” al- “I can say to you that Losail Circuit Carmelo Ezpeleta and QMMF Presi- event,” al-Attiyah said. Mannai said. “We will shift our focus is working very well. They have big, big dent Rashid al-Mannai. “For the last couple of months, on youth and somebody who can reach plans to develop the sport. To be hon- “We welcome Mr Carmelo Ezpe- we have been striving to further im- the top in racing. We are trying to build est I only visited the track but now if leta to Qatar. We are looking forward prove the Grand Prix of Qatar, de- a platform. We will support them and you visit the track you will be amazed to learning from him to develop mo- veloping facilities at the venue, the hopefully we can have them competing with the new development.”

WORLD TWENTY20 England stun South Africa in record run-chase Reuters timate over, hit six boundaries and four er (28 not out) provided the fi nishing ceded four fours and a six in the fi fth Mumbai sixes in his 44-ball knock and added 75 touches for South Africa with an un- over and fi nished with fi gures of 0-49 for the fi fth wicket with Jos Buttler (21), broken fi fth-wicket stand of 60. in three overs. Topley gave away 33 in bringing the sizeable crowd to their England paceman Chris Jordan con- his two overs. ngland posted the highest suc- feet. cessful run chase ever at a England were on the receiving end World Twenty20 tournament of a brutal onslaught from West Indies Scorecard with Joe Root smashing 83 as opener Chris Gayle during Wednes- theyE overhauled an improbable South day’s defeat when their spinners South Africa: A. Hales lbw b Abbott ...... 17 Africa total by two wickets in a run-fest struggled to grip the wet ball and that H. Amla lbw b Ali ...... 58 B. Stokes c Morris b Rabada ...... 15 yesterday. prompted captain Eoin Morgan to fi eld Q. de Kock c Hales b Ali ...... 52 J. Root c Miller b Rabada ...... 83 Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla after winning the toss. AB. de Villiers c Morgan b Rashid ...... 16 E. Morgan b Duminy ...... 12 struck half-centuries at the top while But Amla (58) and De Kock (52) tor- F. du Plessis c Roy b Willey ...... 17 J. Buttler st de Kock b Tahir ...... 21 JP Duminy provided the late assault mented the English bowlers, plunder- JP. Duminy not out ...... 54 M. Ali not out ...... 8 with an unbeaten fi fty as South Africa ing 96 runs off seven overs during an D. Miller not out ...... 28 C. Jordan c Duminy b Abbott ...... 5 posted a massive 229-4 after put in to explosive opening stand. Extras (b 2, w 2) ...... 4 D. Willey run out ...... 0 bat in their Group One match at the South Africa opted to use Amla and Total (for 4 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 229 A. Rashid not out ...... 0 Wankhede Stadium. De Kock as openers and it proved it was Did not bat: C. Morris, K. Abbott, D. Extras (lb 6, w 20) ...... 26 If South Africa, considered one of the the right decision from the onset. Steyn, K. Rabada, I. Tahir Total (for 8 wickets, 19.4 overs) ...... 230 favourites for the tournament, would De Kock, who thrashed David Willey Fall of wickets: 1-96 (de Kock), 2-114 (de Did not bat: R. Topley have hoped they have had amassed for 20 in the third over, hit seven fours Villiers), 3-133 (Amla), 4-169 (du Plessis) Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Hales), 2-71 (Roy), enough runs, they were in for a rude Joe Root was the star for England with the bat yesterday. and three sixes during his 24-ball knock Bowling: Willey 4-0-40-1, Topley 2-0-33- 3-87 (Stokes), 4-111 (Morgan), 5-186 (But- shock as England went after their bowlers before he fell to off -spinner Moeen Ali. 0, Ali 4-0-34-2, Jordan 3-0-49-0, Stokes tler) 6-219 (Root), 7-229 (Jordan), 8-229 with nothing but attack on their minds. two balls to spare. England broke a few team records as Amla, who was dropped on nine by 2-0-23-0, Rashid 4-0-35-1, Root 1-0-13-0 (Willey) England looked comfortable for most Jason Roy (43) and Alex Hales gave they looked to maintain their batting Reece Topley off Ali, hit an identical Bowling: Rabada 4-0-50-2, Steyn 2-0- part of their chase before losing three England a rollicking start, posting 48 tempo though leg-spinner Imran Tahir number of boundaries before falling to England 35-0, Abbott 3.4-0-41-3, Tahir 4-0-28-1, wickets in seven balls towards the end in just 15 deliveries before both were tempered it with 1-28 in his four overs. the off -spinner. J. Roy c de Kock b Abbott ...... 43 Duminy 3-0-31-1, Morris 3-0-39-0 but eventually reached their target with out to paceman Kyle Abbott. But Root, who was out in the penul- Duminy (54 not out) and David Mill- Gulf Times 2 Saturday, March 19, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Scorecard: New Zealan d vs Australia New Zealand Australia (target: 143 runs) Guptill c Maxwell b F’ner ...... 39 Khawaja run out (Milne/Elliott) .. Williamson* c Agar b Maxwell 24 ...... 38 Munro c Faulkner b Marsh ...... 23 Watson c Williamson b Anderson c Agar b Maxwell ...... 3 McClenaghan ...... 13 Taylor c Marsh b Watson ...... 11 Smith* st †Ronchi b Santner ...... 6 Elliott run out (†Nevill) ...... 27 Warner c Guptill b Santner ...... 6 New Zealand beat Ronchi† c Maxwell b Faulkner ..6 Maxwell c Williamson b Sodhi .22 Santner run out (Maxwell/†Nevill) Marsh c Milne b McCl’ghan ...... 24 ...... 1 Agar c Taylor b McCl’ghan ...... 9 AF Milne not out ...... 2 Faulkner c Guptill b Anderson ...2 Extras (b 4, w 2): ...... 6 Coulter-Nile b Anderson ...... 1 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) .. 142 PM Nevill† not out ...... 7 Did not bat: MJ McClenaghan, A Zampa not out 2 IS Sodhi Extras (lb 2, w 2): ...... 4 Australia in World Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Guptill, 7.1 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs): ....134 ov), 2-66 (Williamson, 8.2 ov), Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Watson, 3-76 (Anderson, 10.2 ov), 4-97 5.2 ov), 2-51 (Smith, 6.4 ov), 3-62 (Munro, 13.6 ov), 5-117 (Taylor, 16.4 (Khawaja, 8.6 ov), 4-66 (Warner, ov), 6-133 (Ronchi, 18.5 ov), 7-140 10.1 ov), 5-100 (Maxwell, 15.1 ov), (Santner, 19.4 ov), 8-142 (Elliott, 6-121 (Marsh, 18.1 ov), 7-123 (Agar, 19.6 ov) 18.5 ov), 8-124 (Faulkner, 19.1 ov), Bowling 9-132 (Coulter-Nile, 19.5 ov) T20 thriller NM Coulter-Nile 4-0-33-0 Bowling SR Watson 4-0-22-1 CJ Anderson 4-0-29-2 AC Agar 1-0-18-0 AF Milne 2-0-22-0 ‘Nice to perform like that but it was as a collective. The spinners were fantastic and JP Faulkner 3-0-18-2 GD Elliott 2-0-17-0 A Zampa 1-0-3-0 MJ McClenaghan 3-0-17-3 got us back in the game. It’s nice to show we can play in these conditions’ GJ Maxwell 3-0-18-2 MJ Santner 4-0-30-2 MR Marsh 4-0-26-1 KS Williamson 1-0-3-0 AFP IS Sodhi 4-0-14-1 Dharamsala

ecalled paceman Mitchell Mc- Clenaghan grabbed three cru- India’s Kohli gifts Amir bat in fresh cial wickets and then thanked show of love his team’s spinners yesterday afterR New Zealand edged past Australia India’s Virat Kohli gifted known to wear his heart on in a last over thriller at cricket’s World comeback Pakistan pacer the sleeves, appeared cheerful Twenty20. Mohammad Amir one of his yesterday while having an A year on from the Black Caps’ heart- bats yesterday, a gesture that animated chat with Pakistan ache defeat to Australia in the 50 over grabbed attention ahead of skipper Shahid Afridi. World Cup fi nal, New Zealand exacted the mouthwatering World T20 Afridi hit the headlines in India revenge over their neighbours who were clash between the arch rivals. and back home after speaking left to rue their decision to go with spin. The star Indian batsman took of the “love” he receives from Australia had appeared well set to the bowler by surprise as he Indian fans on arriving in chase down New Zealand’s modest to- handed over the prized bat Kolkata last week. tal of 142 for eight, needing a relatively to Amir during a pre-match “We have always enjoyed straightforward 43 runs off the last vefi practice session at the Eden playing in India and have been overs with six wickets in hand. Gardens stadium in Kolkata. loved by Indian crowds more But tight bowling from rookie spin- The 23-year-old pacer has had than crowds back home in ners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi put to face stiff resistance from Pakistan,” Afridi said. on the brakes before a devastating penul- many quarters including his The camaraderie on display timate over from McClenaghan who fi n- own teammates after serving is likely to take a back seat ished with fi gures of three for 17. a prison term and a five-year though when the two sides He conceded just three runs in his last ban for spot-fixing in a Test face off in what is the most six balls, taking the wickets of Mitch- match against England at eagerly awaited clash of the ell Marsh and Ashton Agar after earlier Lord’s in 2010. tournament. snaring Shane Watson. Kohli, 27, has however openly India need to win this game It left Australia needing 19 runs in their welcomed Amir’s return to the after their shock loss against last over bowled by Corey Anderson who international fold. New Zealand while Pakistan just about held his nerve, conceding 10 “He is a very skilful bowler and are keen to shrug off their runs. I wish him all the best. He has World Cup jinx against their “Nice to perform like that but it was as worked hard to come this far arch rivals. a collective,” said McClenaghan after be- and it takes a lot of courage,” Pakistan have never won a ing named man-of-the-match. Kohli had said ahead of the World Cup encounter in six “The spinners were fantastic and got Asia Cup in Bangladesh. 50-over meetings and four us back in the game. It’s nice to show Kohli, a firebrand batsman T20 clashes with India. some teams we can play in these condi- tions.” Australian skipper Steve Smith agreed Sri Lanka’s Malinga ruled out of Sodhi and Santner had been the diff er- ence. World T20 due to knee injury “Obviously their spinners bowled ex- Sri Lanka’s World Twenty20 to three World Twenty20 finals tremely well, they ran through the mid- title defence suff ered a huge in the last four tournaments. dle,” said Smith. blow after fast bowler Lasith He was, however, considered “We didn’t respond well, we lost wick- Malinga was ruled out of the key to their success in India, ets in clumps which you can’t do in T20 tournament due to a knee in- where he has performed ad- cricket when you are chasing a total of jury, the team said yesterday. mirably in the Indian Premier 140.” Malinga was forced to hand League. McClenaghan was a surprise replace- New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s Mitchell Marsh yesterday. over the captaincy to Angelo “Sri Lanka team management ment for Nathan McCullum, one of the Mathews last week due to on tour have observed that heroes of New Zealand’s dramatic victory the fi rst seven overs but the Black Caps’ New Zealand never recovered their at the mid-way point in their innings, a slow recovery from the Malinga whose niggling injury over the hosts India on Tuesday. hopes of putting on a score close to 200 momentum and no batsman looked set- with 66 on the board. injury and missed the Super has been flaring up would be But skipper Kane Williamson’s switch soon subsided. tled on what proved to be a slow pitch. But David Warner perished in the fi rst 10 opener against Afghanistan better off resting it, and have was vindicated in spectacular style while But poor shot selection and tight Watson’s fi rst three overs yielded just ball of the 11th over, holing out at deep on Thursday. recommended he return to Australia came to regret picking two in- bowling from the veteran Watson and 11 runs and he took the key wicket of Ross mid-wicket after mistiming a pull shot “Malinga’s knee injury flared Colombo,” Sri Lanka Cricket experienced spin bowlers in Agar and allrounders Glenn Maxwell and James Taylor in his fi nale, one ball after being off Santner. up before the match against said in a statement. Adam Zampa. Faulkner slowed their charge. hit for six by the former Kiwi captain. Sodhi conceded just 14 runs in his four Afghanistan yesterday,” a The selectors will choose Guptill was the fi rst to go after racing Usman Khawaja and Watson got the overs while Santner took two for 30, fi g- team spokesperson said. Malinga’s replacement after AGAR’S GAME TO FORGET to 39 off 27 balls, caught on the boundary Australian innings off to brisk start, ures slightly tarnished by two sixes off his “He has been ruled out of the practice matches between the Agar had a game to forget, carted for by Maxwell off the bowling of Faulkner as putting on 44 before Watson fell. last three balls. World Cup and has flown back remaining players in the World three sixes in his one and only over. His he tried to go for another six at the begin- Khawaja stroked six fours in an at- New Zealand’s second win makes them to Sri Lanka this afternoon.” T20 squad to be played in fi rst two balls were full tosses, dispatched ning of the eighth over. tractive innings of 38 before he was run fi rm favourites to reach the semi-fi nals of The 32-year-old paceman with Colombo later on Friday. over the ropes by Martin Guptill, who Williamson and Anderson were then out just as he looked poised to post a big the tournament but is a big blow to Aus- blond-tinted hair and an unor- Sri Lanka will take on 2012 top-scored with 39 off 27 balls. out in quick succession, both taken after score. tralia’s hopes of winning a trophy that thodox action is not quite the champions West Indies in their Guptill and Williamson put on 61 in they miscued expansive strokes. Australia seemed comfortably placed has so far proven elusive. same player who was a key second Group One match in figure in Sri Lanka’s progress Bangalore tomorrow.

PREVIEW Anger, violence, heartbreak — all for India-Pakistan match ticket Angry demonstrations, ran- of the Salt Lake stadium in sacking of a makeshift counter the early 80s. In return, they for issuing tickets to members were promised life long access Confi dent Pakistan geared up - the iconic Eden Gardens to Eden Gardens for cricket ground is witnessing unprec- matches. edented scenes, with fans will- A day before, all hell broke ing to purchase tickets at even loose at the Netaji Indoor 20 times the printed price to stadium - where a makeshift to rewrite history against India watch today’s India-Pakistan ticket counter had been set up World Twenty20 match. for the CAB members. Reuters have won the last game. there, there is a history between Tickets priced at Rs500 - the Despite reaching the counter Kolkata “I think that the monkey is off Pakistan and India, not only cul- lowest denomination - are after patiently waiting in the our backs now, so hopefully we turally but also there is a crick- being sold near the stadium queue for hours, many of the will deliver the goods.” et history given how we have for Rs7000-10000. The higher members were told all tickets akistan have never de- Pakistan and India have played each other for 50 years. priced tickets of Rs1000 and were exhausted. feated India in a World fought three wars since becom- “No other game is watched as 1500 are changing hands The members burst out, some Cup match but coach ing separate countries in 1947, much as this one, so we should at astronomical sums. For even ransacked the counter. Waqar Younis is con- two of them over the disputed all cherish that and we should all instance, Rs1500 worth tickets Finally, police had to be called Pfi dent his team can break the Himalayan region of Kashmir. feel proud about it.” are being sold for anything be- in to restore sanity. jinx against the hosts who are Bilateral cricketing ties be- Ashwin said India are well tween Rs15,000 and 20,000. Yesterday, an IANS corre- smarting from a thumping de- tween the neighbours remain versed with handling pressure “The craze seen this time spondent encountered black- feat against New Zealand in their suspended after gunmen killed and have left behind the defeat is unprecedented. May be, marketeers roaming close to tournament opener. 166 people in Mumbai in a against New Zealand. decades back, scenes close to the stadium posing as street A defeat against their arch- three-day rampage in 2008 “I don’t think we really see a this were seen on some occa- vendors. Asked whether they rivals today at the Eden Gardens which India blames on a Paki- lot of pressure in this game. We sions, but not to this extent,” could provide tickets, one of will push India towards an early stani militant group. are used to playing a lot of that Cricket Association of Bengal them said: “You want some? exit from the World Twenty20 While India off -spinner Ravi- for India,” Ashwin said. “Every (CAB) Trustee Board chairman Come this side,” and led the and Waqar feels it will be the chandran Ashwin called a match game that India plays is a pres- Goutam Dasgupta told IANS correspondent to a secluded best chance for Pakistan to end between the two countries as sure game as you can see with yesterday. corner. He showed a Rs500 their poor record against their a bigger contest than the tra- the amount of people here (at Yesterday, angry Society for denomination ticket. “But you neighbours. ditional rivalry of the Ashes, the news conference). Sports and Stadium gold card have to pay at least 7000”. Pakistan, on the other hand, which involves test matches “A game like this... more than members staged a demonstra- “We have received complaints got off to a confi dent start in the Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis instructs Mohammad Irfan during a between England and Australia, who we are playing against, it’s tion at the Salt Lake stadium about tickets being sold at a tournament with a win against training session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Waqar said the cricketers should the T20 World Cup and we have alleging that they were not premium near the stadium. Asian rivals Bangladesh. be proud of the rivalry. almost put ourselves in a posi- given their quota of tickets. We have been conducting “They (Indians) have lost the when you are playing in your ing the heat. It is an added pres- “I think fi rst of all, you have tion where we have to win every These members had shelled raids since yesterday. We have last game, they must be wor- own country in such a huge sure on them, not on us. And in take it as a sport,” the former fast game from here. out huge amounts to buy the detained a few,” said a senior ried that they can go out of the tournament,” Waqar said. Kolkata, as I said, we have played bowler added. “I think that’s more important gold cards for construction Kolkata police off icer. tournament, that’s a huge worry “I am sure that they are feel- really well in the past, and we “Our rivalry is defi nitely and pertinent.” Gulf Times Saturday, March 19, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Ranieri denies title would be revenge on critics

AFP ‘Invincibles’ in 2004, is fuelling his sparked inevitable speculation about job fi rst half of the season that prompted London hunger for success. off ers from elsewhere for Ranieri, with talk of securing a place in Europe next The theory was ventured by former suggestions that his contract contains a season, Palace’s slide means their con- Chelsea and France star Marcel Desailly, get-out clause. But the 64-year-old says cern is now with maintaining the eight- laudio Ranieri insists leading who played under Ranieri at Stamford even the chance to succeed the depart- point gap that separates them from the Leicester to the most remark- Bridge, but it was quickly rubbished by ing Antonio Conte as Italy boss, a sug- bottom three. able title triumph in Premier the Leicester boss. gestion that has gained traction in the “I want us to be more consistent, to League history wouldn’t serve “He is wrong. I want to win because I media in his homeland, wouldn’t tempt be an established Premier League team. asC revenge on the critics who have ques- want to win, but not for revenge. I don’t him away from the King Power Stadium. For half of last term and half of this term tioned the Italian throughout his career. have revenge in my life,” Ranieri said. “No team can change my mind, defi - we’ve done a brilliant job. But we’ve got No team in the Premier League era has “I’m a very lucky man. I’m doing the nitely no,” Ranieri said. “Of course I am 10 games to go and we can make a big im- failed to win the title from Leicester’s job that I want to do and not too many very proud if they are thinking of me in pact,” Palace manager Alan Pardew said. position, with Ranieri’s side sitting fi ve people can do this. It is not for revenge. Italy or anywhere else. But this is my “We really need to concentrate on points clear of second placed Tottenham Revenge is stupid. club. I want to stay here. If my owner is the league and that’s my message to my ahead of today’s trip to Crystal Palace. “You can talk about revenge when happy I stay here. There isn’t another players. We need to get ourselves secure With just eight games left, Ranieri you lose to one team and you want re- team, there is nothing that can change before the semi-fi nal. That’s on the is within touching distance of proving venge, but not this kind of revenge. my mind.” back burner for now, I don’t really want wrong the doubters, the highest profi le Now we are very close to making the Ranieri could be without midfi elder to hear about it from my group until of whom was Roman Abramovich, who Europa League and it’s important in the Andy King due to illness at Selhurst that comes around. sacked the Italian as Chelsea manager next two or three matches to continue Park but has no injury concerns. “Of course we talk about our league in 2004 to make way for Jose Mourinho. in this way to be also in the Champions Palace are seeking their fi rst league form, we get it rammed down our throats However, Ranieri has dismissed League. That would be a great achieve- win since December 19, a run that by the media and quite rightly. We’re in a suggestions that a desire for revenge ment but I want to go back to my focus stands in stark contrast to their form in really good place, our last six or seven of against Chelsea, who he led to second on Crystal Palace.” the FA Cup that has set up a semi-fi nal games have been a couple wins, couple place behind Arsenal’s title-winning Leicester’s stunning season has meeting with Watford. After a stunning of draws, couple of defeats.”

PREMIER LEAGUE Barca at Villarreal tomorrow as Real play host to Sevilla

AFP Leicester on red alert Madrid arcelona face one of the few major obstacles separating Bthem from a sixth La Liga title in eight years when high- flying Villarreal host the European champions tomorrow. The Catalans hold a command- ahead of today’s visit to ing eight-point lead at the top of the table over Atletico Madrid with just nine games to spare on the back of a 37-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Barca cruised into the quarter- finals of the Champions League for the ninth consecutive year with title-wreckers Palace a 5-1 aggregate win over Arsenal in midweek to take another step closer to repeating their remark- ‘It’s been almost the perfect season for them but it doesn’t always come all the way through, able treble triumph of last season. Luis Enrique’s men will also take that perfect run. Maybe their blips are still to come. It has been a banana-skin, this place, in on Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final on May 22. the past and it’s typical of Crystal Palace. Our history is littered with upsets against the odds’ Barca are back to full-strength as Brazilian midfielder Rafinha could make his comeback after six months out with cruciate ligament damage after being cleared for a return to action. Gerard Pique will come back into the side after being suspend- ed in midweek, whilst Enrique could also hand starts to the likes of Aleix Vidal, Sergi Roberto and Arda Turan. Villarreal’s need for the points is arguably the greater as back-to-back defeats after their own 14-game unbeaten league run has seen their lead over Sevilla in the battle for the fourth Champions League slot whit- tled down to five points. Sevilla face a daunting task themselves this weekend when they travel to face Real Madrid still searching for their first away win of the season. Madrid’s realistic title hopes are gone as they trail Barca by 12 points back in third. Yet, a reaction is expected from Real’s star-studded squad after With only eight their second-half performance matches remaining in squeezing past Las Palmas 2-1 in the Premier thanks to Casemiro’s last minute League season, winner was described as “worry- Leicerter City are ing” by coach Zinedine Zidane. on the brink of The French legend will be able arguably the most to recall compatriot Karim Ben- unexpected title zema after three weeks out with a triumph in English thigh injury. football history. However, Madrid are without both first-choice centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Pepe through suspension. Sevilla have a lengthy absen- tee list too as Ever Banega is suspended, whilst Steven N’Zonzi, Yevhen Konoplyanka and Vitolo are sidelined by injury. Athletic Bilbao could take advantage of diff icult fixtures for Villarreal and Sevilla when they AFP ined Liverpool’s bid for a fi rst English Okazaki’s impressive contribution third placed Arsenal have no margin placed West Ham also in the hunt as travel to Espanyol looking to London title since 1990 when they fought back has been overshadowed by the hero- for error as they look to fi nish a dispir- they travel to Chelsea. move to within three points of the from three goals down to draw 3-3 at ics of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, iting week on a high when they travel Rafael Benitez will take charge of his top four. Selhurst Park in a result that eff ectively but Leicester winger Marc Albrighton to Everton. fi rst home match as Newcastle boss Atletico Madrid maintain eicester have been warned that gifted the trophy to Manchester City. was quick to praise the Japan striker’s Successive defeats to Watford and against hated neighbours Sunderland, their chase of Barcelona today their fairytale challenge for the Then last April, Pardew’s men de- eff orts. Barcelona have ended Arsenal’s in- who have won the last six Tyne-Wear when they travel to relegation Premier League crown could feated City 2-1 in south London to all “He’s scored a couple of scrappy terest in the FA Cup and Champions derbies. threatened Sporting Gijon. Diego be shattered by title wreckers but end their hopes of overhauling goals but that was defi nitely up there League over the last six days and they Benitez’s second bottom side are Simeone is expected to ring the LCrystal Palace today. eventual champions Chelsea. with the best this season,” Albrighton desperately need a win to remain in the only one point behind Sunderland in changes after Atletico had to With only eight matches remaining, “Human instinct is when you’re try- said. “The skill and technique involved title race and subdue the calls for boss 17th and a fi rst victory over the Black suff er extra time and penalties to Claudio Ranieri’s side are on the brink ing to achieve something magnifi cent in his fi nish was superb. He’s been ter- Arsene Wenger to quit. Cats in nine attempts dating back to book their place in the last eight of arguably the most unexpected title like Leicester are, you’re going to start rifi c for us this season and the goals are “Sometimes you are high, some- 2011 would improve thir prospects of of the Champions League against triumph in English football history af- worrying and doubting,” Pardew said. coming with it.” times you are low. It is about being avoiding relegation. PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. ter establishing a fi ve-point lead over “It’s been almost the perfect season If Leicester can extend their lead, high as much as we can and hopefully second-placed Tottenham. for them but it doesn’t always come it will put pressure on Tottenham, things will get better,” Gunners de- Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated) Fixtures (all times GMT) The unheralded Foxes have defi ed all all the way through, that perfect run. chasing a fi rst title since 1961, to beat fender Hector Bellerin said. Playing Today Playing Today: Sporting Gijon expectations to remain at the top of the Maybe their blips are still to come. Bournemouth at White Hart Lane to- Manchester City would love to pile Chelsea v West Ham, Crystal Palace v Atletico Madrid (1500), Real table while their supposed superior ri- “It has been a banana-skin, this morrow. on the misery for Louis van Gaal when v Leicester, Everton v Arsenal (1245 Sociedad v Las Palmas, Granada vals have struggled to keep pace, but it place, in the past and it’s typical of Tottenham bowed out of the Europa troubled Manchester United visit GMT), Swansea v Aston Villa (1730 v Rayo Vallecano (both 1715), would be remarkable if they cruised to Crystal Palace. Our history is littered League against Borussia Dortmund on Eastlands. GMT), Watford v Stoke, West Brom v Deportivo la Coruna v Levante their fi rst ever top-fl ight title without with upsets against the odds.” Thursday but, with the last 16 tie ef- Van Gaal saw his United side elimi- Norwich (1930), Real Betis v Malaga (2105) a single blip. Leicester have been grinding out fectively decided in the fi rst leg, boss nated from the Europa League by bitter Playing Tomorrow Playing Tomorrow: Espanyol Palace manager Alan Pardew be- victories of late with their ferocious Mauricio Pochettino was able to rest rivals Liverpool in midweek and a de- Manchester City v Manchester United v Athletic Bilbao (1100), Villarreal lieves that wobble could come at Sel- work-rate allowing them to capitalise Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and feat in the Manchester derby would be (1600 GMT), Newcastle v Sunderland v Barcelona (1500), Valencia hurst Park this weekend as the hosts on occasional moments of inspiration Mousa Dembele to keep them fresh for a major blow to their hopes of qualify- (1330 GMT), Southampton v Liverpool v Celta Vigo (1715), Real Madrid aim to reprise their role as notorious like Shinji Okazaki’s brilliant overhead Bournemouth. ing for the Champions League. (1330 GMT), Tottenham v Bournemouth v Sevilla (1930) party crashers. kick in Monday’s tense 1-0 win against Languishing 11 points behind United are currently four points (1600 GMT) (Qatar is 3 hours ahead of GMT) In May 2014, Palace famously ru- Newcastle. Leicester, albeit with a game in hand, behind fourth placed City, with fi fth (Qatar is 3 hours ahead of GMT) Gulf Times 4 Saturday, March 19, 2016 FOOTBALL

FRIENDLIES Barcelona to meet Atletico, Bayern get Benfi ca, Real drawn against Wolfsburg in Spain drop Costa, call Champs League QF DPA Nyon, Switzerland

olders Barcelona face Atletico up 35-year-old Aduriz Madrid in an all-Spanish duel Hwhile Bayern Munich have avoided some of the favourites in a meeting with Benfica in the quarter- finals of the Champions League. Real Madrid, the 2014 winners, come up against VfL Wolfsburg, while Manchester City encounter for Italy, Romania ties Paris Saint-Germain in the draw made in Nyon, Switzerland, 'I have to say he is in because there has been widespread calls for him to be included, but also because yesterday. Barcelona and Atletico met in the he deserves it. He is playing well, scoring lots of goals and he is a centre-forward that we all like' 2013-14 quarter-finals, when Atletico won 1-0 at home after a 1-1 away draw on their way to the final. How- ever Barca have won their last six games against the Madrid side. Bayern, the 2013 winners, have Chelsea striker Diego Costa has finally paid been rewarded for their extra-time for his poor form at international level, where victory over Juventus with a tie he has scored just once in 10 games for Spain against Portuguese champions Ben- since switching his allegiances to the European fica. The Germans thus avoid favour- champions from Brazil before the 2014 World Cup ites such as Spanish big two Barca and Real or coach Pep Guardiola’s future club Manchester City. Bayern have won four of their six matches against Benfica, drawing the other two, but the teams have not met since 1995. Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso said: “We have to stay focused and then hopefully we will reach the semi-finals. In this phase of the com- petition every team can beat their opponents.” Bayern midfielder Franck Ribery added: “I think it’s a good draw for us but Benfica have a great team and some fine players. Their stadium is superb and they have fantastic sup- porters.” German side Wolfsburg, in the quarter-finals for the first time, have an attractive tie against Real, a first meeting for the two sides in UEFA competition. “Real Madrid is one of the biggest names in world football. This will be two absolute highlights for our fans,” Wolfsburg general manager Klaus Allofs said. Wolfsburg coach Dieter Heck- ing said: “We have the opportunity to show our ability on the biggest stage, and we want to grasp that chance with everything we’ve got. “I will have to think about whether we want to approach the game with an attack-minded approach or more AFP Barry last weekend for which the striker was And Pedro Rodriguez, Paco Alcacer, Nolito World number one team Belgium are drawn in defensively.” Madrid charged for improper conduct by the English and Alvaro Morata are all included alongside Group E along with Italy, the Republic of Ireland Having knocked out Chelsea, Paris FA after being sent-off was also met with wide- Aduriz amongst the strikers despite their lack of and Sweden in Euro 2016. Saint-Germain get another crack at spread condemnation in Spain. goalscoring form at club level. eteran Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz However, Del Bosque highlighted an injury Premier League opposition with City, Germany call up defender Tah for who play the second leg at home. Aduriz has been rewarded for his stun- Costa suff ered as Chelsea bowed out of the Belgium without Hazard, Kompany, friendlies against England, Italy ning form at the age of 35 with his fi rst Champions League last week as the principal De Bruyne for Portugal friendly City director of football Txiki Ber- call-up to the Spain squad for six years reason for him not being included. Germany coach Joachim Loew has called up iguistain said: “My first reaction was Vas Chelsea’s Diego Costa was dropped yesterday. “It is principally for health reasons. In the Belgian coach Marc Wilmots, hit by a series of Jonathan Tah for the fi rst time for friendly ‘wow’ but we’ll do our best, we have Coach Vicente del Bosque named a 25-man game on the ninth he went off with a quadriceps injury woes, yesterday named a depleted 23-man matches against England and Italy. The 20-year- confidence in our team. squad for Spain’s fi nal two friendlies away to injury, he pushed himself to play four days later squad for a friendly against Portugal in Brussels old Bayer Leverkusen defender is part of a 27- “PSG are a really tough opponent. Italy on March 24 and Romania four days later and ended up a bit sore. on March 29. man squad which also includes midfi elders Bas- They’re a very complete side in all before he names his fi nal squad for Euro 2016. “Diego has been playing well the past two Captain Vincent Kompany has been ruled out tian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze following Aduriz’s 31st goal of the season booked Ath- months and we are counting on him. There are with a torn calf muscle which will keep the de- injury and veteran striker Mario Gomez. Dort- aspects, but we’re dreaming about letic’s place in the quarter-fi nals of the Europa still two months to take a decision (for the Eu- fender sidelined “for fi ve to eight weeks”. mund defender Ilkay Guendogan is not selected continuing.” League on Thursday at the expense of Gary Nev- ros). Then there is the disciplinary aspect and it’s Wilmots remains confi dent nevertheless that because of injury. The first legs on April 5 are Bayern ille’s Valencia. clear we want everyone to behave well, but the Manchester City skipper Kompany will be avail- Loew said he had nominated Tah because he vs Benfica, and Barcelona vs Atletico, “I have to say he is in because there has been situation he had with Barry wasn’t very serious.” able for Euro 2016. “I spoke to Vincent. I heard wanted another option in central defence fol- and on April 6 Wolfsburg vs Real widespread calls for him to be included, but Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto was handed his someone very determined to recover from this lowing injuries to central defenders Jerome Madrid, and PSG vs Manchester City. also because he deserves it,” Del Bosque said of fi rst call-up to the senior Spanish side, but club latest blow,” said the coach. Boateng and Benedikt Hoewedes. “We have been The second legs are on April 12 teammate Andres Iniesta was left out to due to a Aduriz. “He is playing well, scoring lots of goals Midfi elders Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard observing Tah for some time and are eager to see (Real Madrid vs Wolfsburg; Manches- and he is a centre-forward that we all like.” minor muscle problem. are also out with a knee and hip injury respec- how he fi ts into the squad,” Loew said. Costa has fi nally paid for his poor form at in- Real Madrid’s Nacho and Barcelona’s Marc Bar- tively along with defender Jan Vertonghen. But Loew has not chosen youngsters Leroy Sane ter City vs Paris) and April 13 (Benfica ternational level, where he has scored just once tra retain their places as back-up to club teammates Hazard’s younger brother Thorgan has been (Schalke), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern) or Mitchell vs Bayern; Atletico vs Barcelona). in 10 games for Spain since switching his alle- Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique in central defence called up after impressing with Bundesliga side Weiser (Hertha Berlin) who will stay in the Un- The semi-finals are on April 26/27 giances to the European champions from Brazil despite a lack of playing time at club level. Ma- Borussia Moenchengladbach. Wilmots has also der-21 squad for European Championship quali- and May 3/4. The final will be played before the 2014 World Cup. drid’s Dani Carvajal misses out to Villarreal’s Mario called up Nantes midfi elder Guillaume Gillet, fi ers. Germany are playing England in Berlin on in Milan on May 28. His controversial clash with Everton’s Gareth Gaspar as Juanfran’s understudy at right-back. along with Marseille striker Mitchy Batshuayi. March 26, and Italy three days later in Munich.

DEVELOPMENT Wanda becomes top sponsor for post-Blatter era

AFP struggling to fi nd new top level spon- rights to all FIFA competitions and ed to tap into the vast experience of the for nearly eight years. He is suspected ing director but was fi red in December London sors since corruption scandals erupted corporate activities up to and includ- most competent advisor—FIFA. of criminal mismanagement and other 2006 for his part in botched sponsor- last year. ing the 2030 World Cup, said a FIFA “We believe in football as one of off ences, Michael Lauber’s offi ce said ship negotiations with credit card fi rms Thirty-nine football offi cials and statement. the most attractive sports globally in a statement which added that the MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc. Within hina’s Wanda group yester- business executives face charges in Infantino said: “I believe that the re- and have the highest trust in FIFA and proceedings were in response to two months of that settlement, Valcke was day became the fi rst top level the United States over more than $200 lationship with Wanda will support us its newly established organisational criminal complaints against Valcke not only back at FIFA but was at the sponsor for FIFA as world million in bribes paid for football deals. to continue the on-going development structure under the lead of president in connection with investigations by helm of the administration as secretary football seeks to renew its Longtime football leader Blatter is and growth of the game in China and Gianni Infantino,” said Wang. FIFA’s ethics committee. general, answering directly to Blatter. scandal-taintedC image after the depar- now fi ghting a six-year-ban for ethi- all over the world.” Searches were made on Thursday Valcke was widely credited with ture of Sepp Blatter. cal abuses. Sony and Emirates Airlines Wang’s interests in sport fi t in close- Switzerland opens criminal but the Frenchman was not arrested, getting the 2010 and 2014 World Cup A FIFA statement said Wanda, quit as top level sponsors in 2014 and ly with the desire of China’s President proceedings against Valcke prosecutors said. Valcke’s US lawyer tournaments, held in South Africa and owned by China’s richest man Wang never immediately replaced. Xi Xinping to step up his country’s Barry Berke declined to comment. Brazil respectively, up and running in Jianlin, would have “the highest level FIFA on Thursday announced a $122 sporting power, particularly in foot- Former FIFA secretary general Jerome FIFA is mired in the worst crisis in its time after delays in the preparations. of sponsorship rights” for the next four million loss for 2015 because of the cost ball. “We are highly motivated to pro- Valcke, banned for 12 years by soccer’s 112-year history, with corruption in- Last month, FIFA ethics judge World Cups. It did not give a fi gure for of the scandals. mote football across the country and governing body for ethics violations, vestigations underway in Switzerland Hans-Joachim Eckert found Valcke the sponsorship. New FIFA president Gianni Infanti- to inspire a new generation of young- is facing criminal proceedings by the and the United States. Several dozen guilty of misconduct over the sale of Wang, 61, whose personal fortune is no has vowed a new era of transparency sters,” said Wang. Swiss attorney general’s offi ce, the law people including senior football offi - World Cup tickets, abuse of travel ex- estimated at about $29 billion, already and to put the body, which earns about “The Chinese Government is commit- enforcement agency has said. cials have been indicted in the United penses, attempting to sell TV rights has a stake in Atletico Madrid and $5.5 billion dollars in ever four years ted to this development and as a compa- Valcke, whose job was to ensure the States while Swiss authorities have below their market value and destruc- owns the Infront, one of the biggest between World Cups, back on a sound ny we strongly support these eff orts. In smooth running of FIFA and in par- also opened a criminal investigation tion of evidence. Eckert said that Val- sports marketing and media compa- fi nancial footing. order to professionally grow the existing ticular its fl agship World Cup tour- into Blatter, who has been banned for cke “acted against FIFA’s best inter- nies, which has FIFA as a client. Under the new deal, Wanda Group grassroots movement into a sustainable nament, was the right-hand man to six years by FIFA’s ethics committee. ests and caused considerable fi nancial The world football body has been will have sponsorship commercial and well managed sport, we are delight- banned former president Sepp Blatter Valcke joined FIFA in 2003 as market- damage to FIFA”. Gulf Times Saturday, March 19, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Brexit risk puts Premier League on defensive

AFP “cutting ourselves off from Europe For some, Britain leaving the EU would have a positive rope would smooth the development ing players from South America, Africa London would have devastating consequenc- impact, fully opening up the Premier League to the path for home-grown players such as and Asia just as likely to be signed as es”. Her fears relate to freedom of 18-year-old Manchester United new- those from Belgium or France. movement laws that currently enable world whilst also enabling home-grown footballers to comer Marcus Rashford. Many of the Premier League’s big he possibility of Britain voting English clubs to sign EU players with- fi nd their feet without competition from cheap “Rashford is only playing because names are already non-Europeans, to leave the European Union in out having to off er them work permits. European imports. But for others, a so-called Brexit of an injury crisis, but the problem from Manchester City’s Argentine its June 23 referendum leaves Non-EU players must satisfy crite- would make it harder for English clubs to attract with having so many EU players in the striker Sergio Aguero to Leicester City’s the lucrative and globally pop- ria regarding how many international top European players, weakening the league and Premier League is that people like him Algerian sensation Riyad Mahrez. Tular English Premier League facing an appearances they have made and how usually wouldn’t be given a chance,” Some think it is likely, however, that uncertain future. strong their national team is in order to jeopardising its money-spinning commercial contracts Harling told AFP. the game’s governing bodies would For some, Britain leaving the EU be granted visas, although exemptions or Germany’s Bundesliga with an op- nationalist Premier League. “The academies aren’t able to push push the government to mitigate the would have a positive impact, fully can be granted. portunity to muscle in on the Premier Clubs would fi nd it harder to fi ll their players on to full-time contracts be- eff ect of a Brexit. opening up the Premier League to A study by The Guardian published League’s commercial territory. squads with European players, which cause they fi nd it cheaper to recruit an “I see there being a shift in the work the world whilst also enabling home- in September showed that two thirds The Premier League has not pub- could make it easier for British players established player from overseas.” permit rules, if indeed there is a Brexit, grown footballers to fi nd their feet of Premier League players from the EU licly taken a stance on the referendum, to make their way in the game. While British players have tradi- because the government is likely to without competition from cheap Eu- would not meet these criteria. but in a speech last October, executive The FA is determined to arrest a slide tionally been reluctant to play abroad, want to maintain British clubs’ ability ropean imports. They include the Manchester Unit- vice-chairman Richard Scudamore in the number of England-eligible leaving the EU would also make it more to sign the top European talent,” Daniel But for others, a so-called Brexit ed quartet of David de Gea, Morgan said: “I believe we, in the UK, must be players playing in the Premier League, diffi cult for stars like Gareth Bale, who Lowen, partner at leading sports law would make it harder for English clubs Schneiderlin, Juan Mata and Anthony in Europe from a business perspective.” and has already introduced rules tight- left Tottenham Hotspur for Real Ma- fi rm Couchmans, told AFP. to attract top European players, weak- Martial and the Chelsea defenders Kurt England’s Football Association has ening up the visa application process drid in 2013, to move to the continent. “That may be through a watering ening the league and jeopardising its Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta. also refused to comment, but as the for non-EU players. Freed from the requirement to dis- down of the work permit rules gener- money-spinning commercial contracts. Fewer stars means less international protector of the English game, it would Wayne Harling, a member of the tinguish between EU and non-EU ally or through specifi c exceptions to West Ham United vice-chairman appeal, potentially presenting rival appear to have more to gain from a United Kingdom Independence Party players, the English top fl ight could be- immigration rules for highly talented Karren Brady warned last year that championships such as Spain’s La Liga Brexit than the unapologetically inter- (UKIP), believes that leaving Eu- come a truly global league, with lead- players.”

EUROPA LEAGUE Back to Dortmund for Klopp as Reds draw Borussia in Liverpool, Dortmund Europa League QFs DPA Nyon, Switzerland

iverpool play Borussia Dortmund in a return for the Premier League side’s Lmanager Juergen Klopp against his through; Valencia out former club in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Sevilla, the winners for the past two sea- ‘Tonight is a negative, but I saw a very good performance. I never like to completely put the sons, meanwhile face Spanish rivals Athletic Bilbao in the draw made in Nyon, Switzerland, elimination down to the referee but I think when he watches that back he will be very disappointed’ yesterday. The tie will be another all-Spanish duel for Athletic, who put out Valencia in the last 16. Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho takes Shakhtar Donetsk, the 2009 winners, meet a free-kick in the Europa League Portugal’s Sporting Braga, while Villarreal play clash against Manchester United. Sparta Prague. (Action Images via Reuters) Dortmund host Liverpool in the first leg on April 7 before the return on April 14 in the pick of the last-eight meetings. It’s another Premier League opponent for Thomas Tuchel’s Dortmund side, who put out Tottenham in the previous round, while Liver- pool ousted Manchester United. Klopp led Dortmund to two league titles and took them into the final of the 2013 Champions League before leaving at the end of last season. Dortmund defender Neven Subotic said it was “very exciting to see Kloppo again.”

The last time the two teams met in Europe was the Champions League fi rst group stage in 2001-2002, when they fi nished goalless in Dortmund before Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfi eld. They also met in the fi nal of 1966 European Cup Winners’ Cup, when Dortmund won 2-1 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Liverpool also have happy memories of playing at the Westfalenstadion aft er winning the 2001 UEFA Cup there against Spanish side Alaves

He added: “I trained with him for nine years and he has done very well there—he has changed the team—and I’m obviously excited to play against his new team. It’s definitely going to be nice to see him again.” Tuchel said: “We want to measure ourselves against the best abd we are again meeting a top opponent (after Porto and Tottenham in the previous knock-out rounds). For all foot- ball fans it is a dream draw.” Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said the tie would “something quite special” for Klopp. “We were in any case sure we would AFP decision. I never like to completely be meeting the Reds at some point in this London Athletic Bilbao players celebrate their put the elimination down to the ref- competition and now look forward to these progress to the Europa League quarter- eree but I think when he watches that two extremely attractive international duels,” finals at the expense of Valencia. (AFP) back he will be very disappointed.” Watzke said. iverpool eased past Man- Villarreal are also through after The last time the two teams met in Europe chester United to seal their beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on ag- was the Champions League first group stage place in the draw for the gregate following a 0-0 draw in the in 2001-2002, when they finished goalless in quarter-fi nals of the Europa second leg in Germany. Dortmund before Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield. LLeague, where Borussia Dortmund That means three Spanish sides in They also met in the final of 1966 European and holders Sevilla are looking like the last eight, and six left in Europe Cup Winners’ Cup, when Dortmund won 2-1 at the teams to beat. altogether. In contrast, Italian inter- Hampden Park, Glasgow. Liverpool also have Jurgen Klopp’s side saw off old est in European competition is over happy memories of playing at the Westfalens- rivals Manchester United as a 1-1 after Lazio were humbled 3-0 by tadion after winning the 2001 UEFA Cup there second-leg draw at Old Traff ord on Sparta Prague in Rome. against Spanish side Alaves. Thursday saw them win their last-16 Captain Borek Dockal put Sparta Sevilla technical director Monchi said he tie 3-1 on aggregate. in front and Ladislav Krejci and Lu- was unhappy at facing another Spanish side United had it all to do after losing kas Julis added further goals to take in Athletric Bilbao. “We’re going to play a real last week’s fi rst leg 2-0 but they were the Czech side through 4-1 on ag- in-form side. We will have to fight all the way given hope when Anthony Martial gregate. to progress,” he said. scored from the penalty spot just The 2009 UEFA Cup winners Villarreal coach Marcelino said: “We wanted past the half-hour mark after the Shakhtar Donetsk also advanced, either Braga or Sparta and we got lucky. Frenchman was fouled in the box by Eduardo’s late goal securing a 1-0 “But now we have to work hard and be Nathaniel Clyne. win over Anderlecht in Belgium that lucky in the tie. No side is easy at this stage of However, Daniel Sturridge struck took the Ukrainians through 4-1 on the competition. We need to remember Dnipro the bar from a free-kick before aggregate. last season. They knocked Napoli out and then Philippe Coutinho scored a superb in their 2-1 win away to Tottenham hopes of reaching a fi nal that will night in the 13th minute and Ader- The quarter-fi nal line-up was got to the final. We need to pay attention to goal for Liverpool just prior to the Hotspur at White Hart Lane that saw be played in their own stadium, but lan Santos headed home the second completed by Portuguese side the small details that helped us past Napoli break, cutting in from the left and them win 5-1 on aggregate. Sevilla have a fearsome home record eight minutes before the interval, Braga, after the 2011 runners-up and Leverkusen.” chipping past David de Gea. The Gabon striker sent a swerving and Adil Rami put them ahead before but beaten 2012 fi nalists Athletic overturned a 1-0 fi rst-leg defi cit by The ties are on April 7 and 14, with the semi- That left United needing three long-range strike past Hugo Lloris fellow Frenchman Kevin Gameiro struck the decisive away goal 14 beating Fenerbahce 4-1 as the Turk- finals on April 28 and May 5, and the final in more goals to stay in Europe and on 24 minutes and then added an- added a quick-fi re brace. minutes from time. ish giants ended the game with just Basel, Switzerland, on May 18. they never looked like doing enough other in the second half to take his Gary Neville’s Valencia were sent The inevitable Aritz Aduriz scored eight men. Ahmed Hassan put Braga in the second half to prevent an exit tally for the season to 35 goals. Son crashing out after they lost their his eighth in nine Europa League ahead only for Alper Potuk to grab an EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL DRAW that only piles more pressure on Heung-Min pulled one back for last-16 tie to Spanish rivals Athletic games this season and his 31st al- away goal for Fenerbahce. Sporting Braga (POR) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) manager Louis van Gaal. Spurs, who are now left to focus on Bilbao on away goals despite win- together after a superb fl ick-on by However, Mehmet Topal was sent Villarreal (ESP) v Sparta Prague (CZE) “Both teams had chances, we their Premier League title challenge. ning the second leg 2-1. Raul Garcia. off after conceding a penalty that Athletic Bilbao (ESP) v Sevilla (ESP) “Tonight is a negative obviously, was converted by Josue, and Nikola didn’t play as well as we did in the Holders Sevilla remain in with Valencia had been trailing 1-0 af- Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Liverpool (ENG) fi rst leg but we did enough,” said Liv- a chance of winning the Europa ter last week’s fi rst leg at San Mames but I saw a very good perform- Stoiljkovic put the hosts ahead in the erpool’s James Milner. League for the third year running but looked to have turned the tie ance,” said Neville, who was sent to tie on 74 minutes. Rafa Silva added Quarter-finals to be played on April 7 and 14, Klopp’s old side Dortmund pro- after beating Swiss champions Ba- around when they went two goals up the stands for complaining about a another goal for Braga while Fener- semi-finals on April 28 and May 5, and final at gressed with the prolifi c Pierre- sel 3-0. After a goalless fi rst leg, Ba- in the fi rst half at the Mestalla. handball in the build-up to Aduriz’s bahce also had Potuk and Volkan Sen St Jakob-Park, Basel (SUI), on May 18 Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice sel were looking to keep alive their Santi Mina got the fi rst goal on the goal. “I thought it was a really bad red-carded. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, March 19, 2016 FOOTBALL

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT Rooney not a Resilience and relief as guaranteed Coutinho answers England starter Klopp’s call ‘I have the dilemma of 12 May arriving and him not being 100% fit but knowing he could make it by the time the tournament starts’

By Dominic Fifield in London it’s about getting him fi t so his main focus will be on his cited by the array of attacking talent, with Theo Walcott The Guardian rehabilitation at United.” making up the quintet of forwards in the squad, though Sturridge, who has not played for his country since he stressed they off er potential rather than pedigree at September 2014, has recovered from a series of hip, knee international level. and hamstring complaints and is gaining more regu- “If you look at Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben, oy Hodgson is confi dent Wayne Rooney will lar involvement at Liverpool. Welbeck returned from a these are players who have won medals, played hun- have recovered from a knee ligament injury in long-standing knee injury last month and has off ered dreds of times and scored goals every week,” he said. time to lead England to the summer’s Euro- fl ashes of form with Arsenal, though Harry “We’re talking about players who have been doing well pean Championship, though he has suggested Kane and Jamie Vardy would in the Premier League every week, but who are inexpe- theR captain will not be guaranteed a place in the starting hope to gain game time against rienced at international level, bar Wayne Rooney. This is lineup for the tournament in France. Ger- many and a group of players who will go far and are capable of go- Rooney’s absence has led Hodgson to recall Daniel Holland ing far. But Wayne can lay his caps on the table and that’s Sturridge and Danny Welbeck to his 24-man squad for as central a bit diff erent to the others. They have a way to go until the friendlies against Germany and Holland this month strikers. they reach that level. I’m not saying these players aren’t after their injuries, with the uncapped Danny Drink- Hodg- capable of doing very, very well, but it would be prudent water also included as reward for a fi ne campaign with son ad- for us to wait and see. I’d rather say they have fantastic Leicester City. They have an opportunity to prove they mitted potential for now. Let’s believe in them and have faith in merit inclusion in the provisional squad for Euro 2016, to be- them making their mark in the future.” to be named on May 12. ing The manager admitted he had spoken to his centre- Hodgson fully expects Rooney to be in that party, ex- half John Stones about playing in defensive midfi eld despite the Manchester United forward having suf- when the squad met up last autumn, but would now ap- fered a slight setback in his recovery from the knee in- pear to have more options in that area. Drinkwater could jury sustained in the loss at Sunderland in mid-Febru- gain a fi rst cap over the international window and has ary, though his status in the squad will not assure him an opportunity to stake his case to be included as By Andy Hunter superiority at Anfi eld. “We know of a starting place. one of the squad’s defensive midfi elders for the The Guardian how to play them,” he claimed, “I’m confi dent he’ll get fi t and I won’t have a fi nals, with Michael Carrick rested for these allowing a fl icker of confi dence situation where I have the dilemma of 12 May fi xtures while Hodgson experiments. to shine through, but a far more arriving and him not being 100% fi t but Ideally, Hodgson would like to have t was Brendan Rodgers who committed, purposeful United knowing he could make it by the time the Jack Wilshere restored to fi tness labelled Philippe Coutinho performance posed their prob- tournament starts,” said Hodgson. “in and playing again by mid- “the magician” and Jürgen lems. an ideal world, I’d only take players May, though the Arsenal Klopp benefi ted from a touch Individually, and with the who are mechanically fi t and able midfi elder will have to Iof sorcery from the Brazilian notable exception of Nathan- to play. I’m confi dent he will be. prove he can play his as Liverpool advanced into the iel Clyne, Liverpool’s defenders “But I’ve never said he’s an part in France if he is last eight of the Europa League. held fi rm with Simon Mignolet automatic starter. I’ve nev- to gain inclusion. Coutinho had craved a fi rst goal saving well and importantly from er said anyone is. Does he “He’ll be se- against Manchester United fol- Jesse Lingard – Lovren again have a good chance with lected if I think lowing fi ve fruitless appearances composed in the centre and Sa- his track record, abil- he’s fully fi t to in the fi xture. His moment, when kho ungainly yet highly eff ective. ity and experience? go and capable, it fi nally arrived, was timed to They received little protection Of course he does. from the very perfection. against the movement of Juan But that doesn’t fi rst minute, Liverpool were in desperate Mata, Marouane Fellaini and necessarily mean of taking part need of inspiration, creativity Lingaard from their midfi eld, he will be in the in training and and class when their No10 took with Jordan Henderson and Emre lineup: he might the preparation possession deep inside United Can frequently over-run. not have recov- games, and in territory on the stroke of half- Coutinho, in truth, was having ered to the best of conversations with time. Within seconds he had de- a careless night in possession and his ability, or we him and his club livered on all counts. For 44 min- one aimless clearance straight at might want to use manager, if we’re all utes Liverpool had struggled to Michael Carrick almost resulted diff erent players or agreed there’s noth- contain Louis van Gaal’s initially in another opportunity for Mar- play in a diff erent ing to fear about with resurgent team to an Anthony cus Rashford. All was forgiven way. But he’s our him,” added Hodgson. Martial penalty and in stark con- when the Brazilian exposed the captain and has been “Are we talking about trast to the dominant fi rst leg at out-of-his-depth Varela on the very important in the player we know, or Anfi eld, they were indebted to stroke of half-time and chipped that job in the last few a diff erent player? That’s United’s profl igacy. Liverpool into the quarter-fi nals. years, and we will need always the question you Then Coutinho took over, “On the working-side it was one his infl uence and ability ask with people coming back danced around poor Guillermo of the best I have seen from Phil, on the fi eld. from long-term injury. But Varela, advanced into the pen- just like the Manchester City “That will have to be Jack Wilshere, in the games he alty area and had the audacity to game,” said Klopp. “He had a proven on the fi eld of play. played for us previously, was vot- attempt to beat a goalkeeper of moment when his touch wasn’t Wayne Rooney realises that. ed man of the match four matches David de Gea’s calibre with a chip too good from a perfect pass but He knows that, if I think others in succession. Now we’ve had to inside his near post. And he had he has to trust himself more with are better or the right men to play say goodbye to him for a long time the quality to succeed. that quality.” in a particular way, he’ll accept that through injury, but you can’t blame me Klopp could not contain him- Liverpool needed the release. because he’s a footballer, our leader for wanting to welcome him back to the self in the technical area and Credit is due United for a spirited and our captain. If he’s fi t, he’ll go. But fold.” Liverpool’s support, grumbling reaction as the comfortable fi rst- not as an automatic starter.” England squad: Goalkeepers Butland with discontent seconds before leg advantage did not sit easily Rooney has more caps and goals, 109 (Stoke), Forster (Southampton), Hart (Man the equaliser, ignited their party with the visitors. Klopp’s mes- and 51, than the fi ve forwards selected City). Defenders Bertrand (Southampton), as well as their fl ares. It was a sage to Liverpool following the by Hodgson for these fi xtures put to- Cahill (Chelsea), Clyne (Liverpool), Jag- goal to settle any dispute be- League Cup fi nal defeat by Man- gether and it is a measure of his stand- ielka (Everton), Rose (Tottenham), Small- tween these arch foes and oddly, chester City was to “stay angry”, ing within the squad that he will visit the ing (Manchester United), Stones (Everton), given his obvious talent, only and that mood suits the high- squad at St George’s Park next week and Walker (Tottenham). Midfi elders Alli (Tot- Coutinho’s eighth of the season. intensity, high-pressing style he attend the second fi xture, against Hol- tenham), Barkley (Everton), Dier (Totten- “It would mean a lot,” the is trying to introduce at Anfi eld. land, on 29 March. “He’s at a stage of his ham), Drinkwater (Leicester), Henderson playmaker said beforehand. It is a style witnessed with recovery where he’s halfway through, and (Liverpool), Lallana (Liverpool), Milner “Last week I was close but end- increased regularity in recent that’s more important than coming to Ger- (Liverpool), Sterling (Manchester City). ed up missing. To score a goal in weeks, with Liverpool’s fi xture many for the fi rst game,” said Hodgson, who Forwards Kane (Tottenham), Sturridge a game like this, in the Europa schedule and injury problems must submit his fi nal 23-man squad for the (Liverpool), Vardy (Leicester), Walcott League, would be a very special easing to allow the manager tournament to UEFA by 31 May. “Primarily (Arsenal), Welbeck (Arsenal). moment.” more time to work on the train- It was “a genius moment”, ac- ing ground. His team had not cording to Klopp, although Liv- lost inside 90 minutes since the erpool’s progress was built on 2-0 defeat at Leicester City on 2 BOTTOMLINE commanding displays at both February, the only reverses in 10 ends of the pitch, with Dejan matches arriving in extra time at Lovren and Mamadou Sakho in- West Ham United in the FA Cup strumental in repelling attacks and in the penalty shoot-out at and ultimately defl ating their Wembley. hopes of a remarkable recovery. Once Martial had threatened Cautionary pre-match tales to alter the complexion of this Greece told to reinstate Cup from Klopp about the job be- tie, however, Liverpool refo- ing only half done and Van Gaal cused and regained the foothold having a plan to transform the tie required to advance into the last proved to be no act. The second eight. Lovren and Sakho came leg was as much a test of Liver- to the fore but Coutinho, lifted tournament or risk sanctions pool’s resilience as the fi rst was by the wonderful strike that left of their ability on the front foot. United’s players visibly shattered Reuters ing body UEFA sent a joint letter to the Violence erupted during the game stopped. The Athens derby in Novem- Until Coutinho ignited unbridled as they trudged off at half-time, Zurich Greek authorities on Friday requesting after a penalty was denied to PAOK. ber between Panathinaikos and Ol- joy and relief in one small section continued to illuminate the Liv- they reverse the cancellation within Their players and supporters were ympiakos was called off due to violent of Old Traff ord, the visitors were erpool display. two weeks, describing the decision as incensed by the decision, prompting clashes between fans and police before in danger of paying a high price One superb run full of step- occer’s governing body FIFA disproportionate. an explosion of violence as large groups kickoff. In another decision on Friday, for failing to fi nish the tie at An- overs took him away from three has warned Greece to reinstate “In case of non-compliance, the of fans rushed on to the pitch, hurling FIFA’s executive committee agreed to fi eld a week earlier. United players and released Dan- the Greek Cup, cancelled by the relevant FIFA bodies would consider flares and missiles before being dis- allow an experiment with extra sub- Liverpool’s manager was a iel Sturridge for a sliced shot government in March because sanctions,” said FIFA in a statement persed by riot police. stitutes during the Olympic Games, picture of contentment before wide. Another shot from dis- Sof crowd trouble at a game, or risk following an executive committee Greece’s deputy minister for sport women’s Under-20 World Cup and kick-off , sharing a joke with a tance stung the palms of De Gea sanctions against the country’s football meeting. Stavros Kontonis had recommend- Club World Cup tournaments this year. steward in the tunnel, embrac- and Liverpool wasted several federation. Sanctions could include the sus- ed the suspension of all competitive FIFA said a fourth substitute, in ad- ing his players and revelling in an inviting chances on the counter- The competition was called off after pension of the Greek federation, pre- football in the country, but the Super dition to the usual three, could be used atmosphere he had insisted his attack late-on. The gloss was not the first leg of the semi-final between venting Greek clubs from playing in League and the rest of the professional in matches that went to extra-time. players would dictate with their required. The job was accom- PAOK Salonika and Olympiakos Pirae- European club competitions while the football divisions haven continued. This followed a recommendation made performance. And as well he plished on Merseyside last week us was abandoned on March 2. national side would also be barred from It was the second time this sea- by football’s rule-making body IFAB might with the cushion of a 2-0 and sealed in style by Coutinho FIFA and European soccer’s govern- playing. son that a match in Greece has been earlier this month. fi rst leg lead and their evident in Manchester. Gulf Times Saturday, March 19, 2016 7 SPORT

NBA Spurs beat Blazers, run home winning streak to 43 ‘I’m just trying to won. If I have a quiet game and we win, I’m happy’

DPA Los Angeles

awhi Leonard made some noise after a quiet fi rst half, and the San Antonio Spurs knocked off another victim Kon their home court. Leonard dropped in 16 of his 22 points in the second half, LaMarcus Aldridge also had 22 against his former team, and the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-110 on Thursday, for their 43rd consecutive home victory since March 2015. “I’m just trying to win,” Leonard said. “If I have a quiet game and we win, I’m happy.” The Spurs improved to 34-0 at the AT&T Centre this season and moved within three home victories of the all- time record to open a campaign set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls in their his- toric 72-10 run. “We’re in franchise record year but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win the championship,” Spurs guard Tony Parker said. Parker had 18 points and a season- high 16 assists while Australian Patty Mills netted 17 off the bench for the Spurs, who shot 52 per cent from the fi eld and turned the ball over a season- low seven times. San Antonio broke the game open with a 39-24 third quarter, that turned a two-point halftime advantage into a 95-78 cushion and cruised to 13th win in the last 14 games. Brooklyn Nets guard Shane Leonard led the way with 11 points, Larkin (0) drives past Chicago Aldridge and Mills followed with nine Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) dur- and eight, respectively, as the Spurs ing the second quarter of their shot a blistering 16-of-24 from the NBA game at the United Center fi eld, including 5-of-5 on 3’s. on Thursday. Picture: Dennis “Teammates looked for me,” Leon- Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports ard said. “I got open and I made the shots.” Mills said the Spurs stuck to their game plan: “We tightened up the team “They’re the defending champs zan and Lowry combining for 11 points. league-worst Philadelphia (9-59), the Hawks (40-29) rocked the visiting ing the Bucks (29-39) over the short- defence concept in the second half. and they’ve been playing unbeliev- Indiana (36-32) was paced by 18 which has lost 20 of its last 22. Nuggets to move atop the Southeast handed Grizzlies. That was the game plan all along. The able this year. So, we get another shot points apiece from Paul George and •Charlotte Hornets 109, Miami Division standings. Matt Barnes scored 20 points for vis- ball was moving and it helped that we at them.” George Hill. Heat 106: Al Jeff erson and Kemba DJ Augustine had 17 points for Den- iting Grizzlies (39-29), who lost their were making shots.” CJ McCollum had 26 points for •Washington Wizards 99, Phila- Walker tossed in 21 points apiece, and ver (28-41), which fell to 0-3 on its fourth consecutive game without key The Spurs (58-10) tuned up for Sat- Portland (35-34), and Damian Lillard delphia 76ers 94: John Wall made the visiting Hornets (39-29) stormed fi ve-game road trip. players Mike Conley (Achilles), Zach urday’s home clash against the league- added 23. eight free throws in the fi nal 14.6 from 15 down in the fi rst half to beat •Chicago Bulls 118, Brooklyn Randolph (knee), Vince Carter (calf) and best Golden State Warriors (61-6), in a Toronto Raptors 101, Indiana seconds to cap a 16-point, 14-as- the Heat for their 15th win in the last 18 Nets 102: Reserve Doug McDermott Marc Gasol (season-ending foot surgery). showdown of the NBA’s top clubs. Pacers 94 (OT): DeMar DeRozan and sist, 13-rebound eff ort for his fourth games. scored 25 points, Jimmy Butler had •Utah Jazz 103, Phoenix Suns The Warriors won the fi rst meeting, Kyle Lowry scored 28 points apiece, triple-double of the season, and the Luol Deng led Miami (39-29) with 22 22, and the Bulls (34-33) bounced the 69: Trey Lyles tossed in 17 points, 120-90 January 25 on their home fl oor. Bismack Biyombo added 16 with a visiting Wizards (33-35) held off the points. visiting Nets (19-49) despite Bojan Shelvin Mack had 15 with 10 assists and “It’s a going to be a big one,” Parker career-best 25 rebounds, carrying Sixers for their third straight victory •Atlanta Hawks 116, Denver Bogdanovic’s game-high 26. eight rebounds, and the Jazz (33-35) - said. “Obviously, they beat us pretty the Raptors (46-21) past the Pacers in after coughing up a 24-point halftime Nuggets 98: Tim Hardaway Jr scored •Milwaukee Bucks 96, Memphis minus top scorer Gordon Hayward bad the fi rst one, so it’s going to be a overtime. Toronto outscored its hosts cushion. a season-high 21 points, Paul Millsap Grizzlies 86: Tyler Ennis scored all 13 (foot injury) - used a dominate 57-31 good test. 16-9 in the extra session, with DeRo- Ish Smith scored 20 points for and Jeff Teague added 18 apiece, and of his points in the fi nal quarter, spark- second-half to drum the Suns (18-50).

SPOTLIGHT San Antonio await Curry-powered Warriors

By Jeff McDonald with should-have-been All-Star hearsal for the Spurs’ defense vis a vis San Antonio Express-News Damian Lillard and possible future Golden State’s Splash Brothers, they All-Star C.J. McCollum anchoring the put in a credible performance. backcourt -- provided the Spurs with a Lillard -- traditionally a Curry-like y night’s end Thursday, the decent enough dry run. thorn in the Spurs’ side -- eventually scoreboard at the AT&T Cent- Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus found his way to 23 points, but not be- er registered no surprise. Aldridge each scored 22 points to lead fore starting 2 of 13. The Spurs downed Portland the Spurs, who blew the game open McCollum scored 26 points, break- B118-110, with the Trail Blazers suc- with a 39-24 third quarter. ing loose for four 3-pointers. cumbing to the same fate as the past 43 With the victory, the Spurs im- “We executed better, played better regular-season opponents to visit San proved to 34-0 at home this season, defense (in the second half),” Popovich Antonio. the second-best mark in league history said. “We switched and guarded a little The Spurs, however, were not only behind the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ better than we did in the fi rst half.” playing Portland on Thursday night, 37-0 start. The Spurs will have to be even better no matter what the scoreboard and the It was Parker, orchestrating the en- on Saturday, and they know it. schedule said. Late in the fourth quar- tire production, who really hurt the In a way, the Spurs are grateful for ter, coach Gregg Popovich made sure Blazers. the Warriors’ head-spinning success. his players knew it. Parker fi nished with 16 assists, one The Spurs are 58-10, closing in on With his team ahead by 15 with 4 1/2 off his regular-season career high, 63 wins that would match a franchise minutes to go, Popovich called back- setting up both Aldridge and Leonard record, and still likely to fi nish in sec- to-back timeouts to blister his team for throughout the night. He also quietly ond place in the West. fading focus. Point guard Tony Parker, fi nished with 18 points. The Warriors’ pursuit of 73 wins has the target of Popovich’s ire in one of “He ran the show, picked on a cou- provided a measuring stick that would them, understood the reason. ple jumpers when they left him open,” not have been there in other seasons. “Pop was just trying to prepare us said Popovich, whose team equalled a “To have someone else like that to for Saturday,” Parker said. season best with 35 assists. “He was a continue to put pressure on us is great,” Ah, Saturday. great fl oor general.” Spurs captain Tim Duncan said. “It’s That’s when the defending cham- Which is why some might have great for our focus.” pion Golden State Warriors, all swag- thought it odd when, with the Spurs And if the Spurs were ever to slip in ger and Steph Curry, descend on the cruising late in the game, Popovich that department? Alamo City to take aim at the Spurs’ called timeout to rip Parker after Ma- There is Popovich, ready to call time historic home winning streak. son Plumlee intercepted an errant pass out and crack the whip. In the fi rst meeting between the and raced for a dunk. After Thursday’s victory, the Spurs’ NBA’s top two teams, Jan. 19 in Oak- One Portland possession later, Kyle 13th in their past 14 games, Leonard land, the Warriors shellacked the Spurs Anderson was late on a rotation, allow- was asked how soon players would al- 120-90. ing a Gerald Henderson jumper. low themselves to begin to focus on Preparations for the rematch began That signaled another less-than- Golden State. with a pair of angry timeouts in the pleasant Popovich timeout. “Saturday,” Leonard said. “That’s fourth quarter Thursday. “It’s always the big picture, no mat- when we play them.” “Pop has always been like that ter how the game is turning out,” said Except that isn’t exactly true. -- stay focused,” Parker said. “It’s a backup guard Patty Mills, who threw Whether they knew it or not, the 48-minute game. Saturday, if you rest in 17 points off the bench. “We’re try- Spurs have been preparing to play the one minute, they can go up 15-0.” ing to get better. We can’t fall into bad Warriors all season long. No team in the NBA tests a team’s habits, especially at the end of games.” Thursday was no diff erent. every-minute mental focus the way Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors shoots a three-pointer over Langston San Antonio Spurs 2015-16 Playoff Saturday, they fi nally get a chance to Golden State can. Galloway of the New York Knicks during their NBA game on Wednesday. Outlook -- PointAfter see how far they have come since Janu- Thursday, the upstart Blazers -- If Thursday’s game was a dress re- ary. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, March 19, 2016 SPORT

RUGBY NHL Jones accuses Ellis and Johansen Wales of meddling strike for in Marler row Predators ‘Wales will be happy if we don’t win the Grand Slam and they’ll do anything to upset us’

England’s Dylan Hartley with head coach Eddie Jones during a training at Bagshot.

Nashville Predators players celebrate after a win against the New York Islanders on Thursday. PICTURE: Christopher Hanewinckel- USA TODAY Sports

Agencies Carl Hagelin assisted on three New York goals, including Nick Bonino’s fi fth of the season for the Pen- guins. ontinuing their climb Phillip Di Guiseppe and Riley up the Central Division Nash scored for the Hurricanes. ladder, the Nashville Red Wings 3, Blue Jackets 1 returned home from a Luke Glendening, Henrik Csuccessful road trip with another Zetterberg and Darren Helm win Thursday night. scored goals for Detroit while Goals by Ryan Ellis and Ryan Jimmy Howard fi nished with 27 Johansen in a 1:41 stretch of the saves in a win in Columbus. second period snapped a 1-1 tie The victory lifted Detroit and gave Nashville a 4-2 deci- ahead of Philadelphia back into sion over the New York Islanders eighth place by one point. How- at sold-out Bridgestone Arena. ever, the Flyers have two games Austin Watson and James Neal in hand. also scored for the Predators. The Blue Jackets lone goal was Brock Nelson and Ryan Pulock scored by Alexander Wennberg scored for the Islanders. on a power play with 1:00 re- Kings 4, Rangers 3 (OT) maining. Anze Kopitar scored the Devils 7, Wild 4 game-winning goal by tipping in New Jersey erupted for their a rocket by Jake Muzzin in over- most goals this season, knocking time, rallying Los Angeles over off Minnesota at the Prudential the New York Rangers at Staples Center. Center. The Devils got two goals Kopitar scored two goals, and apiece from Adam Henrique, Kyle Cliff ord and Dustin Brown Devante Smith-Pelly and Mike scored one each for the Kings, Sislo, the fi rst two goals of his who got 23 saves from Jonathan career. Reid Boucher also scored Quick. and Tyler Kennedy contributed Kevin Hayes, Dan Boyle and three assists. J.T. Miller also scored for the Justin Fontaine, Nino Nied- Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist erreiter, Mikko Koivu and Jared AFP Samson Lee a “gypsy boy” during two with reporters at England’s Bagshot injury” suff ered in a preceding loss to stopped 33 shots for the Rangers, Spurgeon scored for the Wild. Bagshot, England separate incidents in England’s 25-21 training base on Thursday, highlighted France. who have dropped three of their Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 1 win over Wales at Twickenham last the apparent inconsistency by saying: However, a defi ant Jones, who insisted last four contests. Jussi Jokinen scored the Saturday. “If you look at the Wales statement from Gatland was not responsible for Thurs- Coyotes 3, Sharks 1 game’s fi rst two goals, both on ngland coach Eddie Jones said Shortly before Jones held a press con- Wednesday, they don’t know whether day’s WRU statement, told Sky: “I’ve Shane Doan took a shot from pucks defl ected off the opposi- Wales’s surprise at prop Joe ference on Thursday, the Welsh Rugby they’re Arthur or Martha.” been criticised for values in rugby, but if the corner that banked in off San tion, and Florida posted a win Marler escaping disciplinary ac- Union issued a statement saying they Asked by Sky if he honestly thought you talk about values in rugby let’s look Jose goalie Martin Jones with 1:31 over Toronto at Air Canada Cen- tion was simply an attempt to were “surprised” by the lack of action the WRU’s latest comment was an at- at them (Wales) now.” remaining to break a tie and lead tre. undermineE his side’s bid for a Six Na- against Marler, adding “we stand by our tempt to disrupt England’s bid for a fi rst Several hours later, World Rugby Arizona to a win at Gila River Jaromir Jagr and Teddy Pur- tions Grand Slam against France in Paris belief that there is no place for the use of Grand Slam in 13 years, Jones said: “Of weighed into the developing controversy Arena. cell added empty-netters, while today. racist language in sport”. course it is. by saying they had “requested further Doan has 25 goals this season, Roberto Luongo made 32 saves “Everyone is keen for England not to They also said they would take the “Why else would they do it? (put the information from the Six Nations in re- and 18 of them have come at for the Panthers. win the Grand Slam, let’s be real about matter further. statement out shortly before Jones’s spect of the process that led to its deci- home. Morgan Rielly scored for the it,” Jones, who as an Australian well un- “Clearly this incident has raised press conference). The whole thing has sion (not to take action regarding Marl- Michael Stone and Antoine Maple Leafs, who had their two derstands England’s status as the team broader issues for the game of rugby been dealt with. er’s comments to Lee).” Vermette also scored for the game win streak snapped in the all other nations love to beat, told Sky which require follow up and which we “Once a decision has been made, you But, whatever the global governing body Coyotes, while Mike Smith made loss. Jonathan Bernier stopped Sports on Thursday. are undertaking directly with Six Na- get on with it. You don’t say the decision does next, if anything, they are not ex- 27 saves. 28 shots for Toronto. “Wales will be happy if we don’t win tions,” the WRU statement said. is wrong, you have to get on with it,” the pected to act before Saturday and so won’t Tomas Hertl scored for the Stars 4, Lightning 3 the Grand Slam and they’ll do anything However, prior to the announcement former Australia and Japan coach added. change England’s team selection in Paris. Sharks, who got 19 saves from Jamie Benn had two goals, to upset us in our preparation. by offi cials that Marler would not face “Wales have decided not to do that Marler has been dropped to the bench Jones. Cody Eakin three assists and “It’s as simple as that,” added Jones, any disciplinary action, Wales coach and there’s only one reason for that.” for the France match, with Mako Vuni- Penguins 4, Hurricanes 2 Kari Lehtonen stopped 17 of 20 who has won his fi rst four games as Eng- Warren Gatland, in another WRU state- The outspoken Jones has often come pola starting in his place. Sidney Crosby scored twice shots for Dallas Stars in a win land coach. ment, apologised Wednesday for origi- under fi re for his comments and this Six But Jones, who had previously repri- for his 30th and 31st of the sea- against Tampa Bay at American Harlequins loosehead prop Marler nally labelling the forward’s comments Nations saw him criticised for saying manded Marler, said this was a tactical son, Phil Kessel added a goal and Airlines Center. was finally cleared to face France late to Lee as “banter”, although Lee said he Ireland fl y-half Jonathan Sexton’s par- change, not a disciplinary measure. an assist and goaltender Mat- Jason Spezza and Stephen on Wednesday after Six Nations offi- had no qualms over the New Zealander’s ents would be “worried for his long-term “It’s because it’s the way we want to thew Murray withstood giving Johns also scored for the Stars, cials decided to take no action against original stance. health” after he was included in the side play on the weekend,” he explained. “I’m up two early goals as Pittsburgh who swept the two-game season him for striking Rob Evans and calling Jones, in a separate news conference beaten by England following a “whiplash not punishing him at all.” rallied to beat Carolina. series with the Lightning.

SPOTLIGHT Shaun Livingston’s long road to becoming an indispensable Golden State Warrior

By Rusty Simmons In between his two longest tenures, Living- ami, Oklahoma City, Washington, Charlotte, without a basket with him in the game, you can Livingston is averaging 6.1 points on 53.1 San Francisco Chronicle ston learned this: Milwaukee, Washington and Cleveland before bet Livingston is driving to the baseline for a percent shooting this season, and the Warriors “Don’t let them tell you what you can’t do,” Brooklyn. turnaround jumper or getting to the free-throw outscore opponents by an average of 2.3 points he said. “Make them pay you for what you can Once he stopped trying to be the one to elbow for a shot he rarely misses. per game when he’s on the court. Against the hen the Warriors’ road trip con- do. I’m not a three-point shooter, and I’m not change a franchise, he could become the one to Opponents know that, too, but they can’t league’s best teams — San Antonio, Cleveland cludes Monday in Minneapolis, viewed as a perimeter player. People always complete a franchise. stop it. At 6-foot-7 and with point-guard han- and Oklahoma City — Livingston is averaging Shaun Livingston will have played want to pigeonhole you. “Sometimes guys don’t want to do it. Some dles, Livingston can get anywhere he wants on 10.2 points on 74.3 percent shooting, and the as many games for Golden State as guys aren’t capable,” Livingston said. “It’s the court and shoot over any defender. Warriors are outscoring their opponents by 8.3 Whe has for any other franchise during his 12-year about your mind-set. You have to use your IQ to Livingston is shooting an absurd 48 percent points per game when he’s on the court. In between his two longest tenures, NBA career. Livingston suff ered one of the league’s fi gure out how you can help a team. I can’t put on pull-up jumpers, because he doesn’t shoot After the Warriors fell behind Memphis 2-1 His 145 games with the Clippers from 2004 most gruesome injuries ever -- a left up 20 shots like I used to, but I can stick in this from anywhere but his spots. He’s shooting a in last season’s Western Conference semifi nals, through ’07 were fi lled with the promise of a lanky knee injury so severe that amputation league and make a career out of it. I can fi gure ridiculous 52 percent when he’s defended with- they outscored opponents by 90 points during point guard, the likes of which the NBA had not was considered out whatever it takes to help teams win games.” in 2 to 4 feet, because he knows no one can block Livingston’s minutes in the postseason’s fi nal seen. His 145 games with the Warriors will have A year after the Warriors tried Toney Doug- his shot. 14 games. been the fulfi lment of that potential a decade lat- “But I like to think about what I can do to help las, Nemanja Nedovic, Kent Bazemore, Jordan “You can game plan for it, but if I’m getting to “I have always believed this: If you win, eve- er, having completely remade his career. a team win.” Crawford and Steve Blake before settling on my spots, your game plan doesn’t really work,” rybody looks good,” Livingston said. “There are In between his two longest tenures, Living- That idea was imbued in him by Kevin Gar- swingman Andre Iguodala handling the backup Livingston said. going to be guys who get more attention, and ston suff ered one of the league’s most gruesome nett during a one-year stay in Brooklyn. Living- point-guard duties, they signed Livingston. Ask Warriors executive board member Jer- that’s OK. Andre (Iguodala) might not get the injuries ever — a left knee injury so severe that ston picked up other life- and career-changing He stabilized everything. His 3.07-to-1 as- ry West, general manager Bob Myers or head MVP without all of the attention paid to Steph amputation was considered. In between his two advice from Scott Brooks, Jason Kidd, Flip sist-to-turnover ratio is seventh among players coach Steve Kerr about the backup point guard (Curry). I’m sure we make the game easier for longest tenures, Livingston has worn eight oth- Saunders and Erik Spoelstra during a seven- with at least 50 games this season. and within the fi rst sentence, each will include Steph, at times. er NBA jerseys. year whirlwind that whisked him through Mi- If the Warriors go two or three possessions praise of Livingston’s IQ. “We all serve a purpose.” Gulf Times Saturday, March 19, 2016 9 SPORT

FORMULA 1 ATHLETICS Suhr, Lavillenie Hamilton quickest vault to indoor world glory

Reuters Olympic crown and lead an in practice, Rosberg Portland, Oregon American one-two fi nish on opening night. Sandi Morris, who beat Suhr ole vaulters Renaud last weekend at the same ven- Lavillenie and Jenn Suhr ue in the US championships, claimed the fi rst gold clipped the bar on her fi nal three medals of the World failures trying to match her com- crashes in rain IndoorP Championships with patriot but still claimed the silver record-breaking clearances on as Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi Thursday, while IAAF chief Se- grabbed the bronze. ‘The car performed well and I was lucky to get a couple of dry laps’ bastian Coe was reminded that “To come out with the cham- restoring fan trust could take pionship record and to have the Reuters time. world record this season and Melbourne Lavillenie dominated the have a world indoor title...” an men’s competition, vaulting a amazed Suhr told reporters after championship best 6.02 metres capturing her fi rst world title. orld champion Lewis Ham- to reclaim the title he won in 2012 “I haven’t really processed it ilton topped the timesheets but was unable to defend two because I’m like I should have for Mercedes in both prac- years ago due to injury. jumped higher but I think this is tice sessions of the Austral- After watching his rivals one of those things I have look Wian Grand Prix yesterday but teammate toil through the opening three back at and say, ‘wow, this was a Nico Rosberg crashed as waterlogged rounds, the world record holder good season’.” conditions put a dampener on Formula entered the competition at 5.75m Overseeing his first major One’s season opener. and coolly cleared his fi rst at- event as International Asso- With intermittent showers blight- tempt then sat down and passed ciation of Athletics Federations ing the day, the teams head into the race on the next two heights. (IAAF) president, Coe watched weekend short of set-up work and lack- The confi dent Frenchman re- the championships get off to ing valuable data on their tyres, meaning joined the competition at 5.90m a worrying start, unable to fill qualifying could be a lottery. and sailed clear on his fi rst at- the modest venue on opening Hamilton, bidding for a third succes- tempt to seal victory, before re- night. sive title with Mercedes, could at least be peating the feat at 6.02m. Earlier on Thursday, Coe ac- satisfi ed with his pace, having been fast- With the gold medal secure, knowledged it would take time est on intermediate tyres in the second all that was left was three unsuc- to regain fan trust in the wake session and with the soft set in the fi rst. cessful attempts at a new world of recent doping scandals and The Briton posted a lap of one minute mark of 6.17m. the enormity of that challenge 29.725 seconds in the opener, more than “For the world record, I have hit home as the four-day meet four-tenths of a second quicker than to put everything in good order failed to attract a bumper crowd Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat, then 1:38.841 and it is not very easy,” he told despite high quality fi elds in both in the second session on an Albert Park reporters of his failed attempt to pole vault events. track rendered too wet for dry-weather add a centimetre to his existing Not helping matters was the tyres. best. fact that fans were denied a “That was a good day. The car per- “I am very happy to fi rst of showdown between Suhr and formed well and I was lucky to get a cou- all take the win, for the world her great Russian rival, double ple of dry laps,” Hamilton told reporters. record, I have plenty of time for Olympic and four-time world “Hopefully it’ll be dry tomorrow, so we that.” indoor champion Yelena Isin- can give something back to the fans who American Sam Kendricks bayeva. braved the weather.” (5.80m) took the silver and Pi- Traditional powerhouse Russia Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg was otr Lisek (5.75m) of Poland the will not pose a threat in Portland, second quickest in the later session, bronze. however, having been suspended nearly half a second adrift of Hamilton, from international competition with Ferrari’s former world champion Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (left) takes a selfie with team boss Toto Wolff in the team garage during the second practice session ONE-TWO FINISH by the IAAF after a World Anti- Kimi Raikkonen third. at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday. (Reuters) Suhr had a near perfect evening, Doping Agency (WADA) probe clearing 4.90m to add the world uncovered evidence of what it RED BULLS SHOW PROMISE rows further up than we could in dry con- championship gold to her 2012 termed state-sponsored doping. Rosberg, who won the fi nal three races of ditions.” Rain dashes hopes of Vettel statement last season, had a day to forget. McLaren also had reason for cheer, Sixth fastest in the opening session, he with drivers Fernando Alonso and Jen- skidded at turn six in the second run and son Button posting the sixth and seventh Sebastian Vettel’s pre-race declara- Confined to wet-weather tyres in the damaged his front wing in a collision with fastest times in second practice, just over tion that Ferrari had a car to challenge second session, Vettel recorded the the barrier. a second off Hamilton’s pace. Mercedes’ dominance went untested eighth-fastest time. The German rolled slowly around the Four-times champion Sebastian Vet- yesterday as the four-times world His teammate and fellow former world track for a few moments before being tel, tipped to threaten Hamilton’s ambi- champion was repeatedly thwarted champion Kimi Raikkonen was third called to stop, as Mercedes motorsport tions of a fourth title overall, was eighth by rain during practice at the season- fastest in the second session after boss Toto Wolff glared at a television quickest in the second session after fail- opening Australian Grand Prix. clocking a slow lap and taking a spin in screen in the garage. ing to post a time in the fi rst as gusty Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton the first. Red Bull had a better day, with Kvyat’s winds buff eted the street circuit all day. topped the timesheets in both blustery Both completed just a single run of Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo Seven drivers, including all from Re- sessions at Albert Park but Vettel could seven laps during free practice two. third behind the Russian in the initial run nault, Williams and Sauber, did not trou- find no adequate break in the rain to “I was trying (to post a time) but every and fourth-quickest later on. ble the timers in FP2, with teams seeing make any impression. time I got out it started to rain,” he said “With the conditions like that and go- little value in testing the car in the wet. The German was first out of the garage in the paddock at Albert Park. “I think ing into an interesting qualifying format New team Haas, the first US-owned F1 in the opening session but was unable there were a lot of people that were tomorrow, it could be an opportunity for outfit in 30 years, had a cautious debut with to post a lap time due to the inclement struggling today with the conditions. us,” Ricciardo said. French driver Romain Grosjean and Esteban weather. “Sometimes it’s like this,” he added. “Hopefully we can sneak up a couple of Gutierrez posting slow times in both sessions.

Formula One’s ‘Halo’ protection device on track for 2017 Jennifer Suhr of the US prepares to vault at the IAAF World Indoor The prototype “halo” head protection ing a separate device but Whiting said it about it. But I think it’s going quite well.” have reservations about how quickly Athletics Championships in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. (Reuters) device, aimed at shielding Formula One was unlikely to be ready in time for 2017. Improving head protection became they could get out of their cars after an drivers from flying debris, is on track to “I think (the halo’s) going pretty well,” a priority after the deaths last year of accident. be adopted for the 2017 season pending Whiting told reporters at the Australian Briton Justin Wilson, a former F1 racer Whiting had few concerns about that, HORSE RACING a safety review, race director Charlie Grand Prix in Melbourne. who suff ered head injuries from debris though, pointing to Ferrari’s test of the Whiting said on Friday. “It’s been tested quite extensively now, in an IndyCar crash, and Frenchman device in Spain. The halo, which is fixed to the cockpit and I think it will off er very good protec- Jules Bianchi. “One team did put a halo on their car, at three points including a central pillar tion for a flying wheel, for example, that’s A working group led by Mercedes and Fer- and did get the driver to see how quickly Don Cossack wins right in front of the driver, made its the main way it’s been tested so far. rari hoped to set standard specifications they could get out, and it looked perfect- debut in Spain earlier this month. “We need to do a thorough risk assess- for the halo by the end of May to allow ly simple, and arguably easier, because F1 outfit Red Bull, whose team principal ment on it, we need to look at a number teams to incorporate it into their designs the driver can get hold of this thing and Cheltenham Gold Cup Christian Horner has expressed misgiv- of other related things like extrication. for next year’s cars, Whiting said. lift himself out much easier,” he said. ings over the halo’s design, are develop- We’ve got to talk to the medical crews Most drivers favour the halo, but some “It looked very simple, I must say.” AFP After one circuit, Smad Place London found itself out on its own but was soon reeled in and with eight BOTTOMLINE to jump, there was a lead group on Cossack, the 2-1 fa- of fi ve also including Don Cos- vourite, won the Gold sack, Djakadam, Don Poli and Cup yesterday in an Cue Card. Athletics faces long battle to regain trust: Coe Irish sweepstake of Cue Card, the 7-2 second fa- Dchasing’s blue riband race. vourite trained by dairy farmer Cue Card went down at the Colin Tizzard, briefl y challenged AFP “But we’re not going to return to trust Russian athletes have been banned third-last fence, allowing Don but then went down hard within Portland, Oregon overnight. You don’t stick 10 dollars in a from the championships following the Cossack, the top rated chaser rid- sight of the fi nish after a badly slot machine and suddenly trust appears WADA report and could even be thrown den by Bryan Cooper and owned misjudged jump. in the tray. This will take a long time. out of the Olympics. by Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary’s The horse could have won his thletics chief Sebastian Coe Clean athletes have got a big responsibil- Ukraine on Thursday said 800-metre Gigginstown Stud, to accelerate owners a £1 million bonus if he (pictured) admitted Thursday ity here as well.” runner Natalya Lupu would not compete away for a convincing victory. had added the Gold Cup to this that his drug scandal-tainted Coe admitted however that he did not in Portland for also using meldonium. Djakadam, with Ruby Walsh season’s wins at Haydock and sport faced a gruelling battle to know how long it would take for athletics “This is an important staging post in on board, came in second for a Kempton. regainA trust as it embarks on the road to to rise from its sick bed. the season and it’s an important part of second consecutive year, with As it was, Cooper saw his recovery at the World Indoor Champion- “I don’t know. We could have this de- our road to recovery,” Coe said. Don Poli, also owned by O’Leary, chance and drove Don Cossack ships. bate here for a couple of hours. We can’t “We’re back in competition which is in third. into a lead he would never give Coe said he had no idea how long it demand trust. It’s not going to just return really important for our sport.” “I’ve died and gone to heav- up, with two-time winner Walsh would take to win back fans disgusted by because we’ve got reforms in place,” Coe Coe, meanwhile, said he was con- en!” said O’Leary. “Unusually, unable to press on Djakadam. months of lurid headlines about drugs said. “But what I do know is that unless cerned that the meldonium scandal could there was never a moment’s wor- Cue Card’s trainer Tizzard said and corruption that followed last year’s we start from where we are at the mo- be part of a wider problem of athletes ry and he jumped like a stag. his horse was okay. bombshell World Anti-Doping Agency ment it’s unlikely to happen.” abusing prescription drugs for perform- “He doesn’t have many gears, “He’s absolutely fi ne,” he said. (WADA) report into Russian doping. Although a fresh doping crisis in world ance-enhancing purposes. just one pace, but it’s a high “He’s walked back in here with a The beleaguered International Asso- sport has erupted since the start of the “We need to look very closely at that,” cruising pace. Bryan gave him a bit of grass between his ears but ciation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) year, with around 100 positive tests of the Coe told AFP. masterful ride. He had him in the without a care in a world. president has faced mounting calls to day, Coe said he was confi dent changes newly banned endurance-booster mel- “But the bigger challenge of course is right place all the way.” “You’re fl at out in a Gold Cup step down over his handling of the worst being implemented by the IAAF would donium, Coe said he believed fans would around the use of prescription drugs if O’Faolains Boy and Smad and these things happen. It was crisis in track and fi eld history, with US address concerns about the sport. be able to trust the performances at Port- there isn’t an underlying medical condi- Place set the early quick pace a hell of a mistake and Paddy’s distance runner Alysia Montano and “The changes we will have made by land’s Oregon Convention Center when tion. around two circuits of the Chel- (jockey Brennan) had a fair whack track legend Carl Lewis both calling his the end of this year will self-evidently the championships get under way later “That’s not just a medical issue that’s tenham course as the fi eld quick- - all you can say is thank God he’s leadership into question. answer and deal with many of those chal- Thursday with the men’s and women’s clearly a very big ethical issue and we ly strung out with 22 fences to got up and he’s come back here Responding to the criticism on Thurs- lenges that we’ve got,” Coe said. pole vault. need to meet that challenge.” negotiate. with not a care in the world.” Gulf Times 10 Saturday, March 19, 2016 GOLF

US PGA ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL FOCUS Pilkadaris on top Aussies Rule: Day aft er day 2 of Hero Indian Open

AFP ence of playing on the tree-lined New Delhi course. leads; Leishman, “I felt really good out there and I kept going at fl ags,” said Pilka- erry Pilkadaris of Aus- daris. tralia grabbed the lead “I kept giving myself chances at the Hero Indian Open and it was nice to take advantage yesterday after fi ring of them. I’ve played about 40 nineT birdies for an impressive rounds at least here and you got Scott next at Bay Hill second round score of eight-un- to keep it straight and on the fair- der-par 64. way,” he said. Pilkadaris, a three-time Asian Defending champion and ‘If you are driving it well you can give yourself some opportunities on the green’ Tour winner, dropped only one reigning Asian Tour number one shot on the 18th hole to return Anirban Lahiri carded a 71 to sit on 13-under-par 131 at the chal- in 14th place, seven shots behind lenging Delhi Golf Club course. Pilkadaris. Spaniard Nacho Elvira trailed Padraig Harrington, a three- in second place by three shots time Major champion, will miss following a 68 while Ben Evans of the last two rounds after fi nish- England was a further two shots ing one-shot outside the halfway back on 136 after carding 66. cut. Rashid Khan, who won his fi rst Asian Tour title at the Del- SCORES AFTER ROUND TWO hi course, was the best-placed 131 - Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 67-64 Indian, shooting a 68 to share 134 - Nacho Elvira (ESP) 66-68, fourth place with Jorge Campillo SSP Chawrasia (IND) 67-67 (71) on 137. 136 - Ben Evans (ENG) 70-66, Lee Slattery of England pro- David Lipsky (USA) 69-67 duced the shot of the day, fi ring a 137 - Jorge Campillo (ESP) 66-71, magical albatross on the par-fi ve Rashid Khan (IND) 69-68, Alejan- eighth hole. dro Canizares (ESP) 68-69. It was his career’s fi rst alba- 138 - Adilson Da Silva (BRA) tross and the Asian Tour’s 21st. 72-66, Chris Paisley (ENG) 70-68, The 42-year-old Pilkadaris, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 67-71, without a win since 2005, said he Julien Quesne (FRA) 70-68, Gre- benefi ted from his past experi- gory Havret (FRA) 68-70

WITHDRAWAL Unwell Olazabal pulls out of US Masters

Reuters Madrid

wice former winner Jose Maria Olazabal (pic- tured) has pulled out of next month’s US Mas- Tters after again being laid low by rheumatoid polyarthritis. The 50-year-old Spaniard has not played a competitive round since last year’s Masters and is unable to take up his invitation to compete in the opening major championship of the season at Augusta starting on April 7. “I’m sorry to announce I’m unable to attend this year as I am Jason Day of Australia hits from a bunker on the 17th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday. (AFP) not feeling well,” Olazabal said in 1994 and 1999 Masters cham- a statement yesterday. pion. AFP who holed out for an eagle from 112 yards “I played the par-5s 5-under,” Day course is perfect. I had to take advantage “The Masters is very special Olazabal, who has seven top- Orlando, Florida at the third and sank a 20-foot putt for said. “You have to capitalize on the par- of that.” to me and walking up Magnolia 10 fi nishes from his 27 appear- another eagle at 16, was in a pack of 10 5s here.” Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open Lane gives me a peace of mind ances at Augusta, triumphed in sharing seventh on 68. Day’s round was the lowest at Bay champion who began on the back nine, like nowhere else. 1999 after overcoming rheuma- orld number three Jason Day “I hit a nice wedge from 112 yards,” Hill with a double bogey since Canada’s was atop the leaderboard at six-under “It’s been very tough being at toid polyarthritis in three joints of Australia fi red a six-under Rose said. “Those are always a bonus.” Stephen Ames shot 65 in 2004 -- a good with three holes remaining. But the home these last few months do- of his right foot and two in his par 66 Thursday to grab a Day made bogey at the par-3 second omen with the year’s fi rst major at the 36-year-old American, who has not ing nothing. I’m feeling better, I left. one-stroke lead after the but bounced back with birdies on four of Masters only three weeks away and Day won since 2011 at Quail Hollow, found hit a bucket of balls every morn- He has 30 worldwide career Wfi rst round of the US PGA Arnold Palmer the next six holes, capping the run with a having already fi nished second at Augus- a bunker at the par-3 seventh and took ing and spend 45 minutes on the victories and was captain of Eu- Invitational. 31-foot birdie putt at the eighth. ta National in 2011 and third in 2013. a double bogey, falling into the pack on putting green. rope’s Ryder Cup team when The 28-year-old bounced back twice But Day took a double bogey to fi nish 68. “I practise for about three they pulled off their ‘Miracle of after stumbles to top the leaderboard at the front nine, going out of bounds left off SCOTT SCRAMBLES WELL hours. I don’t set myself goals or Medinah’ comeback win over the Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida, and dropped the tee and taking fi ve shots just to reach Sixth-ranked Scott, the 2013 Masters LEADING ROUND I SCORES dates, time will tell,” added the US in Illinois in 2012. a tense 10-foot par putt at 18 to fi nish on the green. champion, sank three par putts from be- 66 - Jason Day (AUS) top. “That was the only one that was weird yond fi ve feet, another from 10 feet and 67 - Marc Leishman (AUS), Brendan Steele “It was kind of one of those days where about the day. That one came out of the yet another from 12 feet. (USA), Adam Scott (AUS), Henrik Stenson END OF ROAD everything went well,” Day said. blue,” Day said of his tee shot. “Unfor- “There was some scrambling going (SWE), Troy Merritt (USA) “If you are driving it well you can tunately, it’s not always A-grade stuff . on,” Scott said. “I wasn’t really sharp 68 - Francesco Molinari (ITA), Chris Kirk give yourself some opportunities on the When things pop up you have to under- but I got away with it. I managed myself (USA), Justin Rose (ENG), Emiliano Grillo green. I drove it pretty well. I drove it on stand it’s just one bad swing and try and well and made some good putts and kept (ARG), Kevin Chappell (USA), Cameron Korean Pak to retire a string.” fi ght on the back side.” whatever momentum I had going and got Tringale (USA), Lucas Glover (USA), KJ Day, who won his fi rst major title at last Day answered again with three birdies off to a good score.” Choi (KOR), Paul Casey (ENG), Jamie Love- year’s PGA Championship, led a pack that in four holes, sinking short putts at the Scott, coming off titles at the Honda mark (USA) at season’s end included compatriots Adam Scott, who is par-5 12th and par-4 13th and dropping Classic and the World Golf Champion- 69 - William McGirt (USA), Adam Had- seeking his third win in as many starts an 18-footer at the 15th. ships event at Doral two weeks ago, was win (CAN), Martin Laird (SCO), Smylie Reuters and Marc Leishman, plus Sweden’s Hen- A 10-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th put pleased with his start. Kaufman (USA), Freddie Jacobson (SWE), Los Angeles rik Stenson and Americans Troy Merritt Day into the lead at 6-under and he sank a “I didn’t play my best golf tee to green Chris Wood (ENG), Billy Hurley (USA), and Brendan Steele. tense nine-foot par putt at 18 to rescue par but I chipped and putted really well,” Keegan Bradley (USA), Brian Harman England’s eighth-ranked Justin Rose, from greenside rough to fi nish on top. he said. “We got good conditions. The (USA), Maverick McNealey-a (USA) ive-times major win- ner and South Korean pioneer Pak Se-ri (pic- BOTTOMLINE tured) said on Thursday sheF would be calling time on her glittering career at the end of the season. Grand Slam matchup of major champs discontinued The 38-year-old made the an- nouncement after completing her fi rst round at JTBC Founders AFP Grand Slam of Golf over the past few A similar event, the World Series Cup in Phoenix, Arizona. Los Angeles years and studying how this event fi ts of Golf, featured the four major win- “I decided a couple of years with today’s golf landscape, the PGA has ners in the 1960s and 1970s before the ago. I just feel like (it’s) time,” Pak decided to discontinue the event,” the Grand Slam was launched in 1979 at told reporters. he PGA Grand Slam of Golf has PGA of America said in a statement. Oak Hill. “(I decided to announce it be- Lee started her round on the been discontinued by the PGA “When the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Tiger Woods, the 14-time major cause) I’m trying to say thanks back nine and was nine-under of America, which said the was launched in 1979, the golf world champion who is out indefi nitely fol- to everybody. I’m going to miss through nine holes, prompting event struggled to fi nd support was much diff erent than it is today. The lowing back surgery, won a record sev- everything.” thoughts that she might get un- Tin an increasingly crowded late-year PGA Tour’s wrap-around schedule, the en of the 32 Grand Slam of Golf events Pak, who shot an opening der the 60 mark. “Maybe later. schedule. European Tour’s Race to Dubai, plus staged, including fi ve in a row from round three-under-par 69 on Maybe next time. I’m trying The event was designed to feature other important international events, 1998 through 2002. Thursday, has won 25 times on to make 59 one day,” she said. the four major champions from a sea- make the fall schedule very busy and Australia’s Greg Norman won it the LPGA Tour and was inducted “Yeah, that’s my goal.” son in a 36-hole showdown at an exotic hectic for the top players in the world. three times, while South African Ernie into the World Golf Hall of Fame Italian Giulia Sergas was alone course, with fi ll-ins joining in case of “It had also become challenging to Els and Americans Andy North and Jim in 2007. in fourth after an opening round multiple major winners or players un- attract fans, television viewership and Furyk won it twice. Thursday’s leaderboard at 64, which included eight birdies, able to take part. media interest. While we have enjoyed One-time winners of the event in- Wildfi re Golf Club was some- an eagle and two bogeys. Last year’s Grand Slam of Golf was staging the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, cluded Germany’s Martin Kaymer in thing of a tribute to her trailblaz- Five players were at seven-un- to have been played at Trump National given those many factors, the timing is the 2014 fi nal edition at Bermuda’s ing career as her compatriot Lee der after shooting 65s, including in California, but after controversial right to discontinue the event.” Port Royal, Australian Adam Scott in Mi-Hyang shot a course-record American Gerina Piller. remarks by owner and US Presidential Not since 2011 had a year’s four ma- 2013, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in 10-under 62 to lead by one stroke “This is kind of like golfi ng in a candidate Donald Trump, the event jor winners contested the event with- 2012 as an alternate, Argentina’s Angel from another South Korean, Kim bubble,” Piller said. was moved by the PGA only to be can- out at least one alternate, American Cabrera in 2007, American Phil Mick- Sei-Young. “I mean, it’s perfect weather, celled when no new venue could be Keegan Bradley following his PGA elson in 2004, Zimbabwe’s Nick Price American Brittany Lang also great golf course, perfect condi- Martin Kaymer had won PGA Grand Slam of Golf found. Championship victory that year by in 1992 and Welshman Ian Woosnam shot a fl awless 63 to share second tions. You can defi nitely get in a the last time it was played, in 2014. “After carefully evaluating the PGA taking the Grand Slam title as well. in 1991. place. rhythm out there.” Gulf Times Saturday, March 19, 2016 11 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT CHARGING AHEAD Azarenka serves up ‘double bagel’ to Goffi n beats Cilic reach semis

Reuters Indian Wells

ictoria Azarenka to set up semi-fi nal showed little sympa- thy against an ailing Magdalena Rybarikova asV the Belarussian eased to a 6-0 6-0 victory over her Slovak op- ponent to book a BNP Paribas Open semi-fi nal berth on Thurs- day. clash with Raonic The 2012 champion polished off the opening set in just 34 minutes as she raced towards a ‘I dealt with the situation well and gave myself lot of opportunities. And I did what fi rst ‘double bagel’ at the tourna- ment in two years. Vicotria Azarenka celebrates a counted the most - took care of my serve’ “I think the key was the start. I point against Shuai Zhang. started really well and took con- trol and I think in the second set, she cruised into the semi-fi nals she wasn’t really feeling well,” with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Rus- Azarenka, who faces big-serving sian teenager Darya Kasatkina. Czech Karolina Pliskova in the Top seed Serena Williams will semi-fi nals, told reporters. take on third-seeded Pole Ag- “I’m glad I stayed focused on nieska Radwanska in Friday’s my game.” other semi-fi nal. Following the fi rst set, the un- Pliskova blasted 30 winners seeded Rybarikova took a medi- and powered down nine aces to cal timeout to have her upper end Kasatkina’s fairytale run in thigh taped. California, wrapping up the win Rybarikova was clearly strug- in a little more than an hour at gling by the end of the match but the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. the unseeded Slovakian was al- The 18-year-old Russian was ways fi ghting a lost cause as she unable to replicate the form she had her serve broken six times produced in ousting 12th-seed- and fi nished with 25 unforced er- ed Timea Bacsinszky in straight rors. sets in the previous round as she Azarenka continues her rise was overpowered by the world up the rankings after two inju- number 19. ry-hampered seasons and the “I was really happy with the former world number one is ex- way I played, I think it was one uding confi dence in California of the best matches that I played this week, having dropped just here so far,” Pliskova, 24, told re- one set in her tournament. porters after reaching her fi rst A victory in the fi nal on Sun- WTA ‘premier mandatory’ semi- day would be the 15th-ranked fi nal. Azarenka’s second tournament “I played some good tennis win of the season after her Bris- this week, and then there is Mi- bane International triumph in ami (next week), so I have chanc- January. es to improve my ranking and get “I’m very happy to be playing close to the top 10 again.” and to be improving,” she said. While Kasatkina’s dream run “It’s a diff erent stage of my ca- at Indian Wells fi nally came to reer where I can work hard and an end, the 48th-ranked Russian enjoy myself. I see the potential was able to refl ect on her rapid and that’s exciting.” improvement since this time last Earlier, Pliskova enjoyed a year when she was toiling away similarly dominant victory when on the lower-tier ITF circuit.

Federer to make return at next David Goff in of Belgium serves to Marin Cilic of Croatia during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. week’s Miami Open

DPA The 25-year-old has reached two Mas- “I knew I had to stay focussed on Cilic stands 12-8 in a so-so season, World number three Roger champion, who has not played Indian Wells ters fi nals before but has lost them both. what I had to do - to play in a big while Goffi n improved to 12-4. Cilic had Federer said via Twitter on since January’s Australian He dominated Monfi ls in 90 minutes stadium against Marin, a player ended an 11-match losing streak against Thursday that he will return Open, had said three weeks to advance. “I’ve got to be very happy who I beat two weeks ago in Davis top 10 players as he beat Frenchman Ri- from knee surgery a little ago via Facebook that he avid Goffi n defeated Marin Cilic with how I competed today. I dealt with Cup. I was really confi dent, and I chard Gasquet in the fourth round. earlier than expected at the planned to delay his come- 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 on Thursday to the situation well and gave myself lot of was focussed on my plan and not But the Croatian still stands at 0-8 in Miami Open next week. back until the Monte Carlo reach his fi rst career Masters opportunities. thinking about the semi-fi nal” Masters 1000 quarter-fi nals. Federer, using a series of Masters in April. 1000 semi-fi nal with the vic- “And I did what counted the most - I “I knew that against Marin it’s gonna emojis, indicated a flight from The Miami Open will be played toryD at Indian Wells. took care of my serve.” weeks ago in Davis Cup. I was really con- be a battle of serves,” Goffi n said. Europe to the United States, from March 23-April 3. Goffi n, the Belgian 15th seed, was the 2014 US Open winner Cilic became fi dent, and I was focussed on my plan and “I knew that on my serve I had to bat- followed by symbols of an Federer had knee surgery last fi rst between the pair to advance this far the second straight grand slam champion not thinking about the semi-fi nal.” tle to win every service game, because orange, sunshine, a palm month to repair a torn menis- in the elite ATP series. victim for Goffi n, who put out French The win in just under an hour and sometimes he can serve bombs and in 10 tree, a dolphin, a thumbs-up cus, having suff ered the injury The Belgian will play 12th seed Mi- Open holder Stan Wawrinka in the previ- three-quarters was the second for Goffi n seconds can win his games. I had to be and finally a link to the Miami away from a tennis court the los Raonic after the Canadian defeated ous round. over Cilic, who wore a large strapping on focused on my service games. At the end Open’s Twitter account. day after his Australian Open Frenchman Gael Monfi ls 7-5, 6-3 to reach “I knew that my level was there,” Gof- his right knee but insisting it was more I stayed focused in the tiebreak. It was The 17-times grand slam run ended in the semi-finals. his sixth semi-fi nal at the Masters level. fi n said. precautionary than therapeutic. the key of the match to win the fi rst set Raonic is playing his fi rst event since “I knew I had to stay focussed on what Gofi n saved four set points in the 12th and be more relaxed in the second to play the Australian Open after mending vari- I had to do - to play in a big stadium game of the opening set, taking it into a much better.” ous injuries. against Marin, a player who I beat two winning tiebreaker. Now to see what happens next. ACTION PLAN BOTTOMLINE China’s Xi orders clean Winter Games From war-torn Syria to Rio, aft er corruption scandals Mardini’s giant leap control, in comments carried by Reuters Beijing state television. Reuters for a club as soon as she arrived for Relations with the Olympic “Strengthen supervision, let Berlin in Berlin. Movement. the Beijing Winter Olympics and After checking out her level, All names of the athletes and hina must hold a Winter Paralympics be as pure and clean Wasserfreunde Spandau took their sports will be released in Olympics that is “clean as the snow and ice,” the report yrian teenager Yusra her in and Mardini has never June and Miro said the list in- as the snow” when it paraphrased him as saying. Mardini has faced ob- looked back, now busy shaving cluded Ethiopians, Syrians and hosts the event in 2022, Xi made no direct mention of stacles as a refugee from seconds off her personal best in a South Sudanese refugees among PresidentC Xi Jinping said yester- either corruption scandal. a war-torn country that pool originally built for the 1936 others. day, after two corruption scan- Corruption in international mostS people cannot even begin Olympic Games in Berlin. He said more than half were dals involving Chinese offi cials sports is in focus due to US and to imagine and now she wants to “I want to go to the Olym- identifi ed at the sprawling linked to the Games. Swiss probes into soccer’s world go the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. pics. It is a once-in-a-lifetime 180,000 refugee camp in Ka- Beijing, along with the nearby governing body FIFA, the worst The 18-year-old swimmer chance,” she said with a big grin kuma, Kenya, where there were city of Zhangjiakou, won the crisis in its 112-year history, trekked across Turkey, made the and confi dence to match. organised leagues in football and right to host the Games last year. while doping scandals have hit treacherous sea crossing by boat The refugees who will eventu- basketball. The only other city bidding to tennis and athletics. to the Greek island of Lesbos ally qualify and form a team of More than a million refugees, host the event was Kazakhstan’s Xi, who doubles as party and and gradually weaved her way between fi ve and 10 athletes in mainly from Syria, have crossed Almaty, after other prospective military chief, has pursued a through most of central Europe Rio will march as a separate team via Turkey and Greece into Eu- cities dropped out citing costs relentless campaign against with her sister before arriving in called Refugee Olympic Athletes rope in the past 12 months. An and other worries. deep-rooted corruption since Berlin in 2015. Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini after a news conference in Berlin. (ROA). estimated 60 million worldwide The run-up to China’s bid last assuming power three years ago, She is now part of a group of They will stay along with are fl eeing their homelands, year was overshadowed by cor- vowing to go after powerful “ti- 43 hand-picked refugees who dozens of cameras and reporters. “We were thinking with my the other teams in the ath- Miro said. ruption investigations into a dep- gers” as well as lowly “fl ies”. have been identifi ed by the In- “It is hard to leave your home, sister when were in the boat, it letes’ village and have the same “What we wanted to do with uty sports minister who had sat on While Beijing hosted the 2008 ternational Olympic Committee very hard,” Mardini said during a would be a shame if we did not privileges as all other 11,000 this project is to show the world China’s Olympics committee and Summer Games to wide acclaim, (IOC) as potential Olympians break from training at the swim help them so we got into the wa- athletes. that there is a problem,” Miro said. the Communist Party boss of He- its bid for the Winter Games had and are being supported on their club Wasserfreunde Spandau ter and helped them. It was a re- Nomination criteria to make “The 43 are only the cherry on top. bei province, where Zhangjiakou is been dogged by concerns over road to qualifi cation. 04. ally tough experience.” the ROA include sporting level, We want to show that the Olympic located, who had attended meet- a number of issues such as the “I want all refugees to be “Our house was destroyed, we offi cial United Nations-verifi ed movement is based on values.” ings of the bid committee. city’s notorious smog problem, proud of me, I want to encour- did not have anything any more BERLIN TEAM refugee status and personal sit- “What we really believe is Speaking at a meeting with a lack of snow and China’s poor age them that even if we are not and we ran away.” A competitive swimmer back uation and background. that this should continue after senior Chinese Winter Games human rights record. in our homeland and had a tough She swam part of the cross- in Syria, Mardini, who is about “The 43 belong to diff erent the Games in Rio. This is not and sports offi cials, Xi said there The report made no mention way that we can still do great ing over to Greece, helping other seven seconds off the qualifi ca- sports, mainly athletics and something we have done only must be strict budget manage- of any of those issues, although things,” Mardini said, looking refugees who were in the water tion time she needs for the 200 swimming,” said the IOC’s Pere for Rio Games. This should be ment to ensure the cost of host- Xi said the Games should be both very much at ease in front of and could not swim. metres freestyle in Rio, looked Miro, Deputy Director General continued.” ing the Games was kept under “green” and “open”.

Saturday, March 19, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

QATAR STARS LEAGUE PREVIEW / KHOR VS MESAIMEER Coach Fernandez Meshal’s 100th goal wants ‘Cup Final’ performance sets up Ahli win; from Khor

By Sports Reporter Doha

Sailiya hold Qatar SC he last time Al Khor and Mesaimeer faced off against each other in Late Sagbo strike ensures Umm Salal’s 1-0 win at Al Wakrah the Qatar Stars League (QSL),T the match ended in a 2-1 win for the former. Khor coach Jean Fernandez, however, hasn’t gotten over that Novem- ber 27, 2015, tie yet, even as the two teams meet each other again injury. However, their coach is today at Al Khor Stadium. adamant to get the three points “It was a strange game; I still against Mesaimeer, “This is a remember. The last game against game we should win because we Mesaimeer, they gave us a tough need the three points. At this time. I like this team, I respect point we can’t stay relaxed but this team and they are provid- if we get the three points we can ing good performances in the think of other things,” added the league,” Fernandez said at the 61-year-old tactician. pre-match press conference. Mesaimeer have already been Khor, who are in the 11th spot in relegated from the QSL as they the QSL table with 25 points, are have only fi ve points from twen- hurting from last week’s 0-2 loss ty-two games. The bottom club to Lekhwiya and will be looking to will look to make the best of the make amends against a team that remaining fi ve matches to end has already been relegated. their season on a high note. Fernandez, however, is not Coach Rodion Gacanin is look- taking things for granted. “These ing to improve their attacking last few games are all like cup fi - prowess, “We don’t have too much nals for us as we need to win all of to build on but we need to im- them,” he said. prove our ambition and work on Speaking of the level of dif- our counterattack. I hope it will be fi culty of today’s match, Fern- good match against Al Khor.” andez said, “This game is very Gacanin is hoping to get the complicated, it will be everything most of the remaining matches in but easy. We will expect every- order to prepare for the upcom- thing from them. Mesaimeer lost ing domestic trophies. He said, last minute against Al Rayyan “We are preparing step by step and drew against El Jaish so they for the Emir Cup. I hope we fi nd don’t lose easily.” possession in the centre of the Al Khor will be without star pitch and this match may prove striker Julio Cesar, who will miss vital for our preparation for the the remainder of the season with Emir Cup.”

PREVIEW / GHARAFA VS KHARAITIYAT Al Ahli captain Meshal Abdulla celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal of the match Qatar SC’s Fadhl Omer heads the ball while Al Sailiya’s Dragos Grigore (left) looks on against Al Arabi and his 100th in the QSL yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma during their QSL match at Al Ahli Stadium yesterday.

By Sports Reporter pressure up and were rewarded for their Caixinha talks Doha eff ort in the 80th minute. Dragos Grigore, Sailiya’s Romanian de- fender, chested the ball into the goal when l Ahli dented Al Arabi’s top 4 Sultan al-Kuwari headed the ball towards up Gharafa’s ambitions with an impressive him from a corner. The referee originally 3-1 win yesterday in the QSL did not allow the goal because of suspicions match of the week. The game of hand ball, but after deliberation with his alsoA saw Ahli with captain Meshal Abdul- assistant, awarded the goal to Al Sailiya. fi ghting qualities la scoring his 100th career goal in a tense The result means that the Kings remain clash at Al Ahli Stadium. in the relegation zone with twenty-two Abdulla opened the scoring as early as points while Al Sailiya’s position also re- the 8th minute of the round 23 clash. The mained unchanged at seventh with thir- veteran Qatari attacker outran his marker ty-two points. and clipped the ball past Al Arabi goal- keeper Rajab Hamza for his side’s open- UMM SALAL WIN AT WAKRAH ing goal and his 100th strike in the QSL. Yannick Sagbo’s late strike yesterday Ahli doubled their lead two minutes lifted Umm Salal as the visitors managed into the second half courtesy Mouchiane a 1-0 win over Al Wakrah. Iajour. A powerful run and shot inside the Sagbo scored the only goal of the Arabi area rocketed past Rajab Hamza to match in the 86th minute as hosts Al leave the Al Ahli faithful in raptures. Arabi Wakrah failed to pick up points from the pushed hard to get back into the tie, but round 23 match in the QSL. It was fi fth- Yusef Adam’s side weathered the storm placed Umm Salal’s fi rst win after three and eff ectively killed off the game in the matches. 60th minute. Wakrah seemed to be the better side, Summer signing Ndombe Mubele particularly in the second half, and should picked up a lose rebound and clip a low have taken the lead. Substitute Waheed shot into Al Arabi net with goalkeeper Tahiri had only the goalkeeper to beat but Kassim woefully out of place. he failed to convert from close range. Arabi did grab a late consolation goal Umm Salal made Wakrah rue those Al Gharafa coach Pedro Caixinha (right) from their captain Paulinho, but it proved missed chances when Sagbo produced to be too little too late for Gianfranco Zo- Umm Salal’s Ismail Mahmoud Mardanli (right) vies for the ball with Al Wakrah’s Abdul a close-range header to score his team’s By Sports Reporter attack; we have almost the same la’s team. Rahiman Hussain during their match in Al Wakrah yesterday. PICTURE: Othman Iraqi winning goal four minutes from time. Doha number of goals as Al Rayyan.” The result leaves Arabi in 6th place in Al Wakrah should have perhaps had an He added: “We have twelve the QSL standings, with their hopes of egation threatened Qatar SC yesterday QSC came close to a second goal in the equalizer in stoppage time. Midfi elder points to play for from four Qatar Cup qualifi cation in the balance. evening. thirty-ninth minute when Ali Awad’s Mohsine Moutaouali’s free kick looked ighth-placed Al Ghara- games. If we work hard I be- Whilst for Al Ahli, this win has pushed The Kings took the lead in the 18th minute thunderous shot from outside the box certain to be hitting the back of the net fa take on relegation- lieve we can win our remaining them up to 9th further away from the after Emiliano Vecchio’s corner kick found hit the crossbar. Despite enjoying much but Umm Salal’s experienced goalkeeper threatened Al Kharaitiyat games.” QSL relegation zone. an unmarked Fadhil Omer who headed the of the possession in the fi rst half, Sailiya Baba Malik pulled of a fi ne diving save to in a Qatar Stars League Al Kharaitiyat are only one ball in to the goal. The young Qatari striker failed to convert their chances thanks to deny the Moroccan international. matchE in the Al Gharafa stadium point clear of the drop zone with SAILIYA PLAY OUT 1-1 DRAW VS QSC with only his second goal of the season put Qatar SC’s organized defense. The result leaves Wakrah in ninth today. twenty-two points, which leaves Al Sailiya left it late to draw 1-1 with rel- Sebastaio Lazaroni’s men in front. In the second half, Sailiya kept the place, whilst Umm Salal are in 5th place. The home side have thirty them in twelfth place. After last points after their 4-0 demoli- week’s loss to Al Sadd they are in tion of Al Sailiya last week and need of points in order to remain FOCUS they will be hoping to continue in the league. this form against struggling Kharaitiyat coach Amar Osim Kharaitiyat. wants to let everyone know that Gharafa coach Pedro Caixinha this game is top priority for was quick to point out the diff er- them. “At this moment, this is Al-Attiyah returns to Overdrive for cross country WC ent motivations of the two teams the game of the season for us. at the pre-match press confer- From now, until the end of the Agencies rounds of the FIA World Cup that do not porting him, as he and Matthieu try and ence. season, the matches we play are Villers-Le-Bouillet, Belgium clash with preparations to represent the win the fi rst two desert rounds of this “In this game, both the teams more important as we approach State of Qatar in the skeet shooting dis- year’s FIA World Cup.” have diff erent situations. We the end,” he said. cipline at the Olympic Games in Rio this The winner of a record-breaking 61 are trying to achieve glory and “They are a good team to atar’s esteemed rally driver summer. Al-Attiyah won a bronze medal rounds of the MERC and 11 regional ti- Kharaitiyat is trying to stay in the watch. They have many 1-0 and Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah has four years ago at the Olympic Games in tles, al-Attiyah is also a two-time winner league. We will prepare for the 0-0 matches. They play very made a sensational return to London. of the WRC 2 category in the FIA World lower block and try not to lose tactical games they have a com- Overdrive Racing and will drive Nasser, 45, is currently preparing to Rally Championship and the only Arab the ball in diff erent areas of the pletely diff erent style and we aQ Toyota Hilux for the Belgian team in the take part in next weekend’s Kuwait In- driver ever to win the PWRC title. pitch,” said the Portuguese tacti- need to adapt,” added the Bos- forthcoming Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge ternational Rally before switching his at- Taking victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert cian. nian tactician. and Sealine Cross-Country Rally, rounds tention to preparations for the Abu Dhabi Challenge is one success that has eluded Gharafa have recently intro- Kharaitiyat will be strength- two and three of the 2016 FIA Cross- Desert Challenge on April 2-7 and the Overdrive Racing thus far despite the fact duced a rougher style of play ened by the recent return of their Country Rally World Cup. Sealine event in his native Qatar on April the team has taken wins on nearly all of and according to their Pro Zone Senegalese midfi elder Issiar Dia. Al-Attiyah drove for the team in 2012 18-22. the other rounds of the FIA World Cup. match analysis they are going Osim is glad he has found his and won the Sealine Cross-Country Rally “Everyone at Overdrive is delighted to Al-Attiyah is keen to add to the single in with more tackles. Speaking way back into the side. “Dia is in an Overdrive Toyota, one season after welcome Nasser back for two of the most victory he achieved back in 2008 with about this style of play, Caixinha back for us and he wasn’t bad in taking the fi rst of his two Dakar Rally ti- demanding rallies in the FIA World Cup Swedish navigator Tina Thorner. said, “We are doing more tackles the last 2 games. We hope for his tles. He will be bidding for a fourth vic- calendar,” said Overdrive Racing’s team His campaign with Overdrive Racing because we are becoming fi ght- improvement. In him we have a tory in fi ve years on the Sealine event and The Qatari is combining a programme director Jean-Marc Fortin. “We have gets underway with a short super special ers. The most important thing player that can pass one or two a third successive win with French navi- of events in the FIA Middle East Ral- many happy memories of working with stage at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on is that everyone in the team is players and in football you need gator Matthieu Baumel. ly Championship (MERC) with select him in the past and look forward to sup- April 2. fi ghting. We have a very good that.”