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Home , 2019 Dakar Rally, Andy Pycroft, Anrich Nortje, Michael Obafemi

SATURDAY 28 DECEMBER 2019 SPORT 17 I don’t think it is fair on the boys at all. I don’t think it is Manchester United’s fair to be expected to perform Ole Gunnar Solskjaer CRICKET becomes the latest EPL manager vs New Zealand vs England at the best of your level, both to complain about the packed mentally and physically, 48 programme of fixtures over Boxing Day Test, Day 3 in Boxing Day Test, Day 3 in

Christmas and New Year. ACTION Melbourne Centurion

hours after you have played. TODAY’S

ANATOLIA/THE PENINSULA September 21: ANKARA Barcelona’s Messi receives the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019 Major sports events that took award. place in the year of 2019. Highlights of the year September 29:  bag the gold medal JANUARY in the CEV Men’s Volleyball January 11: European Championship by UEFA, European football’s beating 3-1 in the final. governing body, announced the Team of the Year 2018. Fans OCTOBER voted online to select players. October 4: Superstars Lionel Messi (Bar-  American Dalilah celona) and Cristiano Ronaldo Muhammad breaks her own (Juventus) were in this team. world record in the 400-meter January 17: hurdles in 52.16 seconds at 17th Qatari driver Nasser Saleh World Athletics Championships Al Attiyah and co-driver Matthieu in Doha. Baumel of win the 2019  Mutaz Essa Barshim, in . It was Al Atti- ’s champion high jumper yah’s third Dakar Rally title. has wins the Gold Medal at the January 21: IAAF Doha 2019 after clearing the Argentine football player 2.37m. Emiliano Sala gets killed in a October 8: plane crash in the English  Female athlete Simone Channel. Sala, 28, was on his way Biles becomes the most decorated to join his new club Cardiff City gymnast in World Championships from Nantes. history with her 21st gold medal. January 26: October 30: ’s Naomi Osaka, 22,  A Nepali mountaineer beats Petra Kvitova 2-1 to gain the Nirmal Purja climbs the world’s 2019 Australian Open Women’s tallest 14 peaks in six months to Singles title. break the world record. January 27: October 4: Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim becomes the world champion after winning the gold medal at the IAAF Doha  NOVEMBER Serbian tennis player 2019 World Athletics Championships. Novak Djokovic wins the 2019 November 3: Australian Open title in Men’s  Kenyan athlete Daniel Singles after he defeats his Antoine Griezmann from La Liga Kipkore Kibet wins the 41st Spanish rival Rafael Nadal 3-0 in rivals Atletico Madrid, paying Istanbul Marathon men’s title by final. €120m ($134.9m) for the buyout breaking the 42 km Istanbul Mar- clause to acquire Griezmann. athon track record while Ethi- FEBRUARY July 13: opian athlete Hirut Tibebu wins February 1: Romanian tennis player women’s title at the interconti-  Qatar national football Simona Halep beats her US nental Istanbul Marathon. team win their first Asian Cup, opponent Serena Williams 2-0 to beating Japan 3-1 in final. win the 2019 Wimbledon title in  Mercedes team’s driver February 4: women’s singles. Lewis Hamilton secures the 2019 New England Patriots beat July 14: Formula 1 title at the US Grand Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in the  Serbian tennis player Prix with a second-place finish at Super Bowl to win sixth NFL title Novak Djokovic defeats Swiss the Circuit of the Americas. in history. Roger Federer 3-2 to win the 2019 Wimbledon title in men’s singles. DECEMBER MARCH July 19: December 3: March 7:  earn their first  Messi receives the 2019  Los Angeles Lakers’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Ballon d’Or award, his sixth. American superstar LeBron James title in 29 years, defeating Senegal December 9: scored 31 points against Denver 1- 0 in the Egyptian capital Cairo.  The World Anti-Doping Nuggets in NBA game to beat a Agency (WADA) hands a four- Qatar’s Hassan Al Haydos (centre) raises the trophy as he celebrates their win during the AFC Chicago Bulls legend, Michael AUGUST year ban to for major Asian Cup final against Japan held at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on February 1. Jordan, who had 32,292 points in August 12: sporting events including the his career. James tallied 32,311  A former Inter Milan, 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 points in total to surpass Jordan. leagues, English Premier January 17: Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and co-driver Galatasaray and Al Gharafa star, World Cup. The NBA’s all-time top scorer is League, Spanish La Liga and Matthieu Baumel of France win the 2019 Dakar Rally in Peru. Dutch attacking midfielder December 15: a retired player, Kareem Abdul- Italian Serie A. Wesley Sneijder, 35, retires from Tokyo National Stadium Jabbar, who dropped 38,387 April 27: football. Sneijder helped Inter win declared ready for 2020 Summer points in the league. Barcelona win Spanish 2010 UEFA Champions League. Olympics as the Japanese prime March 11: La Liga title with three weeks August 14: minister, Shinzo Abe opens it. French manager Zinedine remaining in the season. Liverpool capture the 2019 December 19: Zidane returns to Spanish La Liga UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul’s  ’s National giants Real Madrid to work as a MAY Vodafone Park Stadium after Football Team tops the FIFA manager for the second time in May 12: beating Chelsea 5-4 on World Ranking in 2019. his career.  Manchester City beat penalties. December 21: Brighton 4-1 to win the English August 18: Liverpool win 2019 FIFA APRIL title.  English football veteran Club World Cup after beating Bra- April 2: May 15: Ashley Cole retires from football zil’s Flamengo 1-0 in the final in  The German Football Ajax Amsterdam win 34th at the ageggy of 38, ending a 20-year Qatar.Q Association (DFB) President title in Dutch top-tier Eredivisie professionalprofessional career. December 25: Reinhard Grindel resigns. league, beating De Graafschap AugustAugust 2929:: ’sSpain’s Real Madrid heads April 20: 4-1. VirgilVirgil van DiDijk,jk, LiverpooLiverpool’sl’s UEFA’sUEFA’s listlist of all-  Italian football power- May 18: League trophy over 4-1 win 2-0 victory against Tottenhamham DutchDutch defender,defender, is namenamedd thethe timetime top 30 house Juventus lift their eight  Bayern Munich hit Ein- against Arsenal. Hotspur in Madrid. UEFAUEFA Men’s PlayerPlayer ofof thethe Year.Year. clclubsubs ooff consecutive Serie A title, beating tracht Frankfurt 5-1 to win their June 5: European Fiorentina 2-1 at home. 28th title in ’s top JUNE A Swiss-Italian national,onal, SEPTEMBER CCupup with  Juventus forward football league, Bundesliga. June 1: Gianni Infantino is re-electedcted SeptemberSeptember 8: 6006 00 Ronaldo becomes first player May 29:  Liverpool claim UEFA FIFA President for another ffourour AmericanAmerican SerenaSerena WilliamsWilliams points.points. to win titles in three major Chelsea bag UEFA Europa Champions League title over a years. isis ddefeatedefeated 6-3,6-3, 7-5,7-5, in tthehe June 9: women’swomen’s finalfinal of the UUnitednited States  Spanish tennis playerayer OpenOpen byby Bianca Andreescu who Rafael Nadal wins the Frenchench becomesbecomes tthehe firstfirst CanadianCanadian to win Open title, beating ’sria’s thethe title.title. Dominic Thiem 3-1. SeptemberSeptember 9: June 11: SpanishSpanish RafaelRafael Barcelona superstar MessiMessi NadalNadal winwinss tthehe US. becomes the most paid athleteete in OOpenpen to claimclaim hishis the world with $127m, Forbes sasays.ys. 19th GrandGrand SlamSlam June 13: title.title.  Spanish football giantsants SeptemberSeptember Real Madrid sign Belgian mid-mid- 15:15: fielder Eden Hazard from Chelsea.elsea.  SpainSpain “Los Blancos” (The Whites) papayy winwin 20192019 FIBA $112 million transfer feee to BasketballBasketball Chelsea to set new club record.ord. WorldWorld CupCup June 14: ttitle,itle, beatinbeatingg The Toronto Raptors --- thethe AArgentinargentina only NBA team outside the US- 95-7595-75 in finalfinal Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) become 2019 NBA championsions inin Beijing.Beijing. President Stanislav Pozdnyakov holds a after beating Golden State WWar-ar- SSpanishpanish pplay-lay- press conference in Moscow after WADA riors 114-110 in the finals. mmakeraker guardguard RickyRicky handed a four-year ban to Russia for RRubioubio is pickedpicked as JULY the MMostost ValuableValuable major sporting events including the 2020 December 2: Barcelona's Lionel Messi July 12: PlayerPlayer (MVP)(MVP) of the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Cup. wins his 6th Ballon d'Or award Barcelona sign Frenchh star World Cup. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 28 DECEMBER 2019 tumble on day two at Centurion

AFP SCOREBOARD But Denly survived the initial CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA South Africa (1 Innings) J Bairstow b Nortje ...... 1 fast bowling storm and gradually asserted himself to make 50 off D Elgar c Buttler b Anderson ...... 0 J Buttler c De Kock b Philander ...... 12 Vernon Philander led a relentless 111 balls with nine fours. South African bowling A Markram c Bairstow b Curran ...... 20 S Curran c Hamza b Rabada ...... 20 England collapsed, however, performance before England Z Hamza c Stokes b Broad ...... 39 J Archer b Philander ...... 3 after Denly was caught behind fought back on the second day F du Plessis c Root b Broad ...... 29 S Broad c Elgar b Rabada ...... 2 off an inside edge to give all- of the first Test at Centurion’s H van der Dussen c Root b Curran ...... 6 J Anderson () ...... 0 rounder his SuperSport Park yesterday. Q de Kock c Buttler b Curran ...... 95 Extras (B4, LB5, NB2, W5) ...... 16 first Test . Philander took four for 16 in Fast bowler Anrich Nortje D Pretorius c Root b Curran ...... 33 Total (53.2 overs) ...... 181 14.2 overs as South Africa bowled Jonny Bairstow for one appeared to have taken control V Philander c Buttler b Broad ...... 35 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-15, 3-70, 4-142, in the next over and then claimed by bowling out England for 181, K Maharaj c Stokes b Archer ...... 6 5-143, 6-150, 7-176, 8-176, 9-181 the key wicket of Stokes when a first innings lead of 103. K Rabada b Broad ...... 12 Bowling: Rabada 15-1-68-3 (2nb), Phi- he switched to bowling around But England struck hard at A Nortje (not out) ...... 0 lander 14.2-8-16-4, Pretorius 8-2-23-1, the wicket and induced a loose the start of the second innings. Extras (LB4, NB2, W3) ...... 9 Nortje 12-2-47-2 (1w), Maharaj 4-1-18-0 drive which presented wicket- South Africa were 72 for four at keeper with his Total (84.3 overs) ...... 284 South Africa (II Innings) the close, an overall lead of 175 fifth catch of the innings. on a pitch which has proved dif- Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-32, 3-71, 4-97, A Markram lbw b Anderson ...... 2 Nortje bowled at high pace, ficult for batsmen throughout. 5-111, 6-198, 7-245, 8-252, 9-277 D.Elgar c Buttler b Archer ...... 22 with a top speed of 149kmh. Philander, 34, who has Bowling: Anderson 20-4-69-1, Broad Z Hamza c Buttler b Broad ...... 4 From a promising position announced he will retire from 18.3-4-58-4 (1nb, 1w), Curran 20-5-58-4 F du Plessis c Curran b Archer ...... 20 at 142 for three, England lost international cricket at the end (2w), Archer 19-4-65-1(1nb), Root 4-0- H van der Dussen not out ...... 17 their last seven wickets for 39 of the four-Test series, produced runs. But wickets continued to 26-0, Denly 3-0-4-0 A Nortje (batting) ...... 4 a master class of control to com- fall when South Africa batted plement the strike power of fast England (1 Innings) Extras (b1, lb1, nb1) ...... 3 again. James Anderson, who dis- bowlers (three for R Burns c De Kock b Philander ...... 9 Total (4 wkts, 20 overs) ...... 72 missed Dean Elgar with the first 68) and Anrich Nortje (two for D Sibley c De Kock b Rabada ...... 4 Fall of wickets: 1-2 , 2-25 , 3-29, 4-62 ball of the match on Thursday, 47). J Denly c De Kock b Pretorius ...... 50 Bowling: Anderson 4-0-19-1, Broad 5-2- again claimed a wicket in his first Wicketkeeper Quinton de J Root c De Kock b Philander ...... 29 6-1, Archer 6-1-37-2 (1nb), Curran 4-2-8-0, over when Kock equalled the South African played around his pads and was B Stokes c De Kock b Nortje ...... 35 Stokes 1-1-0-0 Test record by holding six leg before wicket. Zubayr Hamza catches, a feat which had been was caught by wicketkeeper Jos accomplished six times before - He shared in partnerships of 55 Denly was dropped on Buttler down the leg side before England’s Jofra Archer is bowled out by South Africa’s on four occasions by new head for the third wicket with captain nought and took 28 balls to score Elgar was caught behind for 22 Vernon Philander during the first Test at the Supersport coach Mark Boucher. Joe Root (29) and 72 for the his first run as Philander had an off Jofra Archer’s second ball to Park, Centurion, South Africa, yesterday. Joe Denly hit a half-century fourth wicket with Ben Stokes opening spell of one wicket for reduce South Africa to 29 for for England after a shaky start. (35). no runs in five overs. three. Archer in no-ball Australia take charge of second Test AFP SCOREBOARD controversy MELBOURNE Australia (1 Innings) Australia snatched two early AFP wickets to leave New Zealand J Burns b Boult ...... 0 CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA facing an uphill battle to stay in D Warner c Southee b Wagner ...... 41 the second Test yesterday as they M Labuschagne b de Grandhomme .. 63 England’s Jofra Archer was chase the home team’s 467, built S Smith c Nicholls b Wagner ...... 85 no-balled and warned for a on the back of a gritty 114 from M Wade c Watling b de Grandhomme .. high no-ball but appeared to Travis Head. 38 escape sanction for a second At the close on day two, the high in a controversial Black Caps were 44 for two with T Head c Snatner b Wagner ...... 114 end to the second day of the Tom Latham not out nine and T Paine lbw Wagner ...... 79 first Test yesterday. Ross Taylor on two as a series M Starc c Williamson b Southee ...... 1 South African captain Faf defeat looms. J Pattinson not out ...... 14 du Plessis and coach Mark Captain Kane Williamson P Cummins c Latham b Southee ...... 0 Boucher were understood to lasted only 14 balls, skying a N Lyon c Wagner b Southee ...... 1 have approached James Pattinson delivery to Andy Pycroft after the close of wicketkeeper Tim Paine on nine Australian batsman Travis Extras (lb22, b5, w4) ...... 31 play but there was no imme- while Tom Blundell, called up for Head celebrates scoring Total (all out) ...... 467 diate statement on what the out-of-form Jeet Raval, was his century against New Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-61, 3-144, 4-216, transpired. out to Pat Cummins for 15. Zealand on the second 5-284, 6-434, 7-435, 8-458, 9-463, 10- “The match referee has The visitors need to win to day of the second Test 467 deferred the situation for square the three-match series match at the MCG in Bowling: Boult 31-3-91-1, Southee comment to the International after crashing by 296 runs in the Melbourne, yesterday. Cricket Council communica- opening day-night clash in Perth. 33.1-6-103-1, de Grandhomme 30-5-68- tions department. We have Australia looked in complete 2, Wagner 38-11-83-4, Santner 20-1- been asked to leave it to them,” control at tea on 431 for five, but Head came into the match played an array of shots to notch It was a big turnaround for 82-0, Blundell 3-0-13-0 said a South African team they then collapsed to be all out under pressure after a lean spell, his seventh Test half-century off New Zealand who were buoyed New Zealand (1 Innings) spokesperson. for 467 within nine overs of the but silenced his critics with only just 72 balls. The 35-year-old after snaring the vital wicket of T Latham (batting)...... 9 “There was a little bit of restart. his second Test century, reaching had a golden opportunity to Smith for 85 before lunch, but T Blundell c Paine b Cummins ...... 15 conversation going on after the Skipper Paine departed for three figures off 222 balls. score a maiden ton, but he blew then failed to capitalise. game,” said South African 79 seven balls after tea, with It was a patient innings from it, out lbw to Wagner after a Smith looked set for a 27th K Williamson c Paine b Pattinson ...... 9 opening bowler Vernon Mitchell Starc gone soon after for the 25-year-old, who scored his review. Test century and his fifth in as R Taylor (batting)...... 2 Philander. one. Head, Cummins and Nathan only other century (161) against That brought Starc to the many Tests at the Melbourne Extras (LB3, B4, W1, NB1) ...... 9 “The umpires have to deal Lyon rapidly followed with Neil Sri Lanka in Canberra. After crease, but he lasted just three Cricket Ground before a Wagner Total (two wickets) ...... 44 with it. Hopefully they will Wagner (4-83) and Tim Southee reaching his ton he began hitting balls before spooning a Southee bouncer ended his 242-ball Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-39 make the right call.” Although (3-103) doing the damage. out and finally fell to a Wagner delivery to Williamson at mid- knock. It had been slow going as Bowling: Starc 4-0-18-0, Cummins 7-3- Philander said it was a matter Australia started the day at full toss, slicing it to Mitchell off. Cummins and Lyon managed pace spearheads Trent Boult, for the umpires he offered his 257 for four with on Santner. He was ably supported just one run between them with Southee and Wagner kept the 8-1, Pattinson 5-1-9-1, Lyon 2-0-2-0 own opinion. 77 and Head not out 25. by the impressive Paine, who Pattinson left not out 14. batsmen in check, “For me it’s plain and simple. You are setting an example for the rest of the people looking into this game. Paine blasts DRS technology You have to make the right call. Are you going to tolerate it at another game or are we going to put a stop to it right here?” after controversial dismissal Square leg umpire Chris Gaffaney signalled no-ball AFP he said of the delivery. Some com- Paine’s disappointment was when an attempted slower ball MELBOURNE mentators agreed that it was hard to compounded by New Zealand’s by the England fast bowler went see how Wagner’s ball could have cut Ross Taylor surviving a review late past nightwatchman Anrich Australia captain Tim Paine blasted back into Paine so much, struck him in the day after initially being Nortje in the penultimate over cricket’s Decision Review System in line and gone on to hit middle given out lbw. The ball looked to of a dramatic day during which yesterday, saying it left him “disap- stump. be hitting the stumps but the 15 wickets fell. pointed and angry” after he was tracking technology showed it The next delivery also was dismissed controversially in the going over. high and full, which had Nortje second Test against New Zealand. “And then you get one late falling to the turf to avoid Paine played one of his best tonight which, the guy’s stuck on the being hit, as Archer again tried innings and was on track to score crease, he’s hit really full and it’s to bowl his slower “knuckle” a maiden Test century when he I won’t go into it too far going over, so it’s disappointing and ball. was removed lbw by Neil Wagner because I’ll get in trouble it makes me angry,” said Paine. Umpire Gaffaney appeared for 79 after New Zealand reviewed “I’ve got a few doubts, no doubt to start signalling another the umpire’s original not out but I’m just seeing time and about that,” he added of the tech- no-ball, which could have decision. time again, what I see to nology’s accuracy. resulted in Archer not being He was asked about the DRS by the naked eye, or watching “I won’t go into it too far because allowed to bowl again broadcaster ABC afterwards and it on television in real time, I’ll get in trouble but I’m just seeing according to International Australian batsman Tim Paine pulls a ball away replied: “Don’t start.” time and time again, what I see to Cricket Council regulations. But from the New Zealand bowling on the second day “I thought from the length that it and then what it comes up the naked eye, or watching it on tel- he seemed to check his signal. of the second Test match at the MCG in Melbourne, pitched, and the bloke bowling is sometimes a little bit off evision in real time, and then what The umpires spoke to Archer yesterday. around the wicket, it’s pretty difficult the mark: Tim Paine it comes up is sometimes a little bit and the over was called. to hit you in line, and hit the stumps,” off the mark.” SATURDAY 28 DECEMBER 2019 SPORT 19 Liverpool thrash Leicester to stretch lead

AFP a calm finish into the top corner. English Premier League The visitors then secured a English Premier League results second straight win to move up on Thursday: Liverpool stretched their Premier to 14th when Aston Villa 1 (Hourihane 64) League lead to 13 points by prodded past the onrushing Kepa Norwich 0 outclassing second-placed Arrizabalaga 17 minutes from Bournemouth 1 (Gosling 35) Leicester in a 4-0 win on Boxing time. Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 63) Day as Manchester United and Spurs were still feeling the Chelsea 0 Southampton 2 Tottenham cut the gap on fourth- after-effects of that Chelsea (Obafemi 31, Redmond 73) placed Chelsea. defeat with Son Heung-min sus- Crystal Palace 2 (Kouyate Mikel Arteta got off to an pended and confidence low 68, Ayew 90) West Ham 1 underwhelming start as Arsenal when Adam Webster headed (Snodgrass 57) manager with a 1-1 draw at Brighton ahead midway through Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 80) Bournemouth, but Carlo Ance- the first half. Burnley 0 lotti had a more positive impact Kane swept home at the Leicester 0 Liverpool 4 on his Everton bow as Dominic second attempt after his first shot (Firmino 31, 74, Milner 71-pen, Calvert-Lewin’s brilliant diving was saved by Mat Ryan before header earned a 1-0 win over Alli then delivered all three Alexander-Arnold 78) Burnley. points with a delightful chipped Manchester United 4 (Martial Chelsea beat Tottenham in a finish from an acute angle. 24, 51, Greenwood 36, big win for Frank Lampard over United were also beaten 2-0 Rashford 41) Newcastle 1 his former mentor Jose Mourinho at bottom-of-the-table Watford (M Longstaff 17) on Sunday, but the gap between on Sunday and another frus- Sheffield United 1 (Norwood the two is back down to three trating evening seemingly 36-pen) Watford 1 (Deulofeu points as the Blues lost 2-0 at beckoned when Matty Longstaff 27) home to lowly Southampton. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match against scored his second Premier Tottenham 2 (Kane 53, Alli Spurs came from behind to Leicester City at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Thursday. League goal - both of which have 72) Brighton 1 (Webster 37) beat Brighton 2-1 thanks to goals come against the Red Devils. from Harry Kane and Dele Alli, However, unlike when the Dubravka for the fourth early in while United moved just a point Liverpool midfielder James quarter ensured the scoreline faced with breaking down Magpies beat Ole Gunnar Solska- the second half. further back in seventh as they Milner. fairly reflected their control. stubborn defensive opponents jer’s men 1-0 in October, the Arteta got an early lesson in too overturned a poor start to “We are not even halfway Milner doubled the visitors’ in Southampton. response from United was the flaws that have blighted thrash Newcastle 4-1 with and so much can change and lead before Firmino’s classy The Blues have now lost to emphatic. Arsenal’s season as they were Anthony Martial scoring twice. happen. The strength of this team finish made it 3-0. West Ham, Bournemouth and the Martial fired in at the near caught out trying to play from the Liverpool’s trip to their is we take it one game at a time.” Trent Alexander-Arnold Saints in their last four home post with the help of Newcastle back to concede the opening goal closest challengers was the top Roberto Firmino’s header was helped set up all of his side’s first league games. ‘keeper Martin Dubravka before when Dan Gosling put Bourne- billing of a busy Boxing Day card, scant reward for a dominant first three goals and rounded off a Southampton boss Ralph a thundering finish from Mason mouth in front. but there was no contest as the half display as Sadio Mane and stunning individual display by Hasenhuttl’s decision to rest Greenwood and Marcus Rash- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang newly crowned world cham- Mohamed Salah wasted big drilling home the fourth from in-form talisman ford’s header made it 3-1 before again rode to the Gunners’ rescue pions showed their class. chances. outside the box. paid off as his replacement the break. to equalise just after the hour “It’s one of many successful However, three goals in After the highs of Sunday, Michael Obafemi scored just his Another defensive error then mark, but a point leaves Arsenal nights so far this season,” said seven minutes in the final Chelsea again struggled when second Premier League goal with teed up Martial to dink over still down in 11th.

Solskajer slams Mourinho festive fixture Defending champions PSG march hopeful pile-up towards another Ligue 1 title Ndombele will AFP return against LONDON, AP Paris Saint-Germain France’s only Champions PARIS forward Kylian MBappe League winner - in 1993 - Norwich Manchester United’s Ole runs with the ball during while PSG has never reached Gunnar Solskjaer has become Paris Saint-Germain has not the French L1 match a European Cup final. AFP the latest Premier League been as ruthlessly dominant as against Amiens at the Parc Rudi Garcia paid the price at LONDON manager to complain about the last season but the defending des Princes Stadium in Marseille and made way for “unfair” packed programme of champion is again enjoying a Paris in this December 21 Villas-Boas, little more than one Tottenham Hotspur manager fixtures over Christmas and comfortable lead at the winter file picture. year after leading the south- Jose Mourinho hopes club- New Year. break thanks to its inconsistent coast club on a remarkable run record signing Tanguy United play their final rivals. to the Europa League final in Ndombele will declare himself league match of 2019 against PSG has played 18 of 38 2018. fit to play at Norwich today. Burnley today, just over 48 matches - meaning it has one Villas-Boas has won the The Spurs boss has hours since competing a 4-1 game in hand on most teams - dressing room over - which is revealed that the French mid- comeback win over but its three defeats so far are often the hardest thing to do at fielder asked not to be Newcastle. three more than at the same Marseille - and stylish attacking included for Thursday’s Those matches form part of point last year and equal to the midfielder Dimitri Payet is Boxing Day win over Brighton a sequence of seven games in entire previous season. recapturing his form in a bid to as he was concerned he might 21 days that is hard to square Why has this made little dif- make France’s European Cham- not be fit. with modern notions of rest and ference? Second-place Marseille pionship squad next year. But he has trained since and recovery. left it late to get going, and Lyon In tandem, Villas-Boas and now Mourinho is looking to But such is the commercial appears incapable of main- Payet can be expected to help help him fill a midfield gap appeal of the traditionally con- taining good form over long secure second place and bring caused by the absence of the gested programme that change spells. Despite taking 19 points Champions League soccer back suspended Harry Winks and does not appear likely anytime from the last seven games, Mar- next season. Moussa Sissoko, while Son soon, even though Jurgen seille sits seven points behind Mbappé has taken the league Heung-min is also serving a ban Klopp, the manager of runaway PSG - effectively 10 if PSG wins by storm, with his pace, ball and Dele Alli looked to be strug- leaders Liverpool said recently its extra game. control at speed, and lethal gling in the latter stages against it was a “crime” for teams to , the flamboyant finishing. the Seagulls. have to play on both December 2017 champion, still has title- After clinching both the Mourinho, asked if he was 26 and 27. winning coach Leonardo Jardim league’s Player of the Year and upset by the decision of “I don’t think it is fair on the in charge. top scorer awards last season, Ndombele, whose transfer from boys at all,” said United But the Principality club is 17 Anything other than Still, André Villas-Boas has don’t bet against him doing so Lyon could yet cost Spurs some manager Solskjaer. points behind in seventh place another PSG title seems unrea- done well in his first season once more. $79m, to make himself una- “I don’t think it is fair to be and is no threat. sonable to expect given its in charge of Marseille, a tur- Despite only recently turning vailable against Brighton, expected to perform at the best Even less so Lyon, which immense firepower, the regular bulent club where managerial 21, he has already netted 105 answered: “I think Ndombele of your level, both mentally and finished third last season but goals from loan signing Mauro changes happen regularly career goals - including 18 in 19 was honest. Football players physically, 48 hours after you has been cut adrift and lan- Icardi and, especially, the because demands from the games overall this season - and like to play football. have played. guishes embarrassingly in 12th increasingly menacing part- soccer-mad city’s fans are provided 50 assists in a career “For him to say, ‘I don’t feel “But I think we are in the spot as new coach Rudi Garcia nership between Neymar and often so unreasonably high. seemingly destined to take him confident, I don’t feel in the best best position to perform on Sat- struggles. Kylian Mbappé. After all, Marseille remains to great heights. condition due to my previous urday. One -- the game was injuries’, he was just being over after 45 minutes. Two -- honest. we are young,” the former “And we had solutions. We United striker added. Arsenal’s Xhaka wants Hertha had (Eric) Dier, we had (Harry) “We have a great chance Winks, we have (Oliver) Skipp against Burnley to perform who is a great kid fighting to at the best level because our Berlin move in January: Agent improve, for a place. boys, when you are 23, “I hope Friday morning which is the average age of after training he can come back the outfield starting players REUTERS “Look, I will say it frankly made 150 appearances since, to me and say ‘I’m ready to help (against Newcastle), that LONDON and honestly, we are in scoring 11 goals and providing 17 the team’.” will make it easier for us to agreement with Hertha BSC and assists. New boss Arteta had Erik Lamela, however, had recover than Burnley, for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka would like to go to Berlin,” publicly backed Xhaka to no qualms about throwing back example. I think. (pictured) wants to leave the Xhaka’s agent Jose Noguera told succeed at the north London himself into the fray, even “They played until the end Premier League club in the Swiss publication Blick. club, even mentioning that the though he has been sidelined against Everton. We were done January transfer window and “We told Arsenal’s (head of Swiss international was on his since October with a hamstring after 45 minutes and used the sign with Bundesliga side Hertha football) Raul Sanllehi and sports transfer list when he was injury. second half as recovery. Berlin, the player’s agent said. director Edu as well as the new assistant manager at Manchester After only two sessions “But it is not fair, especially Xhaka has had a fractured coach Mikel Arteta. City. However, the agent said the under Mourinho, he told the when a game at Watford has relationship with the fans since “Arsenal were informed Spanish coach had privately told Portuguese manager he was just gone and there will be a he reacted angrily to being about all the steps, the player Xhaka that he was free to leave ready to play against Brighton game New Years’ Day. booed when he was substituted and Hertha are clear. It is only the club in the close season, if needed. “Two games in three days against Crystal Palace in (a matter of) the transfer fee for which irked the 27-year-old. “Lamela, he was fantastic,” is possible once in a while October.He was subsequently the clubs.” Xhaka was signed Hertha are 12th in the said Mourinho. “I think it was but not when it is as tight as stripped of captaincy by former from Borussia Monchengladbach standings with 19 points -- four 56 or 57 days that he didn’t train this.” manager Unai Emery. in 2016 for around $39m and has points above the relegation zone. with the team. SPORT PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Wickets tumble Premier league:gue: on day two of Liverpool thrashrash first Test at Leicester 4-00 to Centurion stretch lead

Saturday 28 December 2019 Qatar to play Boxing Day friendly Test under against Iran threat from Qatari national volleyball team players and officials climate change: during a training session in Doha. Qatar will play a friendly Report suggests match against Iran today as they prepare for the Asian IANS qualifiers for 2020 Tokyo MELBOURNE Olympic Games. The Asian qualifiers are scheduled to be One of the most famous fixtures in held in from January world cricket, the Boxing Day Test 7 to 12. The team is coached played in Australia at the Melbourne by Ali Abdullah Al Haddad. Cricket Ground, could soon be under threat from climate change, a new report has suggested. In decades to come, extreme heat will eventually make the yearly match which sees Australia take on Russia appeal against WADA ban a visiting nation at the MCG a thing of the past, according to Monash University’s Climate Change Com- AFP Moscow needs to accept the Head of Russian Speaking to AFP on munication Research Hub. MOSCOW sanctions and own up to its Anti-Doping Thursday, Ganus said he had “Despite the extensive heat faults in order to be able to Agency (RUSADA) information that his British management resources available to Russia yesterday formally reform. Yuri Ganus counterpart could also call for professional teams, continuing to contested a four-year ban from He however said he was demonstrates a severe sanctions against Russia. play the Boxing Day Test in its major sporting events over obliged to relay the position of calendar during a The suspension was handed current format at the end of doping violations that President the supervisory board. news conference in to Russia over falsifying data December will expose players and Vladimir Putin has condemned He said he also sent a letter Moscow, Russia. from a doping testing laboratory fans to unprecedented levels of as “unjust,” the head of its to WADA informing the anti- that was handed to WADA earlier extreme heat,” ABCnews quoted the RUSADA anti-doping agency doping agency of his personal this year as part of a compliance report as saying. said. stance. re-instatement process. “If no effective climate miti- “In accordance with estab- “I regret to inform you that The significant extent of gation action is taken, consideration lished procedure, today we have all my attempts, including state-sponsored doping in should be given to moving the Mel- sent a package of documents to attempts to introduce changes Russia, notably between 2011 bourne Test to the shoulder season.” the World Anti-Doping Agency,” to the RUSADA notice, have and 2015, was revealed in an The report further suggested that RUSADA director general Yury failed,” said the letter. independent report by sports the Boxing Day Test must be moved Ganus told reporters in Moscow. Ganus told AFP on Thursday lawyer Richard McLaren, to either November or March. “The package contains a that “it is practically impossible” released in 2016. The study, commissioned by the notice about disagreement with to contest the ban. The issue has dealt a colossal Australian Conservation Foun- WADA sanctions.” WADA this month banned blow to the status of post-Soviet dation (ACF), urges Cricket Aus- Ganus, who has long argued Russia for four years from major Russia as a major sports power tralia to use its prominence to push for a major crackdown by Russia global events, including the 2020 indicating a lengthy legal battle of Anti-Doping after hosting events such as the for greater climate action and do against doping cheats, warned Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 loomed. Agency chief Travis Tygart who 2013 World Athletics Champion- more to look after player and spec- that the legal challenge could World Cup in Qatar, over manip- He argued that the majority has called for a blanket ban on ships, the 2014 Winter Olympics tator welfare. backfire, however. ulated doping data. of Russian athletes were clean Russian athletes at the Tokyo in Sochi and the 2018 World Cup. In 2018, England Captain Joe The formal statement of dis- Under the sanctions, Rus- and should not be deprived of Olympics. The Sochi Games later Root had to be rushed to hospital agreement with WADA will sians will still be allowed to the right to compete under the Tygart said that allowing became notorious for the number with severe dehydration during the trigger an appeal process against compete, but only as neutrals Russian flag due to the actions “neutral” Russian athletes to of doping violations by prominent Sydney Test as temperatures the ban at the Lausanne-based and if they can demonstrate of some individuals. compete at the Olympics in 2016 Russian athletes. reached 42 degrees Celsius on the Court of Arbitration for Sport that they were not part of Ganus warned that con- and 2018 had been ineffective. The doping scandal has also pitch. (CAS). what WADA believes was a testing the doping ban could in “WADA must get tougher divided Russian sports stars, with The report further said that Aus- Ganus, whose rigorous state-sponsored system of fact make matters worse because and impose the full restriction three-time world champion high tralian summers would only get stance puts him at odds with his doping. CAS could make sanctions on Russian athlete participation jumper Mariya Lasitskene calling hotter, with more days over 35 own government and super- Putin has called the sanc- against Russia more severe. in the Olympics that the rules for sports officials to be held to degree Celsius in December in the visory board, argues that tions politically motivated, He referred to the position allow,” Tygart said in November. account over the ban. next 40-60 years. Ibrahimovic returns to AC Milan AP Ibrahimovic scored 56 I hugely respect and to the city medical examination and Ibra- MILAN goals in 85 appearances for the of Milan I love,” he said after himovic will be in Milan on club and helped it to win the rejoining. January 2 to take it, before Veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahi- league title in 2011 and the “I’ll fight together with my joining his team-mates for his movic is returning to help his Italian Super Cup the same team-mates to change the first training session. struggling former club AC year. course of this season. I will do His arrival will be a boost AC Milan’s Swedish Milan. Although he then moved to everything to make it happen”. for seven-time European forward Zlatan The 38-year-old Swede has Paris Saint-Germain, and sub- Having also played for champion Milan, which is Ibrahimovic celebrates agreed a deal until the end of sequently to Manchester United cross-city rival Inter Milan and mired in 11th place - a humili- in during the UEFA the season with the option to and the LA Galaxy, he always Juventus, Ibrahimovic has been ating 21 points behind leader Champions League round extend the contract for another spoke fondly of his time with named the best player in Serie Inter - and endured its heaviest of 16 first leg match against season, the Italian club the Rossoneri and left the door A three times and best foreign league defeat in 21 years when Arsenal in this February 15, announced in a statement open for a move back. player five times. it lost 5-0 at Atalanta on 2012 file photo. yesterday. “I’m coming back to a club The deal is subject to Sunday. Young riders shine at 1st round of QMA Challenge

QNA competed in the on road track rider Bobby Danvers and Qatar’s Chance race where the first and There was one Final race Alharqan also from Qatar fin- DOHA (Karting Area) in different cate- Shaikha Al Remaihi finished first second position was for the only for the Supermotard 125 ished in second place and the gories: 18 riders in Minimotard and second respectively to Malaysian riders Alya Maisarah with the victory of the Italian French rider Alexian Macary Qatar Motorsports Academy 70, 11 riders in MiniGP 110, 4 advance. and Johaan Ameer Zarfan rider Nicola Muscolino with a completed the podium. (QMA) celebrated the1st round riders in Supermotard 125, and In the Minimotard 70 final respectively. time of 8.46:164 to compete the Trophies were presented by of the QMA Challenge at Losail 6 riders in SSP300. race, the victory was for the In the MiniGP 100 Final race, 12 laps. Sami Salvaggio from LCSC Vice President and General Circuit Sports Club (LCSC). A There was an exhibition with American rider Salman Pathan, the podium was for last years Belgium finished in second place Manager Khalid Al Remaihi, total of 44 children took part in 5 beginner riders in the Rookies who complete the 8 laps with a winner in the Minimotard70, and the Malaysian rider Syafiq LCSC Chief Executive Officer the event. category where they practice total time of 6:25.322. Pathan Nolann Macary from France, Bin Zairin completed the Juan Baquero, Head of QMA Jose The QMA Challenge is a new different technical exercise in was followed by the Spanish who completed the 12 laps with podium. Luis Cardoso and QMA Coaches championship with three races front of the public. rider Miguel Roda and in third total time of 8:12.228. Egyptian In SSP300 there was also Alberto Moncayo, Ruben scheduled during all the 2019 / In the Minimotard 70 cat- place by Agatha Muscolino from rider Mahmoud Elbanna finished one Final race, with the victory Herrera, Andrea Sibaja and 2010 season. egory, there was a qualifying . second and Carlos Baquero fin- of the Qatari rider Hamad Al Mateo Tunez. All the young riders that have round to decide which riders In the category of MiniGP ished in third place Saouti with a time of 8.21:492 to The other rounds will be held been training during the season pass to the final race. British 110, there was also a Last respectively. compete the 14 laps. Saad on April 4 and 18.