SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 SPORTS Pogba returns to score emotionally heavy shot into the far corner. The youngster’s delight was obvious, and understandable, and the early goal lifted the atmosphere at Man United 2 an with an unusually large number of empty seats and obviously in end-of-season mode. They had more to cheer just four min- Crystal Palace 0 utes later as raced half the length of the field and squared into a crowded area where should have MANCHESTER: Paul Pogba proved his fit- been able to clear the danger. But the ness, and scored a goal which he dedicated Palace defender succeeded only in stop- to his late father, as the youngest ping the ball, presenting Pogba with the Manchester United line-up in Premier simplest of finishes from a dozen yards. League history ended the season with a 2-0 Rooney had already threatened before the win over Crystal Palace yesterday. Josh goal flurry and, with United having failed to Harrop, one of four full league debutants in score more than two goals in a home Jose Mourinho’s side, opened the scoring league game since Boxing Day’s win although the manager was clearly more against Sunderland, United supporters interested in safeguarding players ahead of clearly felt that run was about to end. Wednesday’s Europa League Final against Palace had other ideas and Christian Ajax in Stockholm. Benteke should have done better than The 31-year-old was the glance a header wide from a only player older than 25 in a line-up that corner soon after. But that was rare relief averaged 22 years and 284 days. And he for the visitors as United continued to press was brought off in the 88th minute-receiv- and Axel Tuanzebe picked out Harrop for ing a massive ovation on what could be his another shooting opportunity which the last appearance for the club-to be replaced youngster placed just wide. A good half for by 16-year-old Angel Gomes who became Mourinho ended in worrying fashion, how- United’s youngest player for 61 years. ever, when Eric Bailly-who is suspended for Pogba, who had not played for 10 days fol- the Europa League final-made a full-blood- lowing the death of his father Fassou ed challenge on Zaha as he threatened the Antoine, was given a half of action by the United goal and immediately fell to the United manager and responded not only ground clutching his knee. with his goal but by setting up the opener. The Ivory Coast defender was able to LONDON: The Chelsea team including captain , 26, celebrate after they won the league, following the English soccer continue but, with Wednesday in mind, match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge stadium. — AP SIMPLE FINISH Mourinho brought off Pogba and Lingard After just 14 minutes, 21-year-old mid- in the final minutes of the half, a move he fielder Harrop, who had already enjoyed a had promised to make to allow the pair to couple of exciting forays down the left enjoy a standing ovation from supporters flank, raced onto a superb through ball and rest for the final. Palace might have got Terry bows out of in style from Pogba. Harrop still had work to do, as back in the game as Zaha’s cross was met he entered the Palace area, but beat by a towering header from Christian defender Martin Kelly easily and cut into a Benteke which struck the foot of Joel as Chelsea celebrate title central position before placing a powerful Pereira’s post. —AFP

LONDON: John Terry was given an emotional legend” who has been at the heart of kick was deflected straight to Manquillo, who farewell by fans at Stamford Bridge yesterday as Chelsea’s success for the best part of two fired home to give the visitors a surprise lead record-breaking Chelsea beat Sunderland 5-1, decades, was played from the start by Conte after only three minutes. including two goals from substitute Michy in his last ever appearance at the ground he Chelsea didn’t take long to respond. Marcos Batushuayi, on the day they were presented with has graced since 1998. Alonso had already hit the crossbar with a free- the Premier League trophy. The champions had kick when Willian drilled in a low shot which to come from behind on the last day of the ‘THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING’ Sunderland goalkeeper fumbled league campaign after Javier Manquillo put rele- However, in a pre-planned tribute, he was into his own net with only eight minutes on the gated Sunderland ahead, but they did so in style substituted and replaced by in the clock. It took a long time for the inevitable sec- with Willian, and Pedro also on the 26th minute (reflecting his squad number) with ond goal to arrive, but when put scoresheet. team-mates forming a guard of honour as he left Hazard clean through on goal in the 61st minute This was Chelsea’s 30th league victory of the pitch. Fans in the Shed End also unfurled a he finished superbly to set the party going. 2016/17 — the most ever achieved by a club in banner which said simply “Thank you for every- Pedro headed home number three following the English top flight in a 38-game season. thing JT” and included images of the 15 major a mistake by Sunderland defender Joleon That is a remarkable statistic when you consid- trophies Terry has won in a Chelsea shirt in a Lescott with 13 minutes to go and the icing on er this same team finished 10th in the table the career that has spanned 717 games. For much a memorable season was in place when previous campaign in a season where manager of that time, and certainly since billionaire owner Batshuayi, the man whose goal won the title at Jose Mourinho was sacked and the west Roman Abramovich arrived, Terry has been the West Brom, flashed home number four in the London club missed out on European qualifica- on-field figurehead for Chelsea Football Club, 90th minute and added another fine finish tion. But Chelsea have been transformed under overcoming a series of off-field scandals to right on the final whistle. Chelsea was present- new manager , ending in top cement his place in the heart of every Blues fan. ed with the Premier League trophy after full- place with 93 points, seven clear of runners-up However, at the age of 35, his opportunities time, the sixth league title in the club’s history Tottenham Hotspur. to play have been limited this season-he has and their fifth of the Premier League era. Next No wonder there were constant chants of made only six Premier League starts — and he season, however, they will have to cope with- “Antonio, Antonio” echoing around Stamford has opted to extend his career elsewhere. There out Terry, the man who lifted the trophy along- Bridge; but this was also a huge day for Terry. was an early shock in store in the captain’s side defensive partner Cahill. It’s a new era all The veteran centre-back, the “captain, leader, farewell party, however, when Seb Larsson’s free- round at Stamford Bridge. —AFP

LONDON: An Arsenal fan holds up a protest banner after the English Premier League Liverpool secure soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at The . — AP Watford 0 Arsenal’s 20 year Champions Champs League Man City 5 league run comes to an end they have struggled at home recently, picking up just two points from their previous three LONDON: Arsenal failed to qualify for Seeking to halt Valencia as he sped Liverpool 3 home games. the Champions League for the first time down the Everton right, the Frenchman , then, was understandably nervy Rampant City about whether or not they could get the job in 20 years to renew scrutiny of Arsene launched himself into a full-bodied lunge done - but at least they were playing a visit- Wenger despite a 3-1 victory over that sent his opponent flying and yielded seal third place Middlesbrough 0 ing team that have been woeful this season. Everton yesterday. Liverpool’s victory an immediate red card from referee Middlesbrough, relegated a fortnight ago over Middlesbrough condemned Arsenal . Everton manager Ronald WATFORD: Manchester City cruised into next season’s after a defeat to Chelsea, opted to start with and manager Wenger to a fifth-place fin- Koeman looked to exploit the situation Champions League as they took third place in the Premier LIVERPOOL: Brilliant goals from Georginio the muscular Rudy Gestede up front, a player ish, making this the first season since by sending on for Tom League thanks to a 5-0 rout of woeful Watford yesterday. Wijnaldum, and Adam who has caused Liverpool’s defence problems 1996-97 to conclude with the club hav- Davies, but it was Arsenal who struck Needing a point to be certain of qualifying for the Lallana secured Liverpool a spot in next sea- in the past. Caretaker manager Steve Agnew ing not secured a place in Europe’s elite next in the 27th minute. Champions League, put ’s son’s Champions League play-off round after a left their two top scorers, Alvaro Negredo and competition. Sanchez’s shot from range was side ahead after only five minutes at Vicarage Road. 3-0 win over relegated Middlesbrough yester- Martin De Roon, on the bench alongside for- Wenger’s side will look to next week- deflected into the path of Welbeck, who Sergio Aguero scored twice, Fernandinho made it four day. Due to Chelsea’s dominance this term, the mer Liverpool player . end’s FA Cup final against Chelsea for drew Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles before half-time and Gabriel Jesus added a fifth in the final weeks of the season have seen attention Liverpool threw themselves into this consolation, but they will have to do from his line and, with the visiting second half. switch from who could win the Premier match, perhaps conscious that they have without Laurent Koscielny, sent off for a defence statuesque, teed up Sanchez to City have ended the 2016-17 campaign with a flourish, League to which teams might squeeze into the been too sluggish too often in the opening reckless early foul on Enner Valencia, and tap in his 24th goal of the campaign. scoring 15 goals in their final four games. But neither that top four. stages of games recently. Liverpool remained possibly Gabriel. Gabriel was stretchered Sanchez also saw a free-kick parried by nor automatic qualification for the Champions League Going into the last round of fixtures, third entirely dominant as the first half progressed off in the second half at the Emirates Robles, but as half-time neared, Everton’s group stage will disguise the fact they have under- and fourth place were both still up for grabs as Gestede blocked a Roberto Firmino effort with an apparent knee injury and with numerical advantage began to tell as achieved in Guardiola’s first season in English football, fin- with third place the most sought after spot inside the penalty area while Emre Can also Shkodran Mustafi absent here due to ill- Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech increasing- ishing 15 points behind champions Chelsea. It was because that position allows a club direct flashed an effort wide. Middlesbrough offered ness, it leaves Wenger facing a selection ly found himself in the firing line. He Watford’s sixth successive defeat, their worst run for 44 qualification for the Champions League little attacking threat although they were crisis in defence. Arsenal prevailed cour- boxed away a deflected cross by Kevin years, and left them one place above the relegation group stages. But Liverpool will be more than unlucky not to get a penalty when appeared to be clearly hauled down tesy of goals from Hector Bellerin, Alexis Mirallas, turned away an Idrissa Gueye places. happy to settle for fourth in Jurgen Klopp’s by Dejan Lovren but referee Martin Atkinson Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey, with Romelu drive, athletically tipped over a Lukaku It was a miserable way for Walter Mazzarri, their head first full season at the club. Liverpool made hard work of it early on waved away Boro’s frantic appeals. After 25 Lukaku replying from the penalty spot header and fielded a drilled effort from coach, to end his only season at Vicarage Road. It had been announced last week that the Italian would be part- but when Wijnaldum coolly finished on the minutes, with Manchester City and Arsenal for Everton to take his tally for the cam- Valencia. ing company with the club, which is now looking for its stroke of half-time, that was the signal the both winning-and thus finishing third and paign to 25 goals. Lukaku, meanwhile, saw an effort ninth manager since the Pozzo family bought the club in Reds needed to run riot and further impres- fourth if results stayed the same-the fans and Despite a seventh win in eight league diverted wide by Gabriel after being set June 2012. Injuries have been his main excuse and they sive goals from Coutinho and Lallana allowed the players became aware they needed a goal games, it added up to a disappointing up by Barkley. When Arsenal re-emerged were a factor again yesterday. Watford were without six the fans at Anfield to finally breathe easily. to leapfrog Arsene Wenger’s side back into afternoon for Wenger, whose Arsenal for the second half, it was in the knowl- defenders through injury and suspension and so short of Liverpool went into this contest knowing that the Champions League places.—AFP future remains undecided pending a edge that Georginio Wijnaldum had put fit players that Mazzarri named two goalkeepers among board meeting scheduled to take place Liverpool ahead against Middlesbrough the substitutes. So it was no surprise that City dominated after the cup final. It is thought failure to on the stroke of half-time at Anfield. They and might have been ahead after only 50 seconds when qualify for the Champions League will started brightly, Robles saving in quick Leroy Sane’s chip was chested off the line by Jose cost Arsenal around £50 million ($65 mil- succession from Welbeck and Ozil, only Holebas. But four minutes later they did take the lead lion, 58 million euros). to lose a second centre-back of the after- when Kompany was left unmarked and unchallenged to The topic of Wenger’s future divides noon when Gabriel was carried off after head in ’s corner from the right. M’Baye Arsenal’s fans, but they reserved their hurting himself in a challenge with Niang shot wide for Watford but City were doing most of fiercest ire for American majority share- Valencia. It meant Arsenal finished the the attacking, especially down their right, where holder Stan Kroenke, dubbed “Silent game with club captain - Watford’s 19-year-old left back, Brandon Mason, was hav- Stan”, chanting: “Stan Kroenke, get out of making his first appearance of the sea- ing a difficult first Premier League start. our club!” Arsenal had been quick to set- son-and 21-year-old Rob Holding in cen- tle the home fans’ nerves as they took tral defence. ‘GET OUT’ the lead in the eighth minute, but it was Lukaku halved the arrears in the 58th It could have been 2-0 to City after 15 minutes when no thanks to . Presented minute, steering a penalty into the bot- Jesus passed to Aguero instead of shooting with only with an open goal by Mesut Ozil’s low tom-left coner after Holding was Heurelho Gomes to beat. But Watford’s stand-in centre cross from the left, the former adjudged to have handled Leighton back Valon Behrami got across to prevent the City man Manchester United striker somehow con- Baines’s cross. Everton, already assured of steering the ball into the empty net. Then it was Gomes trived to let the ball run underneath his seventh place and a Europa League getting in the way of a shot by Aguero. foot, but Bellerin followed up to score. berth, finished strongly, but Ramsey had Watford could not hold out indefinitely and City dou- bled their lead after 22 minutes, Aguero collecting De Arsenal was in complete control, only for the last word, arcing a delightful shot Bruyne’s pass through the stumbling Watford defense Koscielny’s moment of madness to give into the top-right corner in the final and shooting low past Gomes into the far corner.—AFP LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s celebrates scoring against Middlesbrough Everton hope. minute. — AFP during the English Premier League soccer match at Anfield. — AP