27 Sports Monday, July 30, 2018 Rooney scores; DC wins on a late own goal 2-1 Second-half outburst lifts Toronto past Chicago

WASHINGTON: DC United took advantage of an own United and Howard was in goal for Everton. Acosta Second-half outburst Toronto FC team that is fighting to stay in the playoff goal in the 90th minute to earn a 2-1 victory over the scored the equalizer when he placed a delicate chip In another development, Toronto FC picked up its race and is finally recovering after an injury-riddled visiting at Audi Field on a night when shop off the arm of DC United goalkeeper David second win over the Chicago Fire in as many weeks, first four months of the season. Saturday’s game Wayne Rooney scored his first MLS goal. United mid- Ousted and into the goal. Forward Jack McBean sent a this time collecting a 3-0 result on Saturday at BMO marked the first time since its opening match on fielder Ulises Segura was attempting a cross in front of long cross into the box and Acosta chased it down to Field in Toronto. After a first half that was lacking in March 3 that top Altidore, Giovinco, the Colorado goal when his pass deflected off the foot deliver his second MLS goal this season. action, Toronto forward broke things , and Victor Vazquez were all in the off Rapids forward Niki Jackson and past goalkeeper Acosta had a chance to score in the 26th minute but open with a goal in the 52nd minute. Altidore made starting lineup for a league game. Tim Howard for the late score. Kellyn his penalty kick rebounded off the right post. Edgar the definitive touch after a scramble in front of the Chicago (6-12-5, 23 points) played a defensively- Acosta, acquired by the Rapids in a trade with FC Castillo earned the shot when he was fouled by DC Fire’s net to score his third goal in five league games focused first half, but couldn’t muster an offensive Dallas on Monday, scored his first goal for Colorado in United’s Junior Moreno just inside the penalty area. this season. Toronto (6-11-4, 22 points) struck again in response after Toronto’s attack took over later in the the 82nd minute to tie the match 1-1. Rooney, making Rooney had two chances to score in the second half, the 72nd minute, with Sebastian Giovinco sliding to game. The Fire have now lost five consecutive games, just his second start and fourth appearance for DC but his shot in the 56th minute was deflected by collect a long cross from , then making a and have just one win in their last eight MLS matches. United, opened the scoring with a goal between the Howard off the left post. Howard then smothered a sliding one-footed touch from just outside the goal- The two clubs also played last Saturday in Chicago, legs of former English Premier League teammate and Rooney shot in the 58th minute. DC United (4-9-5, 17 keeper’s box to an open on the other with Toronto FC collecting a 2-1 victory. Toronto FC foe Howard in the 33rd minute. points) is now 2-1-0 in its new stadium, defeating side of the net. has now won consecutive league games for the first Rooney took a pass from Luciano Acosta inside the Vancouver 3-1 on July 14 before losing to the New York Giovinco collected a goal of his own in the 89th time this season. The rivalry between the two Eastern box on the right side of goal and scored with his right Red Bulls 1-0 on Wednesday. The Rapids fell to 4-12-5 minute, finally hitting the scoresheet after putting Conference rivals has been one-sided in recent years, foot. It was Rooney’s fourth goal all-time on Howard, (17 points) and have not won since July 1 at Vancouver, shots off the goalpost and crossbar earlier in the as Toronto is now 8-0-1 in its last nine games against scoring three times when he played for Manchester going 0-3-2 since then. game. The three-goal outburst was a good sign for a the Fire. — Agencies

Say I’m your No 1: Goalkeeper Buffon Preseason tours; faces fight at PSG worth the effort?

SINGAPORE: legend has a fight By Ahmad Al Othman on his hands for the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper’s shirt as coach Thomas Tuchel revealed he had not yet s the new footballing season beckons, clubs decided who was his number one. Buffon has made his from all over the world have scattered first move abroad at the age of 40 but faces stiff com- around the globe in preparation for what’s petition at the French club, which shares his ambition of A ahead. Most notably, 18 of Europe’s giants have par- a first Champions League title. Tuchel has an embar- ticipated in this year’s International Champions Cup, rassment of goalkeeping riches including Alphonse which is held every summer in the United States and Areola, a member of France’s World Cup-winning Asia. It includes the world’s finest such as Real squad, German international Kevin Trapp, Sebastien Madrid and Barcelona from Spain, Manchester Cibois and Remy Descamps. United, Liverpool and Chelsea from England, Bayern “He’s (Buffon) not afraid to fight for his place, Kevin Munich and Borussia Dortmund from Germany, and Alphonse are not afraid to fight for their place,” Juventus, Inter and AC Milan from Italy. Tuchel said in Singapore, ahead of today’s friendly with Others such as Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain Atletico Madrid. “This is the kind of competition that I and Atletico Madrid have gone to South Asia to would love to have in every other position.” The Singapore, where fans are having a glimpse of German added: “This is a situation we need to handle their favorite athletes. Managers try to make the relaxed but clearly. When everybody is there and most of the preseason matches by rotating their everybody has shown up and everybody is healthy at SINGAPORE: Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Buffon (2nd right) and fellow goalkeepers warm up during an official squad and involving youngsters from the academy the top level, then it’s time to decide.” training session for the International Champions Cup in Singapore.— AFP to make up the numbers. It’s down to them to Buffon has not had the easiest of starts with PSG, grasp their chance and flourish and show their shipping four goals in his first two friendly appearances faithful fans what’s in the bag. It can also give the against Bayern Munich and Arsenal. Buffon, who on merit,” he said. “So I’ll continue to do that and also continue... to play at the top level,” he said. “I’ve always clocked up 656 appearances in 17 years at Juventus, coaching staff an indication of what is about to work towards developing the other goalkeepers in the been excited by the thought of a challenge abroad, a come in the upcoming season and what to expect insisted he never expected simply to be handed a start- squad.” The 2006 World Cup-winner also denied that challenge as ambitious and important as this one at ing spot. “In 24 years of my career, nobody has ever from the current members. the chance of winning an elusive Champions League Paris. “I think after 40 years in Italy, a change will be Managers tend to try out different match for- told me that I had the number one shirt by right. It’s title was the main motivation behind his move to PSG good for me from a personal point of view as well as a mations and various approaches, as trying such come through hard training and being selected based on a one-year deal. “This decision was made so I could professional one.”— AFP experiments could be costly throughout the sea- son. Furthermore, some managers use preseason matches to identify the main areas for improve- games and did it better against Bayern Munich,” said ment, and whether to pursue the targets they had Sub Silva scores Guardiola. “We were able to play good and overcome the in mind. Such managers may have second situation when we were 2-0 down.” thoughts when approaching a transfer target Bayern’s main men Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery should a current player excel, as this may poten- twice; Man City looked dangerous on the ball, yet with Mahrez afforded tially save tens of millions and it would be better plenty of space in midfield the English champions dominat- off spending the money elsewhere. ed the early stages and really should have opened the scor- Commercially, it certainly makes sense and beat Bayern 3-2 ing. Mahrez, who had already spent a few minutes getting treatment after being challenged, sent German-born City probably plays a major reason to take on such tir- MIAMI: Pepe Guardiola finished Manchester City’s US tour striker Nmecha through only for his shot be saved by Sven ing summer tours. Liverpool’s thrashing of with a deserved 3-2 victory over former club Bayern Ulreich. It wasn’t long before Nmecha had the opportunity Manchester United was witnessed by more than Munich, but his evening was soured with an injury to new to make amends as another classy through ball from Mahrez 100,000 spectators, a clear evidence of the signing Riyad Mahrez. Two goals from substitute Bernardo set him free, but this time he was denied by the post. That appeal and crowd turnout. It does increase the Silva helped Manchester City come from 2-0 down to end a was to prove a costly couple of misses because on 14 min- global fanbase and boost shirt sales due to the run of two defeats in this International Champions Cup utes, Bayern were ahead. high demand worldwide. No wonder clubs love a campaign with youngster Lukas Nmecha scoring in The lively Rafinha found space on the right and his cross preseason tour, not to mention the warm tempera- between. Mahrez, however, went down twice with what was headed in by Meritan Shabani. It was a good team goal tures these destinations have. You can clearly tell looked like an ankle problem. He was eventually forced off and on 23 minutes, Ribery and Robben combined for num- how elated players get when they spend weeks after just 27 minutes and looked in discomfort. With the tra- ber two. The French midfielder’s lofted through ball found together, which in return can enhance the training ditional English season opener - the Community Shield - the Dutchman in the area and his two touches - one to con- atmosphere and boost team morale. taking place next Sunday at Wembley against Chelsea, trol and one to expertly lift the ball past Claudio Bravo - With clubs traveling across continents, the hec- coach Guardiola will assess the Algerian’s fitness as the start were top class. And all of a sudden, a difficult evening for tic schedule can have its effect on the players and of the Premier League campaign looms into view. Guardiola darkened on 27 minutes when Mahrez was forced the injury toll sometimes can sting badly if a star to leave the field with an injured ankle. “We will see, maybe Meanwhile Guardiola’s squad flew back to Manchester player is caught with a long term one. Such major it is not a problem,” said Guardiola. The Algerian limped off at the end of the Saturday match. City’s opening games downside has already affected Manchester United against Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool had both ended to be replaced by Portuguese midfielder Silva, who scored in narrow defeats, but with Guardiola opting for familiarity the goal his team’s display had deserved on the stroke of and Manchester City as Antontio Valencia and MIAMI: Benjamin Garre #73 of Manchester City bat- Riyad Mahrez have been stretched off and ruled — eight players in the starting lineup here had begun all half-time. The former Monaco star ran unchallenged 25 tles for a header against the Bayern Munich in the three games of this US tour — it was another young side yards out and produced an excellent low, curling finish leav- out of the opening Barclays Premier League second half during the International Champions Cup matches with calf and ankle problems respectively. full of running. “We analyzed our mistakes in the previous ing Ulreich with no chance. — AFP on July 28, 2018 in Miami. —AFP

chance of one more week, and Richie’s con- down when the beat the Lions Injuries hit trolling everything. He’s got time, he’s brave 25-17 in to claim their eighth and made some big tackles.” After the Super crown. The South Africans, who Crusaders cruised to a 30-12 semi-final vic- downed the NSW Waratahs 44-26 in their Crusaders tory, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd pointed semi-final, go into their third consecutive to the strength of their powerful forward final without having won the southern pack. “They just keep putting that pressure hemisphere championship. : The Canterbury on the supply of ball and we had trouble at Their forwards looked impressive against Crusaders will be without bruising flanker times at the scrum, we had trouble at times the Australians with two tries to hooker Jordan Taufua for next weekend’s Super rug- at the lineout, we had trouble at times in the Malcolm Marx from driving mauls, and when by final against the Golden Lions after he breakdown,” he said. they played wide, wing Aphiwe Dyantyi pro- suffered a broken arm against the Wellington “We couldn’t get any go forward to get duced a long-range touchdown. Hurricanes. Coach Scott Robertson also ourselves rolling.” Even with the loss of “Their strengths are the reason they faced a question mark over backline leader Taufua, Robertson has Wallaby international have got to the final,” Robertson noted. Ryan Crotty and was grappling with a dwin- Pete Samu to call on for the starting pack to “Their ability to maul, and they have got dling stock of hookers as he began Sunday join seven All Blacks. Taufua is an All Black in incredible guys who can turn a ball over in to prepare for the showdown in name only. After being selected to play Kwagga (Smith) and Malcolm Marx. They Christchurch. Injuries aside, Robertson France in the June Tests, he was sidelined by are just an abrasive, big pack. “They have viewed Saturday’s semi-final victory over a calf injury in training. been hurt a couple of times in finals,” the Hurricanes as a sign his defending cham- Crotty left the field after a blow to the Robertson added. “We know what hap- pions were tracking well to claim a ninth head and will be monitored in the coming pened last year with the red card, the con- title, with discipline, defence and the skills of days, while replacement hooker Seb troversy and we held on in the end there.” fly-half Richie Mo’unga working as planned. Siataga suffered a broken arm to become In last year’s final, the Crusaders led 25-3 at “We wanted to be really clean and I think the third Crusaders rake to be sidelined by half-time only for the Lions to come back CHRISTCHURCH: Crusaders’ Jack Goodhue (center) is tackled by Hurricanes’ Ricky we gave four penalties away for the whole injury this year. with 14 unanswered points in the second Riccitelli (2nd right) and Toby Smith (left) during the semi-final match game and that’s way below average,” he said. Apart from the venue, next Saturday’s half despite being a man down, with Smith between New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders and Wellington Hurricanes at the AMI “We defended amazingly and its given us a final will be a repeat of last year’s show- red carded just before the break.—AFP Stadium on July 28, 2018. —AFP