SATURDAY-APRIL 24, 2021 Sport 05 Leaders eight points from Afghan referees to judge title but John AFC Cup matches Stones sees red in comeback win Manchester City are now After the disappointment won't have a better chance 11 vs right now. He's so aggressive with- eight points away from winning against Chelsea in the FA Cup 10 against Man City. out the ball. He's becoming a seri- the Premier League after fighting semi-final, made Aston Villa manager Dean ous player. back from a goal down to beat eight changes to his starting line- Smith says he's disappointed with "Phil, right now, in the last Aston Villa 2-1, despite John up with only Ruben Dias, Rodri the manner in which they conced- games especially, is becoming such Stones seeing red. and retaining their ed two goals to Manchester City an important player. His influence Villa took the lead after just places from the weekend. in the Premier League defeat at in the final third is so important." 20.82 seconds through John It was a much more familiar Villa Park. "They struggled in the first 10 McGinn's sweeping strike, the looking team with Ederson back "I thought their red was a yel- minutes and you thought it could second-fastest goal of the Premier in goal, Dias reunited with John low as well though. I think you be one of those games but they League season, but City fought Stones at the back, and Ilkay can slow anything down and make slowly but surely grew into the back through 's finish Gundogan and as it look worse than it is. He's gone game. Foden, Gundogan and Ber- to a nice move (22) before Rodri the attacking midfielders. for the ball and got the man, you nardo Silva were majestic tonight. glanced a header home after Emil- There was just the one change see that all of the time. It was incredible the way they iano Martinez missed his punch for Dean Smith and it was an in- "Our plan was to go out there, moved the ball, chased, closed (40). teresting one – a slight nod to the play behind them and get it into down - they are great examples to Stones, whose error had led strength of the opposition with the front two. I thought it was a any young footballer. to Villa's opener, then saw red the more defensively minded Ja- bit more even at 10 v 10, but "And Foden... we have all with the help of VAR after a late, cob Ramsey replacing the injured they've got better technically-gift- done it and I have got excited by KABUL: The Afghan Football official tournament after the AFC will compete, while Kuwait and high challenge on Jacob Ramsey Trezeguet. ed players than we do on the ball." young talents before but this kid Federation has announced that Champions League, which is Palestine (Group C) will also com- (44), meaning he will miss the The win settles any talk of an Man City boss Pep Guardio- is the real deal. For a young play- Afghanistan’s Halim Agha Shirzad, played between the top clubs in pete. Carabao Cup final on Sunday unlikely late title race, whereas la: "It was not the best start that er to play with so much flair and an accredited international referee, the central, west and south of Asia. This is the first time Afghan against Spurs, live on Sky Sports. Villa continue to struggle for form we imagined. We reacted incredi- aggression; he's incredible. Some- has been selected as a referee for The group matches will be held Villa had the numerical advan- without their captain Jack Greal- bly well, we played so good. That times you worry when kids get referees will take part in Asia club the B and C group stages of the from May 21 to May 27 in Am- tage for all of 13 minutes as Matt ish. The Villa captain, currently was a really good performance. We too much, too early, are they go- tournaments – although Shirzad AFC Cup matches in the West man in Jordan. Cash received two yellow cards out with a shin injury, was seen in knew how important it was, the ing to lose that hunger and desire had been selected to participate last within three minutes (54 and 57), deep discussion in the stands with Premier League is the most im- but if that kid keeps accelerating Asian region. Teams from Group B – Al Celt Nangiali Sadat has also been Jordan; Balata Center Palestine; Al year. The tournament was howev- but neither side created much of England boss Southgate, who will portant title of the year." at this rate, anything is possible. er cancelled due to the Coronavi- note in the second period as City have no doubt been concerned by Speaking after the 2-1 victo- He's frightening." selected as an assistant referee for Nasr Lebanon; and Moharraq Bahr- rus pandemic. held on to win. an evening to forget for one of his ry over Aston Villa in the Premier High-powered, heavily-fund- Group B and C matches. ain, along with Tishrin Syria, Al It means if City and second- starters Stones ahead of this sum- League, Manchester City boss ed and years in the making, it last- The AFC Cup is the second Faisali Jordan, and Al Sib Oman The Kabul Times place Manchester United keep mer's Euros. Pep Guardiola claimed that Phil ed barely two days. winning, Pep Guardiola's side will Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: Foden's influence over his side is In a podcast special, Jasper be crowned champions for the "The sending off is stupid and On Phil Foden: "He is grow- Taylor is joined by Gerard Brand Barcelona third time in four years after their reckless from Cash. I thought the ing, this guy is growing. He's mak- and Ron Walker to discuss the Atletico Madrid game at Newcastle on May 12. first yellow was harsh, the sec- ing steps forward every time. His rapid break-up of the breakaway Open: Rafael Villa stay 11th, seven points off ond was stupid and reckless. You influence in our game is massive European Super League. the top seven but with a game in hand, having won just one in sev- and Inter Milan Nadal fights en. In an eventful week for the back, Dan club off the pitch, City were look- quit Super League ing to edge closer to the Premier Evans loses & League title, but were dealt a blow placed on them and said they were after just 20 seconds. Atletico Madrid and Inter “convinced that the current sta- Fabio Fognini Taking a quick free-kick, Ty- Milan followed all six English Pre- tus quo of European football rone Mings' ball down the chan- mier League clubs in pulling out needs to change”. nel caught Stones off guard, and of the European Super League, The league, which was an- defaulted after missing his sliding intercep- dealing a fatal blow to a planned nounced on Sunday with 12 found- tion, took over to project that prompted backlash ing members, is being championed square for McGinn, who swept from supporters. by Real Madrid President Floren- past Ederson. The move by the Spanish and tino Perez, the new competition’s John McGinn wheels away in Italian teams on Wednesday came chairman. It is now left with three celebration putting Aston Villa a day after six English Premier Italian clubs – AC Milan, Juven- ahead after 20 seconds against League clubs also quit the contro- tus and Inter Milan – plus Perez’s Man City versial elite competition follow- Real Madrid along with Barcelo- But City ramped it up and ing a storm of protests from fans, na and Atletico Madrid from camped in Villa's defensive third, players, managers and govern- Spain. equalising through the brilliant ments. UEFA, whose elite Champi- Foden. Having spread the ball The game’s European and ons League competition was at wide, the England midfielder fol- world governing bodies UEFA and risk from the proposed new lowed the ball into the box, arriv- ing 10 yards out to turn home George Floyd: Lewis Hamilton, from Bernardo Silva's cut-back from the byline after overlapping Mahrez on the right flank. LeBron James and sporting world Only (24) has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions for Man reacts to Derek Chauvin conviction City this season than Foden (23). Sir Lewis Hamilton says the monumental, George's death is not charitable foundation with Mer- City's second was more of a conviction of a former police of- in vain. cedes to promote diversity. gift, however. Bernardo was in- ficer for the killing of George "We can now breathe a collec- Floyd's murder sparked both volved again, clipping a ball into Floyd "marks a new dawn in the tive sigh of relief that the right calls for police reformation and the box from the right for Rodri, fight for racial justice". decision has been met, and that who glanced the ball into an emp- protests across the world. Former officer Derek Chauvin justice has been served. ty net after Martinez had rushed A day after former Minneap- Spanish top seed Rafael Nad- was convicted of Floyd's murder "Black voices have been heard out and got nowhere near the ball olis officer Chauvin was found al survived a scare before fighting on Tuesday. and action is happening. When we with his punch. guilty, it has been announced a back to beat Belarusian qualifier Chauvin was filmed kneeling stand together, we can make a dif- The Premier League leaders federal investigation into police Ilya Ivashka in the second round on Mr Floyd's neck for more than ference. were in complete control, but Pep practices in the city will take of the Barcelona Open. nine minutes during an arrest in "But this is just one step on FIFA also threatened to impose league, threatened to ban the clubs Guardiola went into half-time place. Nadal, who has not lost on May 2020. the path towards a more equal bans and sanctions. and players who joined the Super fuming after Stones' reckless red Former tennis world number clay to an opponent ranked out- "This is the first time that a society. The fight isn't over, and “For the club, harmony is es- League. UEFA President Ale- in front of England manager Ga- one and 12-time women's Grand side the world's top 100 since white officer has been convicted there is more to be done, but we sential between all the groups that ksander Ceferin, however, had reth Southgate. Slam champion Billie Jean King 2004, won 3-6 6-2 6-4 against for killing a black man in Minne- can consider today a glimmer of make up the rojiblanco family, earlier urged the English clubs to Moving across to hoof the ball tweeted: "The time to collective- 111th-ranked Ivashka. sota," Hamilton posted on Insta- hope." especially our fans,” Atletico said think again and adopted a concil- clear ahead of Ramsey, Stones was ly examine the treatment of black British number one Dan gram. Seven-time Formula 1 world in a statement. Manchester City iatory tone. beaten to it, catching the Villa people, in particular black boys/ Evans was unable to continue his "Convicting him of all three champion Hamilton, 36, contin- were the first to back out of the “I said yesterday that it is player on the knee with his fol- excellent form on clay, losing to charges marks a new dawn in the ues to kneel before races in sup- men, by some law enforcement is venture and then Arsenal, admirable to admit a mistake and low-through. VAR told referee France's Corentin Moutet in a fight for racial justice. port of the Black Lives Matter long overdue. Manchester United, Liverpool, these clubs made a big mistake,” Peter Bankes to go to the pitch- spiky second-round match. "Justice for George. This is movement and has set up a joint "The path to healing must Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea he said after the English clubs an- side monitor, and Stones' yellow begin." announced they were following nounced their decisions to leave. Evans, seeded 16th, lost 6-4 turned to red, his first sending off And following the verdict suit. The Super League issued a But they are back in the fold 5-7 6-3. The pair shook hands at the in the Premier League. four-time Grand Slam winner statement suggesting that while now and I know they have a lot to net before another frank exchange But Cash brought the num- Naomi Osaka, 23, wrote: "I was they might be suspending their offer not just to our competitions of words, having disagreed earlier bers level with two quickfire yel- going to make a celebratory tweet project, they had not completely but to the whole of the European low, the first for a tug on man-of- abandoned it. “Given the current game. “The important thing now in this match and previously dur- but then I was hit with sadness ing a US Open encounter last year. the-match Foden, and the second because we are celebrating some- circumstances, we shall reconsid- is that we move on, rebuild the just moments later, flying in on Meanwhile, Italian ninth seed thing that is clear as day. The fact er the most appropriate steps to unity that the game enjoyed be- Foden again at the touchline hav- Fabio Fognini was defaulted from that so many injustices occurred reshape the project, always hav- fore this and move forward to- ing been overeager to retrieve the his second-round match for abus- to make us hold our breath to- ing in mind our goals of offering gether,” he said. ball after miscontrolling it. fans the best experience possible Adding to the drama, ing a line judge. Villa's plans to mount a fight- ward this outcome is really tell- The 33-year-old, who has a ing." while enhancing solidarity pay- Manchester United Executive Vice back - they brought on striker ments for the entire football com- Chairman Ed Woodward an- history of on-court disciplinary The NBA said it will "redou- Keinan Davis at half-time for mid- munity,” the statement said. nounced his resignation shortly problems, angrily smashed a rac- ble our efforts to advocate for fielder Ramsey - were scuppered, The Madrid-based organisa- before his club gave up on a quet as he walked off, having seen and City saw out the game pro- meaningful change in the areas of tion said the departure of the En- project he had been influential in Spanish opponent Bernabe Zap- fessionally, with both sides bare- criminal justice and policing". glish teams was due to “pressure” bringing about. ata Miralles progress at his ex- ly creating a chance. pense. bbc