SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2021 11

Fabregas sets Monaco on way Albion hammer Chelsea to to big win in French title race end Tuchel’s unbeaten start Pereira and Robinson doubles fire West Brom to 5-2 win over 10-man Chelsea

• West Brom stunned 10-man Chelsea on BETTER their own patch with a performance that at times beggared KNOW Monaco’s Cesc Fabregas shoots and scores a goal from the penalty spot belief given their lowly AFP | Paris league position Chelsea surrendered Cesc Fabregas penalty set AMonaco on their way to a AFP | London five goals at home crushing 4-0 win over Metz in the league for the yesterday that keeps the prin- helsea manager Thom- first time since 2011 cipality side right in the run- KNOW WHAT as Tuchel suffered the against Arsenal ning for the Ligue 1 title before Cfirst defeat of his reign leading duo Paris Saint-Ger- as struggling West Bromwich main and Lille clash later. Monaco, who last Albion took advantage of Thiago Ominous signs Kevin Volland also scored Silva’s red card to earn a stun- West Bromwich Albion’s English striker Callum Robinson (R) celebrates after he before a brace by substitute won the title in 2017, ning 5-2 win yesterday. scores his team’s fifth goal The early signs were ominous Wissam Ben Yedder for Mo- have lost just once in Tuchel had overseen a consolation as Chelsea’s bid to rendered five goals at home in when Jorginho’s wayward pass naco, with all the goals coming 16 league games and 14-match unbeaten run in all qualify for next season’s Cham- the league. was intercepted by Pereira on in the second half at the Stade their second consec- competitions since replacing pions League via a top four fin- It was the worst possible the edge of the Chelsea penal- Louis II. utive 4-0 victory lifts the sacked Frank Lampard in ish in the Premier League suf- preparation for their Champi- ty area, forcing Thiago into a Monaco, who last won the them provisionally up January. fered a significant blow. ons League quarter-final first cynical foul that earned him a title in 2017, have lost just once to third in the table But that impressive start The Blues, beaten for the first leg against Porto on Wednesday. yellow card. in 16 league games and their came to an embarrassing end time in 10 league games, remain “It’s important we digest it. I Despite their sloppy start, second consecutive 4-0 victory as West Brom ran riot at Stam- fourth for now, but both West did not see it coming, now we Tuchel’s men took the lead in lifts them provisionally up to just two minutes later, Kevin ford Bridge. Ham and Tottenham would go have to take our responsibilities the 27th minute. third in the table. Volland netting his 14th of Christian Pulisic put Chelsea above them if they win on Mon- - me included - and shake it off,” Marcos Alonso’s 25-yard free- Niko Kovac’s side are a point the season after great set-up ahead early in the first half, only day and Sunday respectively. Tuchel said. kick cannoned back off the post behind leaders PSG and sec- play by the 19-year-old Eliot for Brazil defender Thiago to get “We were unable to cope with “It’s a wake-up call. We will and Pulisic was first to react ond-placed Lille, who meet at Matazo. his marching orders moments the red card. I don’t know why. get the right response.” as he alertly steered his shot the Parc des Princes yesterday French international striker later for a second booking. We gave away two very easy West Brom remain second past Sam Johnstone from close- afternoon. They are also two Ben Yedder then came off the That proved the turning point goals,” Tuchel said. bottom but their first league win range. points above fourth-placed bench to crash in the third goal as Albion’s Matheus Pereira “What could go wrong went at Chelsea since 1978 gives them But Thiago gifted Albion a Lyon, who go to Lens later. on 77 minutes and scored again struck twice in first half stop- wrong after the red card. Every a glimmer of hope in the fight to lifeline two minutes later when Fabregas gave them the lead from the spot a minute from page-time. shot was a goal from them.” avoid relegation. he jumped into a rash two-foot- five minutes into the second the end, taking his league tally Mbaye Diagne grabbed West After conceding just two goals Thiago was making his first ed foul on Okay Yokuslu, earn- half, converting a penalty for the season to 15 goals, after Brom’s third goal and Callum to start Tuchel’s reign, this was Chelsea start since February 4 ing his second booking. awarded when Stevan Jovetic Metz captain John Boye was Robinson netted twice to leave a rude awakening for Chelsea. after recovering from a thigh Chelsea were punished for was fouled by Metz goalkeeper shown a second yellow card Tuchel shell-shocked. For the first time since 2011 problem, but he was completely some dismal defending in first Marc-Aurele Caillard. and sent off for fouling Gelson Mason Mount’s reply was no against Arsenal, Chelsea sur- out of touch on his return. half stoppage-time. Monaco’s second goal came Martins in the box.

‘The Truth’ braces for Bhullar clash Conor McGregor congratulates HH TDT | Manila Shaikh Khalid on BRAVE CF 50 ilipino-American Brandon TDT | Manama F“The Truth” Vera will have his work cut out for him when he steps back into the Circle to onor “The Notorious” defend his ONE Championship CMcGregor congratulates heavyweight title against rising the founder of BRAVE Com- Indian heavyweight star Arjan bat Federation, His Highness Singh Bhullar. Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al The fight is all but set in Khalifa, on BRAVE CF 50 and stone, and is just awaiting of- the efforts that he has made ficial announcement from ONE Vera is fired-up in return bout to revolutionize mixed martial Championship. Over the past 12 months, ONE arts around the world. Currently, the 43-year-old Championship has made some BRAVE CF 50 was a celebra- veteran warrior is in Florida huge heavyweight and light tion of BRAVE CF being the only deep in training for his return I’m beyond hyped heavyweight signings, bringing mixed martial arts promotion bout. for all the recent in the likes of Marcus Almeida, to visit 21 countries, 5 conti- He is working with fellow signings of world-class Tom DeBlass, Amir Aliakbari, nents, in its first 50 events mak- ONE Championship athletes and most recently grappling ing it the only truly global MMA Aung “The Burmese Python” heavyweight talent. icon Gordon Ryan, among oth- promotion. In a video message La N Sang and Martin “The It makes me nervous, ers. to HH Shaikh Khalid, McGregor Situ-Asian” Nguyen at Sanford which in turn, makes The Vera-Bhullar showdown sent his remarks on the success MMA under renowned striking me train even harder is “imminently”, according to of the promotion. coach, Henri Hooft. BRANDON “THE TRUTH” VERA ONE Championship chairman “Huge congratulations to Vera (16-8) and Aung La are Chatri Sityodtong. you for your 50th MMA show, Conor McGregor former adversaries in the Cir- getting back into action. “They are gonna fight – absolutely brilliant. I want to cle. They fought back in Octo- “I’m beyond hyped for all the they’ve signed the bout agree- say thank you personally for Asia, Central Asia and South- ber 2019, when Vera challenged recent signings of world-class ments, it’s imminent. We’re creating these events for our east Asia. “The Burmese Python” for his heavyweight talent. It makes gonna announce it pretty soon,” fighters, the SPG fighters, Irish McGregor also touched on light heavyweight belt. me nervous, which in turn, said Chatri. fighters, and fighters all over Huge congratulations the difficulty of the MMA in- Vera succumbed via sec - makes me train even harder,” “Brandon is at the tail end of the world,” says McGregor. dustry for athletes, and how the ond-round technical knock- said Vera. his career. He wants to fight a BRAVE CF has made massive to you for your 50th vision of HH Shaikh Khalid has out in an action-packed affair, “Fans have been able to see few more years. His body is in success since its establishment MMA show, absolutely been crucial to the success of marking the Filipino-Ameri- me at my highs and at my lows, shape, but he doesn’t have the on September 23rd 2016, and brilliant. I want many professional mixed mar- can’s first defeat in ONE Cham- and they’re about to see me training partners. is currently the fastest grow- to say thank you tial artists across the globe. pionship since joining the pro- back on my highs again. There “He has all the skills already. ing in the world, largest sports personally for creating “It’s such a tough business motion in 2014. are enough people that I want Light sparring once a week is media property in the Middle these events for our and to have someone like your- Vera has held the title since to compete against throughout fine if you’ve done a lifetime of East, and has acquired the larg- fighters, the SPG self so invested in the sport capturing the inaugural belt in the year to motivate me to go martial arts. All combat sports est MMA market share in Asia is crucial for us and I want to 2015 and successfully defended twice.” athletes, the damage gets done with with operations develop- fighters, Irish fighters, say thank you for that,” says it twice in 2016 and 2018. If Vera can get past the In- in the gym. You go through ing in Indonesia, Philippines, and fighters all over McGregor. “So, a huge con - After a long break due to the dia-born Canadian Bhullar, a many more rounds than the Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, In- the world gratulations to you HH Shaikh coronavirus (COVID-19) pan- plethora of worthy challengers actual fights, and a lot of times dia, Pakistan and the Middle CONOR MCGREGOR Khalid on your 50th MMA show. demic, ‘The Truth’ is finally are lined up for him. you get banged up.” East, covering South Asia, West Let’s go BRAVE CF.”