Friday 47 Sports Friday, January 12, 2018 Neymar strikes as PSG book League Cup semis Montpellier snatch a 1-0 win at Angers

PARIS: Neymar scored a second-half header from an Angel Di Maria corner on penalty as four-time defending champions 78 minutes. The goal was given following Paris Saint-Germain toiled before over- consultation with the video assistant ref- coming 10-man Amiens 2-0 to reach the eree (VAR) - being used for the rest of the semi-finals of the French League Cup on competition as a test ahead of its ex- Wednesday. PSG were again without pected arrival in Ligue 1 next season-after leading scorer Edinson Cavani, who also goal-line technology failed to award it. missed Sunday’s French Cup rout of “Our team worked hard but we didn’t Rennes after returning late from his shine like on Sunday, but we also didn’t Christmas and New Year break in concede chances. It was easier to win be- Uruguay. cause we played with an extra man,” said Amiens’ hopes of springing an upset PSG coach Unai Emery. were heavily undermined by the dismissal PSG will travel to Rennes, who they of goalkeeper Regis Gurtner on 34 min- thrashed 6-1 in the last 64 of the French utes for a foul on Kylian Mbappe after Cup, in the semi-finals at the end of the charging out of his area. And Neymar month, with Monaco set to host Montpel- eventually made the visitors’ numerical lier in the other last-four tie. “All teams advantage count by winning and convert- prefer to play at home. But we will make ing a spot-kick eight minutes into the sec- another trip to Rennes full of desire to ond half at the Stade de la Licorne. reach the final and win the title,” Emery Mbappe, earlier denied by a fingertip save added. Isaac Mbenza scored with four from Jean-Christophe Bouet, was then minutes left as Montpellier snatched a 1-0 thwarted by a combination of the substi- win at Angers, while Adrien Hunou struck tute keeper and the crossbar before firing twice late on as Rennes defeated Toulouse another effort narrowly wide. 4-2. Monaco became the first side to reach Marquinhos also struck the woodwork the last four of the competition on Tuesday after connecting with a cross from Giovani as goals from Thomas Lemar and Adama SOMME, France: Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar (center) vies for the ball with Amiens’ Lo Celso, but Adrien Rabiot wrapped up Diakhaby saw Leonardo Jardim’s team French midfielder Guessouma Fofana (left) and Amiens’ Beninese defender Khaled Adenon during the French a remarkable 35th consecutive win in do- overcome Cote d’Azur rivals Nice 2-1 at League Cup quarter-final football match between Amiens (ASC) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on January mestic cup ties for PSG with a glancing the Allianz Riviera.—AFP 10, 2018. —AFP

for instant analysis of player and ball behav- Technological ior. “We feel certain this will add a new di- GERMAN LEAGUE PREVIEW mension to squash’s global appeal,” Alex Gough, the PSA’s chief executive, told mels are recovering from knee and groin injuries innovation the Reuters in an interview. Bayern resume respectively, while right-back Joshua Kimmich “Squash is one of the most physically de- has a cold. key for Squash’s manding sports in the world and being able to Leverkusen warmed up for Bayern with a 2-2 illustrate the supreme fitness of our players title quest with draw in a friendly against third-tier Preussen with scientific data, that is easy to understand Muenster as Argentina striker Lucas Alario net- Olympic dream and display, is key to helping improve our Leverkusen trip ted both goals following his recovery from a groin sport.” Physical characteristics such as move- injury. Bayern stepped up their preparations with LONDON: Squash chiefs have long held a ment, speed and distance covered by players BERLIN: Franck Ribery warned Bayern Munich a 5-3 win over third-division Grossaspach on desire for the sport to be a part of the during games will also be shown, alongside face a tricky test at Bayer Leverkusen today as Tuesday when veteran winger Franck Ribery, 34, Olympic Games and thanks to innovations in tactical elements such as heat maps and ball they resume their march towards a sixth straight scored three goals in a starring display. “It will be title following the German winter technology, their dream may be closer to be- tracking data. German developers interac- tough at Leverkusen and we will have to give our break. ’s team are 11 points clear all to win there,” said the Frenchman. Ribery and coming a reality. Squash has failed on three tiveSQUASH (iSquash) launched new technol- occasions to be included in the Games, most of second-place Schalke but Leverkusen, who Arjen Robben are out of contract at the end of ogy last year that can project interactive are two points further back in fourth, are un- recently as part of the program for Tokyo the season, but both hope to be offered an exten- training modules on the front wall of the court. beaten in 14 matches dating back to September sion in the coming months. “I have five months left 2020. Yet the sport hopes that the adoption The system was conceived by Markos under ex-Dortmund coach Heiko Herrlich. and there are always many options,” said Ribery. of new data systems will make it a more ap- Kern, a Munich-based creative entrepreneur. Bayern rounded out 2017 with six successive pealing product as it seeks inclusion in the “With our system, squash will in time become wins in all competitions, surging into the new year Heynckes to stay on? Paris 2024 Olympics. the first to achieve a full merger between firmly on course to retain their title after a brief Likewise, Bayern are trying to talk Heynckes Next month, squash will pioneer a statis- sport and technology in truly real time - with wobble that cost Carlo Ancelotti his job in Sep- into staying on as head coach past the end of the tical tracking system for the first time at a data instantly available to fans and players,” tember. But Leverkusen are looking to become season. The 72-year-old insists he will leave in world tour event at the Swedish Open in he said. Tour chiefs hope to incorporate tech- only the third club after Hoffenheim and Borussia May, having turned the team’s fortunes around Linkoping between Feb. 8-11, which the Pro- nology for automated calls on the out lines, Moenchengladbach to beat Bayern in the league since replacing Ancelotti when Bayern were five fessional Squash Association (PSA) says will as well as the tin, if the trial concept proves this season. With six goals and four assists, Lev- points adrift of then-leaders . allow the elite game to be analyzed in greater successful. Plans are also in place to combine erkusen’s outstanding player in the first half of the forward Thomas Mueller said Bayern depth than ever before. Four cameras and a iSquash’s front wall technology with the tour season was 20-year-old Jamaican winger Leon are back at their best after struggling with fatigue series of sensors will be erected around and system, meaning that statistical data can be Bailey, who has thrived since joining from Belgian through the final weeks of last year, even if results above the all-glass court, led by a motion projected onto the court wall in between club Genk last January. Both Bayern striker did not show it. “The joy of playing is back again,” and defender Mats Hum- said Mueller. —AFP tracking system called “MoTrack”, allowing games for spectators. —Reuters