22 Sunday, April 23, 2017 SPORTS SPORTS Sunday, April 23, 2017 23 Tour of Croatia Chelsea 4 Tottenham 2 Hazard Malaga 2 Valencia 0 Villarreal 2 Leganes 1 Osasuna 2 Sporting Gijon 2 Espanyol v Atletico Madrid (1845). takes Atalanta v Bologna (1600), Fiorentina v Inter Milan (1845) Umag by Buzet the gap dropped to less position in general classification. NIBALI notherLEADS solid performance than 2.5 minutes. “I did not expect it. I was Chelsea’s Brazilian mid- by Bahrain Merida Pro Bahrain Merida riders were already on the bus for a shower, fielder Willian (L) cel- ACycling Team saw Italian keeping eyes on the team leader when they called me to get on the ebrates with Chelsea’s Vincenzo Nibali lead the general and the breakaway group, podium for the award ceremony,” Chelsea Brazilian defender David classification after four days of while riding in the front of the said the captain of Bahrain Luiz (C) and Chelsea’s the Tour of Croatia. peloton, most of the time with Merida Pro Cycling Team. “An Dutch defender Nathan Kristijan Đurasek of the Caja Rural Team. They followed unusual thing for me to dress the Ake after scoring the UAE Emirates team and their strategy throughout leader’s jersey after a sprint stage. previous leader didn’t appear today’s stage and gave good I’m sorry for what happened to due to a crash and resulting in support to Nibali, with the goal Durasek due to yesterday’s crash, injury, forcing him to pull out. of keeping a good status for but this is cycling.” into final The race started quite fast general classification. Nibali was “We will not change our with a slight back wind and wearing the green KoM (King of tactics,” explained Nibali there were no breakaways the Mountain) jersey. “We will keep our rhythm London Dele Alli levelled again for were hoping for a more severe possession for long periods, of Luiz and direct a close- for the first 40 kilometers. Just before entering Umag, and our race on the climb, as den Hazard fired Tottenham, but Conte had all punishment than the yellow Pochettino’s side still ended range finish past Courtois. After Bakarac and the the final destination town, the we need to put kilometers in the EChelsea into the the answers and, when he sent card shown by referee Martin the half behind as his decision Conte responded by beginning of the bunch annulated the breakaway legs, since neither me nor my FA Cup final as the on Hazard, the Belgian blasted Atkinson. to play Son Heung-Min out of sending for the cavalry as climb a breakaway quartet, with just one of them, teammates did not race after Belgian’s blistering Chelsea back into the lead. But their frustration was position at left wingback was Costa and Hazard came on of four riders Marangoni, keeping a small gap the Tirreno-Adriatico. Here it’s strike ensured Antonio Nemanja Matic’s short-lived as Willian stepped exposed in the 43rd minute. for Willian and Batshuayi in made a gap of and trying to take a solo win. a bit cold, but the stages are Conte’s selection thunderous long-range effort up to exact retribution from Kante slipped a pass to the 61st minute, while Cesc four minutes. But with few metres to go, the long and that it’s gamble paid off in his sealed a final date against the free-kick, the Brazilian’s Victor Moses and when the Fabregas was introduced soon They kept this sprinters caught him and Ruffoni important for us side’s dramatic 4-2 win Arsenal or Manchester City, superb 20-yard strike eluding Nigerian’s surge into the after. Once again, Conte’s difference along crossed the line first. ahead of Giro over Tottenham yesterday. who meet in the second semi- Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo penalty area was halted by instincts were spot on and the way and Nibali passed the finish line d’Italia.” Blues boss Conte sprang final today. Lloris before nestling into the Son’s rash tackle Atkinson the Italian’s changes brought also beyond the with the same time as the a major surprise by starting Tottenham, losers yet again far corner. Kane’s typically gave the penalty on the advice the winner in the 75th Tunnel Učka winner and was the best with Hazard and Diego Costa at Wembley and still without predatory finish drew them of his linesman. minute. (Cat. 2). In qualified Bahrain Merida on the bench in the Wembley an FA Cup final appearance level in the 18th minute. Batshuayi wanted to take it, Fabregas’s corner was the valley rider and above all semi-final as he looked since 1991, need an immediate but Conte demanded Willian only partially cleared and of river took the first ahead to the Premier League response in their midweek Exposed step up and he stroked home Hazard seized the ball just Mirna and leaders’ vital fixture trip to Crystal Palace if they As Christian Eriksen prepared the spot-kick in confident inside the area before drilling through against Southampton are to get revenge by pipping to whip over a cross, Kane style. It could have been a a blistering finish beyond the flat on Tuesday. Chelsea to the title. was already on the move and major momentum changer, Lloris. and fast part But Conte’s bold Breaking at pace, Chelsea his awareness gave him a yet Tottenham were level If that was a memorable of the stage moves proved inspired as worked the ball towards valuable extra yard of space again in the 52nd minute. strike, there was even better to the peloton Hazard’s replacement Willian Batshuayi and his deft on Chelsea defender Nathan Barely looking up as he come five minutes later when started to Chelsea’s Belgian put Chelsea ahead early on backheel sent Pedro surging Ake as he stooped to guide a received the ball, Eriksen Hazard teed up Matic and Vincenzo Nibali on the podium catch up and midfielder Eden and then restored their lead clear. When the Spaniard delicate header past Thibaut unfurled a majestic pass Serb’s thunderous 30-yard Hazard celebrates in the second half after Harry was sent sprawling by Toby Courtois. towards Alli, who timed his rocket sent Chelsea into scoring Kane’s equaliser. Alderweireld’s lunge, Chelsea But, despite controlling run perfectly to slide in front raptures. (AFP) Nadal to face Vinolas Cavani sends PSG top Monte Carlo Paris coach from the Laurent Blanc era a defender and back heeled the Personally, it’s a very special place for the first set, when the chair umpire may goal apiece from Edinson French Ligue 1: and had enjoyed his first return to ball to the Argentine giving him afael Nadal beat David Goffin 6-3, me. It’s something that makes me feel have missed a ball mark and ended up Cavani and Angel di Maria Paris SG 2 Montpellier 0 some extent. a distant sight on goal before he R6-1 yesterday in a controversial very happy. Very excited about it.” awarding Nadal a point which denied gaveA Paris Saint-Germain a 2-0 Lorient 5 Metz 1 “We had them on the back foot duly curled his shot into semi-final at the Monte Carlo Masters Nadal has beaten 29-year-old Ramos- Goffin a 4-2 lead in the opener. win over Montpellier to send the Dijon 3 Angers 2 for a while,” he said. the top corner for to put himself on the brink of a 10th Vinolas in their two previous clashes, The crowd turning against him, champions top of Ligue 1 for the Caen 0 Nantes 2 “I’m fully behind them for the a sumptuous title at the clay court showpiece. both times on clay in Barcelona. Nadal was the subject of whistles and first time this season yesterday. Bordeaux 2 Bastia 0 title, but it won’t be easy with strike. The 30-year-old defending champion “He’s playing better than ever, he’s jeers while the heart went out of Goffin will face Spanish compatriot Albert winning huge matches during the whole who had made the semi-finals by seeing PSG now have 80 points Lille 3 Guingamp 0 Monaco needing to slip up twice,” Minutes from 34 games to top Ligue 1 he said in reference not only to later Cavani Ramos-Vinolas, who defeated Lucas week,” said Nadal of his next opponent. off world number two Novak Djokovic provisionally while second placed the three extra points Monaco can almost scored Pouille 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, in Sunday’s final. “He’s playing with big confidence, on Friday. Monaco, the Champions League their guard and occasionally rode take but also their vastly superior an unwitting Nadal is also chasing his first ATP with great spirit of fight, overcoming “When the umpire goes down and semi-finalists, have 77 points from their luck. goal difference. own goal when title since last April in Barcelona and tough situations in every match, and says the ball is good, what I can say? No, 32 ahead of a challenging trip to But Unai Emery’s charges have Cavani, known as El Matador PSG ‘keeper Kevin the 70th of his career. playing a high level of tennis all the the ball is out?” Nadal said. “That’s why Lyon on Sunday. now steamrollered to eight straight for his killer instinct in front of Trapp kicked the “It’s tough to believe that I am again time.