WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 SPORTS Klinsmann pleads patience over Pulisic as US face Trinidad MIAMI: United States coach Jurgen USA could probably afford to lose and still appearance against Bolivia in May. Cup winner added. “A lot of people are It will be Howard’s record 32nd appear- Klinsmann has called for patience as the advance alongside Trinidad, who have But while applauding the youngster’s anxious that we start him from the begin- ance in a World Cup qualifier for the USA, clamour for rising star Christian Pulisic already assured themselves of qualifica- form, Klinsmann emphasised that the ning. That day will come there is no doubt surpassing Kasey Keller’s haul of 31 to be given a starting berth reaches tion. That healthy goal difference has left attacking midfielder would be developed about it. amassed between 1996 and 2005. fever pitch. Klinsmann with room to experiment with gradually, hinting that he may have to wait “But for us it’s important that we build Klinsmann meanwhile said there is no Borussia Dortmund teenager Pulisic his line-up-and fuelled hope that the 17- longer to be named in the starting line-up. him with patience, with not too much question of the USA playing for a draw as produced a sparkling two-goal cameo last year-old Pulisic may start. hype and expectation either. they aim to wrap up qualification. Friday as the USA demolished St. Vincent Pulisic, who has now scored three goals ‘ONE STEP AT A TIME’ “We are thrilled that he’s growing and “On paper it looks easy, one point and the Grenadines 6-0 in Kingstown. in seven appearances for the USA since “Christian came in against St. Vincent that he’s getting more mature. We’ll take it would be enough, we have a good goal The result left the USA needing only a making his debut earlier this year, is widely and did a fantastic job. He kind of really one step at a time.” difference,” he said. “But I’ve tried to make draw against Trinidad and Tobago in regarded as one of the brightest talents in made it look all easy,” Klinsmann said dur- Klinsmann has said he will not confirm it very clear to the players that this is still a Jacksonville, Florida yesterday to be sure of American soccer for years. ing a question and answer session on his starting line-up until shortly before big game for us. It’s a World Cup qualifier progressing to the final round of CONCA- English side Liverpool are reportedly Facebook. “Obviously we know he has kick-off. While Pulisic may have to wait for so we can’t take it lightly. CAF qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. circling the youngster, who became the tremendous talent and that’s why he’s with a start, Klinsmann has confirmed however “We only need one point but we would However a massive advantage over youngest ever player to score for the USA Borussia Dortmund. We’re going to build that veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard will love to win this game so we can finish first Guatemala on goal difference means the when he netted on his third international him one step at a time,” the German World return today for what will be his 110th cap. in our group.” — AFP Albania beat Macedonia in resumed Group G qualifier SHKODRA: Resuming a day after play was Alioski equalized in the 51st. suspended by rain, Bekim Balaj scored in the Alioski is also of Albanian origin. “To me 89th minute yesterday to give Albania a 2-1 personally, it was very important to score the win over Macedonia in a World Cup qualifying first goal for Macedonia, though it was match. against Albania,” Alioski said. “I do not see Balaj scored with a header from a free kick against whom I am playing with. I am very as the teams played out the final 15 minutes happy for my first goal.” of the Group G match. “It was very difficult to The match was being played at the newly- play in two days, very difficult to bring players renovated stadium in Shkodra, 120 kilome- on the pitch with the proper intensity,” ters (75 miles) north of Tirana. Italy and Spain Albania coach Giovanni de Biasi said. “Let’s also have three points from their opening enjoy the victory as we are leading the group matches. Israel and Liechtenstein are also in together with Italy and Spain.” The match was the group. “It is a very difficult group and we abandoned Monday after 75 minutes with can’t have illusions,” di Biasi said. “But the the score 1-1. Armando Sadiku gave Albania most difficult games are with Macedonia, the lead in the ninth minute and Ezdjan Israel and Liechtenstein.” — AP Costa scores first goals for Spain in two years BARCELONA: Spain started their World tional goal. The floodgates had opened for Cup qualifying campaign with a crushing 8- Spain, the 2010 world champions who lost 0 win over Liechtenstein, laying down a in the last 16 of this year’s European marker in Group G with a ruthless second- Championship. half display on Monday. Silva was soon in on the act, adding to Diego Costa scored his first goal for his double in the friendly against Belgium Spain in almost two years to put Julen last week by turning in Vitolo’s cross from Lopetegui’s side ahead in the 10th minute close range. Barely a minute later, Silva in their first competitive game under their repaid the favour by teeing up the Sevilla new coach and Sergi Roberto doubled the forward to mark another impressive display lead in the 55th. for his country with a goal. Costa got his second while David Silva Spain only grew hungrier and Costa and substitute Alvaro Morata also got wanted another bite. He effortlessly turned braces and Vitolo opened his international two defenders in the area before firing at account as the former world champions ran goalkeeper Peter Jehle’s right foot, calmly riot. “Sometimes an opponent’s name can nodding in the rebound for the fifth goal. SHENYANG: China’s Zhang Linpeng, right, falls after being tackled by Iran’s Mehdi Torabi during the WCup 2018 qualifying soccer match in fool you but we played a great game,” said “Players control their destiny and we Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning province, yesterday. — AP Lopetegui. “We reaped in the second half just try to help them, but Diego is a great what we had sowed in the first.” player and he proved it today,” added Costa was the focus of the pre-match Lopetegui. China make their point build-up having netted once in his previous Costa came off to a standing ovation 11 appearances since switching nationali- but his replacement Morata threatened to ties from Brazil in 2014 and needed only 10 upstage him with two strikes in under a minutes to open the scoring, rising high to minute, slamming in at the near post as South Korea slip up head in Koke’s free kick. before striking the ball past the hapless The entrance of substitute Nolito for Jehle from the edge of the area. Thiago Alcantara at the start of the second Silva had a goal harshly ruled out as SHENYANG: China’s World Cup hopes bright- ranked side, would have held few fears for Gao Group A. Son Heung-Min missed the game to half livened up the home side and it was stoppage time approached but the City ened yesterday when they held heavyweights Hongbo’s men in front of a partisan, red-shirted return to his club, Tottenham Hotspur, and coach the Manchester City forward who laid the playmaker grabbed his second a minute Iran 0-0 and group rivals South Korea slipped up home crowd. Uli Stielike may regret letting him go after a ball on for Roberto to grab his first interna- later with a crisp shot. — Reuters in an embarrassing stalemate against war-rav- A dire first half was more notable for its fouls toothless performance with just two shots on aged Syria. Defeat to Asia’s top-ranked side than its goalmouth action as both sides strug- target. In Bangkok, Takuma Asano bounced back would have dented China’s hopes of reaching gled to gain momentum on a poor pitch in from last week’s disallowed goal controversy as only their second World Cup but in the end it Shenyang. But China attacked with renewed he hit Japan’s second in the 2-0 win over was a close game in Shenyang. intent after the break and it was a different spec- Thailand which ignited their qualifying bid. China’s point, their first of Asia’s final qualify- tacle in the second half as the game opened up. Asano was denied a clear goal in Thursday’s ing round, keeps them in touch with the leaders Alireza Jahanbakhsh should have netted for Iraq 2-1 defeat to UAE when officials failed to see his in six-team Group A, where the top two will win but he blazed a glorious chance over, while shot had crossed the line, but there was no an automatic spot at Russia 2018. Dutch-based Zhang Yuning was denied by doubt when he scored in Bangkok. Their cause was also helped by South Korea’s Morteza Pouraliganji’s desperate block. After Genki Haraguchi’s first-half opener, travails in Malaysia, Syria’s temporary ‘home’ Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand smothered at Asano squeezed his shot under goalkeeper base, as they missed out on what had seemed the feet of Wu Lei and Chinese substitute ‘keeper Kawin Thamsatchanan to give Japan a two-goal like a certain three points.