SPORT Wednesday 24 October 2018 PAGE | 28 PAGE | 29 Manny Pacquiao Du Plessis braced signs new deal for hostile reception with PBC Down Under Bayern Munich 2 - 0 AEK Athens ACL: Persepolis Young Boys 1 - 1 Valencia Ajax 1 - 0 Benfica Manchester City 3 - 0 Shakhtar Donetsk reach final after 1-1 Hoffenheim 3 - 3 Lyon Roma 3 - 0 CSKA Moscow draw against Al Sadd Real Madrid 2 - 1 Viktoria Plzen Juventus 1 - 0 Manchester United AFP after that and began to test the Al Sadd defence. TEHRAN: Iran’s Persepolis In the 14th minute, Ali advanced to the final of the AFC Mosleh was unable to connect Champions League (ACL) for the after Mensha had headed the first time with a 2-1 aggregate ball across the goalmouth fol- victory over Qatar’s Al Sadd lowing a corner. following a 1-1 draw in their Three minutes later, semi-final second leg in the Bounedjah’s goal came after a Iranian capital yesterday. rare lapse by the Persepolis Persepolis edged the first leg defence as the star striker in Doha 1-0 earlier this month, latched on to a Hasan al-Haydos but a Baghdad Bounedjah strike pass with two players marking in the 17th minute yesterday him failing to anticipate the gave Al Sadd the lead and raised situation. hopes of an upset victory in Bounedjah, the top scorer front of a capacity crowd at the in the tournament with 13 goals, Azadi Stadium. finished off with a fine first-time However, Siamak Nemati shot past the outstretched arms equalised for Persepolis in the of Beiranvand. 49th minute off a pass from Beiranvand though pulled Godwin Mensha and the Qatar off a vital reflex save to keep out giants were unable to find the a Xavi header in the 86th net a second time which would minute as Persepolis sealed have sent them through on their spot in the final where they away goals. take on either Japan’s Kashima Al Sadd had threatened as Antlers or South Korea’s Suwon early as the third minute, but Bluewings. Abdelkarim Hassan’s shot was Kashima won the first leg Juventus’ Paulo Dybala scores their first goal against Manchester United during their UEFA Champions League Group H match at pouched by Persepolis goal- 3-2, with the second match to the Old Trafford in Manchester, Britain yesterday. keeper Alireza Beiranvand. be played today at the Suwon Persepolis tightened up World Cup Stadium. Dybala nets winner for Juventus at Old Trafford REUTERS a 2-1 win against to Viktoria Plzen yesterday, snapping a run Bayern edge LONDON: Juventus beat of five games without victory and Manchester United 1-0 at Old easing the pressure on coach out AEK to Trafford yesterday to take charge Julen Lopetegui. of Champions League Group H Karim Benzema headed stut- move atop with a maximum nine points tering triple European champions from three games. Real ahead early in the first half Group E Paulo Dybala’s 17th-minute but they were fortunate not to goal, a simple conversion after a concede an equaliser before the AFP low cross from the right by break as they leaked three former United favourite Cristiano glaring chances which the Czechs Ronaldo, proved decisive but the failed to capitalise on. ATHENS: Quick-fire goals Italian champions could have Real’s Brazilian left back by Javi Martinez and Robert returned home with a much more Marcelo got the second goal with Lewandowski yesterday convincing margin. a coolly-taken dinked finish in moved Bayern Munich top United’s Spanish keeper the 55th minute and they then of their Champions League David De Gea made a series of missed a glut of chances to group with a 2-0 win at good saves including an excellent extend the lead, which was cut AEK Athens, as they made effort to keep out a second-half by an ice-cool finish from Plzen’s it back-to-back victories strike from Ronaldo. Patrik Hrosovsky in the 78th. after a difficult start to the Paul Pogba struck the post Real held on for a far-from season. with a left-foot effort from convincing win which takes Dogged defending by outside the box in the 75th them joint top of Group G with the reigning Greek cham- minute but Jose Mourinho’s side AS Roma on six points after pions left Bayern facing a struggled to create openings three games but failed to frustrating draw until against a superb Juve defence. answer serious questions about Martinez finally broke Elsewhere, in Madrid, Real their form ahead of Sunday’s through with an hour gone Madrid calmed tensions over ‘Clasico’ away to arch rivals at AEK, who travel to the their dire recent form by earning Barcelona. Allianz Arena in a fort- night’s time. The result leaves Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema (right) celebrates Bayern top of Group E and after scoring against FC Viktoria Plzen yesterday. puts pressure on nearest rivals Ajax, who earned a 1-1 draw in Munich three weeks ago, to beat Benfica in Amsterdam later on Tuesday and join the Germans on seven points, while AEK remain bottom after three straight defeats. Elsewher, in Group E, Guillaume Hoarau's second-half penalty earned Young boys their first Champions League point yesterday after a 1-1 draw with Valencia in Bern. 28 SPORT WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2018 Denmark’s Caroline Mayweather rematch closer to reality Wozniacki celebrates her win against Czech Republic’s as Pacquiao signs new deal with PBC Petra Kvitova yesterday. AFP happen in January, possibly in Las willing to accept a challenge to fight “underdog”, but he rolled back the Vegas. against McGregor’s MMA conqueror years to register a 60th win and take MANILA: A potential blockbuster “Pacquiao’s first defense of the Khabib Nurmagomedov. the Argentine’s WBA welterweight rematch between Manny Pacquiao World Boxing Association welter- The deal with Haymon repre-repre- belt. and Floyd Mayweather moved a step weight world title will kick off the sents a newnew chapterchapter forfor thethe 39-year-39-year- closer as the Filipino icon confirmed new partnership,” Haymon’s PBC old Pacquiao,quiao, whowho hashas beenbeen pro-pro- he has signed with Al Haymon’s said in a statement without giving moted foror the majoritymajority of his 20-year20-year Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). further details. professionalional career by Bob Arum’s Eight-weight world champion “The new alliance will have team Top Ranknk organisation. Pacquiao said he would close out his Pacquiao and Haymon work “I wishwish him the best of luck, a storied career by facing “top PBC together to navigate the remainder tremendousdous warrior, and whatever fighters” in announcing late Monday of his illustrious career,” it added. he’s doingoing in the future, he the tie-up with influential May- The deal could pave the way for deserves,”es,” Arum said of Pacquiao weather adviser Haymon’s a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch of on Fighthubthub TV in Las Vegas at thethe organisation. the 2015 megafight which generated weekend.nd. “My team will work closely with a record 4.6 million pay-per-view Pacquiaoquiao pumped new life into Al Haymon for the remainder of my buys earning $600m and ended with his storiedied career in JulyJuly whenwhen hehe career to deliver the most antici- the American winning on points. delivereded hishis firstfirst kknockoutnockout in ninninee WTA Finals: pated fights with the top PBC Unbeaten Mayweather, who years againstgainst LucasLucas Mat-Mat- fighters,” Pacquiao said in a hasn’t fought since knocking out thysse ofof Argentina.Argentina. statement. mixed martial artist Conor McGregor Aheadad of the fifightghtt Defending champ “Those are the fights the fans last year, said in September he againstt big- want to see and the ones I want to would come out of retirement to face punchingng MatMat-- have to close out my career,” he Pacquiao later this year. thysse, Pac-Pac- Wozniacki gets 1st added. The American, 41, has since quiao saidaid hhee Pacquiao said last week that he hinted at taking a warm-up fight consideredered was “90 percent” sure a bout with first, talking on social media of a himselflf win in Singapore former four-division world “huge boxing event” in Tokyo and thee Manny Pacquiao AFP champion Adrien Broner would then last week said he would be SINGAPORE: A tenacious Caroline Wozniacki revived her WTA Finals title defence with a third set masterclass against Petra Kvitova yesterday, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) scores leaving the former Wimbledon champion’s Spurs rally against Phoenix Suns during their NBA game at Oracle Singapore campaign in ruins. Arena in Oakland, USA on Monday. Rebounding from a disappointing opening to keep James’ defeat against Karolina Pliskova, Wozniacki wore down Kvitova to triumph 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 19 minutes. Lakers winless Kvitova has now lost both her matches and needs results to go her way in the White Group to stay afloat in the season-finale. AP Kvitova mixed trademark power with exquisite touch but was matched by Wozniacki’s dogged LOS ANGELES: LeBron James hit the tying counterattacks. 3-pointer late in regulation. He led a Lakers The Dane recovered from an injury scare, lineup of three second-year pros and a where she needed taping to her left knee early in rookie making his NBA debut to a 142-136 the second set, and showcased her athleticism in lead with 55 seconds left overtime. a dominant third set to outlast Kvitova. James was then reminded in spectacular Kvitova attacked the net in an effort to shorten fashion that nothing will be easy in this West the points against the fast-moving Wozniacki and Coast chapter of his career.