Cool Medvedeva leads Afghan women figure skating swimmers defy worlds in Helsinki threats for Olympic dream THURSDAY, MARCH16 30, 2017 16 Federer and Nadal advance, Wawrinka ousted at Miami Page 17 SAO PAULO: Brazil’s Neymar jumps over Paraguay’s Paulo Da Silva during their 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match at the Arena Corinthians Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday. —AP Brazil book World Cup berth, Argentina tumble MONTEVIDEO: Brazil became the first team to Russia. The qualification completes an astonish- Tuesday with four games left. “When I look at my setting off on a surging run down the left flank. disciplinary chiefs at world governing body FIFA qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beat- ing turnaround for Brazil, who less than a year family-the players-and when we talk to the fans Neymar’s dribble ended with him curling in a in Zurich. The Barcelona superstar was stunned ing Paraguay to clinch an eighth consecutive ago were in crisis after taking only nine points and see how happy they are, that’s when you shot which took a slight deflection on its way after being suspended for four of Argentina’s victory as Argentina’s campaign stumbled after from six games. That run of results had left the think ‘I’m part of something very special,’” Tite into the Paraguayan goal. Real Madrid defender five remaining World Cup qualification matches the shock suspension of Lionel Messi. Brazilians outside the qualifying places in sixth said after Brazil’s qualification was confirmed. Marcelo added a late third to seal Brazil’s win. for swearing at an official in a game against Five-time champions Brazil had been left place. The further embarrassment of a first Against Paraguay, Brazil were already in party Chile last week. Messi’s suspension left waiting in suspense after goals from Neymar, round exit at last year’s Copa America mode, with Coutinho opening the scoring on 34 NO MESSI, BIG PROBLEM Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza forced to make Philippe Coutinho and Marcelo handed them a Centenario only deepened the sense of despon- minutes following a deft one-two with China- While Brazil celebrated, Argentina and Messi a hasty reshuffle to his starting line-up, bringing 3-0 win over the Paraguayans at Sao Paulo’s dency. However the sacking of former coach based midfielder Paulinho. Neymar had a were left digesting another stumble in their in Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa in attack while Arena Corinthians. Dunga and the appointment of former chance to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute from progress towards Russia as they slumped to a 2- leaving Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero on the But Uruguay’s upset 2-1 defeat to Peru in the Corinthians coach Tite was the catalyst for a the penalty spot only to see his kick saved by 0 defeat in La Paz. bench. But Argentina, clearly struggling in the day’s final South American qualifier combined Brazilian resurgence. That revival saw Brazil take Anthony Silva. Argentina had been rocked just hours before thin air of La Paz, which is 3,600 metres (11,800 with other results meant Brazil are mathemati- maximum points from their next eight qualify- On 64 minutes Neymar doubled Brazil’s tally, kick-off after confirmation Messi had been hit feet) above sea level, were well beaten at the cally guaranteed a place at next year’s finals in ing games, leaving them nine points clear on collecting the ball deep inside his own half and with a four-match ban following a ruling from Estadio Hernando Siles.—AFP BASKETBALL Whiteside’s buzzer-beating tip-in lifts Heat past Pistons AUBURN HILLS: Hassan Whiteside scored on a tip-in just son in a game that featured 21 lead changes and 12 ties. before the buzzer, giving the Miami Heat a 97-96 victory Robert Covington added 21 points and Timothe over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. Whiteside scored Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 17 for the Sixers, who had nine NBA results/standings after a wild scramble during which the Heat missed two available players due to injuries. Brook Lopez led the attempts on their final possession. He finished with 17 Nets with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Washington 119, LA Lakers 108; Portland 122, Denver points and nine rebounds. Goran Dragic scored a game- 113; Golden State 113, Houston 106; Philadelphia 106, high 28 points for the Heat. Miami scored the final five HAWKS 95, SUNS 91 Brooklyn 101; Atlanta 95, Phoenix 91; Miami 97, Detroit points after giving away a nine-point lead. Kentavious Dennis Schroder scored 27 points and helped Atlanta 96; Milwaukee 118, Charlotte 108; Minnesota 115, FUNCHAL: Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo stands past a bust presented during Caldwell-Pope’s 25 points led the Pistons, who have lost recover from blowing an 18-point lead against Phoenix. Indiana 114. a ceremony where Madeira’s airport in Funchal is to be renamed after Cristiano Ronaldo, eight of their last nine. The Hawks snapped a seven-game losing streak. Atlanta Eastern Conference on Madeira island, yesterday. — AFP got a double-double from Ersan Ilyasova, who had 18 Atlantic Division WLPCTGB points and 12 rebounds. Taurean Price scored 15 points Boston 48 26 .649 - Airport renamed WARRIORS 113, ROCKETS 106 and Dwight Howard had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Toronto 45 29 .608 3 Stephen Curry scored a game-high 32 points and Phoenix was led by TJ Warren’s 24 points and eight Philadelphia 28 46 .378 20 Draymond Green did a little of everything to help rebounds. NY Knicks 28 46 .378 20 in Ronaldo honour Golden State beat Houston. Curry drilled a three-pointer Brooklyn 16 58 .216 32 with 1:46 left to rebuild a double-digit lead for the BUCKS 118, HORNETS 108 Central Division LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo had an interna- ably similar, social media users were quick to Cleveland 47 26 .644 - Warriors, who stretched their winning streak to eight Milwaukee bounced back after a 15-point home loss Milwaukee 38 36 .514 9.5 tional airport renamed in his honour yester- mock the statue as nothing like him and even games. Green finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and to Chicago on Sunday with an emphatic victory over day but it was a newly unveiled bust of him horrifying. “Seriously, I look more like Indiana 37 37 .500 10.5 three steals. Klay Thompson added 25 points. Houston’s Charlotte. The Bucks shot 72.5 percent in the first half in Chicago 35 39 .473 12.5 that soon became a major talking point. Five Cristiano Ronaldo than that bust,” said the James Harden posted his 20th triple-double, producing rolling to a 22-point lead and then pushed the margin to Detroit 34 41 .453 14 thousand screaming fans, the Portuguese tal- Twitter user DiscoHobbit. 24 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. But he was just 5- 26 in the second half. Milwaukee finished at 62.2 percent. Southeast Division isman himself and the country’s prime minis- The BBC called the bust “bizarre”. of-20 from the field, including 1-of-9 on three-pointers. Tony Snell led the way with 26 points and Giannis Washington 46 28 .622 - ter and the president were all in attendance Ronaldo already has a museum and Atlanta 38 36 .514 8 at the airport of Madeira, the island where bronze statue in his honour in his birth town Antetokounmpo added 20 points. Kemba Walker led the Miami 36 38 .486 10 Ronaldo was born. “To see this airport bear of Funchal. He follows in the footsteps of TIMBERWOLVES 115, PACERS 114 Hornets with 26 points. Charlotte 33 41 .446 13 my name is a very special thing,” said Northern Ireland legend George Best, who Ricky Rubio sank three free throws with 3.4 seconds Orlando 27 47 .365 19 Western Conference Ronaldo, 32, who skippered Portugal to victo- also wore the number seven shirt in his time left to lift Minnesota past Indiana, whose Monta Ellis WIZARDS 119, LAKERS 108 missed a three-point shot at the buzzer. Karl-Anthony John Wall scored 34 points and handed out 14 assists, Northwest Division ry in the European championships last year. at Manchester United and had Belfast airport Utah 45 29 .608 - “Everyone knows I am proud of my roots.” named after him. Towns delivered a team-high 37 points for the and Washington used a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Los Oklahoma City 42 31 .575 2.5 Real Madrid star Ronaldo, speaking at a nam- Portugal played their first match in Timberwolves. Rubio finished with 21 points and Gorgui Angeles. Otto Porter Jr and Bradley Beal added 16 points Portland 36 38 .486 9 ing ceremony also attended by his family, Madeira since 2001 on Tuesday, going down Dieng added 19. Paul George had 37 points for the apiece for the Wizards, who clinched the Southeast Denver 35 39 .473 10 added: “I didn’t ask for this but I’m not a hyp- 3-2 to Sweden. Ronaldo’s 71st goal for his Pacers. Division with the win. Kelly Oubre Jr chipped in 14 Minnesota 29 44 .397 15.5 ocrite and I acknowledge that it honours me, country in the defeat saw the striker go level points. D’Angelo Russell scored 20 of his 28 points in the Pacific Division 76ERS 106, NETS 101 first half for the Lakers, who lost to the Wizards for the Golden State 60 14 .811 - and that makes me happy.” in third place with German Miroslav Klose in LA Clippers 44 31 .587 16.5 Also presented was a grinning bust of one the list of Europe’s all-time top international Dario Saric scored 23 points and Philadelphia outlast- fifth straight time on their home court.