FOOTBALL | Page 2 ATHLETICS | Page 6

Barcelona Kipchoge,
thrash Sevilla Cheruiyot post
to clinch 30th Kenyan double
Copa del Rey in London

Monday, April 23, 2018 TENNIS

Sha’baan 7, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES Nadal swats aside

Nishikori to seal 11th
Monte Carlo crown

SPORT Page 4

FOOTBALL / QATAR CUP

Duhail set up Sadd finale

with big win over Gharafa
Nam Tae-Hee scores a second-half hat-trick as QNB Stars League champion beat Gharafa 6-1 in the semi-final
By Sports Reporter
Doha

A
l Duhail and hat-trick hero Nam
Tae-Hee pulled off a second-
half masterclass to convincing-
ly brush aside Al Gharafa with a
6-1 victory in the Qatar Cup semi-final at
the Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
All goals came in the second half
through Murad Naji (47th minute), Is-
mail Mohamed (54th), Youssef El Arabi
(76th) and Tae-Hee (69th, 79th and
86th minutes).
Mehdi Taremi grabbed a consolation
goal for Al Gharafa two minutes into
stoppage time.
The first half was a battle through-
out, best characterised by yellow cards
awarded to both sides following some Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi sends out instructions to his players during the match.
rash challenges on their counterparts.
The only real chance of the half came
from Khaled Muftah whose curled shot
produced a smart save from Al Gharafa
goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.
What the first half lacked in chances
was quickly forgotten after the break
when Al Gharafa went close to break-
ing the deadlock, a missed opportunity
that proved very costly. Moments later,
Murad collected the ball from 40 yards
out, advanced a few paces before strik-
ing a thunderous shot from 25 yards (From left) Al Duhail’s Ismail Mohamed, Youssef El Arabi and Nam Tae-Hee celebrate their victory over Al Gharafa in the Qatar
that fizzled past a helpless Qasem. Cup football semi-final at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil and Shemeer Rasheed
Ismail then cut in from the byline,
deceived the keeper and coolly slotted El Arabi got in on the action as he lowing this up with a solo run and goal opposition.
home from a tight angle. converted from close range following in the latter stages. Al Duhail will now be full of confi-
With Al Duhail in the ascendancy, a nice interchange on the right side of Mehdi pulled one back from the pen- dence when they meet Al Sadd, who
Tae-Hee stepped up to take a free-kick the field. Nam, not content with one alty spot, but Al Gharafa will be disap- beat Al Rayyan 4-2 on penalties (2-2 af-
on the edge of the area, curled it around wondrous free-kick, produced a carbon pointed with the result having started ter regular time) in the other semi-final
the wall and straight into the far corner copy of his first goal as he struck again the game so positively, but ultimately on Saturday, in the Qatar Cup final on Duhail’s Nam Tae-Hee (right) vies for the ball with Al Gharafa’s Assim Omer Madebo
for goal number three of the night. into the corner of the net, before fol- collapsed under the pressure of great Friday at the same venue. during the Qatar Cup semifinal yesterday.

FOOTBALL / EMIR CUP

QSC, Al Ahli to start their campaigns today

By Sports Reporter Second division teams will seek to aware that we will face a very strong said yesterday.
Doha capture the spotlight from top-flight team with excellent players. But we Al Wakrah coach Marquez Lopez
outfits although that usually proves a have studied our opponents well and praised Qatar SC and described their
tall order as the gulf in class is far too know their weak and strong points. We rivals as an organised team with excel-

T
he Emir Cup tournament will
kick off today with Mesaimeer
locking horns with Al Ahli at
the Suheim bin Hamad Stadi-
um. In another first round match today,
Qatar Sports Club will take on Al Wak-
rah at 8pm.
The Emir Cup is the most prestigious
domestic football tournament and brings
down the curtains on the nine-month
long football season in Qatar. The event
offers a chance for lower division teams
to test their mettle against the big guns
as they bid to qualify for the final at the
Khalifa Stadium on May 19.
The top four QNB Stars League teams
– Al Duhail, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al
Gharafa will kick off their campaigns
directly from the quarter-final stage
of the competition, where they will be
joined by four other teams who will
have to work their way up from rounds
one and two.
obvious.
Today, Al Ahli will be keen to make
up for the disappointment in the QNB
Stars League, where they finished
ninth. It won’t easy against Mesaimeer
for Al Ahli though, with cup games tra-
ditionally a difficult one to call and can
swung in one way or the other in few
moments of magic.
Ahli coach Youssef Ahmed said his
players were ready for the tournament.
“Our goal will definitely be to win the
tournament, despite the absence of our
key players Ahmed Fouad and Shikha-
wi. But at the same time we have a large
number of young players who are ca-
pable of filling up for their experienced
teammates,” he said on the match eve
yesterday.
On Mesaimeer, Al Ahli’s opponents,
he said: “We know our opponents very
well and will impose our style during
the game in order to win. Our aim is to
will try to exploit weaknesses to win,”
Tadek said.
Meanwhile, Qatar SC is gunning for
their first appearance in the Emir Cup fi-
nal since 2004. Once a formidable team,
Qatar SC has fallen down the ladder and
is hoping to repeat the magic of 2004,
when they lost to Al Rayyan in the final.
Ahead of today’s first round match
against Al Wakrah, Qatar SC coach Ab-
dullah Mubarak said his team is looking
forward to the tournament and have
been sweating out in training for the
last ten days.
“It’s a prestigious tournament and
it’s every player’s and the club’s ambi-
tion to reach the final. In a cup game,
Al Ahli coach Youssef Ahmed (right) and defender Hadi al-Masri addresses a press it’s not necessary that the strongest
conference yesterday. PICTURE: Anas Khalid team will win the match. The team that
adapts well will go on to win the tour-
qualify for the final.” a difficult task against Al Ahli and was nament. Our preparations have been
On the other hand, Mesaimeer coach hoping for a surprise victory. excellent and we have all the players
Dragan Tadek said his team will have “We are well prepared and we are ready for the match against Wakrah,” he
lent players. However, he hoped that his
team will take advantage of any mis-
takes made by Qatar SC players.
Lopez conceded his players are still
hurting from their loss to Al Kharaitiyat
in the play-offs last week, which meant
they missed out on a place in the next
season’s QNB Stars League. The play-off
was between the 11th-placed team in the
QNB Stars League and Second Division
runners-up, and Al Wakrah failed in their
pursuit to get a promotion.
Lopez said: “My players were heart-
broken after the lost in the play-offs.
But it’s not in past. We want to show
how good a team we are. We will be go-
ing into the Emir Cup with confidence
and believing in our capabilities.”
After today’s two first-round match-
es, two more matches are scheduled for
tomorrow. Al Markhiya will clash with
Al Shamal, while Al Kharaitiyat take on
Al Shahania.
 2 Gulf Times
Monday, April 23, 2018

FOOTBALL
SPOTLIGHT

Barcelona hammer Sevilla

to clinch 30th Copa del Rey
Messi scores once and Suarez twice before even the half-time whistle had blown at the Wanda Metropolitano
AFP
Madrid

L
ionel Messi and Luis Suarez in-
spired Barcelona to what will
surely be the first part of a do-
mestic double this season as
they thrashed Sevilla 5-0 on Saturday
night to win the Copa del Rey. Messi
had scored once and Suarez twice be-
fore even the half-time whistle had
blown at the Wanda Metropolitano,
with the sublime Andres Iniesta and
Philippe Coutinho later compounding
Sevilla’s humiliation.
Barca’s exhilarating display earns
them their 30th triumph in this com-
petition and fourth in a row, having
reached the final in each of the last five
years. But, despite hugs and high-fives
at the end, the real celebrations will
be put on ice until next Sunday, when
victory over Deportivo La Coruna will
confirm Ernesto Valverde’s side as La
Liga champions too.
Even a clean sweep of the domestic
trophies, perhaps polished by La Liga’s
first ever unbeaten season, will not
eradicate the lingering disappointment
from Barca’s Champions League exit to
Roma. But this performance, as easy on
the eye as it was emphatic, will certain-
ly serve as a counter-point to those that
believe Valverde’s team have been effi-
cient, rather than exciting this season, Barcelona players and staff celebrate with their families after winning the Copa del Rey at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday night. (Reuters)
and overly reliant on Messi.
“Winning the Cup does not hide the last Barca final before departing for looks an outside bet and there may ernment, Barca fans whistled during the ball alive with a backheel that Messi in the second half as the midfielder’s
disappointment in Rome,” Suarez said China, it was a fitting farewell, with be repercussions for coach Vincenzo the national anthem before kick-off, slammed into the roof of the net. dummy-shot left Soria scrambling and
after the match. “But at the beginning only goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen absent Montella and some of his players in the with king Felipe VI watching on. Their Messi could have had a second were an open net for the midfielder to fin-
of the season anyone would have signed from the 10-man huddle that engulfed summer. “Barcelona has been superior jeers, however, were drowned out by it not for an incorrect offside call and ish into. Resigned to their fate, Sevilla’s
for a double.” the Spaniard following his shimmying in everything, they have extra-terres- the chants of Sevilla supporters. then a cynical foul by Sergio Escudero, fans sang to the end, even as Coutinho
Messi was, of course, superb again on fourth. By the time Coutinho converted trial players,” Montella said. “I’m very When the first goal arrived it came for which he was lucky only to receive a despatched a penalty to make it five af-
Saturday but this was not a one-man his penalty in the 69th minute, Barca sorry for the fans who have been fan- from a long Cillessen punt downfield as yellow card. Both mattered little, how- ter the ball had struck Clement Lenglet
show. Suarez scored his 31st and 32nd were simply sharing the goals around. tastic, sorry for the disappointments. Coutinho found himself free behind the ever, as Messi set Suarez free in the 41st on the arm.
goals of the season while Iniesta deliv- For Sevilla, defeat was always the I have seen crying in the dressing room Sevilla backline and squared for Suarez minute, and the Uruguayan slid a third All that was left was for Iniesta’s
ered one of those effortless displays, in most likely scenario but this was a but tomorrow, we have to work.” to stab home. Iniesta hit the bar with under David Soria. substitution to be given a standing ova-
which at times he was virtually unplay- whitewash. Sitting eighth in La Liga, Amid ongoing political unrest be- a rasping shot from distance and soon It was another one-two, with Messi tion before the captain hoisted the tro-
able. If this is to be the 33-year-old’s even Europa League qualification now tween Catalonia and the Spanish gov- they were two up, Jordi Alba keeping again the pivot, that released Iniesta phy, perhaps for the final time.

FOCUS SERIE A

Iniesta says ‘emotional’ final Lazio, Inter keep Champions League

may be his last for Barca push alive; Benevento relegated
AFP
Madrid AFP Europa League places with a 2-1
Turin, Italy win over Torino at the expense of
AC Milan who dropped to sev-

A
ndres Iniesta hinted he may have played enth after a 1-0 defeat at home to

L
his last final for Barcelona after they azio and Inter Milan kept bottom club Benevento on Satur-
crushed Sevilla 5-0 to win the Copa their push for Champions day. Benevento’s relegation from
del Rey on Saturday. Barcelona captain League football alive yes- Serie A was confirmed after just
Iniesta said he would reveal his future plans “this terday with champions one year in Italy’s top flight and
week” as the 33-year-old weighs up an offer from Juventus and Napoli set to meet less than 24 hours after an im-
China that would take him away from his boy- in a top of the table clash in Tu- pressive 1-0 win at AC Milan.
hood club. There was no sign of age catching up rin late last night. Ciro Immobile Crotone’s 2-1 victory away to
with the Spaniard at the Wanda Metropolitano scored a brace as Lazio crushed Udinese yesterday condemned
where Iniesta capped a sublime performance by Sampdoria 4-0 to return joint Benevento to an immediate re-
scoring Barca’s fourth goal. He looked tearful as third with Roma who warmed turn to the second division af-
he departed to a standing ovation in the second up for next week’s Champions ter they were left 14 points from
half, from some Sevilla fans too, before hoisting League semi-final against Liver- safety with just four matches to
the Copa del Rey trophy aloft. pool with a 3-0 win at SPAL on play. The club based some 60
“This week I will make my decision public but Saturday. kilometres to the east of Naples
we will always have days like today,” Iniesta said. Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta celebrates after Roma and Lazio both have 67 began the season in disastrous
Asked if this was his last final with Barcelona, scoring against Sevilla in Copa del Rey final. (AFP) points from 34 games with Roma fashion, losing 14 consecutive
Iniesta added: “It’s a possibility. In a few days I’ll ahead on head-to-head clashes. matches to break the record for
make it public and nothing more. Today is a very years. Philippe Coutinho converted a late penalty Inter Milan are just outside the the worst start to a campaign in
special and emotional day.” to make it 5-0. Champions League places in fifth any of Europe’s top five leagues.
The top sponsor of China club Chongqing Dan- But Iniesta was the man of the moment, his one point behind after a hard The arrivals of Bacary Sagna,
gdai Lifan said on Saturday he was “positive” they fourth goal a moment of individual brilliance af- fought 2-1 win over Chievo. Sandro and giant Malian striker
would sign Iniesta, who had earlier this year also ter a superb shimmy left Sevilla goalkeeper David Lazio dominated Sampdoria Cheick Diabate — who has scored
been linked with fellow Chinese Super League Soria helpless to save the finish. This was the in their Stadio Olimpico with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (top) vies for the ball with Sampdoria’s Joachim seven goals in eight games —
outfit Tianjin Quanjian. “I will say what the deci- sixth time Iniesta has won the Copa del Rey, add- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic break- Andersen during the Italian Serie A match in Rome. (AFP) in the winter transfer window
sion is this week,” said Iniesta. “I think it’s a little ing another trophy to a remarkable collection that ing through after 32 minutes and helped Benevento improve but
clear but we will see.” already includes eight La Liga titles, three Cham- a Stefan de Vrij’s diving header to the end and hope to leave one ing a second six minutes later. couldn’t spare them from the in-
Lionel Messi scored in between a first-half pions League crowns and a World Cup. giving the hosts a second just be- of them behind us. We’ll give our Mariusz Stepinski pulled a goal evitable drop.
double for Luis Suarez as Barcelona ran riot to se- He will win a ninth La Liga title if Barcelona fore the break. Immobile tapped heart and soul to make it.” back for Chievo who are just two
cure their fourth Copa del Rey triumph in as many beat Deportivo La Coruna next weekend. in a Milinkovic-Savic assist five Sampdoria, meanwhile, are points above the drop zone. ITALIAN SERIE A RESULTS
minutes from the end, quickly now four points off the Europa The battle for Europe could Cagliari 0 Bologna 0
adding a second to consolidate League places with four games go down to the wire with Lazio Lazio 4 (Milinkovic-Savic 32, de Vrij
his position as leading Serie A to play. After being pegged back hosting Inter in their final game 43, Immobile 85, 88) Sampdoria 0
scorer with 29 goals this season. in the first half by 16th-placed of the season. “I don’t know if
NEYMAR EXPECTED BACK IN PARIS “We’re not in the top four by
chance, we’ve earned this on the
Chievo, Inter’s top scorer Mauro
Icardi broke through on 50 min-
it’ll be the key, but this team has
realised it’s in the running right
Atalanta 2 (Freuler 53, Gosens 64)
Torino 1 (Ljajic 56)
Udinese 1 (Lasagna 5) Crotone 2
IN MID-MAY AT LATEST pitch,” said Lazio coach Simone
Inzaghi. “Roma and Inter are
utes — for his 26th Serie A goal
this season second behind Im-
to the end,” said Inter coach Lu-
ciano Spalletti.
(Tochukwu Nwankwo 7, Faraoni 86)
Chievo 1 (Stepinski 90) Inter Milan 2
Paris: Brazilian superstar celebrations. success in regaining the Ligue also going strong, but we’ll fight mobile — with Ivan Perisic add- Atalanta moved sixth into the (Icardi 50, Perisic 61)
Neymar is expected back in RMC radio, though, said he 1 title, winning the League Cup
Paris a month before the World would be back in “early May” and perhaps also the French
Cup begins in Russia, French to complete his rehabilita- Cup — they play third-tier Les BUNDESLIGA
media reported yesterday. tion in Paris alongside his two Herbiers in the final on May 8.
Paris Saint-Germain forward physiotherapists. His injury Earlier this week, Neymar
Neymar has been recovering in
his homeland since undergo-
ing surgery on a broken bone
sparked a club-versus-country
tug-of-war as PSG wanted to
try to get Neymar fit in time to
said he was due to undergo
tests on May 17 to determine
whether he is fit to start play-
Finnbogason stars as Augsburg secure survival
in his foot on March 3. play against Real while Brazil ing again. AFP that ended any doubt Augsburg Finnbogason was part of the whistle, the burly Icelandic strik-
He had been injured playing were eager to wrap him in cot- It means he is almost certain Berlin would remain in the top flight for Iceland side that reached the er fired home his 12th Bundesliga
for PSG in a league match ton wool to ensure he is firing to play no further part in PSG’s next season. quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and goal of the season before earning
against Marseille on February on all cylinders at the World season but that would leave They are in the security of is set to be part of his country’s himself a yellow card as he ripped

25, just before a crucial Cham-
pions League last 16 second-
leg clash with Real Madrid.
French newspaper L’Equipe
said he will return to Paris in
“mid-May at the latest” to take
part in PSG’s end of season
Cup, starting on June 14.
Brazil won that battle as
Neymar went under the knife
as PSG were sent crashing out
of Europe. PSG’s last match is
on May 19 against Caen, after
which they will celebrate their
him a month to regain match
sharpness ahead of the World
Cup, something he said on
Tuesday he was confident of
doing. “I will arrive better than
I was before,” he said at a pub-
licity even in Sao Paulo.
I
celand international Al-
fred Finnbogason set up one
goal and scored another as
Augsburg beat relegation-
threatened Mainz 2-0 in the
Bundesliga yesterday. Michael
Gregoritsch got the opener be-
fore Finnbogason sealed the win
mid-table, while Mainz remain
level on points with Freiburg,
who occupy the relegation play-
off berth with three games re-
maining. Hamburg and Cologne
sit in the bottom two and look set
to drop down automatically into
the second tier.
squad at the World Cup in Rus-
sia. He produced a superb piece
of skill to set up the first-half
opener, threading a pin-point
pass through for the unmarked
Gregoritsch, who had a simple
tap-in.
Then, just before the final
off his shirt in celebration.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA RESULTS
Augsburg 2 (Gregoritsch 29,
Finnbogason 90+2) Mainz 05 0
Cologne 2 (Bittencourt 26, Risse 84)
Schalke 2 (Embolo 4, Konoplyanka
24)
 Gulf Times
Monday, April 23, 2018 3

FOOTBALL
PREMIER LEAGUE FOCUS

Wenger stepped
Record seekers Man aside to unite
City thrash Swansea Arsenal fanbase
AFP
London

to celebrate title A
rsenal manager Arsene
Wenger said he decid-
ed to bring his 22-year
tenure to a close at the
end of the season because he
didn’t like the image of a divided
Only negative aspect of the occasion was a post-match pitch invasion by City fans fanbase being sent around the
world. Wenger won three Pre-
AFP mier League titles and a record
Manchester, United Kingdom seven FA Cups during his time in
charge.
However, Arsenal haven’t

P
ep Guardiola’s hope that his
team’s hunger to rewrite the
English football record books
would see them maintain their
championship-winning form proved
well-founded as Manchester City swept
aside Swansea City 5-0 at the Etihad Sta-
dium yesterday.
The only negative aspect of the oc-
casion for the newly-crowned Premier
League champions was a post-match
pitch invasion by several hundred City
supporters, who ignored pleas over the
loudspeakers to burst through stewards
and onto the field. Seven days after Man-
chester United’s shock home defeat to
West Bromwich Albion had made the title
a mathematical certainty for Guardiola’s
side, City returned to action before their
own supporters. With the league safe-
ly won, Guardiola had warned that his
players will find next season far tougher
— both in terms of the opposition and
his own demands — and hoped that the
chance to set new historical marks would
prove an inspiration over the remainder
of this campaign.
And another emphatic victory cer-
tainly left City, who have four games
remaining against teams in the bottom
eight of the league, well placed to do pre-
cisely that. They stand one victory short
of Chelsea’s Premier League record tally
of 30, set last season, and with 90 points,
are also well on course to break the record
of 95 points, again set by Chelsea in 2010.
That season also saw the London club set
the current best for goals scored with 103,
a mark City now trail by just five.
In short, Guardiola has presided over a
season for the ages in his second season in
England, even if there was a slightly anti-
climactic feeling about the way in which
City clinched the title just days after a
Champions League quarter-final exit to
Liverpool. But there was still no denying
the triumphant air around the Etihad as
a huge banner proclaiming “Welcome to
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Swansea during the English Premier
League match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, yesterday. (AFP)
the home of the Premier League champi-
ons” was unfurled across the East Stand.
City, and their captain Vincent Kom-
pany, must wait a further two weeks be-
fore physically getting their hands on the
trophy — their third Premier League title
in the last seven years — with the author-
ities having decided that a formal pres-
entation will be made when Huddersfield
Town visit the Etihad on May 6.
Still, Swansea provided City with a
guard of honour before kick-off and the
visitors were largely reduced to watching
and admiring as City showed them why
they are setting records this season. After
just 11 minutes, and relentless City pos-
session, Kevin De Bruyne’s superb pass
was played back by Raheem Sterling for
David Silva who juggled the ball skilfully
before volleying into the Swansea goal.
Five minutes later, an even better
move saw David Silva and Fabian Delph
play a series of one-twos before the lat-
ter crossed for Sterling to calmly slot in
the ball from four yards. It was the start
of a monotonous procession towards the
Swansea goal with De Bruyne scoring the
pick of the bunch on 53 minutes with a
magnificent 25-yard right-foot shot.
Nine minutes later, Federico Fernandez
brought down Sterling and, after Gabriel
Jesus’s penalty was touched onto the post
by Lukasz Fabianski, Bernardo Silva re-
sponded quickly to net fourth from the
rebound. There was time for Benjamin
Mendy to make his return after a seven-
month absence with a knee injury as a
75th-minute substitute, handing the
French international a fifth appearance
of the season and, with that, a Premier
League winner’s medal. And Jesus finally
claimed his goal two minutes from time,
appearing on the end of Yaya Toure’s chip
to head in the final goal of a game that
served as an emphatic statement by club
and manager alike.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Arsenal 4 (Monreal 51, Ramsey 82, Lacazette
85, 89) West Ham 1 (Arnautovic 64)
Stoke 1 (Ndiaye 11) Burnley 1 (Barnes 62)
Manchester City 5 (David Silva 12, Sterling 16,
De Bruyne 54, Bernardo Silva 64, Jesus 88)
Swansea 0
won the league for 14 years and
languish in sixth in the Pre-
mier League, on course for their
worst-ever finish under Wenger
despite beating West Ham 4-1
on Sunday. “I was not tired,” said
the Frenchman, 68, of the deci-
sion he announced on Friday.
“Personally I believe this club
is respected all over the world,
much more than in England. The
fans did not give me the image of
unity I want all over the world
and that was hurtful because I
think the club is respected. Over-
all, the image we gave is not what
it is and not what I like.”
Fans have become increas-
ingly frustrated with Wenger’s
inability to mould a side capable
of matching the standards he set
in his first decade in charge of the
club. Signs with “Wenger out”
had become commonplace at Ar-
senal matches in recent seasons,
whilst there were vast swaths of
empty seats at the Emirates for
home games in recent months.
“I’m not resentful and I don’t
want to make stupid headlines,”
added Wenger. “I just feel if my
personality is in the way of what I
think our club needs, for me that
is more important than me.”
Wenger, though, defended his
record at the club and believes
Arsenal are in a far better shape
to succeed than when he arrived
at the club in 1996.
“Every decision I made in my
22 years is for the good and sake
of Arsenal,” he said. “I tried to
influence the club on the struc-
tural side, on the development
of players and of course the style
of play and the results, and to
combine the three is not always
easy. I believe I will leave the club
Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger is greeted by West Ham
United’s defender Patrice Evra
during the Premier League
match yesterday. (AFP)
in a very strong position on both
fronts and my target was always
to do that. My wish is that they
do even better in the next 20
years.”
Reports in the days since
Wenger made his decision pub-
lic suggest he could have been
forced out by the club’s board at
the end of the season had he not
walked on his own terms. And
Wenger added credence to those
suggestions by continuously re-
fusing to address why the deci-
sion was taken now.
“I gave the best years of my
life to this club. I arrived at
46-years-old and I worked seven
days a week, not six or six-and a
half, for 22 years. You cannot just
walk away and say ‘bye bye’ like
nothing happened. I know I will
face that challenge. It will be dif-
ficult for me, but I got through
other difficulties in my life.”
Wenger didn’t rule out con-
tinuing his coaching career else-
where, although he accepted it
is unlikely he will manage an-
other club in England due to his
attachment to Arsenal. “If you
speak about emotions that would
be, for me, emotionally difficult,”
he added. “I don’t know how well
I will live about that. It’s difficult
for me to say never, but at the
minute I speak to you I’m too at-
tached to this club to say I will go
to another club.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT

Beric keeps
Bayern must be Chelsea face Man Utd in FA Cup Saint-Etienne
run going
fearless against final as Giroud sinks Saints Paris: Robert Beric scored a
second-half brace as Saint-
Etienne came from behind
to beat Troyes 2-1 in Ligue 1

Real: Robben AFP

London
yesterday, continuing their
remarkable revival since
the turn of the year. Adama
AFP Niane had given relegation-

C
Berlin helsea booked an FA Cup fi- threatened Troyes the lead
nal showdown with Manchester early on at the Stade Geoffroy-
United as Olivier Giroud tor- Guichard, but Beric headed in

A
rjen Robben says
Bayern Munich can
ill afford to show Real
Madrid any fear if they
want to avoid a second-straight
Champions League exit against
the Spaniards. Bayern host Real
at Munich’s Allianz Arena in
Wednesday’s blockbuster semi-
final, first leg, in a repeat of last
year’s quarter-final.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored
twice in each leg of the 2017
quarters, after Bayern had failed
to capitalise on their chances at
home, as Real won 6-3 on ag-
gregate. “Last year we did not do
well in the home game and played
with a bit of fear,” said Robben.
“That should not happen on
Wednesday. We’ll be ready. They
can also be vulnerable and we can
go into the game with our heads
high.” A year ago, Bayern lost
the first-leg 2-1 in Munich, then
went down 4-2 away.
In Munich, Arturo Vidal scored
early for Bayern, but then failed
to convert a penalty with the
Germans controlling the game
and Real on the ropes. However
the match turned as Ronaldo
netted two second-half goals and
Bayern had Javi Martinez sent off
for a second booking.
Bayern went down fighting in
the return, losing 4-2 away hav-
ing played extra time with a man
down after Vidal was sent off late
on and Ronaldo wrapped up his
hat-trick. The Germans face a
daunting task again.
Madrid have won their last five
matches against Bayern, scoring
13 goals and conceding four in
the process, and are bidding to
win the Champions League for
the third straight season.
It is easy to understand any
nervousness in Bayern’s ranks
facing superstar Ronaldo. Real’s
goal-machine has hit seven goals
in his last three appearances
against Bayern. The Portugal su-
perstar has scored 15 goals in the
Champions League this season
alone. Real had no match this
weekend, but Bundesliga cham-
pions Bayern warmed up with
a 3-0 win at Hanover. Thomas
Mueller and Robert Lewand-
owski both came off the bench to
score second-half goals. Bayern
fancy their chances against Real.
Lewandowski, their top-scor-
er who was injured for last sea-
son’s first leg against Real, has
hit 39 goals, compared to Ron-
aldo’s 42, in all competitions in
2017/18. Bayern have scored 14
times in their last three games —
with Lewandowski and Mueller
claiming four goals each.
“The chances (against Real
Madrid) look good,” said Mueller.
“We’ve hit a purple patch and the
game is coming at the right time.
I’m sure we won’t be gifted any-
thing, but there’s something in
the air right now.”
mented Southampton again with
a sublime strike in yesterday’s 2-0 win at
Wembley. Giroud has made a habit of scor-
ing against Southampton and the France
forward was their nemesis in a one-sided
semi-final. Opting to select Giroud instead
of Alvaro Morata proved a shrewd move
by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as the
former Arsenal star produced a tremen-
dous piece of skill to break the deadlock
early in the second half.
Giroud has feasted on Southampton this
season, scoring twice to spark Chelsea’s
3-2 win last weekend and also netting a
late equaliser against them for Arsenal
in December. His fourth goal for Chelsea
since his January signing was followed by
a late header from substitute Morata, set-
ting up a heavyweight final against United
at Wembley on May 19. That will be Chel-
sea’s last chance to win major silverware
at the end of a troubled season. “The most
important thing is to reach the final. This is
the second FA Cup final in a row for us. I’m
delighted for our fans,” Conte said. “For
sure, Olivier has been a good signing for us.
I needed a player like him, strong physi-
cally, to hold the ball up. Today I decided
to start with Olivier because I knew we
were playing against three strong central
defenders, but when Morata came on the
impact was impressive as well.”
Chelsea’s 13th FA Cup final appearance
will be a repeat of the 2007 showpiece,
when Jose Mourinho’s men won 1-0. The
Blues, back in the final after losing to Ar-
senal in May, last won the competition in
2012 and are bidding to lift the trophy for
the eighth time. Winning the FA Cup might
not be enough to convince either Conte or
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich that
their two-year partnership should be ex-
tended. Conte has spent much of the sea-
son complaining about Chelsea’s failure to
back his transfer plans, while several of his
players are believed to be unhappy with his
Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the English FA
Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley Stadium in London. (AFP)
demanding training sessions and intense
personality.
The Blues face a tough task to qualify
for the Champions League via a top-four
finish in the Premier League as they trail
fourth-placed Tottenham by five points.
Against that backdrop, winning the Cup
would at least provide an uplifting conclu-
sion to a frustrating campaign.
For Southampton, the focus returns to
their desperate battle to avoid relegation,
with just four games left to climb out of the
bottom three. Saints boss Mark Hughes
claimed the crucial moment was the of-
ficials’ refusal to use the video assistant
referee when Chelsea keeper Willy Cabal-
lero may have dropped the ball over the line
under pressure from Charlie Austin.
“We are disappointed with the officials.
Their goalkeeper has thrown the ball into
the back of the net,” Hughes complained.
“If ever there was a case for VAR to review,
that was the moment. Why it wasn’t re-
ferred I’ve no idea.”
Giroud was warming to the task of giv-
the home side’s equaliser in
the 69th minute.
The Slovenian striker, who
had been introduced as a half-
time substitute, then turned
in a low centre by Romain
Hamouma six minutes later
to make it 2-1. That was his
seventh league goal since
being recalled from a loan
spell at Anderlecht in January,
and the win allowed Les Verts
to extend their remarkable
unbeaten run to 12 games.
Jean-Louis Gasset as head
coach has taken a team who
were 16th in the table less
than three months ago, up
to sixth, just a point off a
Europa League berth with
four matches remaining.
ing Southampton another headache and Troyes remain in the bottom
he went close to breaking the deadlock three having gone nine games
with an acrobatic volley before half-time. without a win now.
Chelsea’s dominance was finally rewarded
in the 46th minute. Cesc Fabregas lofted a LAS PALMAS RELEGATED
pass towards Eden Hazard and he control- AFTER ALAVES ROUT
led brilliantly in mid-air before slipping Las Palmas were relegated
the ball through to Giroud. There was still from La Liga yesterday with a
work for Giroud to do and he side-stepped crushing 4-0 home defeat by
three defenders with surprising grace, his Alaves in the rain.
nimble footwork giving him just enough Munir El Haddadi struck
space to slot home from close range. twice with Alvaro Medran and
After Caballero got away with his slop- Ruben Sobrino also netting
py handling, Austin appealed in vain for as four second half goals
a penalty when Giroud left his arm out to from the visitors consigned
block the forward’s header. But it was too Las Palmas to their fate in a
little, too late and Morata came off the mostly-empty Estadio Gran
bench to wrap up the win with just his third Canaria. Paco Jemez’s side
goal in his last 19 appearances. have 21 points from 34 games
Morata, who has failed to impress since and are 13 short of Levante in
his move from Real Madrid last year, was 17th with only four matches
furious after being hauled off at Burnley. left to play. They will join bot-
Just days later, he was all smiles when he tom side Malaga in the second
nodded home from Cesar Azpilicueta’s division next season.
82nd-minute cross.
4 Gulf Times
Monday, April 23, 2018

SPORT
TENNIS SPOTLIGHT

Keys sets up ‘crazy’

Nadal swats aside Fed Cup final for US
with Czech Republic

Nishikori to seal 11th AFP brief lifeline by beating Karolina

Paris Pliskova 6-4, 6-2 before Kvi-
tova’s decisive win.
“I am very relieved. I was get-

M
adison Keys pre- ting nervous before this game,”
dicted “a crazy” Fed admitted Kvitova after the 30th
Cup final against the win of her Fed Cup career.
Czech Republic after “We had a great position from

Monte Carlo crown

seeing off Pauline Parmentier to
fire the United States past France
in yesterday’s semi-final.
Keys, 13th in the world, de-
feated the 122nd-ranked Par-
mentier 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to earn
the defending champions a 3-1
‘I’ll enjoy the moment and then tomorrow we’ll start to think about the next tournament’ win in Aix-en-Provence.
Waiting for the US in the No-
AFP vember final are the Czechs, who
Monte Carlo, Principality of swept past Germany 4-1 in the
Monaco other semi-final in Stuttgart.
The US match winner Keys,
who battled back after trailing
yesterday, I think Julia played a
really good match.
“I knew we still needed one
point from our last two games
and I just did my best.”
In yesterday’s concluding
dead doubles, Barbora Strycova
and Katerina Siniakova took the
first set 7-5 before being award-
ed the match when Goerges,
playing alongside Anna-Lena
Groenefeld, retired hurt.
It was a bitter end to the day
for Goerges.

R
afael Nadal romped to a
record-extending 11th
Monte Carlo Masters
title by brushing aside
an outclassed Kei Nishikori in
today’s final to retain the world
number one ranking.
The 31-year-old saw off
Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 to become
the first man to win a single
tournament 11 times in the Open
era with his 76th ATP Tour title.
Nadal’s 31st Masters title is
also an outright record, pull-
ing him out of a tie with Novak
Djokovic.
“We’ve had some tough
moments over these last five
months,” said Nadal, who was
playing at his first ATP event
since retiring from an Austral-
ian Open quarter-final against
Marin Cilic with a hip injury in
January.
“I’ll enjoy the moment and
then tomorrow we’ll start to
think about the next tourna-
ment. But now I’ll enjoy win-
ning a Masters 1000 tourna-
ment which doesn’t happen
every day.”
The 16-time Grand Slam
champion’s era of utter domi-
nance on clay looks unlikely to
end any time soon after Nadal
took his run of consecutive sets
won on the surface to 36.
Nadal had to win the tourna-
ment to remain at the top of the
world rankings ahead of Roger
Federer, who is skipping the
clay-court season, and he did
just that without losing more
than five games in a match.
The Spaniard will next set
his sights on an 11th Barcelona
Open victory next week, and it
is hard to see anyone preventing
him from extending his record
number of 10 French Open titles
at Roland Garros at the end of
the clay-court season.
He was pushed by Japan’s
Nishikori early on and fell a
break down, but roared back
against an opponent who al-
ready appeared beaten midway
through the first set.
“My legs were very heavy
today, playing three sets three
days in a row, playing with
tough players. It wasn’t easy
physically, obviously,” admit-
ted Nishikori after playing
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament in Monaco yesterday. (AFP)
seven more sets than Nadal in
the tournament. It was still an
excellent week for the former
world number four, who only
returned from a four-month
absence with a right wrist injury
in January and will rise from
his current ranking of 36 to the
brink of the top 20.
“Tough day today playing
Rafa. He was a little too good
today,” added the 28-year-old.
“But I think I’ve been playing
well this week, and I think I’m
almost there.”
Nadal snuffs out
early threat
Nadal got on the board with
a strong service hold, be-
fore quickly putting Nishikori
under pressure as a flicked pass-
ing shot brought up break point.
But the Spaniard missed a
forehand up the line by a matter
of millimetres, with Nishikori
clinging on after an 11-minute
game that left him looking
physically exhausted.
But that hold showed Nadal,
who first won the event in 2005,
that his opponent was up for the
fight.
The top seed was even dis-
playing rare signs of nerves, and
Nishikori broke for a 2-1 lead
with a backhand up the line af-
ter a Nadal double fault.
But he failed to build on that
glimmer of an opening, double
faulting himself on break-back
point.
That costly error knocked
the early aggression out of
Nishikori’s groundstrokes, and
Nadal sped through the next
two games to take command of
the first set.
Nishikori forced a break
point in the seventh game but
fired long with the court wide
open as Nadal kept his nose in
front.
He struggled a little to serve
out the opener, but although
Nishikori saved one set point
with an exquisite backhand
volley, Nadal clinched it on the
second with a punch of the air
celebrating a pair of blistering
forehands.
Nishikori was staring down
the barrel of defeat at the start
of the second set, but staved off
a break point to hold serve.
But the last rites had long
been written, and Nadal broke
to 15 in each of the Japanese’s
next two service games to close
on victory.
The greatest player to ever
step foot on a clay court secured
his 24th Masters title on the
surface with a venomous back-
hand that flew past the hapless
Nishikori.
Parmentier 4-1 in the first set,
said: “It feels amazing, but not
for me - but to do that for this
team and help us back to the fi-
nal.
“I knew (Pauline) would play
well, she was so good against
Sloane (Stephens) yesterday.
“I love playing in atmospheres
like this, even if they are not all
cheering for you it still makes for
a great game. It is going to be a
crazy final.”
US Open champion Stephens
had put the US on the verge of
the final after brushing aside
Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-0 in
yesterday’s first rubber.
“She (Stephens) had an an-
swer for everything,” shrugged
the world number 20.
It was Mladenovic who
had given France a fight-
ing chance when ending Coco
Vandeweghe’s 13-match Fed
Cup win streak to pull France
level at 1-1 on Saturday.
But she was unable to repeat
those heroics against Stephens
who had given the Americans
their first point when defeating
Parmentier 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 in Sat-
urday’s opening match.
France were always going to
face an uphill task, missing a
posse of established stars like
world number seven Caroline
Garcia in captain Yannick Noah’s
Fed Cup swansong.
Earlier, Petra Kvitova put the
Czech Republic into a sixth Fed
Cup final in eight years following
her 6-2, 6-2 win against Angel-
ique Kerber.
After the Czechs had surged
2-0 up on Saturday, Julia Goerg-
es had given hosts Germany a
(L-R) USA’s Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, CoCo Vandeweghe,
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Kathy Rinaldi-Stunkel pose with a US
flag after their victory in the Fed Cup semi-final against France at the
Arena Stadium in Aix en Provence, France, yesterday. (AFP)
She had pulled the Germans
back into the tie with a deter-
mined win over Pliskova only
for Kerber to fail to maintain the
momentum against Kvitova.
“It will take a while to get over
it,” admitted Kerber.
“We all know that was a great
opportunity for us,” she added,
as the Germans missed out on a
first appearance in the Fed Cup
final since 2014. The Czechs,
who have home advantage over
the Americans in the Novem-
ber 10-11 final, had won the title
three times in a row until the US
dethroned them last year.
RESULTS
In Aix-en-Provence
France 1 United States 3 Sloane
Stephens (USA) bt Kristina Mlad-
enovic (FRA) 6-2, 6-0
Madison Keys (USA) bt Pauline
Parmentier (FRA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4
On Saturday
Sloane Stephens (USA) bt
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 7-6
(7/3), 7-5
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt
Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 1-6,
6-3, 6-2
In Stuttgart
Germany 1 Czech Republic 4
Petra Kvitova (CZE) bt Angelique
Kerber (GER) 6-2, 6-2
Julia Goerges (GER) bt Karolina
Pliskova (CZE) 6-4, 6-2
Barbora Strycova/Katerina Sini-
akova (CZE) bt Julia Goerges/
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 7-5
- Goerges retired hurt
On Saturday
Petra Kvitova (CZE) bt Julia
Goerges (GER) 6-3, 6-2
Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt Angel-
ique Kerber (GER) 7-5, 6-3.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Super Kings pip Sunrisers to return to the top

IANS Shardul Thakur sent back a dangerous
Gowtham powers Royals to win over Mumbai
Hyderabad Pathan in the 19th over.
Incoming batter Rashid Khan then Rajasthan Royals clinched a thriller at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium
slammed a four-ball 17 to make the game to beat Mumbai Indians by three wickets with two deliveries still to

C
hennai Super Kings (CSK) pipped
Sunrisers Hyderabad by four runs
at the Rajiv Gandhi International
Stadium yesterday to return to
the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL)
table.
Chasing a challenging 183-run target,
Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson (84)
and Yusuf Pathan (45 off 27) put up a good
fight but fell short.
SRH were off to a disastrous start losing
three wickets for just 22 runs in 4.2 overs.
Young medium pacer Deepak Chahar
gave the early jolts to the hosts after bag-
ging the wickets of opener Ricky Bhui (0),
Manish Pandey (0) and Deepak Hooda (1).
However, Williamson kept Hyderabad’s
hopes alive after a 49-run stand with
Shakib Al Hasan (24 off 19) for the fourth
wicket. With Shakib falling in the 11th over
on a Karn Sharma over and Hyderabad
reeling at 71/4, the skipper was then joined
by Yusuf Pathan.
With everything going Chennai’s way,
Williamson and Pathan staged a terrific
fightback with their 79-run partnership,
punishing every Chennai bowler.
Pacer Dwayne Bravo finally got the bet-
ter of the Hyderabad skipper in the 18th
over with the hosts needing 32 off the last
two overs. Williamson’s knock was deco-
rated by five fours and as many sixes.
Just when it was anybody’s game, pacer
more interesting but the hosts failed to
cross the line by four runs.
For Chennai, Chahar was the pick of the
bowlers after bagging three wickets and
conceding just 15 runs. Thakur, Sharma
and Bravo took a wicket apiece.
Earlier, put in to bat, Chennai were off to
a shaky start as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and
Rashid struck early to send back both the
visiting openers, Shane Watson (9) and Faf
du Plessis (11) with 32 runs on board.
Suresh Raina (54 not out off 43) and
Ambati Rayudu (79 off 37) then gath-
ered 112 runs for the third wicket, putting
things in order for Chennai.
Rayudu’s bizarre run out in the 17th over
saw Dhoni coming in the middle, who then
shared a 38-run stand with Raina.
While Rayudu’s innings was guided by
nine boundaries and four sixes, Raina hit
five fours and a couple of sixes.
Dhoni’s quick unbeaten 12-ball 25 in the
final moments propelled Chennai to a re-
spectable total of 182/3.
For Hyderabad, both Bhuvneshwar and
Rashid scalped a wicket each.
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 182/3
(Ambati Rayudu 79, Suresh Raina 52 not
out; Bhuvneshwar 1/22) beat Sunrisers
Hyderabad 178/6 (Kane Williamson 84,
Yusuf Pathan 45; Deepak Chahar 3/15) by
4 runs.
Chennai Super Kings’ Deepak Chahar (left) celebrates with teammates after taking
the wicket of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Deepak Hooda during their IPL match at the
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad yesterday. (AFP)
be bowled in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match yesterday.
K Gowtham was the hero for Rajasthan Royals as he played a
match-winning innings under pressure. When all hopes were lost,
he snatched the game from Mumbai Indians with a 11-ball 33 and
finished the game in style with a massive six off Hardik Pandya. This
after Mumbai Indians had clinched three quick wickets to change
the face of the game in their favour. But it was not the day for Rohit
Sharma’s team, but rather for the Ajinkya Rahane-led team. Earlier,
Mumbai Indians rode on half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and
Ishan Kishan to post a challenging total of 167/7. Coming together
after the early departure of Mumbai opener Evin Lewis, Yadav and
Kishan put on an excellent batting display to add 129 runs between
them off 82 deliveries. Yadav scored a whirlwind knock of 72 runs,
smashing six boundaries and three hits into the stands during his
47-ball stay in the middle. Kishan posted a steady 58 off 42 balls
which included four boundaries and three sixes. For Rajasthan,
young West Indies pacer Jofra Archer was the most successful
bowler with figures of 3/22. Fellow pacer Dhawal Kulkarni returned
2/32 while Jaidev Unadkat also got a wicket. Kulkarni struck the
first blow for the hosts in the very first over when Lewis dragged an
inside edge on to his stumps. But that was the only bit of success
Rajasthan managed as Yadav and Kishan took their bowlers to the
cleaners. However, while Yadav and Kishan laid the foundation for a
big total in the vicinity of 200 runs, the rest of the Mumbai batting
line-up failed to provide the big final push.
The Rajasthan bowlers did well to stage a strong comeback by pick-
ing up quick wickets in the late overs. Kulkarni finally brought the
partnership to an end when Kishan botched up a cheeky reverse
scoop from outside the off-stump, only to hand an easy skier to
Rajasthan wicket-keeper Jos Buttler. Kishan’s dismissal seemed to
break Mumbai’s momentum as Rajasthan staged a strong come-
back with two quick wickets in a span of three balls.

NBA
Davis, Holiday team
up for 88 points, lead
sweep of Blazers
‘We put the ball in these guys’ hands and they delivered for us’
Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots over Jusuf Nurkic of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second-half of Game Four of the first round of the Western Conference
playoffs at the Smoothie King Centre in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 131-123 to sweep the series 4-0. (Getty Images/AFP)
AFP
Miami
A
nthony Davis and Jrue
Holiday combined to
post one of the great-
est duo performances
in NBA history as the New Orle-
ans Pelicans beat Portland 131-
123 to sweep the Trail Blazers
from the playoffs.
Davis delivered a franchise
playoff-record 47 points and
Holiday tallied 41 to equal the
NBA record (88) for most points
by a pair of teammates in a sin-
gle playoff game as the host
Pelicans eliminated Portland in
four straight games.
“We put the ball in these
guys’ hands and they deliv-
ered for us,” said Pelicans point
guard Rajon Rondo.
The 88 points allows them
to join John Havlicek and Jo Jo
White in the 1973 postseason
and it beat Michael Jordan and
MLB
A’s Manaea no-hits Red Sox to end their 25-year streak
AFP
Oakland, United States
O
akland ace Sean Ma-
naea tossed the first
no-hitter of the 2018
season, getting some
help from an overturned call in
the A’s 3-0 victory over the Bos-
ton Red Sox on Saturday night.
Manaea masterful perform-
ance saw the left hander strike
out 10 batters and walk just two
as he clinched the no-hitter by
getting Red Sox designated hit-
ter Hanley Ramirez to bounce
into a forced out at second in the
ninth inning. “Oh man, my heart
was beating out of my chest,”
Manaea said.
Boston appeared to get a hit in
the sixth inning when Andrew
Benintendi smacked a ground
ball to the right side of the infield
in front of the crowd of 35,000
at the Oakland Coliseum. He
sprinted to first where he tried to
swerve to avoid A’s first baseman
Matt Olson’s tag.
Initially Benintendi was called
safe but the umpires confer-
enced on the field and it was
Scottie Pippen’s best total to-
gether by one point.
“Their stars really put on
a show tonight,” said Blazers
coach Terry Stotts. The pair
scored 28 of the Pelicans’ final
29 points in Saturday’s contest.
Holiday nailed an 18-foot pull-
up jumper that gave the Peli-
cans a six-point lead with 40
seconds remaining.
Rondo added 16 assists and
Davis also had 11 rebounds and
three blocks for New Orleans.
The Pelicans series sweep of
the Trail Blazers moves them
into the second round for only
the second time since the NBA
returned to the city 16 years
ago. C.J. McCollum led Port-
land with 38 points. Al-Farouq
Aminu scored 27, Damian Lil-
lard added 18 points and Jusuf
Nurkic had 18 points and 11 re-
bounds.
Elsewhere, Australian Ben
Simmons became the first
rookie since 1980 with a triple
ruled that the Red Sox runner
illegally ran into foul territory to
try and avoid the tag from Olson.
Manaea tossed the first no-
hitter of the Major League Base-
ball season and the first against
the Red Sox since 1993.
The Red Sox had the second
longest streak (3,987 games)
without surrendering a no-hit-
ter, dating back 25 years when
Seattle’s Chris Bosio no hit
them. Oakland is the only team
with a longer streak.
It was the seventh no-hitter in
A’s franchise history and the first
since Dallas Braden did it against
Tampa Bay eight years ago.
“I just kept telling myself,
keep everything the same, and
not let anything get too big for
me,” the 26-year-old American
Manaea said.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora
was unhappy with the umpires’
decision to call Benintendi out.
“Do I agree with it? No,” Cora
said. “It is what it is.”
Benintendi was fuming after
the call was reversed.
“It’s just a missed call,” he
said.
After the game the officials re-
double in a playoff game, help-
ing spark the Philadelphia 76ers
over the Miami Heat 106-102.
Simmons scored 17 points,
grabbed 13 rebounds and passed
off 10 assists while J.J. Redick
had 24 points to lead seven dou-
ble-digit scorers for the Six-
ers, who seized a 3-1 edge over
the Heat in their best-of-seven
opening round series. Simmons
became the first rookie since
Magic Johnson to manage a tri-
ple double in a playoff game and
at 21 is the third-youngest to ac-
complish the feat after Johnson
and Cleveland’s LeBron James.
Triple double
He’s also the first 76er with
a playoff triple double since
Charles Barkley in 1991.
And it came in a game where
he was involved in a second-
period scuffle. After Philadel-
phia’s Robert Covington in-
flicted a hard foul upon Miami’s
Goran Dragic, the Heat’s James
leased a statement saying: “If he
goes more than three feet avoid-
ing the tag, he’s declared out. He
was more than three feet away.”
‘Best-executed game’
Manaea’s feat was all the more
special because he was able to
strongarm the hottest team. The
Red Sox had won 17 of their last
19 games but he slashed his way
through their batter order like a
knife through butter.
“I told him, ‘I’ve caught a lot
of pitchers in eight years in this
league and that was the most
well-pitched, best-executed
game I’ve ever had behind the
plate,’” catcher Jonathan Lucroy
said.
Manaea walked the first bat-
ter he faced but then settled in,
getting the next 14 consecutive
batters out.
With two outs in the fifth
inning, Red Sox Sandy Leon
reached base when A’s shortstop
Marcus Semien bobbled a pop
fly. The umpires ruled it an error.
Manaea was so focused on
throwing strikes that he didn’t
pay attention to the call and just
assumed his no-hitter ended
Johnson took issue and shoved
Covington, which prompted
Simmons to confront Johnson
as coaches and players entered
to contain the melee.
Simmons received a personal
foul for his trouble while Cov-
ington and Johnson were hit
with technical fouls.
Joel Embiid, a 7-foot Cam-
eroonian center, added 14
points, 12 rebounds and five
blocked shots for the 76ers in
his second game back after an
orbital bone fracture around his
left eye. He missed the first two
games of the series but returned
wearing a protective face mask.
Dwyane Wade came off the
Miami bench to score a game-
high 25 points, but the Heat face
elimination in game five Tues-
day at Philadelphia.
In Utah, Ricky Rubio had 26
points, 11 rebounds and 10 as-
sists and Donovan Mitchell
added 22 points to lead the Utah
Jazz to a 115-102 win over the
there. It wasn’t until a few in-
nings later that he caught on.
“I didn’t even think about it
until I looked up in the seventh
or eighth,” Manaea said, “and
I was like, ‘Oh my God, why is
there still a zero on there?’”
“So after that, my adrena-
line started pumping a little bit
again, and I really wanted to fin-
ish this thing out.”
He also got some help from the
Athletics’ batters. Semien blast-
ed a home run and Stephen Pis-
cotty and Jed Lowrie delivered
RBI doubles.
RESULTS
Oakland Athletics .3 Red Sox .....3
Indians .......................4 Orioles ......0
Phillies ....................... 6 Pirates....... 2
Cardinals ...................4 Reds ............3
Rays .......................... 10 Twins .......... 1
Brewers..................... 6 Marlins ..... 5
Tigers ........................12 Royals ....... 4
Braves.........................4 Mets ............3
Yankees .................... 9 Blue Jays .. 1
Rockies ......................5 Cubs........... 2
Astros ...................... 10 White Sox. 1
Diamondbacks ..... 6 Padres....... 2
Angels ........................4 Giants.........3
Dodgers.....................4 Nationals .0
Mariners ................... 9 Rangers ....7
Oklahoma City Thunder and a
2-1 lead in their series.
Also, Jimmy Butler scored
28 points and Karl-Anthony
Towns finished with 18 points
and 16 rebounds as the Min-
nesota Timberwolves toppled
the Houston Rockets 121-105 in
game three for their first playoff
win in 14 years.
RESULTS
Playoff games (all series best-
of-seven):
Eastern Conference
At Miami
Philadelphia 106 Miami 102
(Philadelphia leads series 3-1)
Western Conference
At New Orleans
New Orleans 131 Portland 123
(New Orleans wins series 4-0)
At Minnesota
Minnesota 121 Houston 105
(Houston leads series 2-1)
At Utah
Utah 115 Oklahoma City 102
(Utah leads series 2-1)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Manaea celebrates with teammates after throwing a no-hitter against the
Boston Red Sox at Oakland Coliseum. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
SPORT
NHL
Lightning beat Devils
to reach 2nd round
Reuters
New York
A
ndrei Vasilevskiy made
26 saves as the Tampa
Bay Lightning elimi-
nated the New Jersey
Devils with a 3-1 victory in Game
5 of the Eastern Conference
quarter-finals on Saturday af-
ternoon.
The Lightning won the series
four games to one and await the
winner of Boston-Toronto. The
Bruins lead the series 3-2 after
losing to the Maple Leafs 4-3 on
Saturday night.
Vasilevskiy did not see much
action until the third period as
the Lightning controlled posses-
sion throughout the second due
to four straight power plays. He
stepped up with saves on Tay-
lor Hall, Kyle Palmieri and Pavel
Zacha during New Jersey’s first
power play midway through the
third.
The stop on Palmieri occurred
when Vasilevskiy sprawled
through the crease and stretched
his right foot to secure the puck
before it crossed the goal line
with 10:31 remaining.
Nearly two minutes later, Va-
silevskiy made a point-blank
stop on a partial breakaway
chance by Jesper Bratt.
“He just came up huge in every
big situation,” Lightning coach
Jon Cooper said. “There were
times in this series he’d go seven
to nine minutes without seeing
a shot, and then all of a sudden
have to face a power play or face
a big-time chance.
“The timely saves were phe-
nomenal for us. He just played
with confidence.” Mikhail Ser-
gachev scored his first career
goal in the first period, Nikita
Kucherov netted the game-
winner with about 8 1/2 minutes
remaining and Ryan Callahan
added an empty-net goal.
“We wanted to make sure we
took care of it here,” Callahan
said. “I loved the way we did it
defensively, we were sound.”
Cory Schneider kept the Dev-
ils in the game with a 35-save
performance. He made 11 stops
during four straight Tampa Bay
power plays in the second when
the Devils were outshot 18-4.
Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save against Kyle
Palmieri of the New Jersey Devils in the game five of the Eastern
Conference Stanley Cup playoffs first round match. (Getty Images/AFP)
Gulf Times
Monday, April 23, 2018 5
Patrick Maroon scored for the
Devils, who stayed in the game
by keeping the Lightning score-
less in five power plays. Hall en-
dured a frustrating game, high-
lighted by breaking his stick on a
one-timer attempt with about 14
minutes left.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,”
Palmieri said. “Doesn’t matter if
you lose in Game 5, 6 or 7. If you
lose your last game of the season
it sucks.”
Schneider was pulled with
3:32 left, and Maroon tipped a
Palmieri slapshot from the point
by Vasilevskiy’s stick. Schnei-
der went to the bench again with
about two minutes remaining but
returned seconds later and made
an acrobatic save on a breakaway
chance by Tyler Johnson.
“It never ends when you want
it to unless obviously you go
all the way,” Schneider said. “I
thought we took a big step for-
ward as a group, as an organi-
sation. Disappointed that we
couldn’t do more, go further in
the playoffs. Obviously that’s
going to sit with us for a while
here, but I think we got a lot out
of a lot of guys here and we have
to make sure that we keep turn-
ing upward.”
For the fourth time in the se-
ries, the Lightning struck first,
using an aggressive forecheck
to get Sergachev’s first career
postseason goal 8:07 into the
game. Yanni Gourde pressured
Travis Zajac into a turnover be-
hind the net near the right corner
and quickly moved the puck to
Anthony Cirelli.
Cirelli quickly dished it off
to Sergachev, whose shot from
above the left circle sailed
through traffic and by Schneider.
The Lightning finally scored
the second goal with 7:33 left
when Kucherov’s long shot near
center ice trickled through Sch-
neider’s legs.
Kucherov set a team record
with 10 points in the series, sur-
passing the mark of nine points
by Johnson in the 2015 Eastern
Conference finals against the
New York Rangers.
RESULTS
Maple Leafs .....4 Bruins ...............3
Capitals ..............4 Blue Jackets ..3
Lightning ..........3 Devils ................ 1
6 Gulf Times
Monday, April 23, 2018

SPORT
MARATHON BOXING

Khan beats Lo Greco

Kipchoge, Cheruiyot in 39 seconds on
British return

celebrate Kenyan AFP a point coming back – I was

Liverpool trained to fight for 12 rounds, I
had to make some changes and
Phil lo Greco is a dangerous op-

A
mir Khan’s first bout ponent,” Khan told the BBC.
in a British ring for five “Enjoy my victory. Khan’s
years saw him knock back. I was a little nervous, but I
out Canada’s Phil Lo am back with a big bang. I want

double in London
Greco in a mere 39 seconds on
Saturday.
The 31-year-old British boxer
had not fought anywhere for two
years since being beaten by Saul
‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Las Vegas in
May 2016.
‘My aim is to run another marathon in autumn and then see what happens in the summer of 2019’ And the 2004 Olympic silver
medallist wasted little time in
Agencies sending Lo Greco tumbling with
London a quick one-two punch com-
bination inside the opening 30
seconds.
to become a world champion this
year or next year.”
Khan, however, added: “I
want to fight the best guys. If it
means going up a division I will.”
As for a bout with Brook,
Khan, most famous recently for
his ‘jungle’ appearance in the
British television show I’m A
Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here,
said: “That fight is something I
am not rushing and not running
away from. I will fight Kell Brook

O
lympic champi-
on Eliud Kipchoge
stormed to his third
London Marathon
title yesterday to complete an
impressive Kenyan double after
Vivian Cheruiyot beat the heat
to win the women’s race.
Kipchoge, 33, saw off the
challenge of Ethiopia’s Tola
Shura Kitata and home favour-
ite Mo Farah to win his third
race in the British capital in four
years in a time of 2hrs 04min
17sec, finishing more than
half a minute in front of Ki-
tata (2:04:49), with Farah third
(2:06:21).
Cheruiyot, 34, timed her run
perfectly to win the women’s
event in a time of 2:18:31 ahead
of compatriot Brigid Kosgei
(2:20:13), and Ethiopia’s Ta-
delech Bekele (2:21:40).
The race was the warmest
London Marathon on record,
with a high of 23.2 degrees Cel-
sius (73.8 degrees Fahrenheit),
beating the previous mark of
22.7 degrees Celsius set in 1996.
Kipchoge joined compatriot
Martin Lel and Mexican Dioni-
cio Ceron as the only men to win
London three times.
After previous victories in
2015 and 2016, the Kenyan took
a ninth career win over 26.2
miles (42.195km), but missed
his two-year-old course record.
“I came to London to run a
beautiful race and today I ran a
really beautiful race,” said Kip-
choge. “Thank you, London.”
The Kenyan led the way with
Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele
and last year’s winner Daniel
Wanjiru of Kenya also in the
mix.
Farah ‘knackered’
Farah was at the back of the
lead group despite twice making
a mess of picking up his water
bottle at the designated drink
stations. The British track great,
who won gold in the 5,000 me-
tres and 10,000m at the past
two Olympic Games, admitted
his second full marathon had
taken its toll in a race where
there was a world record pace at
the halfway point.
“I am knackered,” said the
35-year-old, who broke the
British marathon record.
“The guys went for it, they
were on for world record pace,
so it was do or die. I went with it
and hung in as much as I could.
“It’s so different to the track.
It’s incredible. It’s different
pain, different training but I’ve
really enjoyed it. I gave it all, 110
per cent as I normally do.”
However, Farah’s afternoon
did not get off to a good start
when he was involved in a bi-
zarre incident where he seemed
to miss his drinks bottle around
the 10-mile mark and had to
turn back for it.
In the aftermath, the mul-
tiple Olympic track champion
Winner Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge (centre), second-placed Ethiopia’s Tola Shura Kitata (left) and third-placed Britain’s Mo Farah pose at the
podium ceremony of the London Marathon in London yesterday. (AFP)
was seen to be having a heated
debate with a steward on a Mo-
torbike.
“The drink station was con-
fusing – I was table four, I went
to pick it up. The staff were
helpful at the end but at the be-
ginning they were trying to take
a picture rather than giving me
the drink,” Farah told the BBC.
“I was saying to the people
on Motorbikes to tell the staff to
be a bit helpful instead of taking
pictures. I wasn’t wasting en-
ergy, I just needed a drink. I had
to get it right.”
The setback did not affect Fa-
rah though, as he went on to bet-
ter Steve Jones’s British record
– set at the Chicago Marathon in
1985 – by an impressive 68 sec-
onds. Farah was delighted with
the result, while lightheartedly
suggesting he could compete in
the Athletics World Champion-
ships in Doha next year.
“I’m satisfied with the result.
I can’t do any better than what I
did,” Farah said.
“I learned the hard way to-
day, running the hard way, but
I’m pleased overall because if
you looked at the field before
we started that race you would
never put me in third place, you
would put ahead of me so many
other guys.
“My aim is to run another
marathon in the autumn and
then see what happens in the
summer of 2019 in Doha.”
Cheruiyot took advantage of
failed attempts to break Paula
Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot (centre) celebrates after winning the women’s London Marathon with second-placed
Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei (right) and third-placed Ethiopia’s Tadelech Bekele in London yesterday. (Reuters)
Radcliffe’s 15-year-old world
record by last year’s winner
Mary Keitany and runner-up
Tirunesh Dibaba. In unusually
warm conditions, first Dibaba
and then Keitany dropped off
the pace, allowing the 2016 Ol-
ympic 5,000m gold medallist to
claim victory.
After nine miles Keitany and
main rival Dibaba were 25 sec-
onds ahead of Radcliffe’s time.
But Dibaba was soon reduced to
a walking pace to leave Keitany
with only her two male pace-
makers for company.
Keitany, looking for a fourth
win in London, also started to
slow down as it became appar-
ent Radcliffe’s record of two
hours 15 minutes 25 seconds
would not be threatened.
“The reason it was so good for
me today was because I started
slowly. I didn’t go with the faster
group because the faster group
Khan then pinned Lo Greco and beat Kell Brook. Kell Brook
to the ropes before the super- has been living off my name for a
welterweight contest ended mo- long time. I am a stronger fight-
ments after it had started. er, a better fighter.
Victory left Khan on course “I’m not a fighter to run away.”
for his long-awaited showdown But an unimpressed Brook
with British rival Kell Brook, said: “He doesn’t want the fight,
who was among those watching he just ran off.
at ringside on Saturday. “Amir, all the fans want the
“I have been out the ring for fight, I want the fight, he can go
two years but I was still in the in the jungle and chase stars but
gym working hard, I have never when he gets in there with me,
taken a day off. I wanted to prove I’ll make him see stars.”
British boxer Amir Khan celebrates after winning the fight against
Canada’s Phil Lo Greco in their Super-Welterweight contest at the
Echo Arena in Liverpool. (Reuters)
India’s Gangjee ends long title drought in Japan
India’s Rahil Gangjee ended a 14-year title drought when he sank a
decisive birdie on the final hole for a one-shot victory at the Pana-
sonic Open in Osaka yesterday.
Having endured years of frustrations, the 39-year-old hit his bunker
shot to within 10 feet of the pin before holing it to complete a final
round of three-under-par 68 and end his winless streak.
Gangjee aggregated 14-under-par 270 to finish ahead of the Korean
duo of Hyungsung Kim (70) and Junggon Hwang (66) in the event
co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Tour.
“It has been 14 years. I’ve been in such situations a few times now
but obviously have not been able to convert my chances until to-
day,” said Gangjee, whose last win on the Asian Tour came in 2004
in China.
“It has been a very hard 14 years and the thing that surprises even
myself is my will to keep going.
“My heart rate was up especially when I got to the green and I knew
I had to get up and down. That’s where my heart started racing and
my mind started going all over the place. That was the chance I had
to convert.”
Zimbabwean Scott Vincent signed off with a 66 to finish in a share
of fourth place, along with Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan and
Sihwan Kim of the United States.
was quicker than I was at the
start,” Cheruiyot told the BBC.
“I didn’t want to race against
anybody, I wanted to race alone.
So I raced like that.”
Britain’s David Weir won
the men’s wheelchair race for
the eighth time after a thrilling
sprint finish. The 38-year-old
pipped Switzerland’s Marcel
Hug into second place, with
Daniel Romanchuk of the Unit-
ed States third.

GOLF

Johnson grabs share of Texas Open lead

AFP with Scotland’s Martin Laird and you’ve still got to hit good shots the course record. Laird had his putt at the third, a seven-footer 208 - Richy Werenski 72-68-68,
Washington Americans Jimmy Walker, Chris and putt.” own long-range eagle to pull into at the fifth and dropped his ap- Grayson Murray 67-69-72
Kirk and Sean O’Hair sharing Mullinax’s record run began contention, sinking an 83-foot proach inches from the cup for 209 - Joaquin Niemann (CHI)
fifth on 207. with birdies on three of the first eagle putt at the par-5 eighth. a tap-in birdie at the sixth. He 72-70-67, Andrew Putnam 73-68-

Z
ach Johnson, seeking
his first victory since the
2015 British Open, closed
with a six-foot birdie
putt to seize a share of the lead
Saturday at the PGA Texas Open.
The 42-year-old American
fired a four-under par 68 third
round to match compatriot An-
drew Landry on 13-under 203
after 54 holes at TPC San An-
tonio. Trey Mullinax fired a
course-record 62 to stand third
on 204, one stroke in front of
fellow American Ryan Moore
“Obviously I don’t think you
ever walk onto a tee and think
62,” Mullinax said. “But I thought
I had some low rounds in me. I
thought I was rolling the ball well
and felt really good with my irons
on the range this morning, so got
some stuff to happen.”
Johnson, who won his first
major at the 2007 Masters, seeks
his 13th career PGA title and
third Texas Open victory after
2008 and 2009 at LaCantera
Golf Club, where he shared the
course record of 60.
He marvelled at Mullinax’s
new TPC mark, saying, “62 is ri-
diculous but you can see it.”
“I could see a guy that hits it
hard, which he does. I could see
that because the par-5s kind
of become par 4s to some de-
gree with this south wind. And
four holes, putts of 11 feet at
the first, 13 feet at the third at
17 feet at the fourth. He opened
the back nine with a seven-foot
birdie, took his lone bogey at the
11th and responded with a 14-
foot birdie putt at the 12th.
Then came the fireworks.
Mullinax holed out from 95
feet for eagle at the par-5 14th,
sank a 40-foot birdie putt at
the par-3 16th and a six-foot
birdie putt at 17, then reached
the 18th green in two and holed
a 16-footer for another eagle and
After two birdies and two bo-
geys on the front nine, Johnson
caught fire on the back side,
sinking 20-foot birdie putts at
the par-4 11th and 15th holes and
a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-
5 14th as well as his closer at the
par-5 18th.
Landry, seeking his first PGA
title after a January playoff loss
to Spaniard Jon Rahm in the Cal-
ifornia desert, fired a bogey-free
67 to match Johnson atop the
leaderboard.
Landry sank a six-foot birdie
added an eight-foot birdie putt
at the par-3 16th and put his ap-
proach two feet from the cup at
17 to set up a final birdie.
Leading scores after third
round
203 - Zach Johnson 70-65-68,
Andrew Landry 69-67-67
204 - Trey Mullinax 74-68-62
205 - Ryan Moore 68-67-70
207 - Sean O’Hair 72-70-65,
Jimmy Walker 71-69-67, Chris
Kirk 73-66-68, Martin Laird
(SCO) 73-65-69
68, JT Poston 72-69-68, Vaughn
Taylor 72-68-69, Beau Hossler
71-69-69, Billy Horschel 68-71-70
210 - Aaron Baddeley (AUS)
71-71-68, Brandt Snedeker 70-72-
68, Chesson Hadley 68-71-71
211 - Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 72-71-
68, Kevin Streelman 74-68-69,
Kevin Chappell 72-72-67, Keegan
Bradley 68-71-72, David Hearn
(CAN) 70-68-73
212 - Kevin Tway 72-71-69, Nick
Watney 70-72-70, Matt Atkins
68-73-71, Sam Ryder 73-71-68,
Ben Crane 72-66-74.
 Gulf Times
Monday, April 23, 2018 7

SPORT
FOCUS SPOTLIGHT

QFA, Ecuador sign MoU to develop football Aspire’s tie-up with

By Sports Reporter
Doha
Delhi Dynamos helps
youth development
Q
atar Football Association (QFA)
president Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani on
Saturday met with President of
Ecuador Lenin Moreno in the presence of
in Indian football
Qatar’s ambassador to Ecuador Hassan
al-Malki as wide-ranging talks were held
among the officials.
The QFA president later signed an
MoU in the presence of Carlos Villacis,
head of the Ecuadorian Football Fed-
eration (FEF), to develop and promote
football in both countries. Ecuador’s
Minister of Sport, Andrea Sotomayor, Tenorio’s lasting impact at Al Sadd club be held in Russia. Ecuadorian Minister of Sport
was also present. was widely applauded. Tenorio scored 113 The QFA president thanked the Ecua- Sotomayor welcomed the move to sign
The Ecuadorian president welcomed goals for Al Sadd in eight years helping dorian president for his warm welcome. an MoU, saying Ecuador and Qatar would
the QFA delegation with a warm speech, the Doha giants claim five trophies dur- Sheikh Hamad said Qatar remained stand to benefit from the signing of the
highlighting the two countries’ mutual ing that period. committed to promoting and developing agreement.
desire to promote and develop football The Ecuadorian president also football. Later the QFA president presented a
and sports as a whole. The President stressed on the importance of devel- The QFA president highlighted the visit jersey to President Moreno and other of-
praised the Qatari leadership for promot- oping football and hoped that Ecuador of His Highness The Father Emir Sheikh ficials present at the meeting. Mementos
ing sports at a wider scale in the country would qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to Ecuador were also exchanged.
and the region. Cup to be held in Qatar. Ecuador did not in 2013 that paved the way for lasting Ecuador’s Minister of Defence Patricio
During the speech, Ecuador’s Carlos qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to friendship between the two countries. also attended the signing ceremony.
By Sports Reporter implemented.
Doha “When it comes to football,
CYCLING India is a rapidly developing
country. Through co-operation

T
he world-renowned As- with Delhi Dynamos FC, Aspire

Surprise victory
pire Academy and Indian
Super League (ISL) club
Delhi Dynamos FC yes-
terday highlighted the signifi-
cant impact of their partnership
by highlighting the huge growth
in demand for the club’s youth
development programme.
Academy plays a supportive and
practical role in this develop-
ment process. Since last Sep-
tember, we have had numerous
colleagues on the ground at the
club, and together we are laying
the foundations for a sustainable
football talent centre in terms of

for Jungels in Liege

Canada’s Michael Woods came second with France’s Romain Bardet third
AFP to go at the Cote de la Roche aux Faucons,
Liege, Belgium Quick Step captain Philippe Gilbert, then
Sergio Henao and finally Jungels made
attempted breaks off the front that kept
On April 20 and 21, 1,200 chil-
dren from Delhi and across the
country attended try-outs for
the opportunity of a place on the
club’s programme, already being
described as one of the best in
India.
Signed in June 2017, the
technical agreement sees As-
pire Academy share its football
know-how and management
expertise with the Indian Super
League (ISL) club. Aspire Acade-
structure, personnel and meth-
odology. Scouting is also part
of this process,” says Stephan
Hildebrandt, Manager of Foot-
ball Operations at Aspire Acad-
emy.
Together with Aspire Acad-
emy’s Football Projects Co-ordi-
nator Oscar Garro, Hildebrandt
travelled to Delhi to oversee the
two-day try-outs for players
aged from 12 to 18. “The response
in the past two days has been re-

L
uxembourg’s Bob Jungels pro-
duced yet another surprise vic-
tory from distance in cycling’s
Spring Classics, winning the
Liege-Bastogne-Liege yesterday after a
solo breakaway from 20km out.
Canada’s Michael Woods came sec-
ond with France’s Romain Bardet third
to complete an unexpected podium at
the end of the 258km race that took 6hrs,
24min and 44sec.
Jungels, of the powerful Belgian Quick
Step team, had made a break from 20km
as a decoy, he admitted after the race,
but he opened such a gap that the chief
contenders failed to galvanise themselves
until it was too late.
“We all thought Julian (Alaphilippe)
and the others would pass me at Ans, but
they never made it,” said Jungels.
“I was trying to keep Julian, our cap-
tain, in a strong position. But then I was
alone and kept getting further ahead,” he
said.
“I’m super proud, it’s a pleasure to fin-
ish off the Spring in a nice way.”
A field packed with potential winners
embarked in fine, sunny conditions from
the cobbled town centre streets of Liege
into the rolling, wooded forests to Bas-
togne.
An escape group of nine riders ramped
up a gap of five minutes before a busi-
nesslike peloton decided that was quite
enough on a course where it is famously
difficult to keep track of others in the
dense green Ardennes forests.
The Spring Classics have been littered
with long range wins ripping up the rule
book, as Vincenzo Nibali sprung a sur-
prise in the Milan-SanRemo, Niki Terp-
stra broke from deep in the Tour of Flan-
ders and Peter Sagan lighting the fuse
that saw him burn up the opposition from
55km out in the Paris-Roubaix.
But this race has been decided on the
final climb to Ans for the last 14 years and
pre-race favourites Alaphilippe and four-
time winner Alejandro Valverde were the
men expected to battle it out.
After allowing Jungels too much time
Alaphilippe came in fourth at 39sec and
Valverde 13th at 51sec.
At the penultimate climb, with 20km
everybody working. my is supporting Delhi Dynamos ally impressive and I’ve person-
Jungels looked around and saw a FC in numerous areas including ally not experienced anything
chance and the Luxembourg champion coaching, training, scouting and like it until now. The enthusiasm
set off alone. With 17km to go Dan Martin sports science. The youth devel- among the kids for football is
went after him with such conviction that opment programme is designed enormous. The huge popularity
Alaphilippe briefly followed him. to give talented young players the of these talent screening events
But Martin’s run of bad luck continued best chance of securing a place in is a direct consequence of all the
and he suffered a puncture with 6km to go. the club’s senior team. work we’ve been doing together
Woods then followed a lightening break Aspire Academy has sent Fran in recent months. Aspire’s com-
from Bardet and the pair came in some 37 Perez as Youth Manager to Delhi mitment to the club is very well
seconds after Jungels had crossed the line with responsibility for ensuring understood and provides tal-
in a joyous zig-zag celebration. that content-related methodo- ented young footballers with the
Woods finishing second was maybe logical and structural inputs for very best chance of future suc-
more of a surprise then Jungels the programme are effectively cess.” added Hildebrandt.
“I was a runner and only became a pro-
cyclist at 29,” said the Education First
rider who was ninth last year.
“This is the best race of my life, you
have to cherish these moments. Earlier
in the season I was questioning my own
talent,” said Woods, who said Bardet in-
spired him to make the break 2km from
the line.
French cycling’s golden boy Bardet said
he drew confidence from his third place
finish.
“This shows I’m getting closer to the
top spot,” said Bardet, who will be one of
the favourites for the Tour de France.
“It was a tactical win for Jungels, and
nobody was going to catch him on the
flat.”

CRICKET
Jones wins QGL Golf Tournament

M Pallonji open day-night

tournament with big win
By Sports Reporter
Doha

M
Pallonji, the sponsor team, de-
feated Wellon CC by 8 wickets
in the inaugural match of the M
Pallonji Day/Night Tournament
2019.
The 15 overs-a-side tournament was in-
augurated by M Pallonji general manager
Chidananda Naik at West Bay Cricket Com-
plex in presence of Qatar Veterans Cricket
officials, players and match officials.
After put in to bat first, in the hot weather
conditions, Wellon lost their first wicket in
the first over. M Pallonji bowlers had Wellon
reeling at 42 for 5 in the first six overs, taking M Pallonji general manager Chidananda Nayak inaugurates the M Pallonji Day/Night Cricket
wickets at regular intervals. Wellon bats- Tournament in the presence of both teams and Qatar Veterans’ Cricket officials.
men eventually managed to put 107 runs
on board in the allotted 15 overs for the loss finish the match in the ninth over. Nilesh (58) and Adnan (43) were impres-
of 9 wickets. Sanjaya was the top scorer for Sanjaya, Fernando and Sanjaya took a sive for ACC, who set a 186-run target for
the team with 33 runs, a knock that included wicket each for Wellon. Alliance. However, losing wickets at regular
three sixes and a boundary. Samantha and For his all-round performance, Rauf of M intervals, Alliance only managed 127 runs on
Asmadaga were the other batsmen who got Pallonji was adjudged Man of the Match. the board for the loss of seven wickets in the
into double figures. In other matches, Serandib B defeated Mi- allotted 15 overs.
For M Pallonji, Alban took 3 wickets for tramandal by 1 wicket after reaching the 118- Al Zaman Exchange too picked up a big
9 runs in his allotted 2 overs, Rauf scalped run target with a ball to spare, while Mumbai win, beating MIC by 61 runs after scoring
2 wickets, while Chida and Sandesh took a XII defeated Al Fardan by 9 wickets overhaul- 201 runs on the board, courtesy a smashing
wicket each. ing the 109-run target in the 10th over. 17-ball 54 run knock by Firdosh.
M Pallonji too had a shaky start to their CCRC put 182 runs on the board with Hanan managed to win a thriller against Al (From left to right) Closest to pin winner Hissam Khan, Longest putt winner Kanduri Suribabu,
chase, losing opener Sandesh cheaply in Mazhar (33), Majeed (28) and Abbas (27) Jazeera Media Network by 1 run, restricting tournament champion Lucas Jones, Qatar Golf Lovers (QGL) captain PK Mathew, Closest to rope
the second over. However, the other open- excelling with the bat. In reply, McDonalds the latter at 121 runs for 11 wickets in 15 overs. winner Lucas Intagliata, tournament runner-up Pavan Singh and Longest drive winner Naeem Nanji
er, Rajesh, blazed away, scoring 29 runs in were wrapped up for 115 run, with Abbas and QVC defeated Ceylon Warriors by sev- pose after the QGL Golf Tournament at the Doha Golf Club recently. As many as 40 golfers competed
7 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours. Rauf added Magsi scalping two wickets each, setting up en wickets after scoring 160 runs for four in the event which was played on a strokeplay format.
scored 26 runs in 7 balls with four sixes to a 67-run victory. wickets in reply to latter’s 154.
 Monday, April 23, 2018
GULF TIMES
Arabian Camel Races Competition
Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) president HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani (fourth from left) with the winners of the six main races of the eighth day of Arabian Camel
Races Competition for the Sword of His Highness The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Al Shahaniya racetrack.
MANATEQ QATAR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY
Przygonski seals win after
late drama for al-Attiyah
‘For the classification it is a superb result. There were some tears at the finish’
By Sports Reporter
Losail
P
oland’s Jakub Przygonski and
Belgian co-driver Tom Colsoul
confirmed a dramatic and vi-
tal victory in the Manateq Qa-
tar Cross-Country Rally after overnight
leader Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah suffered
terminal engine issues on the run down
Qatar’s west coast on the final stage yes-
terday.
The Mini John Cooper Works Rally
crew trailed Qatar’s defending cham-
pion and his French co-driver Matthieu
Baumel by 14min 43sec at the start of
the final stage of 331.84km. Al-Attiyah
was prepared to play the strategy game
and that enabled the Pole to overtake the
Toyota and lead the way through most of
a stage that cut across the country’s cen-
tral deserts before skirting the western
coastline and then finished with a tradi-
tional sprint along a sandy beach to the
flying finish near Sealine.
The plan appeared to be working well
for al-Attiyah until he suffered termi-
nal engine issues between the third and
fourth passage controls and this opened
the door for Przygonski to romp home
and claim a famous victory and a 31-point
lead in the FIA World Cup for Cross-
Country Rallies standings.
“To win the most difficult rally
in the world calendar in terms of
navigation is very special. I am a
humble farmer’s boy from Belgium
and to come here and beat the best
in the world on such a hard rally
and to etch your name in the his-
tory of the event is a great feeling,”
Belgian co-driver Tom Colsoul said
Przygonski, who had a winning margin
of 40min 13sec, said: “We are so happy.
It was a really tough race from the begin-
ning with the navigation and the terrain.
We had no big problems during any of the
five stages. Sad for Nasser, but this is mo-
torsport. This can happen always.
“For the World Cup classification it is
a superb result. There were some tears
at the finish. To overcome the naviga-
tion and take the win here in Qatar is very
special.”
An emotional Colsoul added: “This is
a very special and emotional win for me
for two reasons. I lost a family member on
this rally three years ago and to win the
most difficult rally in the world calendar
in terms of navigation is very special. I
am a humble farmer’s boy from Belgium
and to come here and beat the best in the
world on such a hard rally and to etch
your name in the history of the event is a
great feeling.”
A disappointed al-Attiyah said, “This
is rallying. This is a new car. Two days
ago we had a small issue with the engine
but we tried to keep going. Suddenly,
today, we had an oil pressure alarm and
we stopped immediately. We finished at
210km I think. When we saw the alarm it
was over.”
G-Energy Team Mini One driver
Vladimir Vasilyev shadowed Przygonski
to the finish to snatch second overall and
42 valuable championship points, while
Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan and French
Emotions run high at the finish for Polish driver Jakub Przygonski’s Belgian co-driver Tom Colsoul after they won the Manateq Qatar
Cross-Country Rally yesterday.
A terminal engine failure ended the race for Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah.
co-driver Laurent Lichtleuchter gave
Overdrive Racing the final place on the
podium in their Toyota Hilux.
Poland’s Aron Domzala reached the
flying finish in fourth position in the
second of the Toyotas and Czech driver
Martin Prokop continued his push for a
first ever FIA World Cup title with crucial
points for fifth place. He now holds sec-
ond in the series behind Przygonski in his
Ford F-150 Evo.
Qatar’s Adel Abdulla began the final
stage with a T2 lead of 3hrs 53min 03sec
in his QMMF and Ooredoo-backed Nis-
san Patrol Y62. Rival Ahmed al-Shegawi
won the day’s stage after Adel stopped
with a reported broken rear axle after
265km and battled in vain to repair the
damage. He managed to get going again
before the stage finish control closed but
an eventual retirement was a bitter blow
for the Qatari.
Frenchman Claude Fournier hung on to
secure maximum points to T3 to snatch
the overall lead in the FIA T3 Champi-
onship from Spanish rival José Luis Pena
Campo. Santiago Navarro was third.
Young Polish rider Maciej Giemza vin-
dicated his decision to enter the event on
his Orlen Team KTM 450 with a solid fin-
ish and a maximum haul of FIM points to
snatch the lead in the FIM Cross-Coun-
try Rally World Championship after two
rounds.
Russian quad rider Alexsandr Mak-
simov secured victory over Dutch rival
Kees Koolen in the quad category by the
margin of 40min 50sec after both rode
cautiously over the final kilometres.
“We are very proud of the organisation
SPORT
Qatar athletes shine in Arab
Championship in Amman
Q
atar athletics team kept its winning streak by claiming
two gold medals and one silver medal on the second
day of Arab Youth Athletics Championship 2018 in Am-
man, Jordan. Qatar’s Mohanad Khamis clinched gold medal in
the 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday while teammate Rania
Raed confidently claimed the discus throw. Qatar Athletics
Federation assistant secretary-general Talal Mansour appreci-
ated achievements of Qatar’s young athletes. Qatar team is
being represented by elite young athletes including Saoud
Abdulaziz al-Homaidi in 110m steeplechase, Jabir Hilal and
Abdulrahman al-Khater in 100m and 200m events, Khamis
in 3,000m steeplechase and 1,500m, along other names in
discus throw, high jump and shot put.
Qatar’s Mohanad Khamis in action during 3,000m steeplechase.
Qatar’s Adel Abdulla suffers
setback to T2 campaign
Qatar’s Adel Abdulla suffered a devastating setback to his chances
of regaining the FIA T2 World Championship after he was deprived
of a first ever victory in the category at his home Manateq Qatar
Cross-Country Rally (QCCR) by a niggling electrical issue yesterday.
The Nissan Patrol driver and fellow Qatari navigator Nasser
al-Kuwari led from the opening super special stage at Losail last
Wednesday evening and, despite falling behind near the start of
the first desert section, they won the next three selective sections
through the Qatar deserts and had a massive lead of nearly four
hours to take into the final day.
Everything was going according to plan, even though the Qatari
was running behind rival Ahmed al-Shegawi in the final timed test.
That was until 265km of the special when the Nissan stopped with
a niggling electrical issue and the crew spent many agonising min-
utes trying to repair the car to continue.
He managed to get going again and reached the stage finish ago-
nizingly too late to be classified in the results and the Qatari’s wait
for a first T2 victory on his home event continues.
Adel said: “It was an electrical problem with the switch for the differ-
ential. The left tyre started to break. We do not know what caused
it. There is nothing broken on the car. The tyre has moved.
“We played with the fuse and it worked after we had stopped for a
long time. Then we tried to push to the end of the stage but we ar-
rived seven minutes late. The Clerk of the Course is very strict with
this and we are out of the race. This is similar to what happened last
year. Even now the car is showing a four-wheel drive fault. It is very
disappointing for us.”
Adel Abdulla’s campaign to win back the FIA T2 Championship
title he first secured in 2016 comes with valuable support from the
Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), Ooredoo Qatar
and Nissan Qatar.
this year,” said Abdulrahman al-Mannai,
President of the Qatar Motor and Motorcy-
cle Federation (QMMF).
“We made a lot of changes, including
the set-up for the rally offices, the media
and the super stage. We expected a tough
rally as always, because of the challenges
of the navigation. Many people come here
who have been to Dakar and many rallies
and think it may be easy. But this rally is
very tough as we have seen with the results
changing.
“Unfortunately, our hero Nasser was
leading all the way to the last stage until
he had an engine problem and he had to
pull out. We are also proud of Adel’s per-
formance this week in T2.
“It has been a tough year for all of us in
Qatar because of the political situation.
But we worked hard to make sure that this
did not impact the sport. That was our
goal from the beginning. We don’t think
about politics and mix it with sport. We Qatar’s Adel Abdulla (second from right) and co-driver Nasser al-
faced a lot of challenges because of the Kuwari (left) finished third in the Manateq Qatar Baja yesterday.
blockade on our country. Nevertheless, PICTURE: Othman Iraqi
we did not give up and we were deter-
mined to have a rally better than in the
past. We also received feedback in a posi-
tive way from the FIA. We are happy with
the way the rally has gone.”
Oman’s Abdullah al-Zubair won the
second round of the Manateq Qatar Baja
that finished at PC3.
Al-Shegawi was second, while Qatar’s
Abdulla moved into third when Khalid al-
Feraihi incurred time penalties.
FIA WORLD CUP FOR
CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES STANDINGS
1. Jakub Przygonski (POL) 144pts
2. Martin Prokop (CZE) 113pts
3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) 111pts
4. Yasir Seaidan (SAU) 58pts
5. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT) 30pts Maximum FIM points and a motorcycle win for Maciej Giemza.