Page 1036 - Sports
Portugal ruin Lewandowski's century celebration
- Portugal, playing without embattled Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Poland 3-2 in the Nations League on Thursday, shattering Robert Lewandowski's celebrations of playing his 100th international. European champions Portugal scored three times in 20 minutes in the Polish city of Chorzow through Andre Silva (32 minutes), a Kamil Glik own-goal (43) and a strike from Bernardo Silva (52). Fernando Santos's Portugal team now have two wins in two in the Nations League after also beating Italy 1-0 in September. Prolific Genoa striker Krzysztof Piatek had given Poland a 19th-minute lead with Jakub Blaszczykowski cutting the deficit for the home side in the 77th minute. In Podgorica, Serbia downed Montenegro 2-0 in the first meeting between the two former members of the old Yugoslavia. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored both goals with an 18th-minute penalty followed by an 81st-minute effort. Israel recovered from a goal down in Haifa to defeat Scotland 2-1. Charlie Mulgrew put the Scots ahead with a ...
Mbappe cameo helps France avoid shock Iceland defeat
Kylian Mbappe inspired a fightback from world champions France as they rallied from two goals down at home to earn a 2-2 draw with Iceland on Thursday. Birkir Bjarnason swept Iceland ahead from the edge of the area on 30 minutes, and Kari Arnason's excellent second-half header doubled their lead in Guingamp. But Mbappe, brought on as a substitute for the final half-hour, gave France a lifeline when his shot was saved and then inadvertently turned in by Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. The Paris Saint-Germain forward levelled from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Kolbeinn Sigthorsson handled at a corner. "The team saw we needed to do something else. I bring what I can do," Mbappe told TF1. "We saw the fans were completely behind us even if it wasn't a big stadium. We wanted to do everything for the people who were there. "We got the draw, we didn't lose, but we're still a bit annoyed." France coach Didier Deschamps fielded six of the players that began the World Cup ...
No Messi, no problem as Argentina beat Iraq 4-0
Argentina shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi as a second-string team eased past Iraq 4-0 in an international friendly in Riyadh on Thursday. Interim coach Lionel Scaloni used the match to blood a host of new talent with goalkeeper Sergio Romero, defender Ramiro Funes Mori and striker Paulo Dybala the only experienced players in the line-up. Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a near-post header from a left wing cross by Marcos Acuna. Roberto Pereyra grabbed the second in the 53rd minute when the Watford player finished off a smart one-two with Dybala. Fiorentina defender German Pezzella headed the third goal from a corner past over-worked Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan with Franco Cervi breaking through the defence for the fourth goal in stoppage time. Argentina will face traditional rivals Brazil, also in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday. Brazil, meanwhile, face the Saudis on Friday.
James keys Colombia's 4-2 friendly win over USA
A Colombian team lead by James Rodriguez roared past a game but inexperienced United States 4-2 on Thursday in an international football friendly in Tampa, Florida. James put the Cafeteros in the lead with a spectacular effort from the edge of the penalty area in the 36th minute, thrilling a largely pro-Colombia crowd at Raymond James Stadium. The United States responded with two goals in the space of three minutes by Kellyn Acosta and Bobby Wood early in the second half that gave the hosts a 2-1 lead. But Colombia rose to the challenge with goals from Carlos Bacca, Radamel Falcao and Miguel Borja to secure the victory. "I thought in moments it was good, moments we can do better," said US midfielder Michael Bradley, making his first international appearance since he captained the side that fell to the devastating loss at Trinidad & Tobago one year and one day ago that saw the US miss this year's World Cup in Russia. "The response at the beginning of the second half was pretty ...
Windies win toss in 2nd Test, opt to bat
West Indies won the toss and opted to bat in the second and final Test against India here on Friday. India rested Mohammed Shami and brought in fellow pacer Shardul Thakur who is making his Test debut. West Indies made two changes as they left out Keemo Paul and Sherman Lewis. Jomel Warrican and captain Jason Holder, who returned after missing out of the first Test, replaced them. India are leading 1-0 in the series after wining the first Test at Rajkot. The Teams: India: Virat Kohli (captain), Prithvi Shaw, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur. West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel.
Pro Kabaddi: Bengal Warriors start off with win, beat Tamil Thalaivas 36-27
Bengal Warriors got off to a winning start by inflicting a fourth straight defeat on hosts Tamil Thalaivas 36-27 in a Zone B Pro Kabaddi tournament clash at the packed Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.
MCA asks BCCI to conduct ODI, cites financial constraints
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct the October 29 India versus West Indies One Day International match in Mumbai. "Senior MCA officials and a few managing committee members on Thursday met a top BCCI official. They again cited the difficulties, especially the financial constrains for the association, for hosting the game. "They asked the BCCI to conduct the game and assured that MCA would help it in all possible ways," a source in the Mumbai cricket body said. Asked what they meant by asking the BCCI to conduct the match, the official said, "It means the BCCI (and not the MCA) will float tender notices for various (match-related) works." The official said the MCA cited its inability to operate its bank account, which is a major hurdle. The BCCI official assured the MCA delegation that the Board was working to solve the issue, the source said. The Bombay High Court, earlier this year, had appointed a .
Vidal 'lacked respect' for teammates, says Barca manager
Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal "lacked respect" for his teammates by complaining on social media about not playing enough, the club's sporting director Pep Segura said Thursday. Chilean international Vidal has started only two games for the Catalan giants since his summer move to the Nou Camp from Bayern Munich. The former Juventus man is up against Croatia's Ivan Rakitic and Brazilian trio Philippe Coutinho, Arthur and Rafinha for places in a quality-packed Barca midfield. He recently took his frustration out by posting messages on his Instagram account featuring angry or frustrated emojis, notably following Barca's 4-2 Champions League win over Tottenham. Segura, speaking to the Catalan daily Sport, said: "A professional has to show respect for his team-mates, for the dressing room and for the coach even if the decisions that are taken are not always the ones he expects." "Vidal knows he's made a mistake and that he's lacked respect for his teammates. I'm sure he will make ...
Khawaja knock 'one of the great Test innings', says Paine
Australia captain Tim Paine hailed Usman Khawaja's painstaking rearguard effort as "one of the great Test innings" after his team clung on for an unlikely draw against Pakistan on Thursday in the series opener in Dubai. Opener Khawaja batted for eight hours and 44 minutes to help foil Pakistan's victory bid, while Travis Head (72) and Paine, who finished unbeaten on 61, played key supporting roles to take Australia to 362-8 and save the match. Paine and number ten batsman Nathan Lyon (five not out) batted out the final 12.1 overs to snatch a draw, as Australia ended 100 short of a daunting 462-run target set by Pakistan. "I am just really proud of the whole group, how they stuck to our plans and kept digging in. I am really proud of Usman, too, on one of the great Test innings," said Paine. "No, it doesn't feel like a win. We were outplayed. Proud to get something out of it, but we can play a lot better in the next Test," said Paine, with the second and final Test starting in Abu ...
Aware recalls time when he considered quiting sport
After he was not selected for the 2016 Rio Olympics, wrestler Rahul Aware had considered quitting. Two years on, the Maharashtra grappler is the happy recipient of a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. "Time does not stop for anyone, my age was advancing and I was missing important tournaments. I missed the Olympics.....I had decided that if I qualify for the 2016 Olympics then it's fine, or else would retire from the sport. Wrestling is a game which can be played till a certain age -- maximum 30 years," said 26-year-old Aware. He was speaking after receiving Sportsman of the Year award of the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai. "I was sidelined for the 2016 Olympics. After an year there were trials for the (2018) Commonwealth Games, which was a challenge, but I took it for the last time (and got selected)," he said. Aware went on to bag the gold medal in the 57 kg freestyle category at the Commonwealth Games held at Gold Coast, Australia, earlier this year.
Bajrang becomes first Indian to get World Championship seeding
One of India's most consistent performers in the recent times, Bajrang Punia has become the first Indian to feature in the top seeds of World Wrestling Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary, from October 20 to 28.
AFC nominates I-League for best developing football league of year award
The Asian Football Confederation has shortlisted the I-League among the top three nominations for the SPIA Award in the 'Best Developing Football League of the Year' category. The SPIA Conference and Awards Gala will take place on November 19 and 20 in Bangkok. The I-League is the premier league in the country and the next edition will be played among 11 clubs, the champions of which get a slot for AFC Champions League qualifier. All India Football Federation president Praful Patel said: "It is very encouraging that the work of AIFF and the I-League department has got recognition by being nominated for this prestigious award. I would like to congratulate all stakeholders especially the clubs who have been an integral part of this league." General secretary Kushal Das said: "I am very happy to see that our initiative for developing I-League pan India and introducing the club licensing criteria has had the necessary impact, and that the I-League has been nominated for the Award. "I ...
Pro Kabaddi: Patna Pirates back to winning ways, edge past UP Yoddha 43-41
Defending champions Patna Pirates edged past UP Yoddha 43-41 to get back to their winning ways in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi contest at the packed Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.
Patna Pirates pull-off thrilling win over UP Yoddha
Defending champions Patna Pirates edged out UP Yoddha 43-41 in a thrilling match of the Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 6. Pardeep Narwal produced a strong raiding performance as he scored 16 points to lead Patna to victory. For UP Yoddha, Shrikant Jadhav scored 12 points but it was a case of so near yet so far. The difference between the teams was also their defensive strength. While Patna Pirates scored 11 tackle points, UP Yoddha got just seven points. UP Yoddha got out of the blocks quicker than their opposition as they led 4-1 after two minutes. Pardeep Narwal scored his first point of the match in third minute as Patna Pirates trailed 3-5. Rishank Devadiga got a two-point raid as UP Yoddhas were looking in fine form. Narwal then got three quick points in two raids as Patna cut the deficit to one point after 9 minutes. In the next 10 minutes, the pendulum swung Patna Pirates' way as they first time led in the match. But UP Yoddha came back to gain lead once again. In the 14th minute, UP .
Federer does family proud to battle into Shanghai quarters
Roger Federer said that he did not want to lose in front of his young family as he was pushed all the way for the second match in a row at the Shanghai Masters on Thursday. The reigning champion squeezed into the quarter-finals after eventually defeating the 28th-ranked Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The top seed will play Japan's eighth seed Kei Nishikori, while Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev are also through, albeit with far less hassle. The 37-year-old Swiss great was forced to fight in his opening match on Wednesday against Russia's Daniil Medvedev. Normal order appeared to have been restored when the 20-time Grand Slam champion comfortably claimed the first set against Bautista Agut. But the Spaniard earned a piece of personal history after that, winning the second set -- the first time he had taken a set against the Swiss maestro. The 30-year-old Bautista Agut had the whiff of an upset in his nostrils and the prospect of a first victory over the Swiss at the .
Federer says new Davis Cup 'not designed for me'
Roger Federer added his heft to the growing debate around the controversial new-format Davis Cup, saying on Thursday that "this was not designed for me". The inaugural Davis Cup finals are slated for a week in Madrid in November 2019 as part of a revamp to the competition, but it has been contentious with players. Alexander Zverev, the world number five, said at the Shanghai Masters that he will not compete in the men's team event because it comes at the end of a long season. Third-ranked Novak Djokovic agreed on Thursday that the timing was "really bad" and he also looks unlikely to feature. And then Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, added his voice to the debate when quizzed after beating Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the Shanghai quarter-finals. "No, I highly doubt it, of course. We'll see what happens," said the 37-year-old, who has been carefully managing his schedule since 2017 to wring the most out of his ageing body. "I don't think this was designed for me, ...
Gareth Bale to miss Wales clash against Spain
Ahead of a friendly match against Spain, Welsh footballer, Gareth Bale has been ruled out from the national side due to "muscular fatigue."Confirming the same, Wales coach Ryan Giggs said that the injury is not serious but they do not want to take the risk with their star winger."Gareth has got a little bit of muscle fatigue and he won't be involved against Spain. We don't want to take any risks and we are monitoring it every day," goal.com quoted Giggs, as saying.The 29-year-old had sustained the injury while playing during a match between his club, Real Madrid, and Spanish football club, Alaves, last week.Hopeful Giggs, however, predicted that Bale will make the Nations League match against Ireland on coming Tuesday and that he would be fit for Real Madrid's next game against Levante.Wales are slated to play a friendly match against Spain on October 12.
Rishabh Pant named in ODI squad against Windies
Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been included in the ODI team as India announced a 14-member squad for the first two one-day internationals of the upcoming five-match series against West Indies.While Mohammed Shami has made a comeback to the limited overs side, names like Bhuveneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are missing from the squad.In middle order, right-hand batsmen Manish Pandey and Ambati Raydu are given a crucial chance to prove their credibility against not-so-experienced West Indies side.In the spin department, India will continue to rely on the trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal.India are slated to play a five-match ODI series against West Indies from October 21 to November 1.Following is the full Indian squad for ODIs against West Indies:Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (wk), Rishabh Pant, R Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Khaleel Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, KL
India eye Test whitewash against Windies
After producing a dominant performance against West Indies in the first Test, India will be aiming for a whitewash while taking on the visiting side in their second clash of the ongoing two-match series here at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.Earlier, the Virat Kohli-led side had thrashed the Carribean side by an innings and 272 runs in a one-sided opening Test of the series.Indian bowlers had, quite easily, tore apart the batting line-up of the opposition while the batsmen also did not go through much trouble facing blunt bowling attack of West Indies.West Indies, on the other hand, would be looking to review their playing strategy after losing their last game with a record margin.The comeback of skipper Jason Holder, who had missed the first Test due to an injury, would be one of the positives for the visiting side.Another relief would come in the form of fast bowler Kemar Roach who had missed the opening Test after he had to rush back to his home following the death of
Punjab CM presents cash awards to Asian Games winners
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday presented the State Sports Awards, worth Rs. 15.55 crore, to 23 players in recognition of their outstanding performance in 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games.Legendary athlete Milkha Singh accompanied the Chief Minister at the event, where an Apple I-phone was also presented to each of the players, along with the certificates.Speaking on the occasion, Captain Singh reiterated his government's commitment to promote sports at the grassroots level and to motivate youngsters into sports through various initiatives.He expressed the confidence that Punjab players would shine in the next Olympics as there is no dearth of talent in the state. The Punjab Government would channelise the energy and talent of sports stars positively to secure medals in the Olympics, he added.Among those honoured by the Chief Minister were Heena Sidhu, who has been awarded Rs. 1.75 crore for clinching gold, silver and bronze medals in Pistol Shooting in ...