Page 541 - Sports
Guardiola reveals City injury fears after Wembley glory
Pep Guardiola fears Manchester City's League Cup final triumph against Chelsea could come at a heavy cost. Guardiola's side retained the League Cup thanks to a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory at Wembley on Sunday. But City boss Guardiola is concerned that the clash, which finished 0-0 after extra-time, could have taken a toll on his squad after defender Aymeric Laporte and midfielder Fernandinho both suffered injuries. With City just one point behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race and also chasing silverware in the Champions League and FA Cup, Guardiola knows his team need to be at full strength for the run-in. "The only problem is we will miss a lot of important players for the next few weeks," Guardiola said. "Being in four competitions is so demanding, so tough, we don't know where we're going to arrive. "Laporte, Fernandinho are injured, but it's much better of course when you win." City's third major trophy of Guardiola's three-season reign was a rollercoaster .
Kane vows Spurs aren't out of title race
Harry Kane insists Tottenham are still in the Premier League title race despite suffering a major setback in their defeat at Burnley. After winning all four league games while Kane recovered from an ankle ligament injury sustained in the January home defeat to Manchester United, Tottenham capitulated at Turf Moor on Saturday, falling 2-1 to Ashley Barnes' late strike after England forward Kane marked his comeback with the away side's equaliser. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino effectively conceded his third placed team were out of the race after the loss, which leaves Spurs six points behind leaders Liverpool, but Kane refuses to write off his side's chances. "That would be their opinion. It's been like that for the whole season," Kane said. "People have been talking us not being in it, then we would win a few games and we're there. "People will probably say now it's a two-horse race, but that's not our problem. All we can do is take care of ourselves. "It's a shame because when
Man City win League Cup final marked by Chelsea keeper controversy
Manchester City retained the League Cup by edging Chelsea 4-3 on penalties on Sunday after an incredible bust-up between Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Italian tried to replace the world's most expensive player towards the end of a cagey 120 minutes that ended 0-0. Kepa had received treatment for an injury in the final stages, but also has an inferior record of saving spot-kicks than Willy Caballero, who Sarri attempted to introduce. City goalkeeper Ederson denied Jorginho and David Luiz hit the post in the shootout before Raheem Sterling smashed the winning penalty past Kepa. Until that flashpoint, the afternoon had been a success for Sarri just two weeks on from Chelsea's worst defeat since 1991 in a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of City in the Premier League. The chances of Sarri losing his job were only heightened by a FA Cup elimination at the hands of Manchester United on Monday. With his back to the wall, it was perhaps understandable then that ..
Ngidi back in South Africa ODI squad, Amla misses
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been recalled to South Africa squad for the first three One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka.Ngidi had proved his fitness after recovering from a knee injury sustained last year. Alongside him, Anrich Nortie, who had hurt his ankle in the opening Mzansi Super League (MSL) last year, has recovered to earn his maiden call-up to the squad.All-rounder Wiaan Mulder has been retained in a strong-looking squad.Despite the omission from the first three matches of Hashim Amla, as well as a handful of players who featured in the previous ODI rubber against Pakistan, the Cricket South Africa National Selection Panel convener, Linda Zondi, was keen to stress that none of these players should consider themselves dropped, ICC reported."Those players who were in the squad against Pakistan but who have been left out this time have not been dropped. We need to use the first part of this series to examine all the options that are available to us. We know, for example, ...
Vizag T20I: Australia beat India, take 1-0 series lead
The first Twenty20 International between Australia and India saw a nail-biting finish with the guests clinching the game and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah's phenomenal spell of 3/16 seemed to put India in the path of victory. However, an expensive final over from Umesh Yadav helped Australia hand the hosts their second consecutive defeat in the T20 format.The Indian pair of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul stitched a much-needed second wicket partnership of 55 runs to bring the team to 80 for the loss of two wickets in ten overs after early losses. However, the middle-order failed to maintain the momentum as India slipped to 100 for the loss of six wickets in 15 overs.With just five overs remaining, former skipper MS Dhoni came out to the crease and played some classy shots to remain unbeaten at 29 off 37 balls. However, the Men in Blue were restricted to 126 for the loss of seven wickets.For Australia, Glenn Maxwell and D'Arcy Short weaved magic as they ...
1st T20I: Australia edge past India by three wickets in thrilling contest (Roundup)
Australia made heavy weather of a chaseable target but ultimately scraped past the line in the final over to beat India by three wickets in the first T-20 at the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
We want to give Rahul and Rishabh game time: Kohli
India captain Virat Kohli wasn't perturbed by his team's shoddy batting performance in the first T20 International as he is looking to give more chances to youngsters KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant looking ahead at the World Cup in England. Rahul made an impressive half-century on his comeback but Pant was needlessly run-out during India's three-wicket defeat against Australia in the first T20 International. Chasing a target of 127, Australia were cruising along before Jasprit Bumrah's (3/16 in 4 overs) brilliant 19th over nearly won the game for India. "We want to give Rahul and Rishab more game-time. Rahul played a really good knock and we had a good partnership. Had we gone on, we could have got 150, which would have been a match-winning score on this pitch. But Australia played better cricket overall and deserved to win," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. However, he didn't forget to praise his bowlers for making a match of a low target like 127. "Very pleased with ...
Australia edge past India by three wickets in thrilling first T20
Australia made a heavy weather of a chaseable target but scraped past the line in the final over to beat India by three wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20 series here on Sunday.
1st T20 Int'l: Australia pip India by three-wickets in an exciting finish
A profligate Umesh Yadav undid all the good work done by Jasprit Bumrah as Australia edged out India by three wickets in a last-ball thriller in the first T20 International here Sunday. With 14 required off the last over, Umesh was hit for a boundary each by Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins, who had identical scores of 7 not out as they reached the target of 127 off the last delivery of the match. This was after Japrit Bumrah (3/16 in 4 overs) bowled an incredible 19th over to bring India back in the match just when it was looking that Australia would canter home. He got Peter Handscomb with a short ball and then yorked Nathan Coulter-Nile after having dismissed Aaron Finch in his first spell. However it was Australia;'s tail-enders, who held the nerve getting the couple required couple of runs off the final delivery of the innings. But till the 15th over, Australia were in a cruise control mode as Glenn Maxwell (56 off 43 balls) and Darcy Short (37 off 37 balls) added 84 runs for the
Australia beat India by three wickets in a thrilling T20I
Australia defeated India by three wickets in a thrilling T20I here Sunday. India managed only 126 for 7 in their 20 overs against Australia despite a half-century from comeback man KL Rahul. Save opener Rahul's 50 off 36 balls and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's unbeaten 29 off 37 balls, none of the other Indian batsmen could manage a significant knock. For Australia, Nathan Coulter-Nile took 3 for 26 in four overs. Glen Maxwell top-scored for Australia with a 43-ball 56. For India, Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets. Brief Scores: India: 126/7 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 50 off 36 balls, MS Dhoni 29 no, Nathan Coulter-Nile 3/26 in 4 overs) Australia: 127-7 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 56; Jasprit Bumrah 3/16).
Liverpool go top after stalemate at injury-hit United
Liverpool moved one point clear at the top of the Premier League after being forced to settle for a 0-0 draw at injury-ravaged Manchester United on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp's side climbed above Manchester City into pole position, but left Old Trafford frustrated that they failed to go three points clear after struggling to break down a United team hit by three key injuries. Liverpool, chasing a first English title since 1990, had few chances to beat their bitter rivals despite United losing Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard before the interval. The Reds, who had just one shot on target, now have 11 league games remaining, the same number as second placed City, who were in League Cup final action against Chelsea on Sunday. It was a missed opportunity for Liverpool, who used up their game in hand on City and lost Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino to injury. Liverpool's third draw in four games comes in a period in which they have dropped six points in the battle with Pep ...
ISL: Delhi hammer three past FC Pune
Delhi Dynamos FC scored a resounding 3-1 victory against ten-man FC Pune City in a Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Sunday to make it six games without a defeat.
Delhi hammer Pune 3-1 in ISL
Delhi Dynamos FC scored a resounding 3-1 victory against ten-man FC Pune City in a Hero Indian Super League clash at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Sunday. Lallianzuala Chhangte (17th minute) gave Delhi the lead before a solo strike by Nikhil Poojary (23rd) brought Pune level. Romeo Fernandes' deflected effort (29th) and Daniel Lalhlimpuia's second-half strike (52nd) sealed the points for the hosts. Delhi and Pune remain eighth and seventh on the table respectively with one more game left in the season. Josep Gombau's men have taken their tally to 18 points. Pune searched for an early breakthrough and had the Delhi backline in trouble twice in the first 10 minutes. Marcelinho's corner was nodded wide by Matt Mills from the centre of the box in the third minute. Three minutes later, Nikhil Poojary caused the defenders to stand off as he surged forward into the opposition's territory but the winger chose to chip the goalkeeper and over-hit a shot above the bar. As ...
I-League: Chennai score three past hapless Mohun Bagan to consolidate lead
Chennai City FC inched closer to their maiden I-League title after defeating Mohun Bagan 3-1 at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.
Shock Sri Lanka loss major jolt for South Africa
South Africa's shock Test series defeat against Sri Lanka came as a major jolt to a team which had become accustomed to dominating Test matches at home. The unheralded Sri Lankans exposed flaws in both South Africa's top-order batting and their much-vaunted fast bowling attack in winning both Tests in a two-match series. Coach Ottis Gibson was asked after the second Test in Port Elizabeth whether South Africa's policy of playing on pace-friendly pitches had affected the form and confidence of the home team's batsmen, who struggled to totals of 235, 259, 222 and 128 against Sri Lanka. "No," he said. "We've got runs on these pitches before. We just haven't batted well enough in this series." The reality, though, is that batting struggles have become a trend, with none of the current top six batsmen averaging above 40 since the start of 2018. Successive series wins against India, Australia and Pakistan were achieved when moderate totals proved enough because of South Africa's bowling ...
Ngidi back, Amla out of one-day squad
Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and uncapped Anrich Nortje were named in a 14-man South African squad on Sunday for the first three of five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka. Veteran batsman Hashim Amla was not included for the start of South Africa's last series before the Cricket World Cup in England from May to July - but selection convener Linda Zondi said Amla, 35, remained a senior player. The series starts, at the Wanderers Stadium next Sunday. "Those players who were in the squad against Pakistan (in January) but who have been left out this time have not been dropped. We need to use the first part of this series to examine all the options that are available to us," said Zondi. "We know, for example, what Hashim Amla has to offer us and he remains a senior member of our squad." Also omitted is JP Duminy, who has not played since October because of a shoulder injury. Zondi said he hoped that Duminy, regarded as a key to South Africa's World Cup hopes because of his batting, ...
Retiring Kipsang targets London, worlds and Tokyo
Former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang has three major ambitions before retirement. The 36-year-old, a 2012 Olympics bronze medallist, wants to reclaim the London marathon in April, then go on and win the world championships in Doha in September before a final attempt at Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020. Kipsang is eyeing the London half marathon on March 10 as a launchpad to the busy season. "I am looking forward to the race where it will a good testing ground to the big race. I expect to race against people like Mo Farah, who will also be competing in the London marathon." Kipsang has won the London marathon in 2012 and 2014, and set the world record in between, but he says he's hungry for another success after two years of trying to get back to form. He expects this year's London marathon, which has attracted a high quality field of runners, to be very competitive. "There are big prospects that the marathon is going to be very tough with the likes of Eliud Kipchoge, Mo Farah .
Struggling Leicester sack coach Claude Puel
Leicester announced the sacking of manager Claude Puel on Sunday following the struggling Premier League side's sixth defeat in seven games. Saturday's 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace dropped the 2015/2016 champions to 12th, only eight points above the relegation places. A statement released by the club said: "Leicester City Football Club has today (Sunday) parted company with Claude Puel, who leaves his position as first team manager with immediate effect." First team coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler will assume caretaking responsibilities. "The club would like to thank Claude for his efforts in leading the team during his 16 months in the role and wish him well in his future career," the club added. Puel's assistant manager Jacky Bonnevay has also been let go. The 57-year-old Puel is the fifth English topflight manager to be sacked this season, following Slavisa Jokanovic from Fulham, Mark Hughes (Southampton), Jose Mourinho (Manchester United) and David Wagner (Huddersfield). The ...
Paris gets in breakdance groove ahead of 2024 Olympic bow
Dancers executing backflips and freezes, gyros and headspins with gravity-defying agility in front of an adoring audience - welcome to the world breakdance championships. The staple of urban street culture is set to make a splash on its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games. And on Saturday night a 4,000 crowd came to be mesmerised by the moves performed by some of the most skilled exponents of 'breaking' at Battle Pro in the French capital. One b-boy, Stephane Sabotinov, took time out before going on stage to celebrate Thursday's announcement by Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet that breaking was set to become "a future Olympic sport". "Breakdance is impressive," Sabotinov, kitted out in white and black and baseball cap, told AFP. "There's the battle side of it, we're here to engage, but with respect. "We bump fists at the end even if we're going to war." Sabotinov, one of 120 dancers competing on Saturday evening, hopes breaking's elevation to the Olympics will erase any "negative ...
Osaka will learn to deal with fame says Nishikori
Kei Nishikori is confident his Japanese compatriot Naomi Osaka will learn to cope with pressure as she deals deal with her new elite status in tennis. Nishikori, playing as top seed at the Dubai Championships starting on Monday ahead of seven-time champion Roger Federer, has been-there, done that-in terms of national superstardom. But he believes that the painfully shy 21-year-old ranks ahead of him as a national sporting hero after winning back-to-back Grand Slam titles at New York and Melbourne and igniting fresh tennis hysteria across the Pacific. "It's much more than me, maybe a year ago she wasn't ranked top 10. Suddenly everything changes: she's No. 1, I've (only) been Top 3 before. "There is more pressure, for sure. Being No.1, winning Grand Slams, that's something I never had before. It's a bit different. It's more than me, I think." The 28-year-old said Osaka will eventually find her way into a public comfort zone. "I'm sure she's going to adapt, she just needs the time. She .