REUTERS NEW YORK

Antonio Brown’s arrival in Oakland was supposed to represent a recharging of the offense. Instead, it was nothing but a headache.

The “plan” was for Brown to play in Monday’s season opener against the visiting Denver Broncos. Instead, Brown was released by the Raiders yesterday and then agreed on a deal with the New England Patriots later in the day.

Brown’s antics in Oakland included a near-physical alter-cation with general manager Mike Mayock on Wednesday, and nearly led to a suspension. Then on Friday, Brown opened a team meeting with an “emotional apology,” and coach Jon Gruden welcomed him back and hopes to have him on the field against Denver.

“Antonio’s back today. We’re

really excited about that,” Gruden told reporters.

“Ready to move on. He’s had a lot of time to think about things. We’re happy to have him back and I know Raider Nation is excited about that too.”

Less than 24 hours later, Brown was released -- a move he requested -- and agreed to sign

with the Patriots. Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, wore out his welcome with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it seemed to be a worthy move when Oakland acquired him in March for third- and fifth-round picks. The Raiders later signed Brown to a three-year, $50.125m deal.

But training camp was filled with drama, ranging from the cry-otherapy treatment that caused frostbite on his feet, to Brown losing two grievances against the NFL in a battle to wear a helmet ruled to be outdated, to $53,950 in fines for skipping a practice ($40,000) and a walkthrough ($13,950).

Brown ratcheted up the tension by posting a letter from Mayock about the fines on his Instagram account on Wednesday. Then came the furious exchange of words, a day before he was listed as a non-participant -- per the team, “not injury related - conduct” -- for practice.

SPORT07MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2019

We showed a lot of creativity and attacking intent to beat a

very good Serbia side.Getting the opening goal just

before halftime was vital.

Portugal coach Santos pleased with 4-2 win over Serbia

Antonio’s back today. We’re really excited about that. Ready to move on. He’s had a lot of time to think about things. We’re happy to have him back and I know Raider Nation is excited about that too: Gruden

Afghanistan vsBangladesh

Day 4 at Chattogram

Euro qualifyingNorthern Ireland vs GermanyEstonia vs Netherlands

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Kosgei runs fastest-ever women’s half-marathonAFP LONDON

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei ran the fastest half-marathon ever by a woman yesterday, winning the Great North Run in a time of one hour, four minutes and 28 seconds.

Her time was 23 seconds quicker than the world record set in 2017 by fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei but the course in the northeast of England is not eligible for records. Kosgei, who won this year’s London Marathon, led a Kenyan sweep of the top four places, with Magdalyne Masai second (1:07.36) and Linet Masai third (1:07:44).

Mo Farah won the men’s elite race for a record sixth suc-cessive year as he warms up to defend his Chicago Marathon title next month.

Four-time Olympic champion Farah, 36, was pushed hard by Tamirat Tola, but proved too strong in the final mile for the Ethiopian, fin-ishing the 13.1-mile course in 59min 7sec and winning by six seconds. Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands was third (59:55).

“You just have to take it one year at a time. Hopefully, come Tokyo time, we will be in the mix.” Farah, a two-time Olympic champion in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, is aiming to establish himself among the world’s elite mar-athon runners.

He claimed his first mar-athon title last year when he won in Chicago in a time of 2:05.11 -- a European record.

Basketball World Cup: Jokic ejected as Spain stun SerbiaAFP WUHAN, CHINA

All-Star Nikola Jokic was ejected for “a stupid reaction” in the third quarter as strongly fancied Serbia were stunned 81-69 by Spain to blow the Basketball World Cup wide open yesterday.

Led by Ricky Rubio of the Phoenix Suns, Spain set up a quarter-final meeting with sur-prise packages Poland on Tuesday while Serbia will need to pick themselves up quickly for Argentina on the same evening.

Spain and European rivals Serbia had already qualified for the last eight in China but Group J supremacy and a supposedly easier game in the next round was at stake.

Serbia, the reigning world and Olympic silver medallists behind the Americans, had looked imperious in their pre-vious four matches, but this loss will raise questions about their title credentials.

Coach Sasha Djordjevic said Spain were the better team and refused to use the loss of Jokic -- turfed out after yelling at a referee -- as an excuse.

But he hard harsh words for his key man, saying: “I did not

like the stupid reaction of my player, who should be on the floor.

“We can even lose with him, why not if the other team is better? But he should stay on the floor and be one of the leaders.”

In one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the tour-nament so far, Spain surged back

from a slow start in the first quarter to lead by eight points at half-time in Wuhan.

Serbia, who had looked the chief threat to the young roster of reigning champions the US, were rattled for the first time in China and on their way towards a first defeat.

Midway through the third

quarter, their chances of making a comeback suffered a fatal blow when Denver Nuggets’ Jokic -- one of the World Cup’s biggest names -- was thrown out.

The 24-year-old was irri-tated initially by the close atten-tions of Spain’s defence and made his feelings clear to the officials.

The plain-speaking Djord-jevic said he had already spoken to Jokic about the incident.

“We don’t have time for long meetings, he knows (he was wrong),” said Djordjevic.

“He’s a tough kid, one of the greatest right now, (so) we need him on the floor.

“I hope it won’t happen again and this is a moment for him to grow.”

Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Sacramento Kings was again key for Serbia, keeping them within range of Spain with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Rubio racked up 19 points for the Spanish while veteran Marc Gasol had six rebounds and six assists.

“They really kicked us today,” said Bogdanovic, who has been in sparkling form at the World Cup and was unlucky to be on the losing side.

Spain coach Sergio Scariolo was full of praise for the 27-year-old Bogdanovic, calling him “ridiculous” and “an unbe-lievable player”.

Argentina topped Group I -- and teed up a meeting with Serbia -- after a dominant 91-65 victory over Poland. Both had already reached the last eight.

Farah wins Great North Run for sixth successive yearREUTERS LONDON

Britain’s Mo Farah won a record sixth successive Great North Run after setting his personal best time yesterday.

The Olympic gold medallist raced ahead of Ethiopian Tamirat Tola in the final mile to cross the line in 59 minutes and six seconds.

Farah, double Olympic champion at both 5,000 and 10,000 metres, said the race was an ideal preparation for October’s Chicago Marathon, with his sights set firmly on running at the Tokyo Olympics next year.

“The crowd was so loud I didn’t know if he was closing the gap so I kept looking behind,” the 36-year-old told BBC Sport.

“I’ve really enjoyed it but the past couple of years has been in the middle of mar-athon preparation. It was good to test myself. Things are looking good and I’m happy with the win.

“Tokyo is definitely on the cards - as an athlete you always want to represent your country. You just have to take it one year at a time. Hopefully, come Tokyo time, we will be in the mix.”

The women’s course record was beaten by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, who finished with a time of 1:04:28, five months after winning the London Marathon.

Serbia’s Stefan Jovic (centre) and Spain’s Ricky Rubio lose their balance during the Basketball World Cup Group J second round game in Wuhan, yesterday.

Brown saga ends as Raiders prepare for Broncos

Yelich joins 40-30 club, Brewers top CubsREUTERS MIAMI

Christian Yelich hit a walk-off double with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers celebrated a 3-2 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Saturday night.

Yelich laced an opposite-field line drive that bounced on one hop off the wall in left field to score Tyler Austin from first base. It capped a terrific night for Yelich, who finished 2-for-2 with an RBI, three walks and three stolen bases. He now has 30 stolen bases, making him the 10th player in MLB history with 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.

Addison Russell homered in a losing effort for Chicago, which dropped 3 1/2 games behind the

St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the National League Central.

The Cubs learned before the game that shortstop Javier Baez has a hairline fracture in his left thumb and could be out for the rest of the season. The star 26-year-old is hitting.281 with 29 homers and 85 RBIs in 133 games.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer that completely exited Fenway Park in the fourth inning, and J.A. Happ pitched 6 1/3 outstanding innings as New York won in Boston.

The Yankees won for the ninth time in 12 games as they work toward their first American League East title since 2012. After the first nine Yankees were retired in order, they sent nine men to the plate and took a 4-0 lead.

New York took a 2-0 lead when Gary Sanchez’s double off

Colten Brewer fell in between second baseman Brock Holt and right fielder J.D. Martinez and kicked into the stands. On the next pitch, Encarnacion ham-mered a curveball from Brewer that soared over the seats atop the Green Monster in left-center field and landed on Lansdowne Street.

Tyler Beede emerged from some recent struggles to throw five scoreless innings, and Kevin Pillar’s RBI groundout was all the offense visiting San Francisco needed to shut out Los Angeles.

The Dodgers were shut out for just the fifth time this season and for the first time since May 18 against the Cincinnati Reds. Their magic number for clinching their seventh consec-utive NL West title remained at four for the second consecutive day.

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ben Gamel (16) drives in a run with a base hit in the sixth inning as Chicago Cubs catcher Victor Caratini (7) watches at Miller Park on Saturday.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) of the Oakland Raiders warms up before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona in this August 15, 2019 file picture.

08 MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2019SPORT

Star Khabib beats Poirier, stays unbeaten at UFC 242AP ABU DHABI

Khabib Nurmagomedov stopped Dustin Poirier by submission in the third round on Saturday night at UFC 242, retaining his lightweight title and unbeaten record.

After dominating Poirier with wrestling and grappling throughout the bout at Yas Island, Nurmagomedov (28-0) landed a rear naked choke and forced Poirier to tap midway through the third.

The Dagestan-born Russian fighter returned almost flaw-lessly for his first fight since beating Conor McGregor in October 2018.

Nurmagomedov has stopped three of his last five opponents by submission, and

he is challenging Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes for unofficial pound-for-pound supremacy in mixed martial arts.

“MMA is about respect, this

is what we showed tonight,” Nurmagomedov said. Nurmag-omedov felt disrespected by McGregor and the Irish star’s friends before their bout, and

that’s why he jumped into the crowd to brawl with the entourage after his victory. Nur-magomedov was suspended and fined by the Nevada Athletic Commission, and Poirier won an interim lightweight title during Nurmagomedov’s forced absence.

“There has been a lot of pressure on me recently,” Nur-magomedov said. “I now need a couple of days rest.”

Poirier (25-6) nearly fin-ished Nurmagomedov with a guillotine choke early in the third round of a fight otherwise dominated by his opponent. Poirier held his interim title after beating Max Holloway in April for his fourth consecutive victory over elite lightweights.

But Nurmagomedov stands on another level entirely, and he appears to be one of the

UFC’s most bankable stars.“I feel like I let myself

down,” Poirier said. “My career was set up for

this moment. I was so prepared. I didn’t cut any corners. When I wake up, I need to take a look in the mirror.”

UFC President Dana White said Nurmagomedov’s next fight is likely to be against

Tony Ferguson, the powerful lightweight who has been booked against Nurmagomedov several times in bouts that fell through due to injuries.

McGregor, who has unper-suasively claimed to be retired, offered his own idea for Nurma-gomedov’s next bout on Twitter: “Book my rematch for Moscow.”

Nurmagomedov’s wrestling has been insurmountable for almost every opponent. He landed seven takedowns on Poirier, and he was in a position of control for nearly nine of the bout’s first 10 minutes. Nurma-gomedov finished it by getting Poirier’s back shortly after escaping the guillotine.

Nurmagomedov has won his first 12 UFC bouts, a mark sur-passed only by Anderson Silva in the promotion’s history.

Khabib Nurmagomedov poses for a photo during a press conference after his victory.

After dominating Poirier with wrestling and grappling throughout the bout at Yas Island, Nurmagomedov landed a rear naked choke and forced Poirier to tap midway through the third.

All Blacks head to Japan, aim to peak at right timeREUTERS WELLINGTON

The All Blacks head to Japan today with confidence boosted by the demolition of Tonga 92-7 in their final warm-up before the World Cup and mindful they will need to pace themselves despite a blockbusting opening match against South Africa.

The Springboks loom as the biggest threat to the All Blacks from winning a third successive trophy, while England, Ireland and Wales are also genuine contenders.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, however, will be well aware of the perils of not heeding what lies ahead of them as it can trip a side up during the tournament, like New Zea-land’s unsuccessful campaign in 2007.

After sweeping through pool play with some imperious

performances, the All Blacks crashed out in the quarter-finals to France and admitted after-wards that they probably became too focused on the ultimate prize rather than their next game.

The team took lessons from that campaign and applied them to successful tournaments in 2011 and 2015 and Hansen told reporters in Hamilton yesterday they were heading to Japan mindful of all they had learned

in the intervening years. “You’ve got to pace yourself,” he said.

“You don’t win the tour-nament in the first round and once you get to the knockout round, you’ve got to earn the right to come back and train on Monday.”

The opener against the Springboks in Yokohama is arguably the most important match of the first tranche of games, with it likely to determine

the winner of Pool B and the quarter-final place against the Pool A runner-up.

The loser will likely face Ireland, who are projected to win Pool A.

After big victories in 2016 and 2017, the All Blacks have struggled against the Springboks over the last two seasons, with the sides sharing a narrow win each in 2018 and battling to a draw in this year’s Rugby Championship.

Hansen felt comfortable with the fact that his side would need to hit the ground running first up, before they have easier matches against Canada, Namibia and Italy and then raise their game again should they make the quarter-finals.

“If you follow horse racing you’ll understand what I mean,” Hansen said.

“Like, you can have a horse at its first start, and it doesn’t have to be in its greatest form, it just needs to be in really good form.

“But when you really want to peak, you’re right at the very best, there’s nothing left, you can’t tinker anymore.

“The 31 people that are going, we’ve got massive belief in each and every one of them,” he added.

New Zealand’s Kieran Read (left) and the head coach Steve Hansen share a light moment during the warm-up match against Tonga in Hamilton on Saturday. The All Blacks won 92-7.

NZ eye hat-trick of Rugby World Cup titles

The Springboks loom as the biggest threat to the All Blacks from winning a third successive trophy, while England, Ireland and Wales are also genuine contenders.

France’s hooker Guilhem Guirado arrives at the Highland Resort and Spa in Fujiyoshida, yesterday, where the French squad will stay ahead of the 2019 Rugby Union World Cup which begins on September 20.

USA rally to claim win in final warm-up game AFP VANCOUVER

Martin Iosefo scored what proved to be the winning try as the USA rallied to beat Canada 20-15 in the final tune-up for both teams ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Iosefo took a pass late in the game and accelerated quickly to the outside then powered his way past Canadian defender Shane O’Leary before diving over in the corner.

This was the third meeting of the year between the two coun-tries with the Eagles having won the first meeting in March, 30-25, and then again in June, 47-19.

The Americans kept their six year winning streak over Canada alive but they had to come back from a 12-10 halftime deficit at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium to do it.

Cam Dolan and Dylan Fawsitt also scored tries for the Americans.

Canada got tries from Gord McRorie and Peter Nelson.

Canada had lengthy pos-session series with five minutes to go but the American defence was able to ward off the attack and preserve the win.

Canadian prop Hubert Buydens needed stitches to repair a large cut on his forehead. He returned to the field but was subbed off again with blood streaming down his face.

The Eagles World Cup tour-nament kicks off against England in Kobe, Japan on Sep-tember 26.

Canada open against Italy on the same day in Fukuoka.

Canada still lead the all-times series against the US with 38 wins, 23 losses and two draws.

Rosberg backs off after Hamilton says former racers are irrelevantREUTERS MONZA

Retired world champion Nico Rosberg (pictured) has moved to defuse a Formula One spat after his former Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton suggested the German had become “irrelevant”.

Rosberg, who hung up his helmet days after winning the 2016 title, told followers of his YouTube blog that he would “try and change my tone a little bit” when he dis-cussed his former rivals.Hamilton, heading for his sixth title this season, made his comments after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen hit back at criticism from Rosberg, who is now a Sky Sports television pundit and YouTube blogger.

The Dutch 21-year-old suggested Rosberg was just being controversial to a t t r a c t viewers, and

said the son of 1982 champion Keke should have stayed in Formula One if he needed the money.

He also compared him to 1997 world champion Jacques

Villeneuve, known for forthright and often controversial opinions about the sport.

Hamilton then published on Instagram a snapshot of a website story quoting Verstappen’s response, with a clapping emoji and the comment “this had me in stitches!”. Asked after Italian Grand Prix qualifying about his post, and what he thought of Rosberg’s com-ments, Hamilton made a further dig at his former team-mate while siding with Verstappen.

“I think Max is generally a really funny guy so I was cracking up when I saw it,” he said.

“Unfortunately, drivers become irrelevant when they retire and ultimately have to hang on to utilise other people’s light to keep them in the light and so...but that’s the way of sport, I guess.”

Rosberg, who was close to Hamilton in their go-

karting days and in junior series before

the relationship grew increasingly frosty when they were Formula One team-mates, said he could under-stand where Hamilton and Ver-stappen were coming from.

“When I was still active one of the things I hated most was ex-drivers or journalists telling me about comments that ex-drivers made about me, which came across in a critical way,” he said.

“In my case it was often David Coulthard. It would drive me nuts, seriously it was horrible.

“So now we have the situation that journalists have been relaying some of my stuff, or some com-ments I said that were negative, to Lewis or even Max...you can imagine journalists must have annoyed him pretty much if he Insta stories about me.

“So I need to make a little bit of a change there because I don’t want (to upset) those guys, my ex-col-leagues, whom I respect a lot,” he added.

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Alex Peroni’s crash convinces Gasly of Halo’s worthREUTERS MONZA

French Formula One driver Pierre Gasly has changed his opinion about the ‘Halo’ head protection device after seeing Australian Formula Three driver Alex Peroni’s crash in the Italian Grand Prix support event.

The 19-year-old hit a kerb and flew high in the air before landing upside down on the tyre wall and ending up in the catch fence.

“I must say I’ve never been a fan of the Halo,” Toro Rosso’s Gasly told reporters at Monza. “Looking at these images I think it’s clearly a good reason to have it.”

Peroni walked away from the accident but later said on social media that he had fractured a vertebra.Gasly, 23, had made clear last year when the halo was made mandatory that he disliked a device designed to protect a driver’s head from flying wheels and debris as well as cockpit impacts.

“It’s just a big mess to get in the car and get out,” he had said.

The Frenchman was also a friend of compatriot Anthoine Hubert, who died last weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix after his crashed car was struck at speed by that of American-Ecuadorian Juan Manuel Correa.

What a race! I have never felt so tired in a race. It was so difficult. For me, it is a dream to win here like this in front of the ‘tifosi’ - thanks to everyone!: Leclerc

09MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 SPORT

Leclerc delivers Ferrari Monza triumphAFP MONZA

Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first victory at their home Italian Grand Prix since 2010 yesterday when he resisted race-long pressure from both Mercedes rivals to claim his second successive Formula One triumph.

The 21-year-old Monegasque, who dedicated his maiden win last Sunday to the memory of his late friend Anthoine Hubert, who was killed in an F2 race a day earlier, was exultant as a vast army of ‘tifosi’ in an estimated crowd of more than 150,000 celebrated deliriously.

“What a race!” said an exhausted Leclerc.

“I have never felt so tired in a race. It was so difficult. For me, it is a dream to win here like this in front of the ‘tifosi’ - thanks to everyone!”

Lelcerc came home narrowly ahead of second-placed Valtteri Bottas and his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who pursued the victor for most of the race until his tyres let him down.

After a late pit stop, Hamilton then claimed the fastest lap of the race.

Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel endured a torrid and disappointing day, finishing 13th after spinning off and taking a penalty for rejoining in a dan-gerous fashion.

Hamilton apologised to Mer-cedes and said his tyres “had gone off the cliff.... I’m sorry I wasn’t able to pull it off,” he said.

The defending five-time champion now leads his Mercedes team-mate Bottas by 63 points in the drivers’ championship.

Daniel Ricciardo came home fourth ahead of his Renault team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull new boy Alex Albon, Sergio Perez of Force India and Max Ver-stappen, who finished eighth after starting from 19th in the second Red Bull. Local hero Antonio Gio-vinazzi came home ninth for Alfa Romeo ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren, who continued his

impressive rookie season.The air temperature was 20

degrees Celsius and the track 33 as the lights went out, Leclerc making a clean start and fending off Hamilton at the first chicane.

Verstappen was an opening lap casualty and required a pit stop for a new front wing and a set of hard tyres, after a collision at the first chicane. After a wheel-banging battle between Albon and Sainz, Leclerc clocked a fastest lap and then Vettel spun at Ascari, clipping Lance Stroll’s Racing Point as he re-joined. Both cars were damaged, Vettel pitting for a new front wing.

Vettel was given a 10-seconds stop-and-go penalty and dropped to last. By lap 19, Hamilton and Vettel had warned their tyres were gone, the Briton pitting immedi-ately for ‘mediums’ as Mercedes went for the ‘under-cut’.

He fell to fifth, but Leclerc hung on to pit a lap later for ‘hards’ and return fourth as the champion roared down the straight.

The two fought ferociously, Hamilton attempting to pass twice, the second attack ending with him escaping across the grass. “He didn’t leave me a car’s width,” said Hamilton.

The stewards agreed and Leclerc was shown a black-and-white flag, warning him to behave.

“I need more power, man,” exclaimed Hamilton after another foiled attack as Leclerc surged out of range again.

On lap 36, Leclerc kept his lead by scampering across the run-off at the first chicane.

“Some dangerous driving here,” reported Hamilton as the stewards noted the incident and Bottas, remorselessly fast, closed to within three seconds in third.

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc celebrates with his trophy on the podium after the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Circuit in Monza yesterday. RIGHT: Leclerc celebrates winning the race with team-mates of his Ferrari’s Monegasque team.

Italian Grand PrixItalian Grand Prix Results

1. (1) Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 53 laps, 1:23.722, 25 points.2. (3) Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 53, +00.835 seconds, 18.3. (2) Lewis Hamilton, Britain, Mercedes, 53, +35.199, 16.4. (5) Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 53, +45.515, 12.5. (6) Nico Hulkenberg, Germany, Renault, 53, +58.165, 10.6. (8) Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 53, +59.315, 8.7. (18) Sergio Perez, Mexico, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 53, +1:13.802, 6.8. (19) Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 53, +1:14.492, 4.9. (10) Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 53, +1:21.956, 2.10. (16) Lando Norris, Britain, McLaren Renault, 52, +1 lap, 1.11. (17) Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 52, +1 lap.12. (9) Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 52, +1 lap.13. (4) Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 52, +1 lap.14. (14) George Russell, Britain, Williams Mercedes, 52, +1 lap.15. (20) Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 52, +1 lap.16. (13) Romain Grosjean, France, Haas Ferrari, 52, +1 lap.17. (15) Robert Kubica, Poland, Williams Mercedes, 51, +2 laps.18. (11) Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, did not finish, 43.19. (12) Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, did not finish, 29.20. (7) Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, did not finish, 27.

Hamilton calls for more consistency after Leclerc controversial moveAFP MONZA, ITALY

A disappointed Lewis Hamilton called for greater consistency and fairness from stewards’ decisions after missing out on winning yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix.

The series leader and defending five-time world champion believed he was the victim of a controversial move during the closely-fought race when triumphant Ferrari driver

Charles Leclerc blocked him without leaving a car’s width of space.

The incident resulted in the victorious 21-year-old Mon-egasque driver being shown a black-and-white flag, sig-nalling a caution but without a penalty.

Hamilton recalled similar incidents in past seasons have resulted in time penalties and suggested the current gener-ation of younger drivers are being allowed to race under

different rules. In 2018, Max Verstappen was handed a time penalty for blocking Valtteri Bottas at the chicane in the Italian Grand Prix, in a move almost identical to that of Leclerc yesterday.

“That’s just racing, I guess,” he said.

“I had to avoid colliding with him a couple of times and that’s how it is, racing, today.”

Hamilton, who was within two seconds of Leclerc for most of the race, said earlier he did

not want to talk about the inci-dents which he had said were dangerous.

“It doesn’t really matter what I think,” said the Briton.

“I have nothing to say about it. It is pointless to bring it up.

“I had to avoid collisions and then I tried to race hard again and get back. This new gener-ation get away with more than we did in the past.

“I’d just like to see consistency.”

Third placed Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton arrives on the podium after the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Circuit in Monza, yesterday.

Spinners take Afghanistan close to historic win against BangladeshAFP CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH

Spinners Rashid Khan and Zahir Khan shared five wickets between them as Afghanistan came within four wickets of a historic win over Bangladesh in the one-off Test in Chittagong yesterday.

The visitors -- playing only their third Test ever -- reduced Bangladesh to 136-6 before rain forced early stumps on the fourth day, with the hosts, who were

set a record target of 398 runs, still needing 262.

The highest successful run chase in Bangladesh is 317-7 by New Zealand at the same ground in 2008.

“Yes, we are bit excited because we are in a good position,” Afghanistan’s wicket-keeper-batsman Afsar Zazai said.

“It means a lot to be honest,” he added.

“The people know about us good enough in white-ball

cricket. We’ve discussed in our dressing room that this Test match is very important for us to win because we want to show we can play Test cricket.”

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten on 39 runs, giving a little hope to Bang-ladesh amid the gloom at the Zahur Ahmed Stadium, where rain interrupted play in all three sessions much to Afghan-istan’s frustration. Shakib will resume the fifth day’s play along with Soumya Sarkar, the last recognised batsman for Bangladesh, who was yet to open his account.

Shakib seemed to be pre-paring for a loss. “The realistic result is we are very close to defeat. Unless there is some rain... probably we are losing,” he said.

Rashid, who made his debut as youngest-ever Test captain, led Afghanistan from the front, finishing the day with 3-46 while left-arm chinaman Zahir claimed 2-36 runs.

Retiring al l-rounder Mohammad Nabi claimed the other wicket. Zahir started the victory push when he dismissed

opener Liton Das, who was trapped leg before for nine two balls after a caught-behind decision against him was over-turned by the TV umpire on review.

One-down Mosaddek Hossain chased a ball from him wide outside the off-stump to give a catch to Asghar Afghan at long off after making 12 runs.

Rashid trapped Mushfiqur Rahim plumb in front after the former Bangladesh skipper started confidently to make 23 off 25 balls.

Rashid delivered another blow in his next over to dismiss Mominul Haque out lbw for three. Nabi removed Shadman Islam, who made 41 runs, the highest for Bangladesh so far in the second innings.

Rashid then snapped the wicket of Mahmudullah Riyad for seven before rain provided the home side some respite.

Earlier, resuming at 237-8 after more than two hours’ delay due to drizzle, Afghanistan added 23 runs to their overnight score before they were all out for 260, which took their lead close to the 400-run mark.

Tamoor Sajjad, Man-of-the-final at the Qatar Airways Premier Division Cricket Tournament poses for a picture. Sajjad dished out a superb all-round performance to spur his team to a thrilling three-wicket triumph against Tusker Club in Asian Town Stadium, in Industrial Area.

Warriors Club clinch Qatar AirwaysPremier Division cricket crown

Afghanistan (I innings) .........................342

Bangladesh (I innings) .........................205

Afghanistan (II innings)Ihsanullah Janat lbw b Shakib ..........................4

Ibrahim Zadran c Mominul b Nayeem ...........87

Rahmat Shah c & b Shakib ................................0

Hashmatullah Shahidi c Soumya b Nayeem 12

Asghar Afghan c Shakib b Taijul .....................50

Afsar Zazai not out ........................................... 48

Mohammad Nabi c Mominul b Mehidy ........... 8

Rashid Khan b Taijul ..........................................24

Qais Ahmad lbw b Shakib ................................ 14

Yamin Ahmadzai run out ...................................9

Zahir Khan c Mominul b Mehidy .......................0

Extras (B4) ...........................................................4

Total (all out) ........................................260Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-28, 4-136, 5-171,

6-18, 7-210, 8-235, 9-260, 10-260

Bowling: Shakib 19-3-58-3, Mehidy 12.1-3-35-2,

Taijul 28-6-86-2, Nayeem 17-2-61-2, Mominul

10-6-13-0, Mosaddek 4-1-3-0

Bangladesh (II innings)Liton Das lbw b Zahir ..........................................9

Shadman Islam lbw b Nabi ..............................41

Mosaddek Hossain c Asghar b Zahir ............. 12

Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Rashid ......................23

Mominul Haque lbw b Rashid ........................... 3

Shakib Al Hasan not out ...................................39

Mahmudullah Riyad c Zadran b Rashid ........... 7

Soumya Sarkar ......................................................0

Extras (LB2) .........................................................0

Total (six wickets) .................................136Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-52, 3-78, 4-82, 5-106,

6-125

Bowling: Yamin 4-1-14-0, Nabi 17.2-4-38-1,

Rashid 13-0-46-3, Zahir 10-0-36-2

SCOREBOARD

REUTERS NEW YORK

Already regarded as the greatest women’s player ever to pick up a tennis racquet, Serena Williams’s legacy is already assured but the record equalling 24th Grand Slam that would help build statistical proof remains frustratingly out of reach.

Twenty years ago a 17-year-old Williams walked away from the US Open with what would be the first of her 23 Grand Slam titles. On Saturday she had the chance to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record but instead it was Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu grabbing the trophy with a 6-3 7-5 win.

That victory not only raised questions about whether Wil-liams would ever get beyond 23 Grand Slam titles, many also viewed 19-year-old Andreescu’s win as a changing of the guard in women’s tennis.

Since giving birth to her daughter in 2017, Williams has not won a tournament.

Four times now, twice at Wimbledon (2018, 2019) and at the US Open (2018, 2019) Wil-liams has come agonizingly close to that 24th Grand Slam only to fall at the final hurdle.

She did not just lose all four finals -- she failed to win a single set.

The next time Williams can attempt to equal Court’s record at the Australian Open in January she would be 38, the climb to the summit ever steeper.

But a defiant Williams refused to accept there would not be another Grand Slam in her future.

“All of it honestly, truly is super frustrating,” said Williams.

“I don’t know what to say. I guess I got to keep going if I want to be a professional tennis player.

“And I just got to just keep fighting through it.

“I’m not necessarily chasing a record. I’m just trying to win Grand Slams.”

Like Tiger Woods and

Michael Jordan, Williams is an athlete who moves the needle. What she wears, eats and says matters. In the Big Apple, where there is no shortage of distrac-tions for A-listers on a Saturday afternoon, it was the Serena Wil-liams show that was the hot ticket.

When the Queen of Tennis holds court in New York it attracts sporting royalty and on occasion the real thing. Williams’s good friend Meghan Markle, the

Duchess of Sussex, was cheering her on from the players box.

But no amount of support, royal or otherwise, could lift Wil-liams to the level she needed on Saturday, Andreescu breaking the former world number one to open the final and never letting her opponent get her nose in front.

Williams’s power game has never been in question. Her serve and crushing forehands can still strike fear into opponents.

But the rest of Williams’s game has begun to show signs of wear of time.

She can no longer command the court the way she once did, and her coach Patrick Moura-toglou suggested Williams’s greatest weapon -- her unshakable confidence -- had faltered under the weight of her own high expectations.

Before the US Open the air of invincibility that once sur-rounded Williams had all but vanished.

Then she arrived at the doors to Flushing Meadows and looked unbeatable, steam-rolling her way into her 10th US Open final. Any concerns over the back spasms that forced her to quit the Toronto final and pull out of Cincinnati were eased when Wil-liams opened her Flushing Meadows account with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of old rival Maria Sharapova.

That was followed by routine wins over Karolina Muchova, Petra Martica and Cat McNally before blasting her way into the last four with a jaw dropping 6-1 6-0 rout of China’s Wang Qiang to register her 100th US Open victory. An even more ruthless 6-3 6-1 semi-final win over fifth seed Elina Svitolina seemed to indicate that the title was there for the taking.

But on Saturday she was looking across the net at a mirror image of her younger self.

A player with a big serve, thundering forehand, all court game, intensity and a cat burglar’s cool.

Down a set and 5-1 the stress and frustration was written all over Williams’s face.

Then the spirit of a champion took over, Williams fighting off match point and sweeping through four games to level the set and sending a jolt of electricity through a seething Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But in the end youth was served, Andreescu living up to expectations and Williams unable to live up to her own.

10 MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2019SPORT

Bianca embraces spotlight with maiden Grand Slam victoryREUTERS NEW YORK

So new is Bianca Andreescu (pictured) to the Grand Slam stage that after beating Serena Williams to win the US Open on Saturday, a tournament official had to show her which side of the trophy was the front.

The moment marked the end of a remarkable run for the 19-year-old Canadian, who a year ago had failed to qualify for the tournament but has gone on to become the sport’s brightest young star.

“Last year wasn’t an easy period in my life, I was going through a lot with injuries,” said Andreescu.

“I just kept believing in myself I kept working hard and I just kept that momentum and confidence.”

Despite having never made it past the second round of a Grand Slam, Andreescu arrived at Flushing Meadows with many expecting big things from her.

“You’re never going to have ups all the time,” said Andreescu after the match.

“So I think in those moments, you just have to deal with it the best that you can, which is to just keep fighting for your dreams and just stay as persistent and persevere as much as you can.

“I think it builds you as a character.”Dropping only two sets in the entire tournament, the tena-

cious, power-hitting Andreescu barrelled through the compe-tition at Flushing Meadows, showing no sign of a slowdown from a blockbuster summer that included wins at Toronto and Indian Wells.

“I don’t think I’ve lost a match since March, so my confidence is sky-rocketing right now,” Andreescu told reporters. “I just don’t want to take anything for granted because there’s going to be weeks where you’re going to lose. So right now I’m just on cloud nine.”

Ending 2018 with a year-end ranking of 178, she had rocketed to 15th when she arrived at the year’s final

major, a meteoric rise that stunned even her coach.

“I love this feeling way too much,” Andreescu said in a televised interview after the match, as her loyal Canadian fanbase cheered behind her

on the plaza outside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Teen Andreescu topples Serena to win US Open

Serena Williams (left) congratulates Bianca Andreescu during the trophy presentation ceremony.

Williams legacy assured even if record 24 remains out of reach

the US Open (2018, 2019liams has come agonizinglto that 24th Grand Slam ofall at the final hurdle.

She did not just lose afinals -- she failed to win aset.

The next time Williamattempt to equal Court’s at the Australian Open in Jashe would be 38, the climbsummit ever steeper.

But a defiant Williams rto accept there would nanother Grand Slam in her

“All of it honestly, trsuper frustrating,” Williams.

“I don’t know what toguess I got to keep going ifto be a professional tennis

“And I just got to jusfighting through it.

“I’m not necessarily ca record. I’m just trying Grand Slams.”

Like Tiger Woods

is sky rocketing right now, Andreescu told reporters. I just don t want to take anything for granted because there’s going to beweeks where you’re going to lose. So right now I’m just on cloud nine.”

Ending 2018 with a year-end ranking of 178, she had rocketed to 15th when she arrived at the year’s final

major, a meteoric rise that stunned even her coach.

“I love this feeling way too much,” Andreescu said in a televised interview after thematch, as her loyal Canadian fanbase cheered behind her

on the plaza outside ArthurAshe Stadium.

All of it honestly, truly is super

frustrating. I’m, like, so close, so

close, so close, yet so far away.

And I just got to just keep fighting

through it. I’m not necessarily

chasing a record. I’m just trying to

win Grand Slams: Williams

AFP NEW YORK

Teenager Bianca Andreescu became Canada’s first Grand Slam singles champion Saturday with a rollercoaster 6-3, 7-5 win over 23-time major champion Serena Williams in the US Open final.

The 19-year-old Andreescu became the youngest Grand Slam winner since Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2004 US Open, handing Williams a fourth consecutive defeat in the final of a major to again deny her a record-equaling 24th Slam title.

“It’s so hard to explain in words but I’m just beyond grateful and truly blessed. I’ve worked really, really hard for this moment,” said Andreescu, who had won just two Grand Slam matches ahead of her US Open main draw debut.

She improved her record over top-10 opponents this season to 8-0 and will rise to a career-high ranking of fifth on Monday.

“This year has been a dream come true. Being able to play on this stage against Serena, a true legend of the sport, is amazing. It wasn’t easy at all. I tried to prepare my best like I do every match, I tried not to focus on who I’m playing. I’m really proud of how I dealt with everything.”

Andreescu tied Monica Seles, who lifted the 1990 Roland Garros trophy in her fourth major, for the record as the fastest player to win her first Slam title in the Open era.

Williams, 37, suffered a second finals loss in a row at Flushing Meadows, after a 2018 defeat against Naomi Osaka best remem-bered for a furious tirade against chair umpire Carlos Ramos.

“Bianca played an unbelievable match, I am so proud and happy for you. It was incredible tennis out there. If anyone could

win this, outside of Venus, I’m happy it’s Bianca,” Williams said.

Appearing in a 33rd Grand Slam final, and fourth since the last of her 23 major titles, Williams made an inauspicious start at Arthur Ashe Stadium by conceding her opening service game with successive double faults.

Andreescu, who wasn’t even born when Williams won her maiden Slam at the 1999 US Open, responded with a comfortable hold, a pattern that repeated itself until the Canadian threatened to run away with the opening set.

Serving at 2-4, Williams erased five break points with a combination of aces and booming groundstrokes but Andreescu was knocking on the door once more as the American served to stay in the set.

A forehand winner earned the youngster a set point, and Williams duly her gifted her the opener with another double fault.

Andreescu had failed to even reach the main draw at Flushing Meadows the past two years, twice falling in the first qualifying round, and her confidence continued to flow as she surged 2-0 ahead in the second -- Williams again doubled-faulting on break point.

That prompted forlorn looks from the

Williams box, where her close friend Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was seated alongside sister Venus and fashion titan Anna Wintour.

The American carved out four opportunities to hit back the following game, benefiting from a huge stroke of luck when a forehand brushed the tape and trickled over to haul herself back on serve.

U n d e t e r r e d , A n d r e e s c u p r o m p t l y regained the initiative with another break and looked to be marching towards the title when she followed a routine hold by again breaking the Wil-liams serve for a 5-1 lead. Andreescu brought up champi-onship point in the ensuing game, but Wil-liams smacked a forehand winner to stay alive and then rattled off 14 of 17 points to peg her opponent back at 5-all.

The Canadian stemmed the bleeding by holding for 6-5 and an errant Williams backhand handed Andreescu two more shots at the title. Williams saved the first with an ace but Andreescu secured victory on the next with a blistering forehand return.

ANDREESCU’S PATH TO GLORY

BIANCA ANDREESCU (CAN X15)

1st Round: Beat Katie Volynets (USA) 6-2, 6-42nd Round: Beat Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-3, 7-5

3rd Round: Beat Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x19) 6-4, 6-44th Round: Beat Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

Quarter-final: Beat Elise Mertens (BEL x25) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3Semi-final: Beat Belinda Bencic (SUI x13) 7-6 (7/3), 7-5

Final: Beat Serena Williams (USA x8) 6-3, 7-5

Bianca Andreescu of Canada celebrates with the championship trophy during the trophy presentation

ceremony after winning the 2019 US Open women’s singles final against Serena Williams of the United States at the

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday.

11MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 SPORT

Kosovo emerge as unlikely obstacle in England’s pathREUTERS LONDON

England are breezing through a Euro 2020 qualifying group featuring the fading soccer forces of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic but Kosovo, one of the newest members of the world soccer family, may be about to make their life tougher.

The small Balkan nation of 1.8 million inhabitants may be ranked 120th in the FIFA rankings but not even the pow-erhouses of football world can match their form over the past two years.

On Saturday, they came from a goal down to beat the Czechs 2-1 in front of a joyous crowd at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Kos-ovo’s capital Pristina and will head to Southampton tomorrow just one point behind Gareth Southgate’s (pictured) England side.

Incredibly for a nation only awarded FIFA status little over three years ago, along with Gibraltar, they are unde-feated in 15 matches and have become the surprise challengers to England’s Group A domination.

Kosovo’s last defeat came against Iceland in October 2017 at the end of a chastening World Cup qualification programme in which they managed only one point from 10 matches but since then they have won 10 and drawn five of t h e i r matches. S w i s s coach

Bernard Challandes’ side began their Euro 2020 qualifying

campaign with draws against

Bulgaria and Montenegro but then scored a last-gasp winner to beat Bul-garia 3-2 away in June and their defeat

of the

Czechs lifted them to eight points.

A nation that only declared independence in 2008 after decades of political struggle and a year-long war with Serbia from 1998-99 has taken huge pride in its soccer team and the dream of a place in its first finals is realistic.

Even if they fail to qualify directly, they have another backup option in the play-offs thanks to an impressive Nations League performance.

While their first steps into international football were dif-

ficult with nine successive defeats, Albert Bunjaki, Chal-landes’s predecessor, worked tirelessly trawling Europe’s Kosovan diaspora in search of eligible players.

Many had played for other nations after moving away as children to escape a conflict which eventually

led to NATO’s bombing of the former Yugoslavia. Challandes has reaped the benefit. Standard Liege defender Mergim Vojvoda, scorer of Kosovo’s winner on Saturday, played for Albania under-21s, while Swansea City’s attacking midfielder Bersant Celina grew up in Norway.

Celina represented the Nordic nation until under-21 level before switching when the door opened for Kosovo in 2016.

Torino’s Samir Ujkani, Kos-ovo’s goalkeeper and captain,

has 20 senior caps for Albania, Lazio’s Valon Berisha played 20 times for Norway and Hudders-field Town’s Florent Hadergjonaj is a former Switzerland interna-tional. Had Kosovo entered the international soccer stage sooner, it is not inconceivable that Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri, both Swiss internationals with Kosovar-Albanian parentage, could be lining up against England at St Mary’s.

With the side that played against the Czechs having an average age of only 23, Kosovo’s talented young squad are already being dubbed the “Brazil of the Balkans” by their fans.

England have scored 14 goals in three matches but will need to guard against complacency against a fearless side deter-mined to make their mark in what will be the biggest fixture in their short footballing history.

three years ago, along withGibraltar, they are unde-feated in 15 matches andhave become the surprisechallengers to England’s Group A domination.

Kosovo’s last defeat came against Iceland in October 2017 at the end of a chastening World Cup qualification programme in which they managed only one point from 10 matches but since then they have won 10 anddrawn five of t h e i r matches. S w i s s coach

campaign withdraws against

Bulgaria and Montenegro but thenscored a last-gaspwinner tobeat Bul-garia 3-2away inJune andtheir defeat

of the

A natiindependdecades oa year-lon1998-99 hits soccer ta place realistic.

Even directly, backup opthanks to League pe

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ficult wdefeatlandworkEuropin sea

Motherawaya con

The small Balkan nation of 1.8 million inhabitants may be ranked 120th in the FIFA rankings but not even the powerhouses of football world can match their form over the past two years.

Portugal revive Euro hopes with 4-2 win against SerbiaREUTERS BELGRADE

European champions Portugal got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign back on track with goals from William Carvalho, Goncalo Guedes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva helping them to a pulsating 4-2 Group B victory in Serbia on Saturday.

The victory lifted the Por-tuguese to second place in the group on five points from three games, eight behind runaway leaders Ukraine who have 13 from five matches after their 3-0 win in Lithuania.

Third-placed Luxem-bourg and Serbia in fourth both have four points from as many games while Lithuania are bottom with one point from four matches.

Coach Fernando Santos,

who steered Portugal to the Euro 2016 title in France and this year’s triumph in the inaugural Nations League, was pleased with his team’s performance.

“We showed a lot of cre-ativity and attacking intent in a solid performance required to beat a very good Serbian side,” Santos told reporters.

“Getting the opening goal just before halftime was vital and in the second half we controlled the game. We stifled their excellent midfield and deserved the win.

“This win should boost our confidence ahead of

Tuesday’s visit to Lithuania and nothing less than a win will do because it’s a compli-cated group.”

His counterpart Ljubisa Tumbakovic, who replaced Mladen Krstajic on July 1 three weeks after he was sacked by Montenegro, conceded he had endured a sour debut as Serbia coach.

“We lost to a majestic team full of world-class players,” said the 67-year old from Belgrade.

“We lacked the final pass in the first half and it didn’t help that we fell behind just before the break. As ever in

Serbian football, we were vul-nerable defensively and that undermines every other department.”

Portugal dominated the opening half and Carvalho fired them ahead in the 42nd minute when he poked the ball into an empty net from three metres after Serbia keeper Marko Dmitrovic spilled a Bruno Fernandes cross from the right.

Cristiano Ronaldo, looking subdued in the opening half and given a hostile reception at Red Star stadium as Serbian fans jeered him every time he

touched the ball, twice came close early in the second half.

He fired inches wide from the edge of the penalty area after cutting in from the left and then curled a free kick nar-rowly off target before Guedes doubled Portugal’s lead with a fine individual effort.

The forward capped a flowing move as he side-stepped a defender and rifled in an unstoppable shot past Dmitrovic into the far corner from 12 metres to silence the raucous home crowd.

Centre back Nikola Milenkovic pulled one back for Serbia in the 68th minute, heading a Dusan Tadic corner past keeper Rui Patricio, who was two minutes later forced to tip a fierce Adem Ljajic shot from 20 metres over the bar.

Taunted by chants of “Messi” from Serbia’s die-hard fans, Ronaldo demon-strated his class in the 80th minute when he took a Ber-nardo Silva pass in his stride and coolly dinked the ball over the advancing Dmitrovic.

Serbia refused to roll over as Aleksandar Mitrovic drove a shot from inside the penalty area into the roof of the net after a defensive blunder in the 85th minute but Silva sealed the contest with a clinical finish barely 60 seconds later.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo

(centre) and his team-mates celebrate a goal against Serbia on Saturday.

We showed a lot of creativity and attacking intent in a solid performance required to beat a very good Serbian side: Coach Santos

Coman is the ‘King’ of France again after fiery performance REUTERS PARIS

Kingsley “King” Coman lived up to his nickname

when he made the most of Kylian Mbappe’s

absence to lead France to a 4-1 win over

Albania in a Euro 2020 qualifier on Saturday.

The Bayern Munich forward was handed

a rare start by coach Didier Deschamps and

he made the most of his extreme pace, ter-

rorising the Albanian defence throughout.

Coman opened the scoring with a burst

into the area and made sure there would be

no comeback for the visitors by netting the

hosts’ third in the 68th.

It appears the 23-year-old’s poor 2018 is

behind him after Deschamps omitted him from

the World Cup squad following an injury-

marred season.

Coman made his return with Les Bleus in

June for a friendly against Bolivia and a

European qualifier in Turkey, his first taste of

international football since November 2017.

“It’s one of my best games with the

national team and from a statistical point of

view, it’s even the best,” Coman told reporters

after helping France stay top of Group H with

12 points from five games, ahead of Turkey

and Iceland on goal difference.

“I’ve had a great night but I won’t have

much time to enjoy it. I’m happy but we must

look ahead.”

France play Andorra tomorrow and Coman

should get another chance to improve his

scoring record of three goals in 18 games for

his country.

“He’s been with us for a while. He was

there before Euro 2016. His performance is

in line with what he’s been doing with Bayern

for over a year,” said Deschamps, who handed

Coman his first cap in 2015.

“He is more decisive and has this capacity

to unsettle his opponents. We have to make

sure he does not get injured.

“When he’s like this nothing can stop him.

It’s a pleasure to see him play at that level

again.”

Kingsley Coman

Germany under pressure after Netherlands debacleAFP HAMBURG

Joachim Loew has demanded a

reaction from his young Germany

team against Group C leaders

Northern Ireland today after their

recent resurgence was cut short by

their Euro 2020 qualifying 4-2 defeat

to the Netherlands.

Having come into the interna-

tional break on a wave of optimism,

Loew’s side now travel to Belfast

today needing a win to keep their

qualification campaign on course

against a Northern Irish side yet to

drop a point in four qualifying

matches.

“We need to win, we need to

approach the game in such a way that

we leave the pitch as winners,” said

Loew on Friday.

Germany had just begun to find

their feet after a long period of

recovery from their disastrous cam-

paign at last year’s World Cup.

The group stage exit in Russia

prompted a major generational

overhaul, and after three wins in a

row in 2019, Loew’s new-look young

team were full of confidence ahead

of Friday’s game.

Victory over the Dutch would

have put second-placed Germany nine

points clear of their rivals and left

Germany on the brink of automatic

qualification.

Instead, they now find themselves

only three points above the play-off

place, having played a game more

than the Netherlands.

“We will need to pick the young

players up a bit and give them the

feeling that they can be stronger. I

am sure we will see a reaction on

Monday (today),” said Loew.

The Germany coach, who was crit-

icised for playing with a back three

and allowing his team to sit deep

against the Netherlands, also said that

he would make tactical changes

against Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland are amazingly

robust, they play a lot of long balls.

They will sit deeper and we will not

have much space, so we need to think

of something tactically,” he said.

Loew defended his tactics, yet the

German media remained critical on

Saturday. Berlin daily Der

Tagesspiegel warned that “lessons

must be learned” from the defeat to

the Netherlands, while the country’s

biggest tabloid Bild said that “alarm

bells” were now ringing around the

qualification campaign.

Kicker magazine claimed there

was “no need to panic yet”, but

Germany captain Manuel Neuer

warned his side against complacency

ahead of their visit to Belfast.

“We know that anything can

happen in football, we experienced

that ourselves in 2018, so it is

important we take this game seri-

ously,” he told Bild newspaper.

“It is not ideal for us to be playing

an away game in Belfast right now. “

Joachim Loew

The victory lifts the Portuguese to second place in the group on five points from three games, eight behind runaway leaders Ukraine who have 13 from five matches.

RECENT ASHES WINNERS

2019 Australia2017–18 Australia2015 England2013–14 Australia2013 England2010–11 England2009 England2006–07 Australia2005 England2002–03 Australia

Clinical Australia retain AshesREUTERS MANCHESTER

Australia retained the Ashes after beating England by 185 runs at Old Trafford yesterday to take a 2-1 lead in the series with just one Test remaining.

England, who resumed on 18-2, were bowled out for 197 on the final day with Australia seamer Pat Cummins taking four for 43.

Australia’s victory, with 81 balls remaining, was a convincing one but England’s spirit cannot be criticised as they fought until the final hour in their attempt to save the Test and keep the series alive.

The tourists lead 2-1 going into next week’s final Test at The Oval where they hope to become the first Australian team to win

an Ashes series in England since 2001. Steve Smith’s magnificent double century and then second innings 82 were the key factors in this win.

The main early resistance from England came from Joe Denly who made 53 from 123 balls and Jos Buttler, who lasted 111 balls for his 34.

England’s hopes of an unlikely escape-act rose when Jack Leach and Craig Overton batted for over an hour giving the crowd belief over a second ‘miracle’ after the comeback win at Headingley.

But part-time leg spinner Marnus Labuschagne finally removed Leach, with a ball that turned sharply in the rough and was gloved to Matthew Wade at short leg. Overton batted with sense, stoicism and a strong tech-nique, but he was trapped lbw by

Josh Hazlewood to set off the Aus-tralian celebrations.

England will look back on the second day of this Test as the turning point when they simply could find no way to remove Smith and Australia’s 497-8 declared gave them an advantage that they were unable to seriously

challenge. The final day was never going to be a run-chase of Head-ingley vintage, given the target of 383, with England’s task simply to survive until the close.

That challenge was made all the more difficult after they lost Jason Roy and Ben Stokes before lunch.

Roy was well set before the impressive Cummins bowled him for 31 with a beautiful delivery that cut back off the seam to leave England at 66-3.

The crowd rose to welcome Stokes, the hero of England’s last day triumph at Headingley, but there was to be no repeat per-formance from the all-rounder.

Another fine delivery from Cummins clipped the inside edge of Stokes’s bat and was well taken by wicketkeeper Paine, the England batsman not waiting for the umpire’s verdict as he walked off.

Denly had been the pick of England’s batsmen before he was outdone by sharp turn and bounce from spinner Nathan Lyon, the ball striking his glove and being snaffled up by Labuschagne at short leg.

Jonny Bairstow (25) was lbw to Mitchell Starc before Overton came in to join Buttler, in what was probably England’s last real-istic chance of a big partnership.

But Buttler misjudged a delivery from Hazlewood which he left only to see it cut back sharply and clatter into his off-stump.

Australia keep the Ashes, which they won on home turf last year and it is the first time they have retained the urn since the end of their long period of dom-ination in 2002.

There is though plenty left to play for when the teams meet again at The Oval on Thursday -- England could level the series while Australia will be desperate to ensure they go home as winners.

SPORTPAGE | 08 PAGE | 10

Rosberg backs off after Hamilton says

former racers are irrelevant

Canadian teen Andreescu topples Serena to win US Open title

Monday 9 September 2019

Brussels winners claim tickets to Doha WorldsIAAF BRUSSELS

After last night’s thrilling conclusion to the 2019

IAAF Diamond League season in Brussels, each

of the 16 individual event winners at the Memorial

Van Damme took home a US$50,000 bonus and

earned a wild card entry to the IAAF World Ath-

letics Championships Doha 2019, which get

underway 20 days from today, on September 27.

While all of the winners in Brussels had

already qualified for the World Championships in

at least one event, a wild card would, for some,

pave the way to competing in another discipline

in the Qatari capital or open up a fourth spot on

their national team for a team-mate.

Winners in Brussels:

MEN

200m: Noah Lyles (USA), 400m: Michael

Norman (USA), 1500m: Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN),

110m hurdles: Orlando Ortega (ESP), 3000m

steeplechase: Getnet Wale (ETH), Triple jump:

Christian Taylor (USA), Shot put: Tom Walsh (NZL),

Discus: Daniel Stahl (SWE)

WOMEN

100m: Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 800m: Ajee

Wilson (USA), 5000m: Sifan Hassan (NED), 100m

hurdles: Danielle Williams (JAM), High jump:

Mariya Lasitskene (ANA), Pole vault: Ekaterini

Stefanidi (GRE), Long jump: Malaika Mihambo

(GER), Discus: Yaime Perez (CUB)

Wild cards are also awarded to winners of

the 2017 IAAF World Championships as well as

the leaders in the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge,

Race Walk Challenge and Combined Events Chal-

lenge. If both are from the same country, only one

of the two athletes can be entered as a wild card.

The first 16 wild cards were allocated at the

first IAAF Diamond League final in Zurich on

August 29.

Indian football team players in action during a practice session in Doha, yesterday, ahead of their Asian Qualifier for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 against Qatar.

Goal machine Almoez one to look out forAFC DOHA

Round Two of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 kicked off in spectacular fashion last Thursday with 16 matches across the Continent.

Here is a look at few points which will be in focus on Matchday Two, which takes place tomorrow

Almoez Ali the goalscoring machineAlmoez Ali (pictured) lit up the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019

with his record-breaking nine goals as Qatar powered to the title and the Al Duhail forward has continued from where he left off.

Ali scored a fabulous hat-trick as the West Asians cruised to a 6-0 win over Afghanistan on Matchday One, taking his tally to 13 international goals in 2019, and Qatar will be counting on the 23-year-old to power them against India at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow.

Elkeson to make China PR debut?China also kick their campaign on Tuesday and their starting

line-up will be one of tomorrow’s most eagerly awaited, with focus on whether Brazil-born Elkeson will start in the Group A clash against Maldives in Malé.

Elkeson, now also known as Ai Kesen, recently received his Chinese citizenship and the Guangzhou Evergrande striker has spoken of his fierce desire to power China PR to only their second FIFA World Cup Finals.

Should Elkeson make his debut, the 30-year-old will be the first footballer without Chinese ancestry to play for China.

New men at the helmMarc Wilmots and Hervé Renard will make their compet-

itive bows as head coaches of Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia respectively.

Both teams, together with Asia’s three other representatives at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Australia, Japan and Korea Republic - did not feature on Matchday One.

Wilmots took charge of Iran in May, while Saudi Arabia appointed Renard in July, and both have been set the same target - qualification for the Qatar 2022 tournament.

Qatar, India get ready to face off in Doha

AUSTRALIA, 1st Innings 497-8 decENGLAND, 1st Innings 301AUSTRALIA, 2nd Innings 186-6 decENGLAND, 2nd Innings (overnight 18-2, target 383)R. Burns c Head b Cummins ..........................................0

J. Denly c Labuschagne b Lyon ....................................53

J. Root b Cummins ............................................................0

J. Roy b Cummins ............................................................31

B. Stokes c Paine b Cummins ......................................... 1

J. Bairstow lbw b Starc ..................................................25

J. Buttler b Hazlewood ..................................................34

C. Overton lbw b Hazlewood ....................................... 21

J. Archer lbw b Lyon .......................................................... 1

J. Leach c Wade b Labuschagne ................................. 12

S. Broad not out ................................................................0

Extras (b9, lb8, nb2) .................................................... 19

Total (all out, 91.3 overs, 407 mins) ...... 197

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Burns), 2-0 (Root), 3-66

(Roy), 4-74 (Stokes), 5-93 (Denly), 6-138 (Bairstow),

7-172 (Buttler), 8-173 (Archer), 9-196 (Leach), 10-197

(Overton)

Bowling: Cummins 24-9-43-4 (2nb); Hazlewood 17.3-

5-31-2; Lyon 29-12-51-2; Starc 16-2-46-1; Labuschagne

4-1-9-1; Head 1-1-0-0

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus La-

buschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade,

Tim Paine (capt/wkt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh

Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon

SCOREBOARD

Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez (left) gestures as Al Annabi players take part in a practice session ahead of their AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifier against India which will be played in Doha tomorrow.

Australia's Josh Hazlewood celebrates with team-mates after taking the wicket of England's Craig Overton to win the match and retain the Ashes Series at the Old Trafford in Manchester, Britain, yesterday.