Page 380 - Sports
Chelsea condemn 'abhorrent' racism, ban three fans from Slavia game
Chelsea condemned "abhorrent discriminatory behaviour" after reportedly preventing three supporters from attending their Europa League quarter-final first leg clash at Slavia Prague on Thursday. The Premier League club's security team identified the fans from a video on Twitter showing them singing a derogatory song about former Chelsea forward Mohamed Salah, now of Liverpool, according to British media reports. "Chelsea FC finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour abhorrent and where there is clear evidence of Chelsea season ticket holders or members involved in such behaviour, we will take the strongest possible action against them," Chelsea said in a statement. "Such individuals are an embarrassment to the vast majority of Chelsea supporters who won't tolerate them in their club." Four Chelsea supporters were previously suspended by the club after Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling was racially abused at Stamford Bridge in December. Manager Maurizio Sarri backed the club's ...
Danger looms for Man City, Liverpool in titanic title race
Manchester City and Liverpool resume their epic battle for the Premier League title on Sunday after a midweek of contrasting Champions League fortunes, with both sides facing perilous fixtures. City travel to Crystal Palace trailing Jurgen Klopp's men by two points, but still with the title in their hands thanks to a game in hand. However, the visit to Selhurst Park kicks off a tough run of fixtures in which Pep Guardiola's men host Tottenham twice, play Manchester United at Old Trafford and face a tricky trip to Burnley. The 1-0 defeat at Spurs in Tuesday's first leg of their Champions League quarter-final snapped a 14-game winning streak and means Guardiola has huge calls to make with his team selection this weekend. If he has one eye on Wednesday's second leg on home soil, Palace could hurt City and hand Liverpool a title boost. Roy Hodgson's men inflicted City's only home defeat of the campaign in December and also ended the champions' record 18-game winning run in the Premier ...
Ramsey sparkles as Arsenal sink Napoli
Unai Emery warned Arsenal to expect a strong response from Napoli after his side seized the initiative with a 2-0 win in their Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday. Emery's men took control of the tie with a dominant first-half performance at the Emirates Stadium. Aaron Ramsey opened the scoring with a cool finish to cap a flowing move and the Gunners were further ahead before half-time when Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly deflected Lucas Torreira's shot into his own net. Arsenal couldn't add to the lead after the break, but they had done enough to put themselves in pole position ahead of the second leg in Naples on April 18. However, Emery is well aware that Arsenal have a wretched away record this season, while Napoli should be a more formidable force in front of their vociferous fans at the San Paolo Stadium. "The first leg was very important to take a good result. We deserved to win, but we know it is going to be very difficult there," Emery said. "Their ...
Alonso's late winner sees Chelsea edge Slavia Prague
Marcos Alonso's header four minutes from time gave Chelsea the edge over hard-working Slavia Prague with a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final in the Czech capital on Thursday. The Spanish left-back capitalised on a fine cross by Brazilian winger Willian, the tireless mastermind of Chelsea's attack on a chilly night. Willian himself came close to scoring on 25 minutes but slammed his right-footed effort onto the crossbar. "We knew very well that to play here is really very difficult," Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri told reporters, pointing out Slavia's "very physical and aggressive" style. "We had to face difficulties during the match. We were able to face them well and then in the second half we were able to play better." "We need to think that the second leg will be difficult because these opponents are really very dangerous also away. We need to be careful," Sarri added. The Italian made seven changes from Monday's 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham, and .
Enjoy win, but learn from mistakes: Dhoni to team
Not keen to get into on-field controversy that saw Chennai Super Kings skipper M.S. Dhoni lose his cool and walk onto the field to confront an umpire for overturning a decision, the former India skipper said that it was a good game and credited Rajasthan Royals for fighting till the last over, despite scoring only 151 on a decent wicket. CSK won the game off the last ball as Mitchell Santner hit Ben Stokes for a six.
Cricket West Indies names new head coach ahead of World Cup
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named Floyd Reifer as the new coach for the team, ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's World Cup, replacing Richard Pybus.CWI president Ricky Skerritt has not just announced the replacement of the team's head coach, he also changed the entire selection panel, with Robert Haynes coming in place of Courtney Browne as interim head of selectors."We are confident that in Mr Haynes we have found an interim chairman who shares the philosophy of inclusiveness and shares our selection policy," ICC quoted Skerritt as saying."We have no doubt Mr Haynes will engage with players everywhere, strictly in the interest of what is best for West Indies cricket. [Reifer] has lived the same principles of West Indian excellence that we now insist much prevail in our cricket," he added.Skerritt also indicated that there will be fundamental changes in the West Indies' selection policy by making players available for selection who were in the past had been ...
India be silly not to pick Karthik for WC: Kallis
The Indian national selectors are set to meet in Mumbai on Monday to pick the squad for the 2019 World Cup and the topic high on everyone's list is whether M.S.K. Prasad and team will go with Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant as the second wicket-keeper and batsman for the showpiece event.
Credit to bowlers, should have batted better: Rahane
Having made a game out of a small total, Rajasthan Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane praised his boys despite the four-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings and said that he wouldn't have done anything differently.
Dhoni fined 50% match fee for confronting umpires
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team's match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
Steyn shows Indian visa, fans think he is joining RCB
South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn took to social media to flaunt a photo of his passport which had an Indian visa on it and that has seen fans starting to predict he is joining Royal Challengers Bangalore for the remainder of the Indian Premier League.
IPL 2019: Dhoni fined after altercation with umpires
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after his fierce-on field argument with the umpires during his team's thrilling last-ball win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday."MS Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings captain, was fined 50 per cent of his match fees for breaching the VIVO Indian Premier League's (IPL) Code of Conduct during his team's match against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur," an official statement said."Dhoni admitted to the Level 2 offence 2.20 of the IPL's Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction," he added.The incident took place after Dhoni was dismissed for 58 runs off 43 balls while CSK was chasing a target of 152. Following his dismissal, RR's Ben Stokes bowled a high-full toss delivery to Mitchell Santner that was above the waist.While umpire Ulhas Gandhe was about to signal the delivery as a non-bell, Bruce Oxenford, standing at square leg, said it was a legitimate delivery. Seeing
IPL 2019: CSK pulles off last-ball thriller, defeat RR by four wickets
Chennai Super Kings pulled off a last-ball thriller to defeat Rajasthan Royals by four wickets here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Thursday.With the win, MS Dhoni has added another feather to his illustrious career, becoming the first captain to register 100 wins in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Chasing a target of 152, Dhawal Kulkarni struck Shane Warner for a duck in the very first over to keep the mood upbeat. In the next over, a direct-hit at non-striker's end by Jofra Archer sent run-machine Suresh Raina (4) back into the hut.Ambati Rayudu saw the falling of Faf du Plessis (7) and Kedar Jadhav (1) in quick succession before finding support in his captain MS Dhoni, with whom he built a 95-run stand to inch closer towards the victory.However, Rajasthan tilted the tables as Ben Stokes dismissed Rayudu (57), who tried to swat it but a running Shreyas Gopal held on to the ball at square leg. With eight required off the four balls, Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in the middle almost ...
Santner does a Dhoni in nail-biter vs Rajasthan
Despite some umpiring flaws, Chennai Super Kings held their nerves to clinch a nail-biting thriller against Rajasthan Royals as Mitchell Santner's last ball six sealed another win for the defending champions here on Thursday.
Dhoni gives cue, presenter shuns from asking question public outburst
Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his bearings on the cricket field for the very first time as he rushed into the field of play to confront Indian umpire Ulhas Gandhe for not signalling a no ball, an act which certainly seemed out of line. However to everyone's horror, official broadcaster Star Sports' presenter Murali Kartik lost a golden opportunity ask the former India captain about the incident when it seemed he was game about answering the tough questions. It was off the fourth ball of the innings, a waist high full toss bowled by Ben Stokes to Mitchell Santner. Initially, it looked as if umpire Gandhe was about to signal no-ball only to decide otherwise. Dhoni was seen shouting 'No ball' from the dug-out as Ravindra Jadeja was seen arguing with the umpire. To everyone's horror, an angry Dhoni entered the field of play, which certainly isn't allowed as per rule and took the umpire head-on. He was seen angrily gesturing at the umpire before leg umpire Chris Gaffaney asked Dhoni to leave ..
'Captain Cool' loses cool as CSK win last-ball thriller
Bespectacled Mitchell Santner smashed Ben Stokes into the stands off the final delivery to guide Chennai Super Kings to a thrilling four wicket victory in an IPL game which saw a very public outburst from winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. CSK recorded their sixth win in seven games as they made a rough weather of a modest 152 run target before Santner's six sealed in a dramatic final over in which CSK needed 18 runs. Dhoni on his part scored 58 off 43 and added 95 with Ambati Rayudu (57 off 47 balls) for the fifth wicket. However Stokes got him with a yorker and a clear waist high no-ball to Santner was ruled out by umpire Ulhas Gandhe after trying to raise his arm. This prompted an angry Dhoni to enter the ground and literally blast Gandhe before leg umpire Bruce Oxenford calmed him and sent him back before Santner finished it off in style spoiling a brilliant outing from Jofra Archer (1/19 in 4 overs). Dhawal Kulkarni bowled a perfect away going delivery that squared up Shane ...
Debutant Harding among early leaders at Augusta
As many as five players were sharing the early lead at two-under as the morning starters crossed the halfway mark of the first round at the Augusta National here on Thursday. Debutant South African Justin Harding, who made it to the Top-50 of the World to earn an invite and sneak into the Masters draw, had two birdies in first three holes and he was 2-under through 11 holes. Also at two-under was Aaron Wise, playing with Harding; South African Branden Grace through nine; China's Li Haotong and Spain's Jon Rahm were both two-under through four and Patton Kizzire landed the first eagle by holing a 70-footer chip from off the green on second. Tiger Woods birdied the par-5 second to be one-under through four, while Rory McIlroy, a hot favourite this year, was even par with a bogey on first and birdie on third, but only a par on Par-5 second. Thus far no player had gone better than two-under at any stage. Amateur Takumi Kanaya started birdie-birdie, while Dane Lucas Bjerregaard, who had ...
Karthik should be in World Cup squad, says Nayar
Dinesh Karthik's versatility should get him a berth in the World Cup squad, feels Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) mentor Abhishek Nayar just four days ahead of the India's team selection.
Pinki, Sakshi ensure two more medals at Boxing WC
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Pinki Rani (51kg) and reigning youth world champion Sakshi (57kg) assured India of its third and fourth medal by entering the semi-finals of the Cologne Boxing World Cup 2019 in Cologne, Germany, on Thursday.
CSK restrict Rajasthan Royals to 151/7
Chennai Super Kings produced yet another disciplined bowling effort to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a modest 151 for seven in an Indian Premier League encounter here Thursday. Save Jos Buttler (23 off 10 balls) at the top of the order, none of other Royals batsmen looked the part as CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's immaculate reading of the track once again helped the defending champions. Left-arm spin duo Ravindra Jadeja (2/20 in 4 overs) and Mitchell Santner (1/25 in 4 overs) checked the run-flow as Royals batsmen were always playing a catch-up game. Even Imran Tahir (0/28 in 4 overs), who went for a few more runs compared to the other two spinners, ended with decent enough figures. Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14 off 11) failed once again with seamer Deepak Chahar (2/33 in 4 overs) trapping him leg before. Buttler belted Shardul Thakur (2/44 in 4 overs) for a few boundaries before he mistiming one which was easily caught by Ambati Rayudu. Once Buttler was gone, Royals lost the .
Minerva set to host opening AFC Cup match in Odisha
Minerva Punjab FCs problems over hosting their AFC Cup home matches finally ended on Thursday when the government of Odisha decided to allow the club to use the Kalinga Stadium for the opening tie on May 1.