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Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout

Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on October 20, 2024. (AFP)

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Updated 21 October 2024

AFP

October 21, 2024 00:08

Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout

Updated 21 October 2024

AFP

October 21, 2024 00:08

BARCELONA: Red-hot Robert Lewandowski and Pablo Torre struck twice each as Barcelona hammered Sevilla 5-1 on Sunday to stay three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga ahead of next weekend’s Clasico.
Los Blancos beat Celta Vigo on Saturday to pull level with Hansi Flick’s side but Barca swiftly restored their advantage with a dominant display of attacking football.
Veteran striker Lewandowski reached 12 goals in 10 La Liga matches, his strikes sandwiching Pedri Gonzalez’s effort from the edge of the box, before substitute Torre added the fourth.
Stanis Idumbo grabbed a consolation for Sevilla in the final stages but Francisco Garcia Pimienta’s side were roundly beaten on his return to the club he spent nearly three decades with in various roles.
Torre finished the rout with a crossed free-kick which flew beyond Nyland and in at the far post.
Despite upcoming clashes against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Saturday’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Hansi Flick started arguably his strongest fit and available side.
The coach was able to name Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Gavi on the bench after injury, the latter sidelined since November 2023 following a knee operation.
Ansu Fati started for the first time this season after Eric Garcia felt discomfort in the warm-up, with Raphinha shifting into a central attacking midfield position.
Lamine Yamal, starting after recovering from a minor hamstring strain which saw Spain release him from international duty early, curled off target early on after a spritely burst past two Sevilla players.
The Catalans took the lead when Raphinha went down in the box under light contact from Peque, a former Barca youth player, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Lewandowski, stuttering in his run-up, sent Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland the wrong way to fire Barca ahead.
The 36-year-old striker is enjoying a second wind under Flick and leads Spain’s scoring charts with 12 strikes in 10 matches, twice as many as any other player.
Pedri soon doubled Barcelona’s lead from the edge of the box after the active Yamal set him up. The teenage Spain star then threaded through Lewandowski but Nyland made a fine save to deny him.
Polish veteran Lewandowski netted his second before the break by guiding home Raphinha’s drive from distance with a flick of his boot.
Suffering Sevilla were dealt more bad news before the break when explosive winger Chidera Ejuke limped off injured.
Raphinha fired home early in the second half but was offside, as Barcelona strolled, carving open the Andalucians at their leisure.
Yamal produced an outrageous shot from distance with the outside of his boot which Nyland clawed to safety.
Dodi Lukebakio struck at the other end on a rare Sevilla forray forward but had strayed offside.
Barca midfielder Pablo Torre rattled home the fourth with the aid of a deflection before Gavi made his first appearance in 11 months as a substitute with a few minutes remaining to a rapturous reception.
Idumbo pulled one back for Sevilla but Torre wrapped up Barcelona’s night with a stroke of fortune when his free-kick crept in at the far post.

Topics: Barcelona La Liga

Three talking points ahead of clay-court season

Updated 31 March 2025

AFP

March 31, 2025 22:51

Three talking points ahead of clay-court season

Djokovic will be bidding to finally clinch his 100th title before the French Open starts on May 25

Updated 31 March 2025

AFP

March 31, 2025 22:51

PARIS: Czech teenager Jakub Mensik and Aryna Sabalenka emerged victorious at the Miami Open last weekend, but their attentions will now turn to the European clay-court swing with all eyes on Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic will be bidding to finally clinch his 100th title before the French Open starts on May 25, after a narrow miss in Miami.

Iga Swiatek is hoping a return to her favorite surface can bring an up-tick in form, while several youngsters are looking to back up impressive starts to the year.

Here, AFP Sport takes a look at three talking points ahead of the European clay-court season:

The men’s buildup to the French Open starts this weekend at the Monte Carlo Masters, where Djokovic is aiming to lift the title for the first time since 2015.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not won a tournament since the Paris Olympics and questions about his future were raised after successive shock defeats by Matteo Berrettini and Botic van de Zandschulp, following an injury-enforced retirement from his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev.

But Djokovic, who turns 38 in May, returned to form in Miami by cruising into the final without dropping a set, before being edged out by Mensik.

“Miami really brought me a lot of joy and really good sensations on and off the court,” said the former world No. 1.

Djokovic, who has won three French Opens, could set an outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles in Paris this year.

Swiatek has endured a difficult spell, punctuated by a doping ban, and has not reached a final since sealing her fourth Roland Garros crown last year.

The Pole has still been consistently reaching the latter stages of events, but has lost the aura she had when world number one.

Sabalenka has established herself at the top of the rankings, but Swiatek remains the “Queen of Clay.”

The 23-year-old won a history-making hat trick of Italian, Madrid and French Open titles last season so will have plenty of ranking points to defend in the coming months.

“I don’t want to think about this too long,” she said after a surprise quarterfinal loss to Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala in Miami.

“It’s nice to learn from losses but there are other things ahead and I am happy we are going to play on clay.”

Mensik, Eala, Mirra Andreeva and Joao Fonseca have all shown why they are among the most highly rated young players in the sport this year and will be expecting to continue to challenge the best.

Mensik rose into the world’s top 25 with his victory over Djokovic, while 17-year-old Andreeva has established herself in the women’s top 10 off the back of WTA 1,000 triumphs in Dubai and Indian Wells.

Eala, a former US Open junior champion, defied her status as a wildcard by reaching the Miami semifinals, while 18-year-old Brazilian Fonseca has already won an ATP title and is closing on the top 50.

Fonseca, Mensik and Eala are set for their debuts at Roland Garros, while Andreeva has already made her mark on the Paris clay, having reached the semifinals in 2024.

American Learner Tien and Australia’s Maya Joint, 19 and 18 respectively, have also broken into the top 100 this year.

Topics: Clay-court

Duke’s great D sends Blue Devils to their 18th Final Four with an 85-65 win over Alabama

Updated 59 min 29 sec ago

March 31, 2025 22:43

Duke’s great D sends Blue Devils to their 18th Final Four with an 85-65 win over Alabama

Updated 59 min 29 sec ago

March 31, 2025 22:43

NEWARK, NJ: Duke’s stream of long, tall NBA-ready standouts smothered Alabama and papered over Cooper Flagg’s rough shooting night to lift the Blue Devils to the program’s 18th Final Four with an 85-65 victory Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament’s East Region final.

Flagg made only 6 of 16 shots, including a brick that got stuck in the flange of the rim, but still finished with 16 points. Kon Knueppel, another potential lottery pick, led the Blue Devils with 21 points.

But the most important stat: Alabama’s nation-leading offense, one coming off a record-setting night from 3 in the Sweet 16, failed to crack 70 points for only the second time this season.

The Crimson Tide’s 35.4 percent shooting from the floor was their worst all season and their 25 percent from behind the arc (8 for 32) matched their fourth-worst showing of 2024-25.

Mark Sears, who came one short of a tournament record with 10 3s two nights earlier, finished with one and only six points against the Blue Devils (35-3), who won their 15th straight.

At the Final Four in San Antonio, top-seeded Duke will play the winner of Sunday’s game between Houston and Tennessee. Its win erased any chance of an all-Southeastern Conference show at the Final Four, but with No. 1 Florida winning earlier, it kept alive the prospect of all four top seeds playing on the sport’s biggest stage for only the second time. Khaman Maluach scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Duke shot 53.6 percent despite its best player’s rough night.

Flagg was hardly bad in this one. He had nine rebounds, three assists and one mega-block that sent Mouhammed Dioubate’s floater flying over press row.

But in a game in which both teams were focused on taking away the other’s best player, it was Duke that did it more effectively, switching off on Sears, locking down the perimeter and never letting him find breathing room.

The fifth-year senior’s first bucket of any kind came nearly 18 minutes into the game and the shot was a 16-footer from the elbow — the exact kind of midrange shot Nate Oats’ team of dunkers and 3-point specialists avoids.

Sears’ first 3 came with 16:19 left in the game. His final line: 2 for 12 from the floor, 1 for 5 from 3. He also had six assists. Labaron Philon led the second-seeded Crimson Tide (28-9) with 16 points. Not a single Alabama player made more shots than he missed.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer, leading the program to the Final Four for the first time since his predecessor Mike Krzyzewski’s last season in 2022, has up to six NBA prospects on his roster.

They all chipped in on offense — Tyrese Proctor had 17 points — and even moreso on defense, where Alabama looked nothing like the team that set tournament records for makes and attempts by going 25 for 51 from 3 against BYU.

Final Four firsts

The only other Final Four to feature all No. 1 seeds was in 2008 when Kansas, Memphis, UCLA and North Carolina made it. The site: San Antonio.

Another title for Tide wheelchair team

It wasn’t a totally lost night for Tide fans. Shortly before tipoff, the Alabama women’s wheelchair hoops team beat Texas-Arlington 67-52 for its fifth straight national championship.

Topics: NBA Cooper Flagg Duke Blue Devils NCAA

San Francisco 49ers expand global reach with entry into UAE market

Updated 31 March 2025

Arab News

March 31, 2025 22:19

San Francisco 49ers expand global reach with entry into UAE market

The team is the third American football franchise to secure marketing, fan-engagement and commercial rights in the UAE, after the LA Rams and Washington Commanders
The 49ers say the move follows more than 3 years of significant growth in the UK and Mexico, during which their fanbase in those countries grew by more than 50%

Updated 31 March 2025

Arab News

March 31, 2025 22:19

LONDON: American football team the San Francisco 49ers have secured marketing, fan-engagement and commercial rights in the UAE.

They join two other NFL teams with activation rights in the UAE: the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders.

It is the 49ers’s third international expansion under the NFL’s Global Markets Program. The franchise said on Monday that the move follows more than three years of significant growth in the UK and Mexico, during which their fanbase grew by more than 50 percent in both markets, and a combined total of more than 34,000 fans, known as the “Faithful,” attended events in the two countries.

Globally, the team has more than 50 fan chapters and ranks as a top-five NFL club in eight countries in terms of numbers of supporters.

The expansion was said to align with broader international efforts by the NFL, particularly in the run-up to the debut of flag football at the Olympics in 2028.

“Expanding into the UAE is a major milestone for the NFL and we look forward to growing the Faithful fanbase in this market, following our recent success in Mexico and the UK,” said Brent Schoeb, the 49ers chief revenue and marketing officer.

“We’re excited to team up with our world-class commercial partners, local community leaders and the NFL in this next international expansion.”

The 49ers plan to invest in Arabic-language digital and social media platforms, fan events and youth-focused initiatives as part of the expansion. They said they will introduce in-person and virtual experiences, including watch parties, e-sports competitions and flag football clinics, to give fans a chance to engage with the team in new ways. Collaborations with local influencers, community leaders, and 49ers players and alumni will also help to strengthen connections with the audience in the UAE, they added.

The 49ers Foundation, the team’s philanthropic arm, which uses football to educate and empower young people and is the largest organization of its kind in the NFL, will play a key role in the expansion, the team said, mirroring similar efforts in the UK and Mexico.

Since 2021, the 49ers said they have hosted more than 50 community events outside of the US that have helped to provide young people with valuable educational benefits, career opportunities and sports training.

Through its youth programs in the UAE, the foundation intends to promote STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), and encourage the development of leadership skills and healthy lifestyles on and off the field.

Topics: American Football NFL San Francisco 49ers UAE

Swing king Ashwani Kumar powers Mumbai Indians to first IPL win of season

Updated 31 March 2025

AFP

March 31, 2025 18:08

Swing king Ashwani Kumar powers Mumbai Indians to first IPL win of season

Kumar’s 4-24 — and an overall disciplined bowling performance — restricted champions Kolkata to a modest total of 116

Updated 31 March 2025

AFP

March 31, 2025 18:08

MUMBAI: A sparkling debut performance by medium pacer Ashwani Kumar helped IPL powerhouses Mumbai Indians register their first win of the season on Monday, downing Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets.
Kumar’s 4-24 — and an overall disciplined bowling performance — restricted champions Kolkata to a modest total of 116, which Mumbai chased down with more than seven overs to spare.
“We thought Ashwani can come in on this pitch and bowl the way he bowled. It is all the scouts — they picked him,” said Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya.
“They have gone to all the places and picked these young kids. We played a practice game, he had that zip, that late swing, something off the wicket, a different action and he was a leftie.”
South African wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton spearheaded Mumbai’s chase, scoring a busy 62 off 41 balls, an innings laced with five sixes.
Playing their first home match of the year, Mumbai dominated from the word go with New Zealand pacer Trent Boult claiming opener Sunil Narine’s stumps in the very first over of the match.
Narine’s in-form batting partner Quinton de Kock was next to go, out caught trying to loft Deepak Chahar.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane followed soon after, slicing a wide and full ball from Kumar to the deep backward point fielder after scoring 11 off seven deliveries.
Aggressive middle-order batter Venkatesh Iyer struggled to get off the blocks, falling for three from nine balls.
The left-handed Angkrish Raghuvanshi batted fluently for his 26 runs but failed to carry on, leaving the visitors reeling at 45-5 in seven overs.
Despite some resistance by impact substitute Manish Pandey (19 off 14) and the attacking Rinku Singh (17 off 14), Kolkata never recovered.
A late flurry by Ramandeep Singh (22 off 12) helped Kolkata reach the three-figure mark but it was too little too late, with the innings folding in the 17th over.
“Collective batting failure, it was a good wicket to bat on and 180-190 would have been a good total on this pitch,” said Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
In contrast, Mumbai got off to a brisk start but India batter Rohit Sharma missed out once again, managing only 13 off 12 balls.
England all-rounder Will Jacks, who came in to replace Sharma, pulled his second ball over fine leg for a six, extinguishing any hopes of a Kolkata comeback.
Jacks (16 off 17) and Rickelton put together a partnership of 45 runs to take Mumbai closer to the target.
T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav’s quickfire 27 off just nine balls ensured Mumbai crossed the line without further hiccups.

Topics: Cricket T20 cricket India Indian Premier League (IPL) Mumbai Indians KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

Jamie Osborne targeting a 2nd UAE Derby triumph with Heart Of Honor on Dubai World Cup night

Updated 31 March 2025

Arab News

March 31, 2025 19:27

Jamie Osborne targeting a 2nd UAE Derby triumph with Heart Of Honor on Dubai World Cup night

Lambourn-based handler, who memorably won contest with Toast Of New York in 2014, hoping latest contender can emulate success

Updated 31 March 2025

Arab News

March 31, 2025 19:27

LONDON: British trainer Jamie Osborne is eying another victory in the Group 2 UAE Derby as he prepares Heart Of Honor for the prestigious $1,000,000 race on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday.

The Lambourn-based handler, who memorably won the contest with Toast Of New York in 2014, is hoping his latest contender can emulate that success.

Osborne’s charge has been a regular feature at Meydan throughout the Dubai Racing Carnival, notching two victories before narrowly missing out in his last two outings.

The David Redvers-bred colt, from Tweenhills in Gloucestershire, will head into the race with a tactical change — he will wear blinkers for the first time in a bid to sharpen his performance.

Adding to the family affair, Heart Of Honor will be partnered by Osborne’s daughter, Saffie Osborne, in the high-profile event.

Speaking to Great British Racing International, Osborne detailed his hopes for Heart Of Honor’s performance.

“Heart Of Honor won his first two races in Dubai and was not disgraced in defeat in his last two races. I think there were factors involved in his last defeat and I don’t think he was at his best. We learned a lot about him,” he said.

“I think he just needs to be sharper through the gate and sharper through the first half of his races, and the application of blinkers is to help him with that. We have got him in a better place now than we got him before the Al-Bastakiya. We are hopeful that he will run his best race next Saturday.

“It’s great for the owners, who have trusted me to do this. The plan when we bought him was always to bring him to Dubai for a Middle Eastern winter campaign with the hope that he would make it to the derby. Thankfully this plan has worked out so far, but we have got one more mission to accomplish,” Osborne added.

Osborne remains the only British trainer to have won the UAE Derby, and he reflected on Toast Of New York’s success a decade ago.

“(That) win is something that I look back on with pride, and getting the opportunity to do it again this year with Heart Of Honor is special. It’s even more special to get to do it with Saffie on board,” he said.

“When Toast Of New York won it, she was 11 years old and was screaming at the television at home. When we arrived home from Dubai, she had made all the banners for his stable and was very excited, so it’s thrilling to get the chance to do it again with her,” he added.

Osborne has been a regular competitor in Dubai in recent years, sending a steady stream of runners to the Middle East and picking up notable victories with horses such as Cliffs Of Capri and Ouzo.

He also landed the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar in 2023 with Emaraaty Ana, placed fourth in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup in 2022 with Alignak and finished runner-up on Saudi Cup night in 2020 with Mekong.

Osborne said he was enthusiastic about competing in the region.

“Personally, I enjoy coming to race in Dubai and the Middle East during the British off-season, and my clients enjoy racing their horses here, too,” he said.

“We’ve had a good year this year in Dubai, and my horses have won plenty of prize money finishing placed in big races. We look forward to coming back again next year as it works well before our racing starts here in the UK.”

Topics: Horse Racing UAE Dubai Dubai World Cup

Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout

Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout

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Three talking points ahead of clay-court season

Three talking points ahead of clay-court season

Czech teenager Jakub Mensik shocks Novak Djokovic to win Miami Open

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Duke’s great D sends Blue Devils to their 18th Final Four with an 85-65 win over Alabama

Duke’s great D sends Blue Devils to their 18th Final Four with an 85-65 win over Alabama

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San Francisco 49ers expand global reach with entry into UAE market

San Francisco 49ers expand global reach with entry into UAE market

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Swing king Ashwani Kumar powers Mumbai Indians to first IPL win of season

Swing king Ashwani Kumar powers Mumbai Indians to first IPL win of season

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Jamie Osborne targeting a 2nd UAE Derby triumph with Heart Of Honor on Dubai World Cup night

Jamie Osborne targeting a 2nd UAE Derby triumph with Heart Of Honor on Dubai World Cup night

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Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout

Lewandowski powers five-star Barca to Sevilla rout

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