FEDERER outlasts Kyrgios to set up Nadal final in Miami
HM Cup champions Seeb were suspended for the 2017 season after they refused to complete the first edition of Super Cup match against the eventual winners Al Nasr on Thursday night.
“A decision to this effect was taken yesterday night by the OHA board after taking into account all the aspects regarding the incident during the Super Cup match,” Oman Hockey Association Chairman Talib al Wahaibi told Observer on Saturday.
“As per Clause No 27 and Clause No 54, Seeb Club has been stopped from LIVERPOOL: Philippe Coutinho inspired Liverpool to a comfortable 3-1 home win over Everton in the 228th Merseyside derby on Saturday to move provisionally up to third in the Premier League.
Sadio Mane’s opener was cancelled out by Matthew Pennington’s first Everton goal, but strikes from Coutinho and substitute Divock Origi confirmed Liverpool’s league double over their neighbours.
Liverpool had not lost in their last 12 league derbies and took the lead in the eighth minute when Sadio Mane exploited poor Everton defending to net his 13th goal of the season, playing a one-two with Roberto Firmino and participating from the entire season. Seeb coach Khalid bin Abdurahman al Raisi has been banned for two years and any repeat of the offence he will face a life ban,” the OHA chief said.
The match was stopped before three minutes before end of play as Seeb players refused to take to the ground protesting after an appeal for penalty was turned down by the referee at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
Al Nasr, who were leading the match by a goal at that time, made it 2-0 from a counter attack after the attack by Seeb which led to the penalty appeal.
The match was watched by the dignitaries from the first Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Congress hosted by Oman on Thursday. Among the attendance were AHF President HRH Prince Abdullah Ahmad Shah and AHF CEO Tayyib Ikram along with OHA Chairman Talib al Wahaibi and other delegates from the AHF member countries.
The tough disciplinary action comes as OHA was miffed by Seeb side’s conduct after its successful efforts to host the first Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Congress in Oman and the inaugural Super Cup in a bid to revive the game in the Sultanate.
Detailing the disciplinary actions taken by the OHA, Al Wahaibi said Ibrahim bin Nasser al Hasni has been suspended for three years and Seeb Club fined RO 100, according to Clause 68.
As per Clause 66, Mohammed bin Hassan al Lawati, Al Motasim bin Abdurahman al Raisi and Mohammed bin Salim al Hussaini were suspended for three months.
The OHA chief thanked Ahmed bin Yahya al Raisi, manager of Seeb, for his efforts to bring the boycotting players back to the ground. Oman hockey season is a calendar year end on December 31. MIAMI: Roger Federer needed more than three hours to outlast Nick Kyrgios 7-6(9) 6-7(9) 7-6(5) in a pulsating Miami Open semifinal on Friday to set up another mouthwatering final clash with Rafa Nadal.
The Swiss, who has won two of his last three tournaments including the Australian Open, had to dig deep to get through a second straight test after fending off a match point in his quarterfinal victory over Tomas Berdych.
The 35-year-old’s victory sets up a re-match of January’s Melbourne Park title-decider against Spaniard Nadal, who earlier rolled over unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1 7-5. Kyrgios, who has twice beaten Novak Djokovic over the last month, left his racket a twisted heap on the court after coming up short in a battle against the former world number one and a partisan crowd.
In their only previous match in Madrid in 2015, the Australian came out on top in a similar three-set I had some ups and up and downs, thriller that went to three tiebreaks bit of a roller coaster,” Kyrgios said. with the last decided 14-12. “Ultimately, I think I put in a good
“It’s great winning this way, performance. I thought the crowd holding off two opponents coach Ronnie Moran before the match especially of course I remember would’ve enjoyed watching it, people firing low past Joel Robles. and the emotion of the occasion carried the loss against him few years ago,” at home would’ve enjoyed watching
Everton were without injured over with Everton’s Ross Barkley lucky Federer told reporters. it. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if they defenders Ramiro Funes Mori and to escape a red card for a high tackle on “I know I can’t always show my found something bad to say about Seamusme.”ColemantheirunfamiliarbackLovreninthe39thminute.Manewasfightingskillsbecauseeverything line struggled to cope with Liverpool’s injured after a collision with Leighton else sort of takes over.” Nadal, who lost all four of his attackers. Baines, but his replacement Origi The temperamental Kyrgios came previous Miami Open finals, will be
But Everton’s Pennington marked scored three minutes after coming on apart in the late stages of the last out to snap a run of three straight his first appearance of the season with with a thumping strike from outside tiebreak after a fan yelled out when defeats against Federer, including in an equaliser against the run of play in the area after being played in by the he was leading 5-4 and he miscued the Melbourne final and at Indian the 28th minute, prodding home from outstanding Coutinho. a forehand. Wells. “Winning here would be a corner after Dejan Lovren’s clearance. “The boys did everything,” The 21-year-old turned to the fan something great, and an important
The inexperienced defender was Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and unleashed a volley of obscenities title I haven’t won,” Nadal told caught out less than three minutes told Sky Sports after extending his 100 before serving up a double fault that reporters. “I served well (today). later when Coutinho tore past Idrissa per cent record in Merseyside derbies. gave Federer the window he needed That gives you calm when you have Gueye, cut in past Pennington and “It’s a deserved win, we played good to clinch the battle. opportunities on the return.” slammed the ball into the far corner. football and we coped well.” “Obviously, I’m an emotional guy. The fifth-seeded Spaniard did not
Anfield paid tribute to late Liverpool before face a break point against Fognini and put his opponent’s serve under pressure throughout the 90-minute match.
The 30-year-old raced through the first set in 26 minutes, losing only four points on serve while Fognini made 14 unforced errors.
“I was missing a lot of balls,” Fognini said. “I give him a present of the first set. I was playing really bad.”
The Italian came to life in the second set, especially in a stretch where he fended off five break points during his first two service games.
At 5-5, however, just when it looked as if Fognini might force a decisive third set, he double faulted and Nadal grabbed the break before sealing the match four points later.