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Lionel Messi scored one goal and set up another for Sergio Ramos as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 at Nice on Saturday to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table and ease the pressure on coach Christophe Galtier.Messi converted a Nuno Mendes cross in the 26th minute before Gianluigi Donnarumma produced several key saves and Dante was denied by the woodwork as PSG’s goal lived a charmed life on the Cote d’Azur.Ramos then ended any doubt about the outcome when he headed in a Messi corner with 14 minutes remaining, as PSG bounced back from suffering consecutive home defeats.Those losses had piled the pressure on Galtier amid reports he may not even see out the season.The result clearly meant a lot to Galtier, who was in charge at Nice last season and expressed his displeasure at a banner unfurled by the home supporters aimed at his mother.“My mum is 83 and has just had cancer. That’s all. And if these people in the stands have been watching games in Europe this season it is because of the work I did last season,” said Galtier, who led Nice to fifth in his single campaign at the club.A win for PSG’s nearest challengers Lens on Friday had cut their lead at the top of the table to just three points before this game, and before the top two meet in Paris next weekend.“We knew we had a lot of pressure on our shoulders both because of our poor performances and because of Lens winning, and especially because Nice are a really good team who have been on a great run,” Galtier told broadcaster Canal Plus.“It was definitely not our best performance of the season but the players fought for each other and it is obviously three important points.”He added: “It is better to have a six-point lead than be chasing after a six-point deficit but we know we have a very important match next weekend.”It was a first defeat in 15 matches in all competitions for Nice since former PSG midfielder Didier Digard replaced Lucien Favre as coach in January. The Ineos-owned club remain eighth in the table. Messi’s 14th Ligue 1 goal of the campaign that opened the scoring came at the end of a week in which it emerged he was likely to leave Paris when his contract expires in the summer.Before that, Danilo Pereira had already hit the woodwork for the visitors, who also saw injury-prone midfielder Renato Sanches come off hurt early on.Donnarumma saved well from Nicolas Pepe and Terem Moffi before half-time, and Dante then sent an effort off the underside of the bar six minutes into the second half, with the ball bouncing down onto the line and then hitting the post.It was an incredible let-off for the league leaders, who were grateful to Donnarumma again as he made further stops from Pepe and Youssouf Ndayishimiye.Ramos made it 2-0 but there was still time for Danilo to head against his own crossbar late on.Earlier, bottom side Angers claimed their first Ligue 1 win since September as they beat European hopefuls Lille 1-0. Substitute Halid Sabanovic scrambled in the only goal of the match with six minutes left as Angers ended a run of 21 matches without a win.That means they will not match the French top-flight record for the most games without a win in a single season - that record is held by Arles-Avignon who went 23 matches without a victory in 2010/11.They nevertheless remain seven points adrift at the bottom of the table and 12 away from safety with only eight games left.

Indian batsman Rinku Singh blasted five sixes on the final five balls as Kolkata Knight Riders chased down 205 to stun champions Gujarat Titans in an IPL thriller yesterday.The left-hander turned the chase on its head with an unbeaten 21-ball 48, after Kolkata slipped to 155-7 following Rashid Khan’s hat-trick at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.Kolkata needed 29 from the final over off Yash Dayal.Rinku took strike after Umesh Yadav’s single on the first ball to send five hits over the fence and silence a raucous home crowd.The chase was set up by a 40-ball 83 by impact player Venkatesh Iyer, who put on a 100-run third-wicket stand with skipper Nitish Rana, who made 45.“Tonight was another example that we will never give up as a team,” Iyer said after the three-wicket win.“The wicket was quite good to bat and I was just trying to execute my plans.”Iyer, who came on in place of Suyash Sharma under the new impact player rule, fell to Alzarri Joseph and Rashid soon took over to claim his first Indian Premier League hat-trick.Rashid, a champion leg-spinner who now has four hat-tricks in T20 cricket, went for a celebratory sprint after sending back Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur.But little did Rashid know Rinku and Kolkata would have the last laugh.“A tough game for us, especially as a captain,” said Rashid, standing in as skipper for the unwell Hardik Pandya.“That is what T20 is all about, it is about entertainment.”After two straight wins, two-time champions Kolkata took second spot in the 10-team table, behind leaders Rajasthan Royals. It was a first defeat of the season for Gujarat, who won the league in their debut campaign last year.Earlier Gujarat’s Vijay Shankar smashed five sixes in his 24-ball 63 as Gujarat took 45 runs from the final two overs to reach 204-4.Shankar stood out for Gujarat with his blitz and key partnerships including an unbeaten 51-run fifth-wicket stand with David Miller, who made two.BRIEF SCORESKolkata Knight Riders 207 for 7 (Venkatesh 83, Rinku 48*, Rana 45, Rashid 3-37, Joseph 2-28) beat Gujarat Titans 204 for 4 (Vijay 63*, Sai Sudharsan 53, Narine 3-33) by three wicketsMarkande, Tripathi lead Hyderabad to first win of IPLIndian spinner Mayank Markande’s 4-15 and an unbeaten 74 by Rahul Tripathi gave Sunrisers Hyderabad their first IPL win this season as they thrashed Punjab Kings by eight wickets yesterday.Skipper Shikhar Dhawan hit an unbeaten 99 off 66 balls in Punjab’s 143-9 after Markande got the key wickets, including big-money signing Sam Curran for 22, in Hyderabad.Tripathi led the chase and put on an unbeaten 100-run stand with skipper Aiden Markram (34) after former champions Hyderabad lost their openers, with Harry Brook out for 13.Markram smashed three successive boundaries before Tripathi hit the winning runs as Hyderabad bounced back from their opening two losses.Hyderabad’s bowlers set up the victory after Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck with the first ball of the match and left-arm quick Marco Jansen followed up with two more strikes.Express bowler Umran Malik also took two wickets, but was hammered for two sixes and a four in his final over by Dhawan. Markande ruled with his leg spin to mark a memorable debut for Hyderabad.The left-handed Dhawan reached his second successive IPL fifty but received little support from the rest of his team.Punjab fell to 88-9 in 15 overs before Dhawan put on a final-wicket stand of 55 with Mohit Rathee, who faced just two balls. Dhawan started the final over on 91 but T Natarajan denied the opener a hundred as the batsman fell one short after a six off the final ball.BRIEF SCORESSunrisers Hyderabad145 for 2 (Tripathi 74*, Markram 37*, Arshdeep 1-20) beat Punjab Kings 143 for 9 (Dhawan 99*, Markande 4-15, Jansen 2-16) by eight wickets

HE the Minister of Sports and Youth Salah bin Ghanem al-Ali crowned the champions of the first edition of the local beach volleyball tournament, Ekbes, which was organised by the Qatar Sports for All Federation at Aspire Stadium in co-operation with a number of sponsors. The Information Challenge team claimed the title after a 2-1 win over the Al Mirqab team in the final, while Zekreet team won third place after defeating Al Rayyan. Adviser to the Minister of Sports and Youth,President of the Qatar Sports for All Federation Abdulrahman bin Musallam al-Dosari, former President of the Qatar Volleyball Association Dr Abdullah Yousef al-Mal, a number of representatives of the sponsors and fans attended the final. (QNA)

Mathieu van der Poel claimed one of cycling’s most glittering prizes yesterday, breaking away solo on a dangerous cobbled section for a magnificent solo triumph at the Paris-Roubaix classic.The 28-year-old Dutch rider produced a string of aggressive attacks to shake off stubborn resistance before the decisive move on the epic 256.6km race was sparked by a spectacular fall.The 2023 one-day season is turning out to be Van der Poel’s with a recent triumph at Milan-SanRemo, a narrow miss at the Tour of Flanders a week ago and yesterday’s convincing display of power handing him a fourth triumph in epic one-day races known as Monuments.His teammate Jasper Philipsen finished 46sec behind to beat fellow Belgian rider Wout van Aert into second at the Roubaix velodrome finish-line.An early fall featuring three Ineos riders was pounced upon mercilessly by an elite clique that broke away until only seven top riders were left, including prerace favourites Filippo Ganna, Mads Pedersen, Stefan Kung and 2015 winner John Degenkolb.The action then exploded on the Carrefour de L’Arbre five-star cobbled section with 20km to go when Degenkolb fell sprawled on the ground, several riders swerving to avoid him in a move that caused Van Aert to puncture.Van der Poel burst away and never looked back until he was close to the line.“It’s impossible to do better than this,” said the 28-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck rider.“When I passed Van Aert his face looked low, I didn’t know he had a puncture. But that’s Roubaix, you need good legs and good luck,” he said.Philipsen later admitted he had knocked Degenkolb over.“I told him I was sorry, you don’t want this but it happens. Everything went our way, we had good luck,” he said. “It all happened so fast.”The average speed in fact was around 46kph.Third-placed Van Aert congratulated the winner.“I rode defensively, he’s so strong at the moment it would have been stupid to attack in,” said the 28-year-old Belgian.On a sunny day over 10,000 fans awaited the peloton at the short Trouee d’Arneberg section alone, another five-star cobbled section where wheels broke as well as dreams.Defending champion Dylan van Baarle was one of the many crash victims there and his teammate Christophe Laporte took a puncture, leaving team leader Van Aert alone with his rivals, two of whom were on Van der Poel’s team.The weather was unseasonably warm but road conditions were treacherous with dried mud on the 54km of cobbles crumbling to dust making the surface slippery.First raced 127 years ago the classic is something of a shared national experience in France with sports daily L’Equipe dedicating a full ten pages of its yesterday edition to the contest.Local paper La Voix du Nord ran the headline “Easter is the Hell of the North” and published a 28-page full-colour supplement to go with it.Roubaix is the third of five races known as Monuments after Milan-SanRemo and the Tour of Flanders, with Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy still to come.

Brooks Koepka teed off with a two-stroke lead over playing partner Jon Rahm in yesterday’s final round of the Masters, setting the stage for a dramatic finish at rain-softened Augusta National.Tensions grew in cool and breezy conditions under the Georgia pines as US star Koepka, a four-time major winner playing in the Saudi-backed upstart LIV Golf League, threatened to deliver a blow to the PGA Tour in golf’s bitter divide.Spanish world number three Rahm and Koepka each completed a one-over par 73 third round yesterday morning – neither managing a back-nine birdie after play was halted on Saturday by puddling water on greens.Koepka opened the final round on 11-under 205 with Rahm on 207.“I’m fine with two (shots),” Koepka said of his lead, halved from overnight.“I feel fine, I’m just going about me. That’s it.”Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion with three PGA titles this year, seeks his first Masters win on what would have been the 66th birthday of his idol, the late Seve Ballesteros, who won the Masters 40 years ago.“I’d like to think he’s up there watching and pulling for me,” Rahm said. “If there’s somebody who would have enough charisma to give me any help, it would be him.”Adding to the pressure was a run by ninth-ranked Viktor Hovland, five consecutive birdies starting at the par-4 11th lifting the Norwegian to third on 208 and in the hunt for his first major crown after shooting 70.“Definitely coming in with some momentum off that back nine,” Hovland said. “I have to go out there and get it.”A marathon 30-hole yesterday battle was poised to conclude with Koepka and PGA loyalists Rahm and Hovland all seeking a first green jacket.“If the wind keeps blowing and keeps swirling like this, anything can happen,” Koepka said. “You’ve just got to be in control of your ball.”“With the wind we’re going to have, the main thing is staying committed to whatever shot you pick,” Rahm said. “Have a clear picture and commit to it.”Overnight, Koepka was at 13-under with Rahm four adrift, but when they resumed at the par-4 seventh, Rahm made a nine-foot birdie putt and Koepka missed an 11-foot par putt, his first stumble after 29 consecutive bogey-free holes.Both birdied the par-5 eighth but Koepka missed an eight-foot par putt to bogey the par-3 12th, Rahm lipped out on a six-foot par putt at the par-5 13th, Rahm missed a 10-foot par putt at the par-3 16th and Koepka lipped out from three feet at 17 for his first three-putt bogey of the week.“It’s pretty good,” Koepka said of his confidence level. “How could you not be, right?”Koepka has won all three prior times when leading a major after 54 holes. The greatest last-round Masters comeback to win was eight strokes by Jack Burke in 1956. Koepka had 13 rivals within that range, including Australian Jason Day on 213.“That lead he has got isn’t secure, especially with 18 holes to go,” Day said yesterday.Koepka, who won last week’s Orlando LIV event, has battled back from 2021 knee surgery to challenge in majors after winning the 2017 and 2018 US Opens and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championships.Breakaway LIV Golf lured several big names from the PGA last year with record $25mn purses from 54-hole events, sparking the PGA to ban LIV players from its tournaments even as majors allow LIV golfers to compete.The Masters champion will pocket a record top prize of $3.24mn from a record $18mn purse, less than the $4mn Koepka won in Orlando.Koepka, ranked 118th because LIV events bring no ranking points, would be the lowest-rated Masters champion since the ranking system began in 1986.Tiger Woods, limping on a soggy layout Saturday, withdrew Sunday from the Masters with a foot injury.“I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis,” Woods tweeted.The 15-time major winner, still nagged by severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, withdrew from his Bahamas invitational last December with the foot injury.Brooks Koepka of the US and his caddie Ricky Elliott walk up the 18th fairway during the weather-delayed third round of the 2023 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, yesterday. (AFP)

Casper Ruud won his first title of the year yesterday as he defeated Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) in the final of the clay-court tournament in Estoril.The fifth-ranked Norwegian reeled off five straight games in the opening set but was pushed much harder in the second by Kecmanovic, who also reached the doubles final this week.Ruud’s title was the 10th of his career, all but one of which have come on clay.“I feel great. It’s my first time in Estoril and first time lucky, I guess,” Ruud said during the trophy ceremony. “To be here with the trophy this Sunday is very special. It’s been quite some months since I won my last title, so it’s very important.”A runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros last year, Ruud had failed to win more than one match at any of his six previous tournaments this season.The 24-year-old will climb one spot to fourth in the rankings today.“I felt great. All my stay was great (with the) fans, great stadium, great atmosphere on this court,” Ruud said. “It was full every time that I was on the court it was a full stadium so thank you to everyone who is here today and also during the week.”It also marked Ruud’s first ATP Head2Head victory against Kecmanovic, who leads their series 2-1. The Serbian praised his friend during the trophy ceremony.“You were too good today. Good job this week and good luck for the rest of the year,” Kecmanovic said.“Thank you to everybody who came out. It was my first time here.“I really enjoyed playing in front of you guys and I really hope I can come back next time.”

Novak Djokovic says he is “motivated” to make a better than usual start to the clay-court season in Monte Carlo as he tunes up for a 23rd Grand Slam bid at the French Open.The Serb is back on court after failing to get a waiver to enter the United States for last month’s Indian Wells tournament and Miami Open due to his anti-Covid vaccination stance.“I hope I will start well, because the last three tournaments in Monte Carlo I have not been very successful,” the world number one said yesterday.“And I’m also motivated because I didn’t play for the past month,” added Djokovic, who is due to enter the Monte Carlo Masters fray in the second round against qualifiers American Mackenzie McDonald or Russian Ivan Gakhov.A winner in 2013 and 2015, Djokovic will fancy his chances of going far in a tournament robbed of 11-time winner Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz due to injury.Djokovic, who won this year’s Australian Open, is on nodding terms with every inch of clay in Monte Carlo, his local club.“I know the club very well. I’m one of the players that lives in Monaco and use this club as a training base. It’s a great feeling sleeping in your own bed on your own pillow and being able to have kind of a home feeling of playing in the tournament.”At 35 years of age Djokovic says he is more selective about his playing commitments these days.“Things are not the same like they were 10 years ago in terms of the amount of vital energy that I have to play as many tournaments as the other younger guys.“So of course I do pick and choose where I want to peak and how I want to build my form and how I want to work around my schedule. There are certain events, in this case, of course, Grand Slams are the tournaments where I peak. So for the clay season it’s no secret where I want to be able to play my best tennis – it’s Roland Garros.”Tsitsipas has eyes on third Monte Carlo crownStefanos Tsitsipas said he is relishing a return to the European claycourt season as the Greek world number three targets a third consecutive Monte Carlo Masters title in the build-up to the French Open starting next month.After losing the Australian Open final against current world number one Novak Djokovic in January, the 24-year-old Tsitsipas suffered early defeats in Rotterdam and Indian Wells before a fourth-round loss in Miami.The 2021 Roland Garros runner-up returns to clay hoping to claim his first trophy of the year at Monte Carlo, having beaten Andrey Rublev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the previous two finals of the prestigious tournament.“It’s a pleasure to return to the claycourt swing,” Monte Carlo resident Tsitsipas told reporters. “It’s one of the most fascinating parts of the year, starting the claycourt swing in Monte Carlo, which is my favourite place in the world. I’m looking to make it three titles. But I won’t take too much time thinking of it. I’m feeling refreshed that we’re able to start playing on clay again.“The Monegasque people have showed their love and support and the Italian and French fans. Also, the Greek community. I know most of them... It’s my home tournament.”Tsitsipas said he enjoyed tactical battles on clay, a surface on which he has won four of his nine titles.“I think it’s deeper than people think. There is a lot of strategy involved,” said Tsitsipas, who will begin his campaign against Benjamin Bonzi or Bernabe Zapata Miralles.“You’re not expecting to hit crazy winners on a surface like clay. You’re dealing with much patience when you’re playing.“It involves more around unforced and forced errors. The way you can open the court. The main priority isn’t to hit a winner, but be precise and open the court.”

Qatari stars Mutaz Barshim and Aberrahman Samba announced their participation in the Diamond League rounds of the 2023 sports season.Mutaz Barshim, who holds record in the high jump for the Diamond League rounds (2.43m), confirmed his aspirations to achieve the best results in the rounds of the current season and to make additional achievements after wining the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020 and the third gold in the World Championships Oregon 2022.Talking to the press, Barshim added that he seeks to win the Diamond League rounds and defend his title in the World Championship to be held in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in August, and the Asian Games in China at the end of this year, indicating that he has completed his preparations and set his plan to meet challenges and achieve his goals.For his part, former world 400m hurdles bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba affirmed his recovery from injuries as well as his full readiness to start the 2023 sports season from Doha on May 5.aSamba said in press statements that he will return to the track after an absence of two years in which he did not participate in any tournament, adding that he will be keen on a distinguished return that will help him achieve success in the season that includes the World Championship, the Asian Championship and the Asian Games.

HE Minister of Sports and Youth Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali crowned the champions of the first edition of the local beach volleyball tournament "IKBIS", which was organized by the Qatar Sports for All Federation at Aspire stadiums in cooperation with a number of sponsors.Information challenge team claimed the title after a 2-1 win over the Al Mirqab team in the final match, while Zekreet team won third place after defeating Al Rayyan, bringing one of the most prominent Ramadan volleyball tournaments to an end.Advisor to the Minister of Sports and Youth, President of the Qatar Sports for All Federation Abdulrahman bin Musallam Al Dosari, former President of the Qatar Volleyball Association Dr. Abdullah Yousef Al Mal, a number of representatives of the sponsors, and fans of the championship attended the crowning of the champions.The tournament, which kicked off on March 26, saw the participation of 12 teams divided into four groups.

Organised by Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation over five days, Ali Al Obaidli won Ramadan Open Snooker Championship in which 40 players took part.Al Obaidli was crowned with the title and won the championship cup, after a 4-1 win over Russian competitor Kosta Stepanov coach of the Qatar national team in the final match.Al Obaidli claimed the title starting with his group's lead in the group stage, followed by a 3-0 win over Muzammil Hussein and a 4-2 victory over Bashar Hussein in the quarter-finals.

Ramzy al-Duhami showed all his experience as the Saudi rider clinched the Medium Tour class during the 14th and final round of the Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab at Al Shaqab’s Longines Arena on Friday night.Al-Duhami, who was on the Olympic bronze-medal-winning Saudi team at 2012 London Games and will be heading to his sixth Olympics in Paris next summer, guided 16-year-old gelding High Quality J to a comfortable victory in the 135cm class. The 51-year-old rider finished his round in 67.31 secs to take home QR7,500 in prize money.Qatar’s Salmeen al-Suwaidi astride Fiori LS was second in 69.23 secs, while Frenchwoman Cyrine Cherif came home third with her trusted stallion Brennus Villelongue in 69.57 secs.Al-Suwaidi was also part of the Qatar Armed Forces, which won the Medium Tour Team competition. Al-Suwaidi and Khalid Mohamed al-Emadi combined for a total time of 144.19 secs. In second place was Alfardan, with ExxonMobil taking the final podium spot.It was a double delight for Mohamed Saeed Haidan in the Small Tour as the Qatari rider scooped top two places in the 115cm class. Haidan topped the timesheet with veteran mare Miss Chili as the pair registered time of 37.06 and 30.25 seconds in two rounds. Haidan then led Kalwintic Ryal K to second place in 36.52 & 30.62 secs. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi onboard Nebrasco was third after clocking 38.19 & 31.16 secs. ResultsMedium Tour | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 | 120/135cmRider: Ramzy al-Duhami; Horse: High Quality J; Time: 67.31 secs; Prize money: QR7,5002. Salmeen al-Suwaidi; Fiori LS; 69.23 secs; QR6,0003. Cyrine Cherif; Brennus Villelongue; 69.57 secs; QR4,500 Medium Tour Team competition1. Qatar Armed Forces; Riders: Salmeen Sultan al-Suwaidi; Khalid Mohamed al-Emadi; Total Time: 144.19 secs; Prize money: QR15,0002. Alfardan; Mohamed Khalifa Albaker; Mohamed Abdulla Juma; Mohamed Saeed Haidan; 147.02 secs; QR9,0003. ExxonMobil; Faleh Suwead al-Ajami; Hussain Saeed Haidan; 142.15 secs; QR6,000 Small Tour | Table A, Special two phases, Art. 274.2.5 | 100/115cm1. Rider: Mohamed Saeed Haidan; Horse: Miss Chili; Times: 37.06 & 30.25; Prize money: QR5,0002. Mohamed Saeed Haidan; Kalwintic Ryal K; 36.52 & 30.62 secs; QR4,0003. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi; Nebrasco; 38.19 & 31.16 secs; QR3,000

Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City crushed Southampton 4-1 to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal, while Frank Lampard’s first game back in charge of Chelsea ended in a 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Saturday.Haaland took his Premier League goal tally to 30 this season, within four of the single-season record, thanks to a clinical header and a breathtaking overhead kick at St Mary’s. The Norway forward’s goals, which gave him 44 in all competitions this term, came either side of Jack Grealish’s strike against the league’s bottom club.Julian Alvarez netted with a late penalty as second-placed City moved within five points of Arsenal, who travel to Liverpool today. Arsenal remain firm favourites to end City’s reign as champions but with Haaland in this mood and a home game against the Gunners to come on April 26, there is no chance Pep Guardiola’s side will surrender without a fight.Lampard made a surprise return to Stamford Bridge on Thursday when he was appointed until the end of the season following Graham Potter’s sacking last Sunday after just seven months in charge. But the ex-Chelsea midfielder, who was dismissed by the club’s former owner Roman Abramovich in January 2021, could not provide an immediate lift for the Blues.Matheus Nunes won it for Wolves in the 32nd minute with a superb half-volley into the far corner from the edge of the area. Chelsea remain 11th after a fourth consecutive game without a win. Sacked by lowly Everton in January after less than a year in charge, Lampard said of his Chelsea return: “There has been a lot of change and that’s not an excuse but things need to improve. That performance summed it up.”At Old Trafford, Manchester United beat Everton 2-0 to stay fourth and leave the fourth-bottom visitors above the relegation zone on goal difference. Goals from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial edged United ever closer to a return to the Champions League next season.Despite the win, United boss Erik ten Hag took aim at his side’s congested fixture schedule after Marcus Rashford limped off nine minutes from time. “We have to wait. He doesn’t look well,” said Ten Hag. “It’s due to the schedule. It can’t be that you play three games in six days and we have to protect the players.”Third-placed Newcastle are above United on goal difference after a 2-1 success at Brentford made it five consecutive wins for the Magpies. Ivan Toney’s weak 29th-minute penalty was saved by Nick Pope, the Brentford forward’s first miss from the spot since 2018.Toney made amends when he converted another penalty in the 45th minute after Alexander Isak’s foul on Rico Henry. But Newcastle equalised through David Raya’s 54th-minute own goal as Joelinton’s chip went in off the Brentford goalkeeper. And Isak put Newcastle in front after 61 minutes with a blistering finish from the edge of the area.Tottenham are three points behind Newcastle after beating Brighton 2-1 in north London. Son Heung-min put Tottenham ahead with a superb long-range curler into the top corner after 10 minutes. It took the South Korean’s Premier League tally to 100 goals, making him the first Asian player to reach that landmark.Lewis Dunk headed Brighton’s equaliser from Solly March’s corner in the 34th minute. Tottenham interim manager Cristian Stellini and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi were both sent off after a touchline spat before Harry Kane lashed home the winner in the 79th minute.Aston Villa climbed to sixth place as their Unai Emery-inspired revival gathered pace with a 2-0 home win against third-bottom Nottingham Forest. Bertrand Traore gave Villa the lead in the 48th minute and Ollie Watkins got the second in the final moments.West Ham boosted their survival bid as Harrison Reed’s 23rd-minute own goal sealed a 1-0 win at Fulham. Bournemouth rose out of the relegation zone thanks to a 1-0 win at second-bottom Leicester, who were booed off after Philip Billing punished James Maddison’s sloppy back-pass in the 40th minute. ResultsAston Villa 2 (Traore 48, Watkins 90+5) Nottingham Forest 0; Brentford 1 (Toney 45-pen) Newcastle 2 (Raya 54-og, Isak 61); Fulham 0 West Ham 1 (Reed 23-og); Leicester 0 Bournemouth 1 (Billing 40); Manchester United 2 (McTominay 36, Martial 71) Everton 0; Southampton 1 (Mara 72) Manchester City 4 (Haaland 45, 68, Grealish 58, Alvarez 75-pen); Tottenham 2 (Son 10, Kane 79) Brighton 1 (Dunk 34); Wolves 1 (Nunes 32) Chelsea 0Playing today (times GMT): Leeds v Crystal Palace (1300), Liverpool v Arsenal (1530)

Tim Seifert was the match-winner for the second straight game as New Zealand clinched the T20 series against Sri Lanka with a tense four-wicket victory in Queenstown on Saturday.Seifert blasted a career-high 88 off 48 balls to fire the Black Caps to 183-6 from 19.5 overs after the tourists had posted 182-6 in the third and final game at John Davies Oval.The opener struck 10 fours and three sixes in an innings that bore many of the hallmarks of his unbeaten 79 when New Zealand levelled the series at Dunedin on Wednesday.Captain Tom Latham provided the only meaningful support with 31 off 23 and New Zealand’s middle order nearly conspired to lose the game after Seifert departed with four overs remaining.Needing to score at little more than a run-a-ball at that stage, the Black Caps stuttered.Needing 10 runs to win off the final over bowled by Lahiru Kumara (3-38), Mark Chapman struck a six off the first ball before he was the first of three New Zealand wickets to fall.With two still needed off the last two deliveries, Rachin Ravindra held his nerve to find a gap in the outfield and secure the 2-1 series win. Latham conceded the run chase should not have become so tight at the death.“They put us under pressure so it was good to see the way the guys responded to that,” Latham said.“The way Timmy Seifert went out there and played was really important but obviously it wasn’t ideal going down to the last couple of balls. “I’d say we always had it under control though.”It completes a disappointing tour for Sri Lanka, who lost the Test and ODI series by the same 2-0 scoreline but were more competitive in the shortest format.Captain Dasun Shanaka said his team adjusted gradually to New Zealand conditions and suggested Sri Lankan cricket officials should take careful note.“I think it’s about preparation. We should make sure when we come here again, we should come at least two weeks, three weeks before we play,” Shanaka said. “Once we got into the T20 series we started looking a different team.”Sri Lanka gave themselves a shot at victory after Kusal Mendis struck a rapid 73 off 48 balls, taking full advantage after being dropped by Daryl Mitchell at slip when on 10.The opener-wicketkeeper went on to hit six fours and five sixes in his 12th half-century, falling just short of his career-high score of 79.Having been asked to bat, Mendis was the dominant figure in an opening stand of 76 with Pathum Nissanka (25 off 25), before putting on a further 46 with Kusal Perera (33 off 21).Wickets fell rapidly over the closing overs, preventing the tourists from going close to 200.Seifert has not been included in New Zealand’s squad for the white ball tour of Pakistan beginning on Friday as he is expecting the arrival of his first child.Sri Lanka’s next assignment is a two-Test home series against Ireland, beginning on April 16.BRIEF SCORESSri Lanka 182-6 in 20 overs (K. Mendis 73, K. Perera 33, P. Nissanka 25; B. Lister 2-37) lost toNew Zealand 183-6 in 19.5 overs (T. Seifert 88, T. Latham 31; L. Kumara 3-38) by 4 wickets.Series: New Zealand 2-1.

Blazing half-centuries from England’s Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal helped Rajasthan Royals climb to the top of the IPL table with a 57-run hammering of Delhi Capitals yesterday.Last year’s runners-up Rajasthan posted 199-4 after an attacking 98-run opening stand between the left-handed Jaiswal (60) and Buttler (79) in their second home at Guwahati.New Zealand’s left-arm quick Trent Boult led the bowling charge with a double-wicket maiden over to restrict Delhi to 142-9 as Rajasthan bounced back from their previous loss. Boult and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets each. Rajasthan, who won the first edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008 under late Australian great Shane Warne, have won two of their three matches to lead the 10-team T20 tournament.David Warner’s Delhi slumped to their third loss of the season in as many matches.The left-hander made 65 and got past 6,000 IPL runs but his valiant knock got little support from the other end. Delhi’s Rovman Powell fell for two after he made the XI in place of Australian import Mitchell Marsh, who flew back home for his wedding and will return in a week.Jaiswal, 21, provided Rajasthan with an explosive start after being invited to bat first, the rising Indian opener smashing five boundaries in the opening over.Buttler, who batted with stitches on his finger after getting hurt while fielding in the previous match, soon took over as he hit Anrich Nortje for three straight fours in the next over.Rajasthan lost their way in the middle but Buttler, who reached his second 50 of the season with a six, soon changed gears with Shimron Hetmyer (39 not out).Buttler, who got the orange cap for leading the season’s batting chart, was later substituted by spinner Murugan Ashwin under the new impact player rule.BRIEF SCORESRajasthan Royals 199 for 4 (Buttler 79, Jaiswal 60, Mukesh 2-36) beat Delhi Capitals 142 for 9 (Warner 65, Chahal 3-27, Boult 3-29) by 57 runs.Jadeja, Rahane help Chennai floor MumbaiSpinner Ravindra Jadeja’s 3-20 and a bludgeoning 61 by Ajinkya Rahane guided Chennai Super Kings to an emphatic seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the El Classico of IPL yesterday. Rahane made an impactful debut for Chennai with a fastest fifty this Indian Premier League season in 19 balls as the four-time winners achieved their victory target of 158 in 18.1 overs in Mumbai.Coming one down after the fall of Devon Conway for a duck, Rahane tore into the Mumbai attack, which was without Jofra Archer after the England pace bowler was rested due to discomfort in his elbow.Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma said Archer, who returned to the team in the previous match after missing last season, not playing was “just a precaution”.Rohit said he would want five-time champions Mumbai to come out of the slump after losing their two matches this season. Chennai’s England stars including Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali missed out due to injuries and South Africans Dwaine Pretorius and Sisanda Magala made the team.But Jadeja made an impression with his left-arm spin as he got the key wickets of Ishan Kishan (32), Cameron Green, out for 12 after an excellent caught and bowled, and Tilak Varma (22).Jadeja was ably supported by New Zealand left-arm orthodox Mitchell Santner, who returned figures of 2-28 including getting T20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav caught behind for one.Tim David’s late cameo of 31 boosted Mumbai’s total but was still not enough to challenge the Chennai batting.Rahane, who was signed by Chennai for his base price of $61,094 in the December auction, smashed seven fours and three sixes in his 27-ball blitz.Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad made an unbeaten 40 to move to the top of the batting chart with 189 runs this season as he jumped over Buttler and David WarnerBRIEF SCORESMumbai Indians 157 for 8 (Kishan 32, Jadeja 3-20, Santner 2-28, Deshpande 2-31) lost to Chennai Super Kings 159 for 3 (Rahane 61, Gaikwad 40*, Kartikeya 1-24) by seven wickets.

Canada’s Alison Jackson won a six-way sprint to achieve the greatest victory of her career in the women’s Paris-Roubaix cycling classic on Saturday.Italian Katia Ragusa of LIV Racing was second and Fenix-Deceuninck rider Marthe Truyen of Germany was third as outsiders took the top six in a feared racing date known as the “Hell of the North”.Rain during the week combined with bright sunshine on the day made the road surfaces slick.EF rider Jackson was one of 18 outsiders who got away in an early escape that managed to stay ahead all the way home.This was thanks to last year’s champion Elisa Longo Borghini bringing down the entire group of favourites on one of 17 sections of the cobbled mining roads in northern France.“I could hardly believe it when I got across the line,” said the 34-year-old, who dominated the sprint from beginning to end.“I’m going to use whatever force I have left to stagger up to that podium, I am so, so ready for this,” said the exuberant Jackson.Handed a huge cobble gleaned from the unused mining roads near the border with Belgium, Jackson cut an exultant figure hopping up and down as she laughed with nerves.“It’s unreal, I’m lost for words. It’s a dream come true,” she said.Kopecky misses doubleRecent Tour of Flanders champion Lotte Kopecky lost her bid for the cobbled double when the Belgiqn was caught up in the crash with Longo Borghini.The Italian had been leading the race at the time of the big crash and took out most of the top contenders on the 145.4km slog from Denain to Roubaix.This group lost around five minutes on the escape but as the race neared the end it looked like a heart-breaking reel in was on the cards.At the five-star danger rated Carrefour de l’Arbre cobbled section with 26km to go the pursuit began hacking into the lead. And within sight of the Roubaix velodrome the gap had been cut to around ten seconds.But the favourites failed to form an alliance of fortune with so much at stake as the big guns let the small fry steal the day for once.This is just the third time the women’s race has been staged but it has gained in length, difficulty and stature since Lizzie Deignan won the first edition in 2021.So far the fearsome Trouee d’Arenberg, at the Arenberg coal mine has been left off the women’s course.Today, the men’s race will go over 256km in a race featuring 29 cobbled sections and billed as a duel between eternal rivals Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel.

Play was suspended for the remainder of the day in Saturday’s third round of the 87th Masters after heavy rains caused standing water to puddle on greens at Augusta National.The horn sounded at 3:15 p.m. with pouring rains, brisk winds and cold temperatures pounding the 54 players who made the cut.American Brooks Koepka, the leader at 13-under par, was on the green at the seventh hole with an 11-foot par putt when play was halted while playing partner Jon Rahm, second on 9-under had a nine-foot birdie putt.Koepka began the round with a two-stroke advantage over Rahm and both made birdies on the par-5 second hole in wet and windy conditions.Koepka was in front on 13-under with Rahm at 11-under and no rival lower than 6-under in the early going.Rahm, among 39 players who had to complete the storm-hit second round on Saturday morning, had been within a shot of Koepka before bogeying the final hole in round two.Five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods managed to battle through the testing conditions to make the cut at three-over par 147 after shooting a one-over 73, but Rory McIlroy was among the big names to miss out on the final two rounds.The second round completed and the cut made, the third round got under way at 11:30 a.m. with threesomes off split tees in a bid to complete the round before sunset.Rahm had an eventful session back on course, making birdies on the par-3 12th and par-5 15th before, in driving rain, he bogeyed by three-putting the par-3 16th. The Spaniard quickly made amends on the par-4 17th, where he rolled in a six-foot putt from the fringe for birdie. Three-putting the final hole, however, left Rahm on 10-under 134 overall after rounds of 65 and 69 as he targets a second major win to follow his 2021 US Open triumph.“I would have taken even par in the last four holes either way, and going through this afternoon, hopefully we play and I go with a lot of confidence,” Rahm said. Conditions could be challenging on the rain-soaked course.“We don’t know what kind of conditions we’re going to have. The weather’s supposed to get worse,” said Rahm.“The greens have somehow maintained somewhat firm... but we don’t know what’s going to happen. Just a couple of greens that already had some water on them, and we’ll see but obviously if I play a little bit longer, might not be able to be as aggressive in some spots.”Friday’s play had been cut short after stormy weather descended on Augusta National, with three of the course’s trademark tall pine trees blowing over.Organisers said no spectators were injured by the falling trees and while it was cool with wind and rain yesterday, there was no sign of thunder or lightning that would halt play.Four-time major winner Koepka, who plays on the breakaway LIV golf series, is the man to catch after an outstanding opening two rounds.At 118th in the world, Koepka would be the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters since the rankings system was introduced in 1986. The current holder of that distinction is Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was ranked 69th when he won the green jacket in 2009. Woods, looking glum as he limped through the rain trying to avoid missing the cut for the first time as a professional, needed some help to get over the cut line.The 15-time major winner looked to have blown his chance when he made bogey on each of the last two holes to fall back to three-over.But his friend Justin Thomas, last year’s PGA Championship winner, then bogeyed the final two holes himself to move the cut line to three-over, saving Woods and ensuring he made the cut for a 23rd consecutive effort.That matched the Masters record also shared by Gary Player and Fred Couples.McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys on Friday, leaving him 17 strokes behind pace-setter Koepka and condemned to his second missed Masters cut in three years. Bennett tries to make history as first amateur winnerSam Bennett, trying to become the first amateur golfer to win the Masters, thinks of his late father every time he grips a club.That’s because the advice stressed by Bennett’s father Mark, who died in June 2021 due to Alzheimer’s disease, is summed up by the tattoo on his left arm.“I see it every time I’m gripping the club, it’s right there: ‘Don’t wait to do something,’” Bennett said.“I thrive on it. I use it for some motivation. I know how happy he would be seeing me out here at Augusta National doing what I’m doing. This week, I’ve used it to just stay focused and really be locked in to that one shot.”Bennett, the reigning US Amateur champion, opened with back-to-back rounds of four-under 68 to stand third on 136 to join leader Brooks Koepka and world number three Jon Rahm in the third round’s final trio.“I got off to a dream start and then was able to keep going and gain some ground,” Bennett said. “I knew my golf was good enough to compete out here.”Now Bennett knows something else. “I found myself in a situation that now I’ve got a golf tournament I can go out and win,” Bennett said.Bennett was one off the 36-hole amateur record set in 1956 by Ken Venturi, who led the first three rounds before settling for second place.It has been 90 years since an amateur player won any major title.That was Johnny Goodman at the 1933 US Open, a year before the first playing of the Masters. Augusta National was founded by amateur legend Bobby Jones, a four-time US Open and three-time British Open champion who presence is felt in the design of the famed layout, photos of him on the clubhouse walls and his advice on places to watch along the course - still found in the spectators’ guide. But Bennett ponders another spiritual presence this week under the Georgia pines - his dad.“I’ve thought a lot about him while walking this beautiful course,” said Bennett.“Just how cool he would have thought this was. I’m sure he’s looking down.”And while his dad would be proud of Bennett’s historic shotmaking, the 24-year-old American said his father would be prouder of his character.“He has never cared about golf score or anything. He could care less if I went out there and shot 80 as long as I was doing the right things and treating people the right way and being a real gentleman,” Bennett said.“He would think this would be cool with what I have to come in the weekend. But more so than anything, the guy that I’ve become, he would be appreciative of.”Bennett, who received his only golf lesson while in the seventh grade, is joined this week by his Texas A&M college coach, Brian Kortan, who serves as his caddie this week. “I can talk to him about literally anything I want. We’re having fun out there,” Bennett said. “Without him, I would not be able to be in the situation that I am. Just some of the numbers he has given me, some of the club selections, some of the stuff he said to help me calm down, all credit to him.” (AFP)

The race walking team event, which will make its debut at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, will comprise a male and female athlete covering the marathon distance in four legs of almost equal measure, according to the format released yesterday.Governing body World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee agreed on the format, saying the marathon distance of 42.195km was selected owing to its “existing popularity in athletics and link to the traditions of the Olympic Games”.The event will feature 25 teams and each athlete will complete two legs of just over 10km.“We’re excited to have another mixed relay on the Olympic programme to showcase the skills of both our female and male athletes in one event,” said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon.“This format is designed to be innovative, dynamic and unpredictable. We believe it will be easily understood by fans... and, importantly, it will ensure full gender equality across the Olympic track and field programme for the first time.”The male athlete will start the race before the female athlete takes part in the second leg. The third leg will be completed by the male athlete and the final leg by the female athlete.The event will last for about three hours and be held on the same course as the individual race walking events, which will be at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The team qualification pathway for the event will be published shortly, World Athletics said.The Paris Games will be held from July 26-August 11.

Top-seeded Jessica Pegula held off Paula Badosa 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) on Friday to line up a semi-final clash with defending champion Belinda Bencic as the top four seeds advanced at the WTA Charleston clay court tournament.Switzerland’s Bencic, seeded fourth, won her ninth straight match in Charleston when she beat seventh-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3.Second-seeded Ons Jabeur advanced when Anna Kalinskaya retired from their quarter-final because of illness.Jabeur was up 6-0, 4-1 when Kalinskaya called it a day, the Tunisian reaching the semi-finals for the third straight year.She will next face third-seeded Daria Kasatkina, who turned the tables on ninth-seeded American Madison Keys 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2 in a battle of former Charleston champions.Kasatkina notched just her second victory over Keys in 10 career meetings.Pegula, ranked third in the world, needed just 35 minutes to capture the opening set from Badosa, and broke to open the second.Powering through her service games, Pegula served for the match at 5-4 only for Badosa to break and level the set.The Spaniard held off a break point in the next game as they went to the tiebreaker, where she saved a match point with a forehand winner before giving Pegula another with a forehand long, her backhand into the net finally allowing Pegula to celebrate.Pegula, who is seeking her first clay court title, will have her work cut out against Bencic, who is chasing her third title of the season after victories in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi.Jabeur, who improved to 2-0 against Kalinskaya and reached her second semi-final of the season. The first was in Adelaide in January. Since then Jabeur - the beaten finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year - has undergone surgery after suffering a knee injury at the Australian Open.She missed the WTA’s tournaments in Doha and Dubai, and after falling in the third round at Indian Wells lost her second-round opener at Miami.However, Jabeur has looked at home on the green clay at Charleston, reaching the semis without dropping a set.

A superb second-half strike from Matthijs de Ligt gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at Freiburg, keeping them two points clear atop the table as title rivals Borussia Dortmund also won yesterday.Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 win over third-placed Union Berlin maintains the pressure on the perennial German champions’ bid for an 11th straight Bundesliga title. Bayern, who were eliminated by Freiburg 2-1 in the German Cup on Tuesday, had a chance for revenge but lacked fluency despite new coach Thomas Tuchel naming an attack-heavy line-up.Sadio Mane, starting for the first time under Tuchel, had Bayern’s best chance of the first half, beating goalkeeper Mark Flekken but chipping inches wide. Freiburg had a chance of their own just before half-time, Ritsu Doan’s shot rebounding off the underside of the bar.Bayern broke the deadlock early in the second half, De Ligt’s long-range shot taking a slight deflection and flying past a helpless Flekken. Freiburg nearly equalised late but Bayern ‘keeper Yann Sommer got his foot to a Roland Sallai strike to preserve the visitors’ advantage. “We had many chances and we should have used them better, but thankfully we did not concede a goal,” said De Ligt.Bayern now have two wins and a loss under Tuchel, ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Tuchel said his side need “belief” ahead of “one of football’s biggest tests” at City.“We have a few players carrying a knock and City have been in great shape lately. But in football, it’s never that simple,” Tuchel said after his third match in charge of Bayern. “We’re going to get there with courage, aware that we will need to produce a great performance.”Tuchel masterminded a 1-0 defeat of Man City in the 2021 Champions League final as Chelsea manager. “The Champions League is a competition where matches are decided on the day,” added Tuchel. “Anything can happen in football, when you are ready and when you believe in yourself. It is one of football’s biggest tests... I haven’t looked into the match against Man City yet, because we’ve been quite busy ourselves.”Meanwhile, A late goal from substitute Youssoufa Moukoko took Dortmund to a nervy victory over Union. Dortmund took the lead midway through the first half, Malen poking in a Raphael Guerreiro cross from close range, his third goal in as many matches.Union fought back in typical fashion, Kevin Behrens levelling the scores with the away side’s first shot on target. Dortmund coach Edin Terzic brought on captain Marco Reus and teenage striker Moukoko with 15 minutes remaining and the two combined for a crucial goal in Dortmund’s bid to unseat Bayern as league champions. Moukoko revealed Terzic said “when you come in, decide the game”. “I could smell it - it was striker’s instinct,” he added.RB leipzig won 1-0 at Hertha Berlin to leapfrog Freiburg into fourth. With the first half winding down, leipzig’s French defender Mohamed Simakan rose high to meet a corner, with his scuffed shot falling at the feet of midfielder Amadou Haidara, who tapped home.Leipzig wasted several chances to put an end to the match but held on despite a late charge from Hertha. Hertha are now winless in five and could be in last place with seven matches in the season remaining depending on other results today.Bayer Leverkusen won 3-1 at home against Eintracht Frankfurt to leapfrog their opponents into sixth, thanks to goals from Amine Adli, Moussa Diaby and Sardar Azmoun. Frankfurt’s Djibril Sow pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining, but Leverkusen held on for their fifth straight league victory. The win keeps Leverkusen on track for the Champions League places in a remarkable resurgence under coach Xabi Alonso, who took over with the side in second-last place in October.Elsewhere, goals from Ellyes Skhiri, Eric Martel and Linton Maina secured Cologne a 3-1 win at Augsburg, their first victory since February.Mainz’s late season run towards a Europa League place took a hit after a 2-2 home draw against Werder Bremen, with each side scoring twice in the final five minutes.RESULTSHertha Berlin 0 RB leipzig 1 (Haidara 39); Borussia Dortmund 2 (Malen 28, Moukoko 79) Union Berlin 1 (Behrens 61); Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Adli 10, Diaby 34, Azmoun 90+5) Eintracht Frankfurt 1 (Sow 74); Freiburg 0 Bayern Munich 1 (De Ligt 51); Mainz 2 (Ajorque 85, Weiper 90+3) Werder Bremen 2 (Stage 87, Fullkrug 90+5); Augsburg 1 (Vargas 29) Cologne 3 (Skhiri 7, Martel 16, Maina 59)Playing today: Borussia Moenchengladbach v Wolfsburg (1330), Bochum v Stuttgart (1530), Hoffenheim v Schalke (1730)

Marooned at the bottom of France’s top flight, Angers claimed their first Ligue 1 win since September as they beat European hopefuls Lille 1-0 yesterday. Bosnian full-back Halid Sabanovic, on as a substitute, scrambled in the only goal of the match with six minutes left at the Stade Raymond Kopa, following in to score after Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier had saved from Adrien Hunou.The result allows Angers to end a run of 21 matches without a win, in which they had picked up just three points.That means they will not match the French top-flight record for the most games without a win in a single season – that record is held by Arles-Avignon who went 23 matches without a victory in 2010/11.They nevertheless remain seven points adrift at the bottom of the table and 12 away from safety with only eight games to play. On their third coach of the season, Angers have been in seemingly endless turbulence off the pitch.Angers owner Said Chabane recently quit as club president after being placed under investigation for sexual assault. He also now faces trial in a money laundering affair. In addition, Angers’ Algerian international Ilyes Chetti was this week handed a four-month suspended sentence for sexual assault.It is a desperately disappointing result for Lille, who began the day in fifth place but were denied on several occasions by fine saves from home goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni. Meanwhile Jonathan David, the Canada striker who is Ligue 1’s joint top scorer this season on 19 goals alongside Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, had an off-day in attack.Lens beat Strasbourg to keep pressure on PSGOn Friday, Lens claimed their fourth straight win with a 2-1 victory over Strasbourg to close the gap on leaders Paris Saint-Germain to just three points. The northeners have 63 points and are second behind PSG who were travelling to Nice late last night after back-to-back defeats.Marseille are third, three points behind Lens with Monaco a further three points adrift in fourth before those clubs visit Lorient and Nantes respectively today. After a rough start against their relegation-threatened rivals, Lens found a way through thanks to an impressive move concluded by Polish winger Przemyslaw Frankowski in the 11th minute.Frankowski latched onto a pass from former Strasbourg midfielder Adrien Thomasson, with the goal initially refused as offside but validated after a VAR viewing. Strasbourg lacked sharpness on their rare chances in front of goal with Lens adding a second in the 65th minute thanks to Facundo Medina’s low deflected shot.The side from Alsace pulled a goal back with five minutes to go with a curling Kevin Gameiro effort catching Brice Samba napping in the Lens goal.The visitors chased the equaliser but instead finished a man down after Habib Diallo was sent off in injury time. Lens held on to win their 13th out of 15 home league games, more than any team in the top five European leagues. Strasbourg could finish the weekend back in the relegation zone as they sit 16th, equal on 26 points with Auxerre who travel to fellow relegation candidates Ajaccio today.