NYON: Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce were rewarded for squeezing into the Europa League knockout stage by being drawn Friday to face Anderlecht in a two-leg playoff.
Fenerbahce placed 24th in the new 36-standings format — the last qualification place, and on a tiebreaker of goal difference — and will host the first leg on Feb. 13.
The return game in Brussels is one week later.
Mourinho was hired to end Fenerbahce’s decade-long wait for a Turkish league title, though trails Istanbul rival Galatasaray by six points. Galatasaray also were in Friday’s draw and will face AZ Alkmaar, with the first game in the Netherlands.
Two of Mourinho’s former clubs, Porto and Roma were paired, and Ajax were drawn to face Union Saint-Gilloise which will host the first leg in Belgium.
The playoff round draw involved teams which placed from ninth to 24th over the new eight-game schedule that ended Thursday.
The round of 16 pairings are made on Feb. 21 also involving the top-eight teams in the league phase.
They include two more of Mourinho’s former clubs, Manchester United and Tottenham, plus Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiakos and Rangers.
Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round
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Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round
- Fenerbahce placed 24th in the new 36-standings format and will host the first leg on Feb. 13
- Mourinho was hired to end Fenerbahce’s decade-long wait for a Turkish league title
England wins the toss and bats against South Africa in Champions Trophy match
- Jos Buttler won the toss and England decided to bat against South Africa at the Champions Trophy
KARACHI: In his final game as captain, Jos Buttler won the toss and England decided to bat against South Africa at the Champions Trophy.
England is already out of the tournament with two straight defeats — it lost to Australia by five wickets and to Afghanistan by eight runs.
Buttler announced on Friday that he would step down after England’s surprising exit, as well as its past failures in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
South Africa is in a must-win position in the final group B game — victory against England will confirm its top spot from the group and a place in the semifinals.
The Proteas have made two changes — skipper Temba Bavuma and batter Tony de Zorzi miss out owing to illness. Aiden Markram leads in Bavuma’s absence, with Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen included.
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Lineups:
England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood
South Africa: Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Tsitsipas sets up final clash with Auger-Aliassime at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
- The Greek star beats Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to reach a third Dubai final in four attempts — and a first outdoor hardcourt final since November 2023
- Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime overcomes French qualifier Quentin Halys in semifinal for a Tour-high 16th win of the season as he seeks third ATP title in standout start to 2025
DUBAI: Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for a third time in four appearances after easing past Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 on Friday.
The World No. 11, in what will be his 30th career final, will face the ATP Tour’s most in-form player, Felix Auger-Aliassime, after the Canadian defeated qualifier Quentin Halys earlier in the day.
Saturday night’s trophy match represents a first outdoor hardcourt final in 18 months for Tsitsipas, who is seeking a maiden title in the emirate after finishing runner-up against both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in 2019 and 2020 respectively. This week, having eased past Lorenzo Sonego in the first round, he needed three sets against both Karen Khachanov and Matteo Berrettini, with both ties going late into the night. Tsitsipas was grateful to wrap up his semifinal with Griekspoor in just one hour and 23 minutes.
“Finally, I can have an early night, a good night’s sleep, and not have to go to bed at two o’clock in the morning,” said the Greek No. 4 seed, who is hunting a 12th ATP title. “I’m extremely happy to play good tennis from beginning to end. My focus levels were at the highest they have been this week.
“It was a well-balanced game from my side and I felt I didn’t get into the same drama I got in the previous matches where I was in kind of control and suddenly the coin flipped. I felt like I was leading the game, which felt good; I played the tennis that I deserved.”
The former World No. 3, Tsitsipas was nearly flawless on serve in the opening set, hitting four aces and looking more at ease than in previous matches. At three games apiece, he glimpsed his first real opportunity to seize control, carving out a pair of break points but failing to capitalize. The harbinger, however, was unmistakable. When Griekspoor stepped to the line in his next service game, the Greek pressed again — this time with precision. A single break was all he needed.
In the second, with Griekspoor having called a medical timeout between sets, Tsitsipas claimed an early break and never looked back. Both players showed strength on serve and clinical efficiency as each held serve without drama. But it was Tsitsipas’s composure — so often the Athens-born star’s Achilles’ heel in pressure moments — that defined the night. This time, there were no stumbles, no wavering resolve. With a measured, almost methodical performance, he closed out a comfortable victory to book his place in a first hardcourt final since defeating Alex de Minaur to win Los Cabos in 2023.
On Saturday, Tsitsipas will face, in Auger-Aliassime, a player he holds a 6-3 head-to-head Tour record against, but one he has not faced since November 2023 at the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris when he won in straight sets. The 24-year-old Canadian beat qualifier Quentin Halys 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in his own semifinal to continue a standout start to 2025 and book a place in a third final of the season before the end of February. Ominously for his opponent, he has won both those title matches, in Adelaide and Montpellier.
“I feel like he has improved — I’ve been seeing that over the last few weeks,” Tsitsipas said of the World No. 21, who with 16 wins has won more matches than any other player on Tour this year. “I’m not expecting the same type of Felix I’ve played before; I’m expecting something different. Him being in the final just proves that. From my mind, I’m just going to try to play well, try to be a tough opponent to beat. That’s my main focus; my main goal going out there. I will try my best in terms of delivering that, making sure that’s the level I want to reach when I’m playing.”
Auger-Aliassime has been made to fight his way to the final too, requiring three sets in all his matches so far this week. Showing resilience after falling a set down to Halys on Friday, the Montreal native stayed calm to turn the tie on its head. Frenchman Halys, ranked No. 77 in the world and forced to come through qualifying, had enjoyed somewhat of a fairytale week as he eliminated both No. 3 seed Andrey Rublev and 2018 champion Roberto Bautista Agut en route to the final four.
Yet Auger-Aliassime is exuding confidence this season and the third set seemed to only be going to one man as the Canadian booked a place in his sixth ATP 500 final.
“I’ve been really trying to win in straight sets this week,” he said, smiling. “Somehow, I find myself in three-setters … ultimately you have to win two sets, so it doesn’t matter how. Not every week is going to be like this during a season — it happens. The great thing is that even not playing, let’s say, the ultimate best tennis every set, every game, I’m able to be in a final. That’s positive — I’ll for sure take that. Hopefully tomorrow I can play even a little bit better.”
Lydia Ko takes third-round lead at LPGA Singapore, Charley Hull is one stroke behind
- Lydia Ko shot a 4-under 68 to move from one stroke behind to one stroke in front after three rounds of the LPGA’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore
- The 27-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander had a 54-hole total Saturday of 10-under 206 on the Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club
SINGAPORE: Lydia Ko shot a 4-under 68 Saturday to move from one stroke behind to one stroke in front after three rounds of the LPGA’s HSBC Women’s World Championship.
The 27-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander had a 54-hole total of 10-under 206 on the Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club.
Charley Hull, who birdied two of her first four holes, was a stroke behind in second after a 68. Jeeno Thitikul, who had four back-nine birdies for a 66, had the best round of the day to move into third place, three strokes behind Ko.
A Lim Kim, who led after the first two rounds, moved in the wrong direction with a 73 and was tied for fourth place, four strokes off the lead. Defending champion Hannah Green had a 67 to move 16 places up the leaderboard and was five behind Ko.
Ko had three bogeys with seven birdies, including four on her back nine.
“I made a few mistakes but I was able to bounce back with a few good birdies as well,” said the former world No. 1. “It really doesn’t matter what the context is, as long as you can put a good score, and under the circumstances, I felt like I playing really solid. So hopefully these past few days will give me good rhythm for tomorrow.”
Ko is chasing her 23rd LPGA title and looking to finally break through in Singapore in 11 appearances. Her best result at the tournament was a runner-up finish in 2015.
Hull is seeking to win her third LPGA tournament.
“My mindset is going to be no different from literally the last three days,” Hull said. “Just go out there, play golf, hole some putts and have fun.”
The Singapore tournament is the second of three events on the LPGA’s first Asian swing of the year. The final event will be played next week at Hainan Island, China.
Kohli set for another landmark after roaring back to form against Pakistan
- Kohli roared back with an unbeaten 100 in their win over arch-rivals Pakistan to take them to the brink of semifinals
- The 36-year-old went past 14,000 ODI runs early in his innings, becoming only the third batsman to achieve the milestone
DUBAI: Virat Kohli is set for his 300th ODI on Sunday in the latest landmark for the Indian batting great after silencing doubts over his form and future with a match-winning Champions Trophy century.
India face New Zealand in their last group match in Dubai with both teams already into the semifinals of the 50-over tournament.
Called “King Kohli” for his prolific run-scoring, the batsman went through an extended lean patch with speculation swirling that he and skipper Rohit Sharma could soon retire. They have already quit T20Is.
But Kohli roared back with an unbeaten 100 in their win over arch-rivals Pakistan to take them to the brink of the semifinals, which they reached after a New Zealand win.
Kohli, 36, rolled back the years with his first ODI century since November 2023 as he took his time before bossing the opposition bowlers.
Teammate KL Rahul said the veteran has still a lot left in the tank.
“That (300) is a lot of ODI games and a lot of international games and he’s been... I mean words fall short to express how good a player he’s been and what a great servant of Indian cricket he’s been,” Rahul told reporters on Friday in Dubai.
“Really happy to see that he got the 100 last game as well and he’s been batting really well.
“For a player of his calibre it was about time that he scores that big century and a match-winning century.”
Rahul added: “Virat and Rohit, they are the senior players and you are always looking up to them to step up and score when the big games come.
“Hopefully there’s many more hundreds left for him (Kohli) and many more games of international cricket.”
Both Kohli and Rohit retired from T20 internationals after India’s triumph in the World Cup last year.
Kohli went past 14,000 ODI runs early in his innings against Pakistan, becoming only the third batsman to achieve the milestone after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
The knock was Kohli’s 51st ODI ton in 299 matches since his debut in 2008. He has 82 hundreds across the three international formats.
Kohli is the 22nd player in history and seventh Indian to enter the 300 club.
Tendulkar tops the list with 463 ODIs.
“I think that’s obviously a massive achievement,” New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell said of Kohli’s longevity.
“Three hundred games across a career is very impressive and then to put that in just one format is amazing.
“I think it’s a testament to the way that he’s gone about his career.”
Bracewell played with Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and said he was looking forward to facing him on Sunday.
“I saw it first hand at RCB how he sort of prepared for each match and it’s very impressive,” said Bracewell.
“He’s one of a number of class players in the Indian line-up and they’ve all played a lot of cricket now.”
Kohli has endured plenty of bumps along the way.
He won the 2011 ODI World Cup under M.S. Dhoni and then took over as captain.
Kohli helped India get back to the top of the Test rankings but he was unable to deliver the cricket-crazy nation a global title.
That drought, combined with his runs drying up, saw Kohli removed as ODI captain after giving up the T20 job.
Kohli gave up leading the Test side too and later talked about his mental struggles during his dry phase, including how he had been “snappy” around wife Anushka Sharma.
Known to wear his heart on his sleeve, Kohli has never shied away from a battle on the field and despite the odd controversy, is a hero to Indian fans.
Supporters invading the pitch to touch his feet and take selfies are regular occurrences at Indian venues.
Al-Hilal slip up at home against Al-Ahli as a Toney hat-trick dents their title hopes
- The England striker shines to give the visitors from Jeddah a memorable away victory that did not look at all likely at half-time
- Third-place Al-Nassr’s title ambitions also suffer a blow as they lose 2-1 at Al-Orubah; league leaders Al-Ittihad can go 8 points clear with a win on Sunday
JEDDAH: Al-Ahli defeated Al-Hilal 3-2 on Friday, with Ivan Toney blasting a big hole in the hosts’ Saudi Pro League title ambitions with a stunning second-half hat-trick in a thrilling game.
The England striker shone to give the visitors from Jeddah a famous victory that did bitter local rivals Al-Ittihad a huge favor, as the result means the league leaders remain five points clear of second-place Al-Hilal, now with a game in hand. Al-Ahli sit in fourth place, level on points with Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah.
The victory did not look at all likely at half-time, after 45 minutes during which the hosts were in control and had numerous chances. The game remained goalless at the break, however, and Blues would come to rue their misses.
Just moments after the restart, Gabri Veiga had the ball on the left wing and the Spaniard slipped the ball inside to Toney just inside the area. There was still a lot of work for the former Brentford man to do but he took a touch and then smoothly fired the ball across Yassine Bounou and into the net to send the away fans wild with delight.
The home support in the Kingdom Arena was stunned and things got worse for them after 52 minutes when Al-Ahli grabbed another well-worked goal, this time from the right. Galeno, who signed from Porto in January, sent a low cross across the face of goal to the waiting Toney who slotted home from close range.
Al-Hilal then pulled one back, courtesy of the in-form Salem Al-Dawsari. Malcom picked up the ball in the middle of the field and started a fluid move that ended with the Brazilian collecting possession again inside the area before pulling the ball back for Al-Dawsari, who timed his run perfectly.
Ten minutes later, the champions were level when, after a blatant handball in the area, Marcos Leonardo scored from the spot.
There was a final twist to come, though, as Toney completed his hat-trick with two minutes remaining. After an Al-Hilal clearance, Veiga hooked the ball back into the area for Toney to control and send a fierce shot past the helpless Bounou. Al-Hilal pushed forward during 15 minutes of added time but their efforts came to nothing.
Al-Hilal’s Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr also lost yesterday, 2-1 at Al-Orubah. Omar Al-Somah showed his goal-scoring instincts five minutes before the break when he slammed home a bouncing ball into the far corner.
Six minutes after the restart, though, Al-Nassr were back on level terms. Nawaf Boushal, just on as a substitute, ran onto an Angelo through ball and fired it home.
After 65 minutes, however, Al-Orubah scored the decider when Johann Gudmundsson picked up the ball well outside the area, advanced and then launched an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner.
Al-Ittihad fans would have enjoyed both of these results and the league leaders now have the chance to go eight points clear on Sunday when they host Al-Okhdood.
