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Guardiola rules out mass Man City clearout

LONDON: Pep Guardiola says his veteran Manchester City stars have a key role to play in the club’s rebuild as he tries to recapture former glories after a chastening season. City have just the FA Cup still to play for in terms of silverware after the collapse of their Premier League title defense and their Champions League defeat by Real Madrid. Guardiola’s team host second-tier Plymouth in the fifth round on Saturday. The club have been criticized for not being quicker to renew an aging squad that has delivered six out of the past seven Premier League titles.

Penalty heartbreak for Saudi Arabia in U-20 Asian final

SHENCHEN, CHINA: There was heartbreak for Saudi Arabia in the final of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup on Saturday as they lost a penalty shootout 5-4 to Australia. After extra time ended with the score at 1-1, Bassam Hazazi stepped up to take the last of Saudi Arabia’s five penalty kicks only to see it saved by Australian goalkeeper Steven Hall. Louis Agosti put Australia ahead in the first half, but Talal Haji equalized for Saudi Arabia just before the break. Haji had almost put his team ahead inside the third minute with a low shot from the right of the area that was well-saved by Hall. The striker had another chance soon after, but blasted over the bar.

Lydia Ko takes third-round lead at LPGA Singapore, Charley Hull is one stroke behind

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.

Tsitsipas sets up final clash with Auger-Aliassime at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

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.

England wins the toss and bats against South Africa in Champions Trophy match

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.

Al-Hilal slip up at home against Al-Ahli as a Toney hat-trick dents their title hopes

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.

Ronaldo closes on Asian Champions League crown as Saudi sides reign

TOKYO: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr travel to Iran in the Asian Champions League next week with his side one of three from Saudi Arabia in the last 16 of the region’s top club competition. Saudi teams dominated the tournament’s West zone league stage, with four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal leading Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr in the top three in the final table. Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034. Al-Hilal, the last side from Saudi Arabia to win the Champions League in 2021, topped the league stage on goal difference from Al-Ahli with both unbeaten in eight matches. Al-Nassr finished five points clear of fourth-placed Al-Sadd of Qatar and Ronaldo’s side take on Iran’s Esteghlal over two legs, the first in Tehran on Monday. Former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Ronaldo scored six goals in the league stage and is still going strong at the age of 40. A first Asian crown would add to a bulging trophy haul that already includes five UEFA Champions League titles. The Portuguese has been joined at Al-Nassr by Colombian striker Jhon Duran, although the big-money signing from Aston Villa was sent off during a Saudi league game last week. The red card infuriated Ronaldo, who lashed out at the referee and booted the ball into the stands before continuing to remonstrate with the officials. Coach Stefano Pioli will need his players to keep their heads against Esteghlal, who Al-Nassr beat 1-0 in the league stage thanks to a late goal from former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte. “We must try to improve every day as we have not yet reached the level where we can compare ourselves with the

Afghanistan wins toss and elects to bat against Australia in must-win Champions Trophy game

LAHORE: Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the coin toss under overcast conditions and elected to bat in Afghanistan’s must-win last Group B game of the Champions Trophy against Australia on Friday. Afghanistan made a big turnaround in the tournament when it eliminated England with a stunning eight-run victory at the same venue on Wednesday. Afghanistan, which lost the first match to South Africa by 107 runs, went with the same playing XI for the third successive game and banked on three spinners — Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Australia has three points from its record-breaking 352-run chase against England and a point from its washout game against South Africa at Rawalpindi. Australia named an unchanged side. New Zealand and India have already qualified for the semifinals from Group A with host Pakistan and Bangladesh eliminated. Lineups: Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

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Guardiola rules out mass Man City clearout

Penalty heartbreak for Saudi Arabia in U-20 Asian final

Lydia Ko takes third-round lead at LPGA Singapore, Charley Hull is one stroke behind

Tsitsipas sets up final clash with Auger-Aliassime at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

England wins the toss and bats against South Africa in Champions Trophy match

Al-Hilal slip up at home against Al-Ahli as a Toney hat-trick dents their title hopes

Ronaldo closes on Asian Champions League crown as Saudi sides reign

Afghanistan wins toss and elects to bat against Australia in must-win Champions Trophy game