06182018 sports

SPORTS bouts.

JUDO ACTION SEE PAGE TWO

World Cup 2018 results

SECTION E

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Group A

Group C

Group E

Egypt

0 1 Uruguay Giminez 89’ Group B

Morocco

Iran Bouhaddouz 90+5’ og Portugal 3 3 Spain Ronaldo Costa 24’,55’ 4’ pen,44’,88’ Nacho 58’

MEXICO TOO HOT FOR POOR GERMANY

01

France 2 1 Australia Griezmann Jedinak 58’ pen 62’ pen Behich 80’ og Peru 0 1 Denmark Poulsen 59’

Costa Rica 0 1

Group D Argentina 1 1 Iceland Aguero 19; Finnbogason 23’

Germany 0 1

Croatia 20 Etebo 32’ og Modric 71’ pen

Serbia Kolarov 56’ Brazil 1 1 Switzerland Coutinho 20’ Zuber 50’ Group F Mexico Lozano 35’

Nigeria

MEXICO’s Hirving Lozano celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal during the group F match between Germany and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. Mexico won the game 1-0, putting a dent in Germany’s World Cup hopes. See pages 4-5 for more World Cup action.

Photo: Antonio Calanni/AP

Cuba Cup blow for Bahamas

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Wayde Watson said his team dug themselves a hole at the start of their first game against Cuba yesterday in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s FIBA Women’s Caribbean Cup - and the team wasn’t able to get back into the contest on the first day of competition in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The Bahamas suffered a 77-50 loss.

“We had a rough start,” said Watson, the team’s interim coach, assisted by Varel Davis and Anton Francis.

“We tried to put it together in the third quarter where we were down by about 12 points. But that was all she wrote. I think we played as best as we could under the circumstances.

“Cuba came out aggressively against us and before we knew what happened, we were down. It’s hard to

come back against a team that was playing as well as Cuba did.

“Valerie (Nesbitt) really stepped it up and got us going offensively, but we needed a little more help from the other players and we didn’t get that tonight.”

Watson, filling in for head coach Yolett McPheeMcCuin, who was unable to travel as she was preparing for her new job as head coach at Ole Miss University, said Team Bahamas played well after they got over the jitters, but because they had to exert too much energy to get back into the game, it really hurt more than anything.

Cuba went on a quick 12-0 tear before The Bahamas finally got on the scoreboard on Ashley Moss’ lay-up six minutes into the game. The Bahamas eventually fell behind 29-7 at the end of the period.

However, The Bahamas out-scored Cuba 14-12 in

the second quarter to trail 41-21 at the half. At the end of the third, The Bahamas saw Cuba hold onto a 61-39 margin.

Cuba then went on a 18-9 spurt in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

While Moss finished with just three points and four rebounds in her start, Nesbitt led The Bahamas’ scoring attack with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. The only other player in double figures was Brea Forbes with 14 points. Shalonda Neely had seven points and Britenique Harrison added six points.

Cuba had three players in double figures led by Anisleidsy Galindo with 24 points.

Team Bahamas will now prepare to play St Vincent and the Grenadines today at 4:30 pm.

“I have to make some adjustments with out starting line-up because I want to encourage the girls to come out and play hard,”

Watson said.

“We have to regroup because we have to win this game if we stand a chance to getting into the playoffs. We don’t want to lose two straight because it will put us into a difficult situation for the rest of the tournament.”

Davis said the main thing is that Team Bahamas have to tighten up on their defence.

“If we can play better defence and be more patient in our offensive attack, we will start our chance,” she stressed. “This is our first game so by our next game, we should play much better than we did against Cuba.”

Only three teams are in Group A, so this is a must win game against St Vincent and the Grenadines as the top two teams will advance to the playoffs to play against the top two teams out of Group B, comprising of Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guyana and Suriname.

KNOWLES GOES PRO HITTING THE MARK

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JUST weeks after his collegiate career concluded, Perez Knowles officially makes the transition to the professional ranks.

Knowles signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona yesterday.

Knowles became the second Bahamian pitcher

to sign this month after the Detroit Tigers selected Chavez Fernander in the 35th round with the 1035th overall pick.

“God is good! I’m finally a professional baseball player” Knowles posted as the caption on an Instagram post – a picture of the right picture signing his contract as Reds personnel looked on.

In his final collegiate game, Knowles and his No 8 Columbus State Cougars SEE PAGE THREE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the focus on the IAAF World Junior Championships in Pampere, Finland, next month, sprinters Adrian Curry, Jaida Knowles and Joel Johnson led the performances as they attained the qualifying standards over the weekend at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Junior National Championships at the original Thomas

A Robinson National Stadium.

On day one of the championships on Friday, Curry was the first to book his ticket to the World Jr Championships from July 10-15 when he clocked 10.56 seconds to win the under-20 boys’ 100 metres.

He matched the standard of 10.55 to post the fastest qualifying time before he came back in the final and finished just short of the SEE PAGE THREE

JARAUN ‘Kino’ Burrows in action.

BURROWS WITH HISTORY MAKERS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JARAUN “Kino” Burrows and his Fos-Sue-Mur Provence Basketball Byers closed their season with a history-making milestone.

The team won the France LNB Pro B title with a 76-70 win over Roanne to claim the league title and was granted promotion to the LNB Pro A league for the first time in club history.

Burrows scored 12 points on 4-6 shooting from the field to close out the series.

They completed a dominant undefeated 6-0 postseason run.

In game one, Burrows was limited to just 17 foulplagued minutes and scored six points in a 72-68 win.

Roanne won both previous matchups between the teams during the regular

season. On December 8, they won 76-71 and on March 20, they scored a decisive 99-64 blowout win.

FOS-Provence ended the season with six consecutive wins and head into the playoffs as one of the league’s hottest teams. They finished the season ranked No.4 with a 24-10 record.

They continued that momentum in the playoffs unbeaten. In the QuarterFinals they completed a two-game sweep over Nancy and in the SemiFinals, it was another two-game sweep over Rouen.

“It was a long season, but a good season,” Burrows told The Tribune during the playoff run, Following a late-season stint and playoff run with FOS Provence Basket last season, Burrows agreed to a contract extension to return to the club this year.

PAGE 2, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Ready for a CARIFTA throw down THE Bahamas will be the host of the second edition of CARIFTA Judo on Friday, June 22, from 7-9pm at the Courtyard Marriott Ballroom.

Teams from Guyana and Trinidad will particpate. This will serve as a test event for the Junior Judo World Championships, which will be held in Nassau on October 17 to 21.

“This is the first test for the team,” said head coach Oneysi Portorreal Pons.

“Guyana and Trinidad have strong country programmes. They will send some athletes that are seasoned and this will give us a good idea of where are program is.”

Tickets are $10 and available at the door. The following day, the Bahamas Judo Open will take place from 10am to 3pm, also at Courtyard Mariott on West Bay Street. Interested people can contact Bahamas Judo at bahamasjudo@gmail.com.

PICTURED clockwise from top, Daleon Sweeting in action, and, above, in between bouts, Davante Sweeting in action, Raoul Archer (Guyana), Davante Sweeting with D’Arcy Jr, Davante in action and in between bouts.

World Cup 2018 results Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Group A

Group C

Group E

France 2 1 Australia Griezmann Jedinak 58’ pen 62’ pen Behich 80’ og Peru 0 1 Denmark Poulsen 59’

Costa Rica 0 1 Serbia Kolarov 56’ Brazil 1 1 Switzerland Coutinho 20’ Zuber 50’

Group D Argentina 1 1 Iceland Aguero 19; Finnbogason 23’

Germany 0 1 Mexico Lozano 35’

Egypt

0 1 Uruguay Giminez 89’ Group B

Morocco

01 Iran Bouhaddouz 90+5’ og Portugal 3 3 Spain Ronaldo Costa 24’,55’ 4’ pen,44’,88’ Nacho 58’

Croatia 2 0 Nigeria Etebo 32’ og Modric 71’ pen

Group F

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 3

Truckers pip Warriors by tightest of margins

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FOR the second time in one week, the Commando Security Truckers found a way to beat the BTC Elite Warriors by one run.

This time it was with the combination of shortstop Austin Hanna and relief pitcher Eugene Pratt that got the job done in an thrilling eight-inning affair.

In similar fashion to their 12-11 triumph on Saturday, June 9, Commando Security did it again, rolling past BTC 13-12 in a walk off the field victory in the men’s feature game on Saturday night at the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. With the win, the Truckers improved to 5-3 to remain in second place, while the loss dropped the Warriors to 3-5 in third place.

In the ladies opener, the Johnson Lady Truckers also a big win, shutting out the BTC Elite Warriors 10-0 behind the pitching of Valencia Gibson. Johnson’s Lady Truckers’ record is now 4-2, but they remain in third place and BTC dropped to 2-5 to also stay

where they were in fifth place.

Here’s a summary of the games played: Truckers 13, Elite Warriors 12: Austin Hanna ripped a lead off solo home run to tie the game at 12-12 in the bottom of the seventh and after holding BTC scoreless in the extra inning, Pratt belted a run producing sacrifice fly to drive in pinch runner Anthon Hanna with the game winning run.

“I was waiting on the fast ball. When I saw it, I just went for it,” said Hanna, one of the new young players making his contributions for Commando Security. “I’m very excited to be on this team.

We are bonding and gelling together. I feel that we have the team that can go all the way and win it.”

It was the only hit and the third run in the five atbats for Austin Hanna, who scored in Commando Security’s three-run fourth and four-run fifth innings. They also got a run in both the first and second and three more in the third.

Third baseman D’Juan Seymour went 2-for-4 with four runs, scoring once on a three-run homer to

lead the Truckers offensive attack, while center fielder Lamar Watkins was a perfect 3-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored; left fielder Angelo Watson was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and right fielder Winston Seymour Jr was 3-for-5 with three runs scored.

Pratt, the third pitcher to be used by player/manager Orlando McPhee, came in the fourth to replace Dwayne Dean and got the final out. He went on to hold the Elite Warriors hitless and scoreless the rest of the game with eight strike outs, including the side in both the fifth and seventh innings.

BTC broke the game open by producing seven runs on two hits in the top of the first inning against starting pitcher Alex Clarke, forcing Dean to come in to replace him at the end of the inning.

Left fielder Trea Bain went 2-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead the way for the Elite Warriors, who scored another run in the third and five in the fourth.

Sherman Ferguson, who started at first and ended up at third, was walked

four times, hit by a pitch once, drove in a run and scored twice.

Second baseman Richard Bain, who came in replace starter Jeffery Woodside in the fourth, had one hit with a RBI, scoring twice. Mario Ford got on three times on free passes, drove in a run and scored twice; center fielder Giovanni Willie was 1-for-3 with two walks and scored twice and Woodside had a run-producing triple and scored a run.

Lady Truckers 10, Lady Warriors 0: Valencia Gibson tossed a two-hitter and struck out six and helped her own cause on a RBI hit by pitch to pace Johnson’s to victory.

“We are sitting pretty good. Once our team come out and do the things that we have to do, we should be right there (in the playoffs),” said Johnson’s coach Mario Ford. “We scraped nine tonight, but they played well. The pitcher came out and pitched well and we hit the ball and scored the runs.”

Shortstop Kendalia Turner wad 1-for-3; center fielder Dawayna Pratt drove in a run and scored twice; catcher Mia Turner was 1-for-1 with a RBI

and two runs scored; third sacker Dawn Johnson was 1-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored; left fielder Latrell Rolle was 1-for-2 with a RBI; first sacker Diva Burrows was 1-for-3 and right fielder Coline Reckley was 1-for-2 with a RBI and run scored.

Johnson’s ladies produced a seven-run first inning, highlighted by Reckley’s two-out RBI hit by pitch; Gibson also had a RBI hit by pitch; Pratt had a RBI walk and Mia Turner added a RBI hit by pitch.

“Once we can blend this group of young girls into one and we coach them the way they need to be coached, we could do things with them and go places with them,” Ford continued. “We will be in the playoffs sand once we get there, we will do what we have to do to win it (title).”

They added three more in the third as Woodside and Rolle came through with a run-producing single each.

Left fielder Melinda Bastian, in 1 1/3 inning as a starter, gave up seven runs before Ashanti Darville came in to replace her in the second, but the damage was already done.

Bastian was responsible for the first of the two hits for BTC when she led off with a single in the top of the first, but she was left stranded on base after reaching third. Third sacker Jeanette Hilton had a oneout single in the fourth.

They both went 1-for-2.

Here’s a look at the team standings: Men’s Division Teams W L Pct. GB C&S Hitmen 6 1 .857 Commando Security Truckers 4 3 .571 1.5 BTC Elite Warriors 3 4 .428 3 Chances Mighty Mitts 1 6 .142 5 Ladies Division Sunshine Auto Wildcats 5 0 1,000 Platinum Lady Sharks 4 1 .800 1 Hennessy Lady Panthers 4 1 .800 1 Johnson’s Lady Truckers 4 2 .666 1.5 BTC Elite Warriors 2 5 .285 6.5 Aliv Strykers 0 6 .000 5.5

Hitting the mark

KNOWLES GOES PRO

from page one

were eliminated with a 3-2 loss to the No 11 Augustana Vikings in the NCAA Division II World Series Championship.

The Grand Bahama native pitched five and 2/3 innings in the start and surrendered just two hits with three strikeouts.

The Cougars end the year with a record of 48-15 as the national runner-up for the third time, joining the 1986 and 2007 teams.

Knowles finished his season 8-4 and was an All-Peach Belt Conference Second Team selection this season.

Some of his season highs this season included a complete game with nine innings pitched in the Regional tournament, 13 strikeouts against USC Aiken and a one-hitter against Albany State.

He started 18 games this season with a 3.44 ERA with 128 strikeouts.

Prior to his transfer to Columbus State, Knowles spent his previous collegiate years with the University of Troy Trojans.

Knowles appeared in 17 games out of the bullpen in two seasons. As a freshman, he appeared in 14 innings with 11 strikeouts and an ERA just over seven.

Once he transferred to Columbus State, Knowles appeared in 19 games for the Cougars and posted a 1.77 ERA and finished with a 3-3 record and a team-best three saves.

He tallied 33 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.

mark in a winning time of 10.56.

On Saturday, as the championships came to a close, Miller and Johnson produced their qualifying standards in the under-20 women and men’s 200m final.

Knowles, who fell short of the standard of 11.80 when she ended third in 12.15 behind collegian Sasha Wells (12.13) and Lakelle Kinteh (12.14), regained her composure and easily took the 200m in 24.10 to take the victory to dip under the half-lap standard of 24.20.

“It wasn’t my best race of the season, but after seeing what happened last night, I was just happy that I was able to cross the line in the time that they wanted me so I’m happy that I was able to qualify for the World Junior Championships,” Knowles said her performance.

The race was supposed to be a showdown with quarter-miler Megan Moss, But coming off the curve as she headed for the straight away, Moss pulled up and had to be assisted off the track.

“She stopped at the 100m. I was trying to get through my race, so I couldn’t stop to see what happened to her,” Knowles reflected, “I hope that she is okay,” Knowles, a 16-year-old heading into grade 12 at St Augustine’s College in September, said she was just delighted that she qualified and will get a chance to compete on a world stage.

Johnson, a graduate of SAC this year, clocked 20.87 to win the under-20 boys’ 200m as he dipped under the qualifying standard of 21.35 to clinch his berth for the World Jr Championships. He easily won over Max Azor for second in 21.63 and Shaquel Higgs, who did 22.18 for third.

“Coming into the race, I felt a little relaxed, anxious, but I just stuck with what my coach told me, execute and come off the bend and go for it on the home stretch,” Johnson said. “I felt very good about it. It tells me what shape I am in before I go to World Juniors. So I just want to stay focused, stay humble and get to low my time when I get there.”

As he prepare for his participation

in the World Juniors, Johnson said he “expect to do the same thing”. That is to stay focused, make it through each round and hopefully he can come home with a medal.

Versatile Denvaughn Whymns, who is back after suffering an injury, cleared 7.15 metres or 23-feet, 5 1/2-inches to win the under-20 boys’ long jump, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to jump 7.55m (24-9 1/4) to qualify. Karon Dean was his nearest rival with a leap of 6.75m (22-1 3/4).

Whymns also contested the 110m hurdles where he placed second in 14.01.

Oscar Smith won the race in 13.75. Jahmaal Wilson was third in 14.05. In the end, all three of them achieved the qualifying standard of 14.20.

Wells, who didn’t qualify in the 100m, came back and won the girls 100m hurdles in 13.94 to also surpass the qualifying standard of 14.10.

Shaun Miller won the under-20 boys high jump with a leap of 2.10m (6-10 3/4), but it was short of the qualifying standard of 2.17m (7-1 1/2). Jyles Etienne came in second with 2.05m (6-8 3/4) and Benjamin Clarke got third with 2.00m (6-6 3/4).

On the girls side, Dejha Moss soared 1.65m (5-5), but she needed 1.82m (5-6) to qualify. Moss also won the long jump with a leap of 5.88m (19-3 1/2) with Lakelle Kinteh second with 5.57m (18-3 1/4) and Charisma Taylor was third with 5.53m (18-1 3/4). However, neither of them did the standard of 6.15m (20-2 1/4).

Taylor also competed in the triple jump, winning the girls’ event with 12.69m (41-7 3/4). The qualifying standard was 12.85m. Amelia Peterson came in second with 11.61m (38-1 1/4).

In the girls under-20 100m hurdles, Wells won the race in 13.94 to dip under the qualifying standard of 14.10m. Indea Cartwright was a distant second in 15.24.

Kimona Wilson was third in 15.31.

The two day meet featured a combined competition for the youth to junior divisions, inclusive of all ages from under nine to under 20.

A look at the top performances from JOEL Johnson shows at the CARIFTA Games earlier this year - he has all of the events are posted. hit the qualifying time for the Junior National Championships.

from page one

A NEW SPONSOR - BUT THE SAME TRADITION OF TOP PERFORMANCES

by RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THIS year brought a new title sponsor and the country elite junior swimmers continued their tradition of standout performances on the opening day of the Bahamas Aquatics Federation (BAF) National Swimming Championships.

Night one of the REV National Championships was highlighted by finals in the 200m Breast, 50m Back, 100 Fly and 200 Free Relays across all divisions at the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre.

The 200m Breast was the first final on the schedule and Mako Aquatics Club (MAC) took three of the six contested races. Jamilah Hepburn won the Girls 13-14 in 2:58.05s, Erald Thompson III won the Boys 13-14 in 2:39.02s and Tyler Russell won the Boys 15 and Over in 2:32.22s. Other winners included Devin Cuffy-Bethel of the Barracuda Swim Club (BSC) in the Girls 11-12 in 2:59.53s, Nigel Forbes of the GB Tritons (GBT) in 3:02.37s and Margaret Higgs in the Girls 15 and Over in 2:32.30s.

The U8 and 9-10 divisions made their first finals

appearance of the meet in the 50m Backstroke. Both MAC and GBT each took three first-place finishes. In the Girls U8 Kendall Hennessey Lyford Cay Swim Club took first in 48s and Bill Farrington of BSC won the U8 Boys in 42.48s. In the 9-10 Girls, Mia Patton of GBT won in 35.94s and Tristen Hepburn, also of GBT won the Boys race in 37.58s. In the 11-12 division, Keianna Moss of MAC won in 31.46s and Marvin Johnson of Freeport Aquatics Club won the boys’ race 31.76s. Katelyn Cabral of GBT won the Girls 13-14 in 32.41s and Lamar Taylor

of FAC won in 28.05s. Celia Campbell of MAC won the Girls 15 and Over in 31.63s and Davante Carey of MAC took the boys race in 26.75s.

GBT took four of the eight 100m Fly races led by both Forbes and Cabral winning their second medals of the night. Forbes won in 1:03.27s while Cabral won in 1:10.77s. GBT’s Passion Daniel took first in 1:21.74s while the club’s Jasmine Gibson won in 1:09.68s.

Tre Moncur III of MAC won the Boys 9-10 in 1:16.42s and Cuffy-Bethel also won her second medal of the night with a first-place finish in 1:10.76s. Lamar

Taylor won the Boys 13-14 in 59.72s and Carey won the 15 and Over in 56.26s The 200 Free Relay capped off the night with four wins for Alpha Aquatics, four wins for MAC and two wins for GBT. GBT won both the Girls U8 in 2:49.64s and the Boys U8 in 2:36.01s.

MAC won both 11-12 races in 1:59.59s (girls) and 1:55.75s (boys) respectively.

They also won the Girls 9-10 in 2:12.90s and the Boys 13-14 in 1:44.78s.

AAC won the Boys 9-10 in 2:09.24s, the Girls 13-14 in 1:58.47s and both 15 and Over races in 1:54.46

(girls) and 1:35.53 (boys) respectively.

Many of the top swimmers in the country are taking part in the fourday swimming nationals, which is expected to be used as a qualifier for the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia (July 19 to August 3); the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina (October 6-18); and the 14th FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Swimming Championships (25 meters) in Hangzhou, China (December 11–16).

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 7

TOUGH COURSE OR EASY - BROOKS KOEPKA CAN WIN ANYWHERE SOUTHAMPTON, New York Associated Press

BROOKS Koepka has the game to win a US Open on any course.

One year after Koepka overpowered the wide fairways of Erin Hills in a US Open remembered for low scoring, he navigated his way through the brutal conditions of Shinnecock Hills and closed with a 2-under 68 to become the first repeat champion in 29 years.

Curtis Strange, the last player to go back-to-back in this major, watched the entire final round yesterday as the Fox Sports reporter on the ground, and they shared a brief hug off the 18th green after Koepka tapped in for bogey and a one-shot victory.

“Man, it feels good to hold this thing again,” Koepka said with the silver trophy in his arms.

His victory Sunday might not have been possible if

not for grinding out a 72 on Saturday in conditions so severe the last 45 players to tee off in the third round didn’t break par.

The USGA conceded the course was over the top and pledged to give it more water and slow it down.

Bogeys gave way to birdies, and no one took advantage like Tommy Fleetwood of England. He made eight birdies — none on the two par 5s — and missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 63, only the sixth player in US Open history to go that low.

“Yeah, but I wanted a 62,” said Fleetwood, who finished one shot back and had to settle for the silver medal.

Fleetwood was one shot behind when he finished, and Koepka still had 11 holes to play as Shinnecock Hills began to get crisp under another sunny sky.

Koepka never lost the lead.

With a putting performance and calm

demeanor reminiscent of Retief Goosen when he won the previous US Open at Shinnecock Hills, in 2004, the 28-year-old Koepka began the back nine with three pivotal putts — one for birdie, one for bogey, one for par.

The biggest might have been his bogey on the nasty little par-3 11th.

Koepka pulled it to the left, down the slope and into thick grass. He chopped that up the slope with so much speed that it raced across the green and into the bunker. He blasted that out to 8 feet and made the putt to keep his lead at one shot.

“I think that was like making a birdie, maybe even making an eagle,” he said. “Because it could have been a big momentum shift there, and we could have been playing tennis just going back and forth. To make bogey there was pretty incredible and I think kind of the reason why we won.”

He wasn’t through. He hacked out of the hay over the green at No 12, pitched beautifully to 7 feet and made the par. Two holes later, after another drive into grass so thick he wasn’t sure he could get it out, Koepka rolled in an 8-foot for another par save.

Koepka seized control with a wedge to 3½ feet for birdie on the par-5 16th for a two-shot lead, and he never flinched until it no longer mattered. Koepka pulled his approach to the 18th off the grandstand, pitched on to about 12 feet and two-putted for a bogey.

He finished at 1-over 281, 13 shots higher than his winning score at Erin Hills last year. It was the first time since 2013 at Merion that no one broke par in the US Open.

“I enjoy the test,” Koepka said. “I enjoy being pushed to the limit. Sometimes you feel like you are about to break mentally, but that’s what I enjoy. I enjoy hard golf courses.”

BROOKS Koepka holds up the Golf Champion Trophy after winning the US Open Golf Championship yesterday in Southampton, NY. Photo: Julio Cortez/AP

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm around

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny and pleasant

A morning t‑storm; clouds and sun

High: 86°

Low: 73°

High: 85° Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 77°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

98° F

83° F

98°-86° F

99°-86° F

100°-87° F

100°-85° F

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 76° F/24° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

6‑12 knots

S

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 73° F/23° C

7‑14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 75° F/24° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

MIAMI

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 75° F/24° C

4‑8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 76° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 20.87” Normal year to date ................................... 11.37”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:32 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

2.7 ‑‑‑‑‑

6:30 a.m. ‑0.3 6:40 p.m. ‑0.1

Tuesday

12:56 a.m.

1:35 p.m.

3.2 2.7

7:27 a.m. ‑0.2 7:45 p.m. 0.1

Wednesday 1:55 a.m.

2:39 p.m.

2.9 2.7

8:25 a.m. ‑0.1 8:51 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

2:56 a.m.

3:41 p.m.

2.8 2.8

9:22 a.m.

9:58 p.m.

Friday

3:55 a.m.

4:40 p.m.

2.6 2.8

10:17 a.m. 0.0 11:00 p.m. 0.4

Saturday

4:53 a.m.

5:34 p.m.

2.5 2.9

11:09 a.m. 0.0 11:57 p.m. 0.3

Sunday

5:46 a.m.

6:22 p.m.

2.4 2.9

11:57 a.m. 0.0 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

0.0 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:20 a.m.

8:02 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:28 a.m. none

First

Full

Last

New

Jun. 20

Jun. 28

Jul. 6

Jul. 12

CAT ISLAND

E

W

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

S

E

W

4‑8 knots

S

4‑8 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map H

E

W

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

3‑6 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

6‑12 knots

6‑12 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS NE at 7‑14 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 3‑6 Knots SSW at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NNE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots SSW at 3‑6 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots SW at 4‑8 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑2 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 81° F 81° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F

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PAGE 4, Monday, June 18, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

World Cup 2018

XAVI GIVES ENGLAND A ‘PEP’ TALK SPAIN legend Xavi believes the Pep Effect could help England to exceed expectations at these World Cup finals, writes Darren Lewis in Volgograd.

Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Kyle Walker - who are all set to start against Tunisia in Monday’s Group G opener - are fresh from winning the Premier League with Guardiola’s Manchester City, along with fellow Three Lions squad member Fabian Delph.

Barcelona legend Xavi reckons their winning mentality could now rub off on the rest of Gareth Southgate’s squad.

“If you listen and want to learn, it is almost impossible not to improve as a player under Pep,” said the 38-year-old, who played alongside and then for Guardiola with the Catalan giants.

City are likely to supply three of England’s outfield starters against Tunisia.

Few have an inflated opinion of Southgate’s squad, with last-eight this summer seen as an achievement.

“Last season, Manchester City were exceptional. Like Barcelona they play possession football, so I am sure the England team will benefit from that.”

Sterling ended the season with 23 goals in all competitions for City, the best total of his career so far. He is also now seen as a key player in Southgate’s national side.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane finished the season with 30 league goals and 41 in total, while club-mate Dele All grabbed a creditable 14 from midfield.

Xavi is impressed by the combination of speed, ingenuity and cutting edge in this England team.

“You look at a player like Sterling,” he added.

“He has always had raw talent – but under Pep he has become more clinical and taken his game to a different level.

“After the way he has played the last two or three seasons - and all the goals he has scored - there will be a lot of expectation on Kane who we know can cause any team in the world problems.

“Also with Dele Alli and Sterling, they have attacking players who can cause problems against the best opposition.

“For so long, Spain had the players to win but there was a mental barrier that we couldn’t get past quarter-finals – England, for me, have had that issue.

“The England teams I was used to playing against had Beckham, Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney – they were expected to win.”

RAHEEM Sterling during England’s first training session at the Spartak Zelenogorski Stadium near Repino, St Petersburg.

Ronaldo hits three as Messi misses from spot THEY may not be in the same World Cup group, but there’s no doubt there’s a crucial rivalry between Portugal and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, and Argentina and Barcelona maestro Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo used the World Cup to show everyone he’s the GOAT. Ronaldo rubbed his chin after scoring minutes into Portugal’s opener against Spain, implying he is the Greatest of All Time. Then he scored two more goals, including a perfectly placed 88th-minute free kick that gave his team a 3-3 draw Friday.

Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, dominated much of the match but was unable to contain Ronaldo.

“When I play against a player like Ronaldo, these things can happen,” newly appointed Spain coach Fernando Hierro said. “It’s very fortunate for whatever team

has Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Ronaldo had twice given European champion Portugal the lead with first-half goals at Fisht Stadium, but Diego Costa equalised with a goal in each half. Nacho Fernandez then put the Spanish ahead with a one-timer from outside the area in the Group B match.

Ronaldo became the fourth player to score in four World Cups, joining Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler. He also became the first Portuguese player to appear in four World Cups, and at 33 became the oldest player to score a hat trick in tournament history.

He used his first goal to send a message to the world in an apparent reaction to Adidas’ “GOAT” promotion with Lionel Messi, featuring the Argentine with a real goat. Ronaldo and Messi have split the last ten player of the year awards.

“I’ve said it so many times,

Cristiano is the best in the world,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.

Meanwhile, Messi himself couldn’t find the breakthrough as his Argentina side lumbered to a 1-1 draw with Iceland - with Messi missing from the penalty spot.

If there is one flaw in Lionel Messi’s genius, it might be his failure to score penalty kicks in big games.

Add Messi’s saved attempt against Iceland on Saturday at the World Cup to misses for Argentina in shootouts for the Copa America title, and for Barcelona in a Champions League semifinal match that was later lost.

At least Messi’s miss in the 64th minute at Spartak Stadium — his fourth in his last seven penalty attempts for his club and his country — was not in a losing cause. A 1-1 draw with impressive World Cup newcomer Iceland is far from

a fatal blow to Argentina’s chances of advancing from a well-balanced group that also includes Croatia and Nigeria.

“It hurt missing the penalty.

It could have given us the lead and that could have changed the match,” Messi said. “It would have changed their game plan, too.

They probably would open a little bit more and we could get more space.”

The score was already 1-1 when Argentina was awarded the penalty after Hordur Magnusson’s tumbling fall over Sergio Aguero as both chased Messi’s floated cross.

Messi placed his shot to the right of Hannes Halldorsson, but the Iceland goalkeeper dived and got two hands behind the ball.

“I did my homework. I looked at a lot of penalties from Messi,” Halldorsson said. “I had a good feeling that he would go this way today.”

GERMANY HUMBLED, FRANCE STUMBLES GROUP A Uruguay 1 Egypt 0 On a team that boasts one of the World Cup’s most potent attacks, a defender lifted Uruguay to its first opening-match victory at the World Cup in 48 years.

Jose Gimenez headed in Carlos Sanchez’s free kick in the 89th minute for a 1-0 victory over Egypt on Friday.

“Sometimes the ball will go to the back of the net, sometimes it won’t,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. “I’m very proud of the team and the attitude they played with throughout the match.”

Uruguay now has three points in Group A, but still trails Russia on goal difference after the host nation’s 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

GROUP B Iran 1 Morocco 0 Aziz Bouhaddouz, head in his hands and face buried in the turf, was probably unaware of the opposing players and coaches swarming all around him in jubilation.

Some teammates tried to console him, but it did little good.

In the second dramatic finish to a World Cup match on Friday, Iran was gifted a 1-0 win over Morocco in Group B because of Bouhaddouz’s own-goal in the fifth minute of injury time.

Only on the field as a 77th-minute

substitute, the Morocco striker dived to reach an in-swinging free kick from the left and glanced the ball past his own goalkeeper inside the near post.

GROUP C France 2 Australia 1 Technology twice helped France at the World Cup on Saturday as the 1998 champions labored to beat a gritty Australia 2-1 in their opening game.

The French team was given a controversial penalty kick, eventually converted by Antoine Griezmann in the 58th minute, after the referee watched the replay of a foul on the sideline.

Paul Pogba later scored the winning goal in the 81st minute, and goal-line technology was used to confirm the ball had crossed the line after bouncing down off the crossbar.

“I’m not going to complain about the use of video today,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “It helped correct a mistake.”

Pogba had been unimpressive until the goal, but the Manchester United midfielder set up a 1-2 with substitute Olivier Giroud and beat Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan to give France the victory.

Australia captain Mile Jedinak had briefly equalised from the penalty spot in the 62nd after France defender Samuel Umtiti handled

the ball in the area.

Denmark 1 Peru 0 WHETHER Kasper Schmeichel was making an acrobatic save or just getting lucky, it was his night.

In a World Cup debut reminiscent of the way his father, Peter, played for Denmark and Manchester United, Schmeichel made Yussuf Poulsen’s opportunistic second-half goal stand in a 1-0 victory Saturday over Peru.

“It’s good to have a good goalkeeper, let me put it that way,” Denmark coach Age Hareide said.

“He is acrobatic and a very quick goalkeeper. He had a fantastic performance and we needed it. You have to acknowledge the performance of Kasper today.”

Poulsen squeezed his goal between charging Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and the left post in the 59th minute after collecting an angled pass from midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The victory gave Denmark a crucial advantage in Group C, in which France defeated Australia 2-1 earlier in the day.

GROUP D Croatia 2 Nigeria 0 Even in a more defensive role, Luka Modric can still lead the attack.

The Croatia midfielder scored one goal and set up the other in his

team’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday at the World Cup. Modric sent in a corner that was headed by two teammates and then deflected into the net by Nigeria midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo in the 32nd minute.

Modric later converted a penalty in the 71st after William Ekong held onto Mario Mandzukic.

GROUP E Mexico 1 Gemany 0 Defending World Cup champions have been finding it hard to get out of the group stage lately, and Germany is proving no exception.

The 2014 champions, ranked No. 1 in the world, were exposed defensively and surprisingly beaten by Mexico 1-0 on Sunday, putting its hopes of advancement in doubt.

Hirving Lozano scored the lone goal in the 35th minute, picking up Javier Hernandez’s pass inside the penalty area and beating Mesut Ozil before shooting past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from 10 yards.

The goal decided the match — a match Germany didn’t expect to lose.

“I don’t know if it’s the biggest victory in (Mexico’s) history, but one of the biggest for sure,” Lozano said. “My teammates and I did some great work. We all ran our hearts out. This is the result of all that hard work.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, June 18, 2018, PAGE 5

World Cup 2018

HIT OR MISS? WHO SHONE AND WHO FLOPPED IN THE OPENING GAMES? Ronaldo

HIT

Three goals against Spain

5

THINGS TO LEARN FROM MEXICO V GERMANY

GERMANY were stunned in their opening game at the World Cup as they lost 1-0 to Mexico in Group F. Hirving Lozano’s firsthalf strike was enough to seal all three points for the Mexicans who have now given themselves a great chance of progression to the group stage.

Timo Werner squandered Germany’s best chance in the second half as he fired over with a volley from close range.

Joachim Loew’s men must now regroup ahead of games against Sweden and South Korea - with a potential last-16 tie against Brazil in the pipeline if they fail to top the group.

Here are five talking points from the game...

1. “The Mexicans were bloody brilliant, weren’t they?”

Mexico sprung the first major shock of this World Cup and it was fully deserved.

Germany were as short as 1/2 before kick-off to pick up the three points but

were second best throughout to a Mexican side with a clear plan to frustrate and entertain in equal measure.

There has been a lot of talk about a potential surprise package this year - and Mexico have thrown their names right into the hat.

2. Lozano throws himself into the transfer market Manchester United were among the clubs to be linked with Hirving Lozano before this tournament kicked off.

And some more of Europe’s biggest clubs may now be considering a swoop after an impressive display here.

He was a constant menace on the left flank and took his goal brilliantly; cutting on to his right foot and smashing past Manuel Neuer.

Mexico had been threatening to score before they finally took the lead and it was a well-deserved opener.

At just 22, it’s difficult to see Lozano being with PSV for too much longer.

3.

Kimmich

endures

rough afternoon Perhaps a victim of the system as much as anything else - but this was a rough afternoon for Joshua Kimmich.

Deployed in the right wing-back role, he was given a torrid time by Hirving Lozano with the Mexican winger regularly finding acres of space on the left flnak.

Joachim Loew’s setup demands the wing-backs support the attack and Kimmich seemed to find fulfilling his defensive responsibilities a hard balance to strike.

The Bayern Munich man is considered one of the best young players in the world in his position, but he’s had better games than this.

4. Herrera shows skill and steel in equal measure While Mexico’s attacking players may take the headlines, Hector Herrera turned in a wonderful display in the engine room.

The 28-year-old Porto midfielder put his foot in when it was needed and

5. A penny for the thoughts of Leroy Sane We cannot say with any certainty, of course, whether the inclusion of Leroy Sane would have made any difference here.

But in a toothless German attack, he would have given them something they did not display.

His omission was maybe a bigger deal in England than it was in Germany given Sane’s incredible season in the Premier League, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year on his way to helping Manchester City to the title.

BRAZIL NEUTRALISED BY STUBBORN SWITZERLAND ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia Associated Press

BRAZIL joined the list of big teams struggling to win their opening matches at the World Cup in Russia.

The five-time champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland on Sunday, a few hours after four-time champion Germany was beaten by Mexico 1-0.

Philippe Coutinho, who was making his World Cup debut, gave Brazil the lead in the 20th minute with a volley that bounced in off the right post. Steven Zuber then headed in the equalizer in the 50th. Mexican referee Cesar Ramos dismissed complaints that Zuber had shoved defender Miranda before getting to the corner from Xherdan Shaqiri.

“I was pushed out of the way. There is video of what happened and the referee could have seen it. But it didn’t happen,” Miranda said. “We got a draw but this is only the beginning for us. We knew this game wasn’t going to be easy.”

Ramos also ignored a penalty claim late in the second half when Gabriel Jesus was wrestled to the ground by Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji.

Swiss players ended up with three yellow cards, and 10 of the 14 fouls they committed were on Brazil forward Neymar.

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic described the incident against Miranda as an “ordinary challenge.” He also dismissed charges that Neymar had been treated harshly.

“Of course, neutralising Neymar was a key ingredient of our game,” he added.

Switzerland dominated the midfield for long spells against a Brazil team that had been keen to start with a win after its disastrous exit as host in 2014.

“I am proud of their determination,” Petkovic said of his team. “The first 40 minutes were tough for us, and at halftime I told the players to stay cool and press forward. They did, and it worked.”

Coutinho had another chance to put Brazil in the lead but he sent the ball wide in the 67th minute.

“I’m very glad to score but what was important was our effort to win and what we did as a team is what counts,” Coutinho said. “We had some great moments and positive moments. Now we need

Messi

also showed his talent with the ball at his feet in an accomplished performance.

He was a key figure in leading Porto to the Portuguese title in 2017-18 and it was easy to see why here.

On this evidence, he looks like being a similarly important player in Mexico’s bid to reach the knockout stages - and beyond.

MiIsSseSd

M p en a l t y aga ins t Iceland

Coutinho

HrIvTed

Cu go a l aga ins t nd S w i t z er l a

Suarez

MISS N o w ay through against Egypt

SWITZERLAND’S STEVEN ZUBER, left, scores his side’s first goal during the group E match between Brazil and Switzerland yesterday. to think about the next some comparisons to Crismatch.” tiano Ronaldo.

Brazil has won 17 of its The Serbia captain’s 56th 22 matches since Tite took minute left-footed strike over as coach in 2016. But proved to be the differthey couldn’t get another ence in a 1-0 victory over one in front of a very Bra- Costa Rica on Sunday at zil-friendly crowd at the the World Cup. It came two Rostov Arena. days after Ronaldo scored a Besides Brazil and Ger- similar goal to give Portugal many, Argentina was held a 3-3 draw with Spain. to a 1-1 draw by Iceland “It was an amazing goal,” on Saturday, and Spain and Costa Rica defender Bryan Portugal played to a 3-3 Oviedo said of Kolarov’s draw on Friday. effort. “Maybe two out 10 Tite said he wouldn’t balls will go in like that.” make excuses for the disap“We knew that set pieces pointing scoreline. were our forte,” said Serbia 1 Costa Rica 0 Kolarov, who now plays With a curling free kick for Roma after a stint with that decided the outcome Manchester City. “We pracof the match, Aleksandar ticed them on the training Kolarov immediately drew ground.”

Lozano

HPIuTt

pai d t o Germany