Bayern thump Hamburg 8-0 with Lewandowski hat-trick
BERLIN: Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as the Bundesliga leaders obliterated Hamburg SV 8-0 on Saturday to stay five points clear at the top and equal their opponents’ heaviest league defeat. The Pole, who has netted 19 times in the Bundesliga this season, struck twice in the first half and slotted in his third goal in the 54th minute after Arturo Vidal had put the hosts ahead in the 17th. Strugglers Hamburg had been confident they would not be the punch bags of past matches between the sides, having also lost 8-0 in Munich two years ago, and they had been unbeaten in their last three games. But they looked frozen as they conceded another goal by David Alaba in the 56th and substitute Kingsley Coman scored twice more within five minutes a little later. (Reuters)
Mumbai, Kalinga Lancers storm into HIL finals
Chandigarh: Dabang Mumbai and Kalinga Lancers entered the finals of the fifth edition of Coal India Hockey India League by winning their respective semi-finals against Delhi Waveriders and Uttar Pradesh Wizards at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here on Saturday. Table toppers Dabang Mumbai, led by their skipper Florian Fuchs, rode on a 26th minute field goal by Dutch import Robbert Kemperman to beat Delhi Waveriders 2-0 and set up a summit clash with the Lancers in the finals here on Sunday. Lancers defeated Uttar Pradesh Wizards via penalty shootout after both teams were locked 4-4 as the match went down to the wire. (PTI)
Ranieri laments being sacked as Leicester manager
London: Veteran football manager Claudio Ranieri has lamented that his dream of staying with Leicester City died after the reigning English Premier League (EPL) champions sacked him earlier this week. Leicester enjoyed a dream run under Ranieri’s guidance last season and stunned the football world by winning the EPL title. But the club have not been able to replicate the same magic this season, wining just five of their 25 matches to be at the 17th spot with 21 points. The 1-2 loss to Spanish outfit Sevilla FC in the first leg of the last-16 stage of the Champions League on Thursday night proved to be the final nail in the coffin as the experience Italian was removed as Leicester manager soon after. (IANS)
FIFA chief Infantino pledges support to Zimbabwe
Harare: Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) president Gianni Infantino has met Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and pledged support towards development of football in the country. Infantino and his colleagues were in Zimbabwe for a joint celebration of Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president Phillip Chiyangwa’s birthday as well as his elevation to head the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations, reports Xinhua news agency. Infantino told journalists after the meeting that the international governing body of soccer was working on a number of projects to develop the sport in Zimbabwe. (IANS)