#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014419

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp compared his side’s thrilling 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday to a slugfest between two prize fighters, saying neither side could afford to drop their guard for a single second.

Kevin De Bruyne fired champions City into a fifth-minute lead at the Etihad Stadium but Diogo Jota levelled eight minutes later for the second-placed Reds.

Gabriel Jesus restored City’s advantage before the break but Sadio Mane marked his 30th birthday with a second equaliser for Klopp’s men.

Raheem Sterling thought he had put City ahead for a third time against his former club but VAR ruled against him in a tight offside decision and substitute Riyad Mahrez fired over late on.

The result ended Liverpool’s 10-match winning league run and left City a point clear with just seven games of the season remaining.

“What a game,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “Wild. Better start for City, but you can describe it a little bit like a boxing fight. Both arms down for a second and you get a massive knock.

“You can shake a little bit and then the next knock is coming from the other team. I liked a lot of things, when we played simple passes we were really dangerous and that’s how we scored the goals. It was a great game and the right result. The result we have to live with it, and can live with it.”

Liverpool appear to have the more difficult run-in but Klopp added: “We will not stop chasing. That’s clear, but now we have two different competitions before we start the Premier League again — and then see who has the better finish.”

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their first goal with Raheem Sterling Action Images via Reuters

Pep Guardiola said City had no margin for error in defending their one-point lead over Liverpool.

“Seven games left, we have to win all of them or it will be over,” said the City boss. “We are going to play for that.

“It was a good advert for the Premier League all around the world. I had a feeling that we let them (stay) alive, but Liverpool is a joy to watch.

“I know their threats up front and how difficult they are. We performed really well and I’m so incredibly proud of my team. But we knew before the game win, lose or draw it (title race) was not over.”

City midfielder De Bruyne knows pundits will make his team favourites to win the title for a fourth time in five seasons.

“I know people said whoever wins gets the title. But I don’t think the teams think that way, the schedule is way too tough for both teams to win all their games,” De Bruyne said.

Belgian international De Bruyne felt City did enough to take all three points, which would have been a hammer blow to Liverpool.

“Today we played very well, I think we had the upper hand. This is the way we need to play the rest of the season,” he said.

“We should score more. It is what it is. It was a great game. I think it should be more before half-time but we were still winning.

“The way the second half started is the disappointment. I think we played great and created enough chances to win the game.”

Liverpool

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson conceded his team need City to stumble in the final weeks and urged the Reds to keep up the pressure.

“They don’t drop many points of course, but we’ve got to concentrate on ourselves and win as many games as possible,” Henderson said.

“If they do slip up we’ve got to be there right behind them.”

The Reds were on a 10-game winning run in the league before City halted that blistering streak.

Henderson hailed Liverpool’s refusal to surrender after City appeared set to claim a crucial victory following De Bruyne and Jesus’s goals.

“It was an intense game. We wanted to come here and give it everything to get the win,” he said.

“Unfortunately we didn’t do that, but at the same time we didn’t lose the game. We’re still in the race, so it’s positives and negatives.

“It’s pleasing to come back twice from being behind, shows a lot of character to do that here.

“We got our goals, but at other times we could have defended better.”

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola REUTERS/

Published : April 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014418

Scottie Scheffler capped off an amazing two months with his grandest feat of all, winning the Masters Tournament on Sunday to validate his new status as the best player in golf.

The only stumble came at the end when Scheffler needed four putts from 40 feet before he could claim his first major, and that only mattered in the record book.

He closed with a 1-under 71 for a three-shot victory over Rory McIlroy, who holed out from the bunker on the final hole for a record-tying final round of 64 that gave him the briefest moment of hope that Sunday pressure at Augusta National might get to Scheffler.

No chance. Not on Sunday. Not the last four days. Not the last two months.

Scheffler won another 600 FedExCup points to extend his large lead in the standings.

And to think it was just 56 days ago that Scheffler was still searching for his first PGA TOUR victory. The 25-year-old from Dallas, built for stardom from when he was a 10-year-old wearing long pants to look the part of a pro, now has four wins in his last six tournaments.

No prize was greater than that green jacket.

The Sunday theater, thrilling and tragic, belonged to everyone else. Scheffler overcame a nervy moment early in the round by chipping in for birdie. He delivered key putts to keep Cameron Smith at bay and never looked rattled, even as he was swatting at short putts at the end.

McIlroy was the runner-up. It was Smith who felt as though he let one get away. The Aussie was still in the game, three shots out of the lead, when he dumped his tee shot in Rae’s Creek on the par-3 12th hole for triple bogey and ended his hopes.

Smith closed with a 73 and tied for third with Shane Lowry, who birdied the 18th for a 69.

Scottie Scheffler wins Masters for first major championship

Scheffler joined Ian Woosnam in 1991 as the only players to win a major — the Masters in both cases — in their debut at No. 1 in the world.

Everyone should have seen this coming. He won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in a playoff on Super Bowl Sunday. He followed that with a comeback win at Bay Hill to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He rose to No. 1 in the world by winning the WGC- Dell Technologies Match Play two weeks ago in Texas.

Scottie Scheffler wins Masters for first major championship

And now this.

Scheffler, who finished at 10-under 278, won $2.7 million from the $15 million prize fund. That brings his total to $8,872,200 over his last six starts.

Scheffler’s big moment came early in the round, and it was no less significant.

Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, he watched Smith open with two straight birdies to the cut the deficit to one, and then Scheffler’s approach from the pine needles left of the third fairway came up short and rolled back down the slope.

His pitch was racing toward the hole when it banged into the pin and dropped for an unlikely birdie, and a two-shot swing when Smith from the same position made bogey.

No one got closer than three the rest of the way. Only the contenders changed.

The 12th hole remains the most riveting par 3 in golf, the scene of more collapses than comebacks. Smith became the latest victim.

Coming off birdie at No. 11, his shot was still in the air when he let his club slip through his hands and he slowly closed his eyes twice as it splashed into Rae’s Creek. The next shot wasn’t much better, but at least dry, and Smith’s hopes ended there with a triple bogey.

He was three behind standing on the 12th tee. Three holes later, he was eight back.

From there, any hope resided with McIlroy. All he needed to complete the career Grand Slam was to match the best final round in Masters history and get some help from Scheffler. He only got one of those and had to settle for his first silver medal from Augusta.

Not that he didn’t create some Sunday magic. McIlroy went bunker-to-bunker on the 18th hole, leaving himself right of the green and aiming some 25 feet right of the flag. It rode the slope all the way into the hole, setting off one of the loudest roars of the week.

Morikawa followed him in from the same bunker, different angle, and McIlroy could only laugh.

“This tournament never ceases to amaze,” McIlroy said. “That’s as happy as I’ve ever been on a golf course right there. Just having a chance — and then with Collin, we both played so well all day — and for both of us to finish like this, I was just so happy for him, too.

“I’ve never heard roars like on the 18th green.”

The best ones were saved for Scheffler.

Scheffler still had five holes in front of him, with no evidence he was going to be anything but the smooth, smart operator who seized control on Friday in the toughest conditions to build a five-shot lead and never lost it.

Published : April 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014417

Thailand stamped their dominance on the AFF Futsal Championship on Sunday, coming from behind to win their 16th title after a penalty shootout against Indonesia.

The visitors struck early at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, when Firman Adriansyah intercepted a Thai move and passed the ball to Evan Soumilena who fired home the opening goal after 8 minutes.

The Thai team of Katawut Hankampa (keeper), Kritsada Wongkaeo (captain), Sarawut Phalaphruek, Panat Kittipanuwong, and Muhammad Osamanmusa immediately went on the attack but failed to equalise in the first half.

The hosts were stunned again after the break as a shot by Syauqi Saud deflected to Ardiansyah Runtuboy who put Indonesia 2-0 up in the 25th minute.

As the clock ticked down to the last minute, Thailand were handed a lifeline by the power play. The hosts grabbed their chance, with substitute Krit Arunsanyaluk benefiting from fresh legs to narrow the gap to 2-1.

Half a minute later, Krit passed to Muhammad whose pinpoint shot found the net to save the game for Thailand.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in extra time so the match went to penalties.

The Thai players kept their cool to win the shootout 5-3 and clinch their 16th Asean Futsal Championship title in 17 years.

Indonesia are the only other team to boast an AFF title, winning the final in 2010.

Muhammad Osamanmusa won the golden boot, top-scoring with 11 goals at this year’s tournament.

The third-place play-off saw Vietnam beat Myanmar 5-2 in the penalty shootout.

Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam qualified for the 2022 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, scheduled from September 25 to October 20 in Kuwait.

Published : April 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014385

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has apologised after he appeared to knock a mobile phone out of a supporter’s hand following his side’s 1-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday (April 9).

Footage emerged on social media of Ronaldo appearing to swipe his hand towards the ground as he walked off the pitch and headed for the tunnel at Goodison Park. Eyewitnesses said the 37-year-old had knocked a fan’s phone out of their hand and it smashed to the ground.

Ronaldo took to Instagram to apologise for the incident.

“It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing,” Ronaldo said. “Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.

“I would like to apologise for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship.”

The club have told Reuters they are looking into the incident.

The defeat left United seventh in the Premier League standings and they face the prospect of missing out on qualification for next season’s Champions League as they are six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : Reuters

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014359

Thailand will take on Indonesia in the final of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship 2022 after coming from behind to beat Vietnam 3-1 on Friday.

Fifteen-time champions Thailand qualified for the semi-final by topping group A on 10 points from three wins and one draw, with the tournament’s highest goal difference of 31.

Vietnam, on the other hand, entered the clash as runner-up in group B behind Myanmar.

In the first half of the semi-final, Vietnam defied their underdog status by stretching the Thai defence and threatening an upset. Gia Hung and Thinh Phat had early scoring chances for Vietnam but found no way past Thai keeper Peerapat Kaewwilai.

In the 11th minute, Chau Doan Phat won the ball in the midfield and fired a powerful shot at goal only to see Peerapat block again. The first half ended 0-0 with all the chances belonging to Vietnam.

Thailand emerged revitalised after the break, with Muhammad Osamanmusa opening the scoring in the 22nd minute. But 10 minutes later, Vietnam’s Nguyen Minh Tri pulled off an exquisite backheel finish to level the match.

Thailand reclaimed the lead in the 36th minute, as Muhammad shone again with a shot into the top corner.

Desperate for an equaliser, Vietnam deployed a power-play formation with their keeper coming out of the box and playing as an attacker. The move backfired when Kritsada Wongkaeo found the net from a counterattack, securing a 3-1 win for Thailand.

Thailand booked their place in Saturday’s final against Indonesia, who beat Myanmar 6-1 in the other semi.

Vietnam will kick off against Myanmar in the third-place playoff at 2.30pm on Sunday, with the last ticket to this year’s Futsal Asian Cup at stake.

The final between Thailand and Indonesia will be broadcast live on MCOT HD and T Sports 7 channels from Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday from 5pm.

Published : April 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014330

Muay Thai star Buakaw Banchamek on Thursday revealed his Non-Fungible Token (NFT) project “Buakaw 1”, which he said aimed to inspire and connect Muay Thai fans.

“Buakaw 1” is an NFT project by Buakaw Banchamek, with three parties — Banchamek Gym, SIX Network, a leader in blockchain and decentralised finance, and YDM Thailand, a leader in marketing technology (MarTech). It is supported by around 10 companies in the FSN group in South Korea.

Buakaw said that he was very glad, excited, and proud to represent Muay Thai and help spread the martial art and to also push it into the metaverse world.

NFT Buakaw 1 was made as generative art under the collection “fighter spirit” with only 10,000 pieces.

Buyers will also receive the special right to participate in online and offline events with Buakaw. They could also receive special commemorative gifts, including the right to stay at Buakaw Village in Chiang Mai.

Also, they will get a chance to participate in the secret project “The Next Fighter”, which is limited to Buakaw 1 NFT holders.

NFT Buakaw 1 pre-sales will open on May 8 (only for members of Buakaw 1 on Discord and partners’ members). It will open for public sale on May 9 on the Ethereum network.

Published : April 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014323

Olympic gold medallist Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit is among four national taekwondo athletes who have tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from the Spanish Open.

The victorious team were screened for Covid-19 in line with Public Health Ministry measures after landing back in Bangkok on Thursday. Four tests came back positive.

Panipak spearheaded the Thai challenge in the Spanish tournament from April 1-3, winning the gold in the 53kg category. Phannapha Hansujin won silver (57kg) and Sasikan Thongchan bagged a bronze (62kg).

The Taekwondo Association of Thailand said it coordinated with the athletes and arranged treatment immediately after receiving the news. It suspects they caught the virus while competing in Spain.

All four infected athletes are classified as “green” patients, having suffered only mild symptoms or none at all.

Panipak was treated for a cough, sore throat and fever at Samitivej Hospital on Sukhumvit Road. Meanwhile, the other three are isolating in a hostel as they have no symptoms.

Taekwondo Association chief Thanatit Raktabutr said it should only take the athletes about a week to recover and return to training. He insisted the infections would not derail the Thailand taekwondo team’s preparations for the SEA Games in Vietnam next month.

Published : April 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014318

Liverpool and Manchester United fans have filed a police complaint that a social media user charged them tens of thousands of baht for tickets to watch the Bangkok match between the Premier League giants, only to run away with their money.

On Thursday, six fans reported to the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and told investigators they were tricked into buying tickets on Facebook and Twitter for “The Match Bangkok Century Cup 2022”. The six alleged victims say they lost a total of about 80,000 baht.

Demand for tickets to see the July 12 match at Rajamangala Stadium is high despite prices that exceed tickets for this year’s UEFA Champions League final.

The complainants included a 21-year-old female student and a 30-year-old male office worker. They said ordered and paid for tickets advertised on the Twitter account @Nanoeve9Nanoeve.

The office worker explained that he was desperate to attend the match but could not reserve a ticket via the official seller, Thaiticketmajor. Instead, he contacted the seller on Twitter, who was offering tickets for only a few hundred baht more than the official price, claiming the extra charge was an operating fee. The office worker said the account looked like a genuine seller as it displayed an identification card and the stadium seating plan.

The account replied to his query by claiming it had a lot of customers and saying it was okay if the victim did not want to buy. Reassured that the seller was legitimate, he decided to transfer 10,200 baht to the Twitter user’s PromptPay account. When his ticket failed to arrive, he contacted the Twitter user, who quickly cut the line.

Meanwhile, the student complainant said she transferred 14,600 baht to the culprit but failed to receive the ticket. She posted a message online about the fraud, and five other people responded that they had suffered the same problem, with damages totalling around 80,000 baht.

Complainants say they went to police after discovering that the Twitter seller’s ID does not match the PromptPay number they sent money to.

Police have urged people to check carefully before transferring money for tickets to the exhibition match, as demand is high and seats are limited.

According to Thaiticketmajor’s website on Friday, tickets are still available in the price range between 15,000 and 22,000 baht.

Published : April 08, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014243

Tiger Woods, a five-time Masters golf champion who suffered injuries to his right leg in a car accident 14 months ago, eyes glory at Masters 2022.

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods said on Tuesday that he intends to play in the 2022 Masters Tournament.
 

“As of right now, I feel like I am going to play,” the 46-year-old noted at a press conference at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, U.S..

Woods, a five-time Masters champion and 15-time major winner, arrived in Augusta on Sunday for preparation and practice, tweeting that it’s a “game-time decision” on whether he would compete.

Woods suffered traumatic injuries to his right leg in a car accident 14 months ago. But when asked at the press conference if he believed he could win this week, Woods said without hesitation, “I do!”

The 86th Masters will be held from April 7 to 10. On Tuesday, the tournament also announced players’ first-day groupings. Woods was assigned to Group 14 with a scheduled tee time of around 10:30am.

Published : April 06, 2022

By : Xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014196

Leicester City on Monday unveiled the statue of the football club’s former chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha at King Power Stadium.

The statue was unveiled on what would have been Vichai’s 64th birthday.

Current chairman Khun Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha and his family were present at the event to celebrate his father’s legacy.

A group of close friends of the Srivaddhanaprabha family, along with friends from the worlds of polo, horse racing and Belgian club Oud-Heverlee Leuven were present for the commemoration.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Buddhist monks, who had travelled from Thailand. Such ceremonies have become customary at King Power Stadium during the family’s ownership of the club.

The ceremony commenced with the lighting of candles and incense, before the reading of Sanskrit prayers by the monks. A string stretching across the length of the ceremony room, representing the Buddha, was then blessed from a golden bowl with candle wax to create holy water.

Afterwards, the monks bestowed five precepts upon the head of the ceremony. It was followed by Buddhist chanting, marking the start of the Matrix funeral chant.

Guests were later invited to offer yellow robes to the monks, in accordance with Bangsukul ceremony traditions, and to transfer love and goodwill to Khun Vichai. Bangsukul chanting continued before the ceremony concluded with the pouring of water to dedicate merit to all.

The club was bought by the Srivaddhanaprabha family under the Asia Football Investments consortium in August 2010 and Vichai became chairman in February 2011 while continuing as owner.

The club won the 2013-14 Football League Championship and was promoted to the English Premier League the next season. In a fairytale run the following season, the club stunned the sporting world by winning the English Premiership.

Vichai was tragically killed in a helicopter crash outside King Power Stadium on October 27, 2018.

Club supporters will have access to the statue from Tuesday.

Published : April 05, 2022

By : THE NATION