Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 27 March 2018

Slovakia's Peter Sagan, left, from the Bora-Hansgrohe team
crosses the finish line to take first place in the Gent-Wevelgem
cycling race in Wevelgem, Belgium on Sunday, March 25, 2018.
Associated Press
Peter Sagan wins

Gent-Wevelgem Netherlands' players celebrate their second goal making the score 0:2, against Portugal during

for the 3rd time an international friendly soccer match between the national soccer teams of Portugal and The
Netherlands, at the Stade de Geneve stadium, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 26, 2018.
Associated Press

Sagan came out on top of little bit early but in the end Portugal slump to 3-0 loss against
GENT, Belgium (AP) — Peter bit like a lottery. I started a

a bunched sprint to win the it was good."
Gent-Wevelgem classic for Sagan, a multiple stage the Netherlands in Geneva
the third time on Sunday. winner on the Tour, felt this
The Slovakian rider at- year's Gent-Wevelgem
tacked on the left of the was not as hard as in previ-
group and had enough of ous years. By GRAHAM DUNBAR on Friday. ter kicking his left foot into
AP Sports Writer
"We were much more com-
the turf as defender Na-
a margin to hold off Elia "This was the easiest one,
Viviani. The Italian rider (in terms of) the weather GENEVA (AP) — Portugal fortable on the ball and than Ake brushed across
was made to pay for a scored first," Koeman said. his back.
caught Frenchman Arn- conditions," he said. "It was
aud Demare near the line, not crazy like last year, or weak first-half display as "That gave us a little bit of The Dutch deserved their
lead, and Depay was de-
the Netherlands cruised to confidence."
pushing Demare down to two years ago."
third. Viviani, riding for the Bel- a 3-0 win in a friendly on Two goals were assisted by nied his second goal in the
teenage defender Mat-
43rd by Anthony Lopes div-
Monday.
When Viviani's attempt to gian Quick-Step team, sat
catch Sagan came up on the ground and buried Cristiano Ronaldo's eve- thijs De Ligt, and his fellow ing to push away a power-
ning barely improved after 18-year-old from Ajax, Jus-
ful header.
short, he banged his han- his head in his hands as he
dlebars in frustration. sobbed. a rough challenge early on tin Kluivert, made his inter- Without Pepe's veteran
by Dutch defender Tonny national debut as a substi-
presence, the experienced
Sagan, a five-time win- "When it's such a big op-
ner of the Tour de France's portunity of course it's Vilhena. He left the game tute late in the game. central defensive pairing
after 68 minutes soon after Though Portugal exited the of Jose Fonte and Rolando
green jersey for best sprint- disappointing," Viviani
er, also won the race in said. "I hope I get another teammate Joao Cancelo Confederations Cup semi- — who was substituted at
finals in a penalty shootout halftime — simply looked
was sent off.
2013 and 2016. chance."
"I'm very happy and glad Demare narrowly missed The European champions against Chile in June, this slow-footed.
were well beaten by neat was its first defeat inside 90 Fonte, playing in the Chi-
to win this race, the team out again after finishing
did a great job," Sagan third at the Milan-San Remo Dutch goals from Memphis minutes since gifting Swe- nese league, let Depay get
Depay in the 11th minute, den a 3-2 comeback win in in front of him to pounce
said. "A sprint's always a classic last weekend.q
Ryan Babel in the 32nd, a friendly one year ago. on a loose ball and open
and captain Virgil Van Dijk In fact, Portugal has lost a the scoring. It finished off a
Volvo Ocean Race in first-half stoppage time. friendly in March for four sweeping Dutch counter-
attack which saw Van Dijk
straight years under Santos.
Still, Portugal coach Fer-
team searching nando Santos is unlikely to "Two years ago before the surge forward in support.
shake up his squad ahead Euros we lost at home to De Ligt went deep into the
of preparing to play in Bulgaria and I didn't lose Portugal defense to create
a World Cup group with confidence in the players," the next two goals, first fir-
for man overboard Spain, Morocco and Iran. the coach said. ing a powerful cross from
Ronaldo saved his team near the byline that Ba-
"I still believe in these play-
ers for the World Cup," San- from defeat on Friday with bel met unmarked with a
tos said through a transla- two stoppage-time head- header.
By The Associated Press tical miles west of Cape tor. ers to beat World Cup- In his next foray, De Ligt met
Volvo Ocean Race officials Horn. The rebuilding project of bound Egypt 2-1. a free kick with a looped
say a crewman on Team Officials say the crewman, new Netherlands coach The Portugal star react- header to tee up Van Dijk,
Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag John Fisher of Britain, was Ronald Koeman looked ed furiously at not being and the Liverpool player
has fallen overboard in wearing survival equip- more promising in Geneva awarded a penalty when fired a shot across the goal-
the inhospitable Southern ment when he went over- than it did in a lackluster 1-0 the score was 1-0. Replays mouth into the corner of
Ocean some 1,400 nau- board Monday.q home loss against England suggested Ronaldo fell af- the net.q