Coach Sousa credits players “We had been preparing our players to be their best and to win every game and with that planning we came here for this MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 tournament.” AMIR AWARDS WINNERS, RUNNERS-UP OF 24TH ARABIAN GULF CUP The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani greets the winning coach Helio Sousa of Bahrain (left), and a Saudi player during the presentation ceremony at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Sunday. Bahrain emerge Gulf Cup champions Saudi Arabia rue missed penalty TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA BAHRAIN made history at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Sunday as they beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to lift their maiden Gulf Cup trophy after five final appearances. The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani witnessed the final and later crowned the winners. The Father Amir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani also graced the occasion. Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) chair- man and Qatar Football As- sociation President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani was also present. Bahrain emerged victori- ous thanks to a second half goal from Mohamed al Romaihi in the 69th minute as Helio Sousa’s side avenged their 2-0 defeat in the group stage to Saudi Arabia, who were denied The Bahrain team celebrates with the Gulf Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Sunday. a fourth Gulf Cup title. A delighted Bahrain coach, later addressing the media credited all his players and coaching staff for the success. “We had been preparing our players to be their best and our effort was to win eve- ry game and with that plan- ning we came here for this tournament. “We showed mettle against Iraq in the semi-final and had the belief. “Our players are growing. They stuck to the one style of playing we proposed to them to make things happen, also knowing well that Saudi Ara- bia were a strong side but then their hard efforts paid off,” said the Portuguese coach. Saudi Arabia were the bet- ter side in the first half and should have opened the scor- ing after 11 minutes when they were awarded a spot-kick after Salem al Dawsari was fouled in- side the area by Jasim al Shai- kh, but Salman al Faraj blasted the penalty over the crossbar. Bahrain tried to hit back through counter attacks and Mahdi al Humaidan had a chance on the right side but Match-winning goal-scorer Mohamed al Romaihi is hugged by a his shot went directly to Saudi teammate after Bahrain won the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup. (AFP) Bahrain’s players celebrate with fans after winning the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Sunday. (AFP) goalkeeper Fawaz al Qarni on 14 minutes. ahead as Mahdi al Humaidan fore the break. ing seven minutes after the hour Bahrain took the lead which Romaihi finished with a ward but failed to create any real The Saudi dominance con- headed a corner towards goal Saudi Arabia continued to mark but Yasser al Shahrani’s against the run of play when a volley from close range in the chances as Bahrain added the tinued but it was Bahrain who but custodian Qarni made a pressure in the second period shot from outside the area just counter attack on the left saw 69th minute. Gulf Cup to the WAFF Champi- nearly finished the first half fingertip save four minutes be- and could have opened the scor- sailed past the left upright. Humaidan send a low cross Saudi Arabia pushed for- onship they lifted in August. 14 Monday, December 9, 2019 Sports Messi hat-trick breaks La Liga record AFP MADRID LIONEL Messi broke yet an- other record by hitting his 35th La Liga hat-trick on Saturday as Barcelona thrashed Real Mal- lorca 5-2 to keep pace with Real Madrid at the top of the table. A trio of vintage Messi fin- ishes contributed to five stun- Lazio’s Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (left) celebrates ning Barca goals, the best of with Lazio’s Argentine midfielder Joaquin Correa after scoring during them arguably belonging to the Italian Serie A match against Juventus at the Olympic Stadium in Luis Suarez, whose brilliant Rome on Saturday. (AFP) backheel capped a free-flow- ing move, involving seven dif- ferent players. Juve defeat at Lazio throws “I knew I had a little gap, my last resort was to try a open Serie A title race backheel,” said Suarez. “I was surprised,” added AFP off for a foul on Manuel Laz- Barcelona coach Ernesto Val- TURIN zari after 69 minutes proved verde. “It was an extraordi- to be the turning point. nary goal.” ITALIAN champions Juventus Lazio took control as But at the end of a week in suffered their first defeat of the Sergej Milinkovic-Savic con- which Messi claimed a record season Saturday with a 3-1 loss nected with a Luis Alberto as- sixth Ballon d’Or, it was the against Lazio in Rome blowing sist to fire in a stunning goal. Argentinian etching his name open the Serie A title race. Goalkeeper Thomas into the history books again Maurizio Sarri’s eight-time Strakosha denied Ronaldo’s after pulling clear of Cristiano reigning league champions re- header on the line while Ju- Ronaldo’s 34 La Liga trebles to main second in the table, two ventus counterpart Wojciech stand alone. Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi celebrates his third goal with Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez during the Spanish League points behind leaders Inter Szczesny atoned for bringing “Unbelievable,” said Val- match against RCD Mallorca at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. (AFP) Milan after 15 matches. down Joaquin Correa by sav- verde. “It was a celebration of Third-placed Lazio clawed ing Serie A top scorer Ciro Im- the Ballon d’Or.” and 4-2, even if a comeback who had scored one and set up ber 18, which looks increasingly After rocky starts, La Li- to within just three points of mobile’s resulting penalty. The efforts of Messi and never looked likely. another in an equally comfort- likely to decide who will sit first ga’s most successful two clubs Juventus after their first win at Felipe Caicedo snatched the Suarez overshadowed An- Instead, Messi underlined able 2-0 victory over Espanyol over the Christmas break. also appear to be hitting their home against the Turin giants third goal five minutes into in- toine Griezmann’s opener but his status as the world’s fin- a few hours earlier. “We’re talking about Ka- stride ahead of what is shaping since December 2003. jury time as Lazio earned their that was impressive too, the est footballer with another It means Madrid and Bar- rim a lot recently, in a good up to be a crunch meeting in 11 Cristiano Ronaldo put Ju- seventh straight win, fuelling Frenchman applying a sump- sublime performance, instant celona are back level on points way,” said Madrid coach Zin- days’ time. ventus ahead at the Stadio ambitions of challenging for a tuous chip after being assisted evidence for why he was pre- at the top of the table, with edine Zidane. “He’s getting Messi in this mood will Olimpico when he picked up a first Serie A title since 2000. by his own goalkeeper Marc- sented with his latest Ballon Barca ahead on goal differ- older and that’s made a differ- be hard to stop. For his first Rodrigo Bentancur cross to tap “Lazio for the Scudetto? Andre ter Stegen. d’Or trophy on the pitch be- ence. Sevilla, in third, are four ence, his maturity. goal, he cut in from the right in after 25 minutes. But Luiz Maybe, it depends on how An exhibition of creativity fore kick-off. points further back. “None of us are perfect. But and bent the ball into the top Felipe hit back for the Romans much they will be able to con- at Camp Nou allowed for the Messi now has 12 goals Benzema’s own irresistible he’s asked to chase and he does left-hand corner and his sec- in front of 60,000 fans, nod- tinue this extraordinary mo- occasional lapse in defence this season, the highest in the form in parallel with Messi adds it. He’s asked to score and he ond was almost a carbon copy, ding in just before the break. ment,” said Sarri, “let’s say it and Mallorca’s Ante Budimir division and one ahead of Real an intriguing sub-plot to the does it. I can’t ask for more, Suarez setting it back for his Juan Cuadrado’s sending will be a three-way fight.” twice reduced the deficit to 2-1 Madrid’s Karim Benzema, upcoming Clasico on Decem- only that he keeps doing it.” partner to hit the same spot. Monterrey’s coach Mohamed Red-hot Vardy fires title-chasing Leicester eager to make history in Qatar to club record win AFP LONDON LEICESTER closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liver- pool as Jamie Vardy extended his red-hot streak with a brace in Sunday’s record-breaking 4-1 rout of Aston Villa. OME love affairs can Brendan Rodgers’ second- last a lifetime, and the placed side moved within eight one Antonio Mohamed points of Liverpool thanks has with Monterrey to goals from Vardy, Kelechi Swould certainly seem to be one Iheanacho and Jonny Evans at in that category. The romance Villa Park.