SPORT Tuesday 18 September 2018 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 27 Hamilton pushing Ronaldo returns to towards 5th Formula Spain for Juventus One title CL opener Al Sadd storm into ACL semis RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates during the AFC DOHA: A slick penalty in injury Champions League quarter-final time by Baghdad Bounedjah match against Esteghlal FC at the yesterday sealed Al Sadd’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in passage to the semi-finals of the Doha, yesterday. AFC Champions League (ACL) after a thrilling encounter with Iran’s Esteghlal. Al Sadd, a two-time winners of the Asian club championship, yesterday drew 2-2 against Esteghlal to complete a 5-3 win on aggregate at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Coached by Jesualdo Ferreira, Al Sadd arrived for the return leg on home soil with a 3-1 cushion having beaten their Iranian rivals in the first leg at Azadi Stadium. Al Sadd’s goals were scored by Akram Afif (27) and Bounedjah (90 + 2). Esteghlal, who played most part of the second half with 10 men, were lifted by goals by Al Sadd’s Akram Hassan (left) vies for the ball with Esteghlal’s Humam Tarek during their match at the Rouhollah Bagheri (32) and Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha yesterday. TOP: Al Sadd players celebrate their win over Esteghlal Morteza Tabrizi (49). In the semi-final, Al Sadd face FC in Doha, yesterday. Persepolis who yesterday edged out Qatari outfit Al Duhail in the assist by a cross from Humam narrowly. Just four minutes into In the 90th minute, Esteghlal other quarter-final. Tareq. A couple of minutes later, the second half, Esteghlal keeper Mehdi Rahmati brought “It feels great to have reached Esteghlal had an opportunity to grabbed the lead. Tabrizi headed down Afif inside his own box and the semi-finals of this prestigious take lead but Cheshmi’s header home off the high centre into the the referee promptly pointed to championship,” Al Sadd captain from the centre of the box went goal off an Esmaeili cross, fol- the penalty spot. Bounedjah Hassan Al Haydos said after the high and wide to the left of the lowing a corner kick, leaving Al calmly slotted the ball past thrilling contest under lights. goal-post after a neat set-piece Sadd fans stunned. Rahmati as Al Sadd celebrated “We have worked extremely move initiated by Farshid Al Sadd players, however, did their second goal that gave them hard to reach thus far. The Esmaeili. Five minutes from the not give up. In the 55th minute, a 5-3 cushion in injury time. players have put in great efforts first-half whistle, Esteghlal Afif hit the left post with a left- “It was an amazing fight. We all through the AFC Champions It was a great game for young bottom left corner after a slick managed to block a dangerous footed shot from the left side of worked as a team,” influential League so far,” he added. Afif who sparkled throughout the assist by Bounedjah in the 27th header by Abdelkarim Hassan the box following an assist by midfielder Hassan said “I want to say ‘well done’ to clash with exciting moves. minute. from the centre of the box. Hassan. Coach Ferreira benched yesterday. the players and want to thank the After Esteghlal’s Rouzbeh Five minutes later, Esteghlal Two minutes later, tireless Al Haydos in the 70th minute “We hope we can continue fans for their support,” Al Haydos Cheshmi picked up a yellow for hit back through Bagheri who Afif - after a cross by Al Haydos by bringing in Yasser Abou like this. We have done well in said. “It was a great team effort. a reckless tackle, Afif opened the produced a left-footed shot from - charged towards the Esteghlal Baker but Al Sadd retained their this year’s championship. We Hopefully we go all the way,” he scoring with a right-footed shot the centre of the box to the high box but his right-footed shot from composure to attack Esteghlal have won the title in the past,” he added. from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal after a neat outside the box missed the target box regularly. added. Persepolis down Al Duhail, Klopp defends Neymar’s theatrics qualify for last four stage at World Cup THE PENINSULA AFP He’s a fantastic footballer, out- standing.” “He was not fit at the TEHRAN: Persepolis reached LIVERPOOL: Liverpool World Cup and he tried to take the AFC Champions League manager Jurgen Klopp the responsibility for his semi-finals for the second year defended Neymar’s play-acting country. Belgium played an out- in a row after coming from a goal at the World Cup and believes standing game against Brazil, behind to earn a 3-1 win over Al it will be impossible to but if Neymar is fit, Brazil wins Duhail at the Azadi Stadium completely snuff out the Brazil- it. That’s how it is. yesterday, sealing a 3-2 ian’s threat when Paris Saint- “He was injured and so he aggregate win for the Iranian Germain visit Anfield in the had to save himself a bit. He’s side. Champions League today. not a person who wants to act Al Duhail took the lead in the Klopp insisted Neymar because if you are like that you 33rd minute after Persepolis wasn’t fully fit in Russia after cannot play football. defender Shojae Khalilzadeh’s breaking a bone in his foot in “He got rested at the attempted clearance of Murad February that forced him to weekend so he will be 100 Naji’s free-kick bounced off miss the rest of the club season percent fresh, he’s not injured Karim Boudiaf and into the back with the French giants before any more. We will see the full of the net to give the Qataris a the World Cup.However, the package Neymar.” - Tuchel ‘one crucial away goal. world’s most expensive player of the best’ - Despite splashing Bashar Resan nearly earned few plaudits for his per- over 400m euros on Neymar equalised for the hosts in the formances and became a figure and Kylian Mbappe, PSG failed 56th minute after snatching the of fun for his constant feigning to progress beyond the last 16 ball from the Al Duhail defenders of injury as Brazil crashed out in their quest to win a first ever and advancing on goal, but his at the quarter-finals to Belgium. Champions League. effort from the edge of the box “When I saw a few games But Klopp, who led Liv- was tipped behind by goalkeeper Perspolis’ players celebrate after scoring during the AFC Champions League quarter-final match at the World Cup and I know erpool to the final in May, Amine Lecomte. against Al Duhail SC at the Azadi Stadium in the Iranian capital Tehran, yesterday. people are talking about that believes marrying a richly tal- The resulting corner kick and it looked like he made a bit ented squad with new coach brought Persepolis their first goal more of situations. But it’s a Thomas Tuchel makes the of the quarter-finals after the from the dead in the 57th minute. before squaring into the six yard long to add a third. Mensha normal reaction because French giants an even bigger cross skimmed the heads of The crowd at Azadi Stadium box. Struggling under Resan’s latched onto a long ball from players are going for him, that’s threat to win the competition strikers Godwin Mensha and Ali erupted as Persepolis took the pressure, Sultan Al Brake tried a Alireza Beiranvand outmuscled the truth, and he wants to this season. “The players they Alipour before ending up at the lead for the first time in the tie 15 last-ditch clearance but instead two Al Duhail defenders before protect himself. I understand have, the manager they have, feet of skipper Seyed Jalal minutes from time. Alipour broke sent the ball into his own net. rounding the goalkeeper and that,” said Klopp yesterday. they all brought it together to Hossein, who converted on the free on the left leaving his With the momentum now on applying a simple finish into the “I’m not sure it’s possible to go as far as possible in the half-volley to bring his side back marker Naji chasing shadows their side, Persepolis didn’t wait empty net to settle the tie. avoid his quality 100 percent. Champions League,” he added. 26 SPORT TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2018 Finch realised time was running out, now plans to seize chance REUTERS Finch said either way he was still going to try and adopt the Australia’s Aaron Finch during nets in this file photo. SYDNEY: Opening batsman free flowing approach that had Aaron Finch knew time was allowed him to accumulate more running out on ever wearing the This is my first Test than 3300 runs with 11 centuries baggy green cap handed out to tour but I have been in one-dayers and almost 1600 Australia’s Test cricketers, but around for quite a Twenty20 international runs at also thought next month’s series while and I know an average of 45.60. against Pakistan might be his “Being aggressive has made best chance yet to earn one. the demands of me reasonably successful in the Finch was one of five international cricket: two shorter formats,” said Finch. uncapped Test players named Aaron Finch “I suppose it depends on where last week in Justin Langer’s raw they see me in the order if there side for the two Tests in the is a spot in the (team).