Neymar, India to Focus Mbappe Fi Re on Fi Elding Best PSG Fi Ve Points Side at World Clear in Paris T20: Kohli
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FOOTBALL | Page 4 CRICKET | Page 6 Neymar, India to focus Mbappe fi re on fi elding best PSG fi ve points side at World clear in Paris T20: Kohli Friday, December 6, 2019 Rabia II 9, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT Saudi Arabia edge Qatar 1-0 in close Gulf Cup semi-fi nal Action from the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final between Qatar (in maroon) and Saudi Arabia (in white) at Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah al-Hamdan celebrates Al Janoub Stadium yesterday. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed and AFP his goal yesterday. Qatar players congratulate Saudi Arabia players for their victory. REPORT Bahrain go past Iraq in penalties to reach fi ft h fi nal ‘We may be the weakest of the four in the semi-finals, but we managed to be the best and reach the final’ By Yash Mudgal Doha ahrain kept their win- ning streak over Iraq in- tact to enter fi nal of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup Byesterday. At the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Bahrain defeated three- time champions Iraq 5-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout to end a tie that had started with three goals inside the fi rst 18 minutes of play. Both the teams were locked two-all at the end of full time play. Thirty minutes of extra time play too couldn’t break the dead- lock forcing the penalty shoot- out. Iraq started off well with Mo- hamed al-Shammari, who plays for Al Duhail in the QNB Stars League, scoring the opening goal at his home stadium, and the Ira- qi fans went wild. Al-Shammari latched on to a rebound which came off Bahrain keeper Sayed Hashem, who could not hold on to the brilliantly exe- cuted free-kick by Alaa al-Ghar- rawi, and guided the ball past a helpless Hashem to go 1-0. While Iraq was on the attack, Bahrain played the waiting game and were content in getting back into the Iraq territory through break back moves. And Bahrain responded less than ten minutes later, when Abdulla al-Haza’a Bahrain coach Helio Sousa (right) consoles Iraq’s Mohamed Majid guided a corner kick past the (centre), who missed his penalty shot during the shootout yesterday. keeper to equalise. Bahrain players celebrate their win in the Gulf Cup semi-final against Iraq at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday. PICTURES: Anas Khalid However, Bahraini’s relief was “We have played a great game the defence especially the second short-lived, as just four minutes past Iraq keeper Jala Hajem at the nities to force the matter. On the ble against Kuwait, raised high Ali Madan converted Bahrain’s today and our players gave a high goal was a gift at this level,” Ka- later Ibrahim Bayesh put Iraq 2-1 stroke of half-time to make it 2-2. fi rst occasion, Bayesh al-Kaabawi to meet a cross from the right fi fth penalty to take his team to quality performance,” Bahrain tanec said. ahead. Thereafter, both the teams failed to beat the goalkeeper in but his header was straight at the title clash. coach Helio Sousa said. “We have played six games The much talked about Bah- came up with threatening moves the third minute of extra time and Hashem. This was Bahrain’s fi fth win “Our players have shown that within 20 days, and the team also rain defence resisted quite a few but could not trouble the scorers. in the eighth minute substitute In the shoot-out the fi rst three over Iraq in recent times and they can concentrate and come suff ered several injuries, I think Iraq attacks successfully and Coaches of both the teams ringed Shareef al-Amari did everything kicks from both the sides were it will be their fi fth fi nal in the back in the game. We may be the it is an impressive performance.” even managed to equalise again in a couple of substitutions in right to beat his marker but ended spot on. Thiago slotted Bahrain’s tournament. Before yesterday’s weakest of the four in the semi- Now the fi nal question re- much against the run of play the second session but it did not up shooting wide. fourth penalty, but substitute semi-fi nal, Bahrain had only de- fi nals, but we managed to be the mains, will Bahrain win their through a counterattack which make much of a diff erence on the At the other end, Iraq goal- Mohamed Majid, who scored feated the Lions of Mesopotamia best and reach the fi nal,” the Por- maiden title when they will meet earned them a fl ag kick. goal front as the half remained keeper Hajem pulled off a save to Iraq’s winning goals in their in the competition over a decade tuguese said. three-time champions Saudi Al-Haza’a’s left-footed fl oater goalless. keep out a threatening shot from tournament-opener against ago. Their most recent win, how- Iraq coach Srecko Katanec felt Arabia in the fi nal at the Kha- caught the Iraq defence unaware, Both the teams created open- Marhoon in the tenth minute of hosts Qatar, shot wide much to ever, was when they beat Iraq 1-0 his tired side played a good game. lifa International Stadium on as an unchallenged Mohamed ings in extra-time to but could not the extra time. Bahrain’s Thiago the crowd’s disbelief, leaving the in the 2019 WAFF Championship “We opened the game well, December 8 or Saudis regain the Marhoon leapt high to head home score. Iraq had two clear opportu- Fernandes, who scored a dou- 22-year-old inconsolable. in October. but we failed to control well in title after a gap of 15 years. Gulf Times Friday, December 6, 2019 2 PICTURES: Anas Khalid, Jayan Orma, Shemeer Rasheed, Sights from the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup Noushad Thekkayil Gulf Times Friday, December 6, 2019 3 FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE Solskjaer, Mourinho sing McTominay’s praises Manchester United manager for the home side but it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Scott McTominay who stole the show. McTominay has become virtu- “The physical presence he ally “undroppable” after the gives us, the leadership he midfielder produced another gives us in midfield, he also Man Utd infl ict dominant display in 2-1 victory releases Fred.” over Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs manager Jose Mour- McTominay returned from inho, who gave McTominay his more than three weeks on the breakthrough at United, said the sidelines with an ankle injury Scottish midfielder was the dif- to patrol the midfield area ference between the two sides. alongside Fred as United, who “They had more emotion than drew their last two Premier us,” the Portuguese coach said. fi rst Spurs defeat League games, claimed all “You see for example, McTomi- three points at Old Traff ord. nay’s performance... he was Liverpool thrash Marcus Rashford scored twice dominant. He was dominant.” Everton to go 8 points on Mourinho clear of Leicester SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP AFP London, United Kingdom Celtic strike late ose Mourinho endured an unhappy return to Man- as Rangers slip chester United as Marcus Rashford struck twice in Ja 2-1 defeat for Tottenham while Liverpool maintained their up at Aberdeen eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League, putting fi ve AFP Ryan Jack put Rangers fi rmly in goals past Everton. Glasgow, Scotland charge, but a goal from Jon Gal- Second-placed Leicester lagher just before half time re- equalled their top-fl ight league stored some belief for Aberdeen. record of seven consecutive cott Brown’s dramatic Rangers’ intensity levels then wins with a 2-0 victory against injury-time strike gave dropped in the second half as bottom side Watford while Celtic a 2-1 win over Andrew Considine struck the Chelsea bounced back from two Hamilton to move the equaliser for Aberdeen in the consecutive league defeats to SHoops two points clear at the top 48th minute. beat Aston Villa 2-1. of the Scottish Premiership as “For 40 minutes the game was Mourinho’s fi rst loss since Rangers let a two-goal lead slip so one-sided, we were cruising,” taking charge of Spurs eases the to draw 2-2 at Aberdeen. Gerrard told Sky Sports. pressure on Ole Gunnar Solsk- Celtic looked on course for “They scored at an important jaer as United moved above Tot- a routine evening when Ryan time, before half-time, and it tenham, up to sixth in the table. Christie pounced to score from seemed to fl ip the whole mo- Rashford smashed United into close range in the 13th minute mentum of the game. Then it an early lead with the help of to put the home side in front at seemed like we couldn’t han- some poor goalkeeping by Paulo Celtic Park. dle the pressure second half, we Gazzaniga, the England interna- But the Accies stayed in the lacked a bit of experience.” tional’s powerful shot creeping game and seemed to have se- The Dons could even have won in at the near post and he had cured an unlikely point when the game late on through Sam chances to extend the lead. Marios Ogkmpoe bundled in a Cosgrove, but Rangers were also Yet for all United’s dominance Liverpool’s Divock Origi (left) scores a goal during the English Premier League match against Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom, leveller in the 90th minute. furious a foul on Alfredo Morelos in the fi rst 45 minutes, one mo- on Wednesday.