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MLB | Page 5 CYCLING | Page 7 Harper leads Former Nationals to ski-jumper 4-3 win over Roglic grabs Angels stage win Thursday, July 20, 2017 ATHLETICS Shawwal 26, 1438 AH Bolt winning race GULF TIMES against time to peak for London SPORT Page 6 2018 AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS Qatar register comfortable 2-0 win over Turkmenistan Despite missing many chances Qatar, thanks to a brace from star player Akram Afif in the first 15 minutes of the game, eased past Turkmenistan in their opening encounter of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers yesterday at the Al Sadd Stadium By Sahan Bidappa ran in hard with his speed catching the Doha opposition unaware on many occasions but he lacked the fi nesse to fi nish as he glanced his header wide off the post, espite blowing many chances, with plenty of open space available. Qatar scored a comfortable Moez Ali was also brought down in the 2-0 win over Turkmenistan in box couple of times, but the referee the AFC U-23 Championship waved off the penalty shouts much to Dqualifi ers here yesterday. the relief of Turkmenistan. In sweltering conditions at the Al With just three minutes remaining Sadd stadium, Qatar were off to an im- for the half-time, Qatar’s Bassam Alrawi pressive start, opening up a 2-0 lead came close in the 43rd minute but his free within 15 minutes. But as the match kick sailed just wide of the right post. progressed, the hosts wasted plenty of Qatar continued to threaten after the opportunities to score, which would break, with Afi f carrying much of the have frustrated coach Felix Sanchez on workload. Five minutes into the second the night. half, Afi f, who plies his trade for Belgian Qatar’s both goals came from the club KAS Eupen on loan from Villarre- highly-rated Akram Afi f, who showed al, found Moein with just goalkeeper to his calibre with a slick display of tech- beat. But the captain sent the ball wide. nique as he found the net with ease. Turkmenistan, which played most However, the 20-year-old benefi ted of the game in their own half, defend- from some impressive build-up play ed stoutly, relying on counterattack to and passing from his teammates. score. And their fi rst real chance came Afi f fi rst found the net in the fourth in the 53rd minute, when Rejebov Ber- minute but Qatar were lucky to keep the dimyrat’s left-footed shot was well goal, after the ball had clearly gone out saved by Qatar goalkeeper Mohammed of play. A throw-in from the touchline Ahmed al-Bakari. by Abdulrahman Anad was collected by Afi f, meanwhile, was prowling in the Moez Ali, who ran past two Turkmeni- opposition box for his hat-trick and he stan defenders into the box. But in do- almost had it in the 58th minute. But ing so the Qatar forward clearly took the his low shot was anticipated by keeper ball out of play, which was not picked Berdiyev Dovletyar, who dived to the up by the offi cials. Ali then picked up an left to make a neat save. unmarked Afi f with a great pass, and the In the 66th minute, Afi f once again forward slotted home to the right of the looked dangerous as he ran past Turk- top post to give Qatar a head-start. menistan defenders after a nice pass Qatar’s play brimmed with belief, with from Abdullah Abdulsalam. But Dovle- Afi f, Moez Ali and skipper Ahmed Moein tyar was there to deny Qatar’s talisman troubling the opposition. Moein had a his much-deserved hat-trick. Sanchez golden chance to double the lead, but the soon replaced Afi f by bringing in Nass- captain fi red wide, from just inside the box. er Ibrahim al-Nasr, as the Qatar coach The second goal, however, was around chose to preserve his star striker’s en- the corner and it was gifted by the Turk- ergy from the sapping humidity for fu- menistan skipper Atayev Selim in the 15th ture matches. minute. Anad intercepted a mistimed Even in the closing stage, Qatar had pass from Selim and laid it on to Moein, slew of chances but failed to fi nd the who played a perfect through ball to the net, which left Sanchez shaking his waiting Afi f, who took a couple of deft head in disbelief at the touchline. Qa- touches and found the net with ease. tar’s next match is tomorrow against From thereon, it looked like it would India, who lost to Syria 0-2 earlier in rain goals from Qatar. But to the dismay the day. While Qatar will go into that of Sanchez and a sizeable home crowd match too as the overwhelming favour- Qatar wasted numerous chances to in- ites, Sanchez will hope his boys will crease the lead. show more clinical display than they Moez Ali, playing as central forward, Qatar’s Akram Afif (left) in action during his team’s 2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification match against Turkmenistan yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma did against Turkmenistan. BOTTOMLINE India go down 2-0 to Syria in opener Agencies in the clear but his prompt right-footer double substitution in the 81st minute er as they’re scheduled to clash their Doha rebounded off the post for a corner. – Sarthak Golui and Robinson Singh horns with hosts Qatar at the Jassim The resultant corner, a long one coming in for Lalruatthara and Anirudh Bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow. from Anirudh Thapa was met by Nishu Thapa respectively. Stephen also didn’t mince his words ndia U-23 went down fi ghting two- Kumar from the top of the box but it Three minutes later, Nikhil Poojary praising his boys for showing their true nil to Syria U-23 in their opening missed by a whisker as both teams powered another cross from the right potential in the fi rst match of the Qual- encounter of the AFC U-23 Cham- headed to the interval locked goalless. fl ank but it Hitesh mistimed his leap to ifi ers. pionship China 2018 Qualifi ers Changing over, striker Manvir Singh fi nd the elusive equaliser. The British coach said, “The boys Iopener at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadi- came close to scoring the opener but Syria sealed the fate of the match in have played their heart out. Boys have um in Doha yesterday. Both teams were his header landed safely into the Syrian the 88th minute — Fares Arnaout dou- almost got the better of the Syrians but locked goalless at the interval. goalkeeper’s gloves. bling the score for them. eventually, the lack of experience cost The U-23 boys next play hosts and As the game neared the hour-mark, us the match.” group favourites Qatar U-23 in their Indians appeared to lose the plot a bit — LACK OF EXPERIENCE COST US, Although he rued the half-chances match tomorrow. skipper Lalruatthara and Nishu Kumar SAYS INDIAN COACH CONSTANTINE those were created in the fi rst-half, he India began on a cautious note and going into the referee’s book for chal- Despite going down by two second-half didn’t hesitate from expressing that pressed hard in their eff ort to unsettle lenges. goals against Syria India’s boys will take he’s “proud of the boys’ performances.” the physically superior Syrians. The Syria went ahead in the 64th minute inspiration from the praise bestowed on Even some of his boys had a standout fi rst chance of the day fell to striker — striker Rabie Srour lobbing it over them by Syrian coach Hussain Afash. performance tonight, he emphasised Daniel Lalhlimpuia but he could not goalkeeper Vishal Kaith who was “In actual facts, Indians pressed us on the ‘team game’ during the post- make the most of the opportunity. caught out of position — central de- very hard in the fi rst half and they’re match press conference held after the Nikhil Poojary on the right fl ank kept fender Salam Ranjan Singh’s valiant playing a manoeuvring football. In the Syria game. the rival defence busy with his incisive attempt to keep off the lob not being second half, they conceded two goals “Some of the boys might have had a crosses, as the Indian midfi eld preferred successful. but I must say, they got under our skin good game but I believe this is a team to rotate from one side to the other. India’s fi rst substitution came in the and these boys are defi nitely going to game where everyone needs to perform The high point for India came in the 72nd minute – Hitesh Sharma com- have a great future ahead,” said Afash and they’ve had a great team eff ort to- 37th minute when a string of passes ing in for Daniel. Head Coach Stephen yesterday. night. We’ll take it forward to the next found the tireless Germanpreet Singh Action during the match between Syria and India. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Constantine followed it up with a India have a little time left to recov- game.” Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 20, 2017 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT STAYING Conte signs new Chelsea agree deal Chelsea deal for Real’s Morata ‘I feel indebted to him (Conte) because he’s the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me, who made me feel I could perform at the highest level’ This file photo shows Chelsea’s Italian manager Antonio Conte.

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