GOLF | Page 6 DeChambeau wins by seven shots to set records Monday, January 28, 2019 CRICKET Jumada I 22, 1440 AH Pakistan bowlers GULF TIMES force series decider against South Africa SPORT Page 7 AFC ASIAN CUP Nothing is impossible, says A sixth win in a row tomorrow would see Qatar into their first Qatar star Hassan ever AFC Asian Cup final AFC Alongside club teammate Abu Dhabi Akram Afi f, and in-form strik- er Almoez Ali — who remains one goal away from equalling n the verge of his side’s Ali Daei’s tournament record fi rst ever AFC Asian of eight — Hassan has become Cup semi-fi nal, Qa- a key fi gure in Felix Sanchez’s tar’s star left-back side, but suspension made him OAbdelkarim Hassan has a simple a spectator during their historic message — anything is possible. quarter-fi nal against Korea Re- Qatar’s success would have public. been diffi cult to imagine four Despite not being able to per- years ago. Hassan, an unused sonally impact the breakthrough substitute, watched on as Qatar 1-0 win, Hassan wore one of the bowed out of the 2015 campaign biggest smiles at Zayed Sports without making much of an im- City Stadium, and remains pression.. delighted with his country’s Three successive losses meant achievement. Hassan’s side left Australia “I cannot say anything about without a single point. After the game,” he said. “Korea (Re- years of steady progress, and public) were strong and we had a quarter-fi nal appearance on to defend to stop them from home soil four years prior, it was scoring against us and we did it. their worst ever result at an AFC “We did it, we wrote history Asian Cup. and we enter history (being) the Skip forward four years and fi rst time in the Asian Cup that the circumstances are unrec- Qatar arrive in this stage, and I ognisable. Qatar have won fi ve am very proud of my teammates, successive matches, and beaten from the head coach to the ad- three former champions in a ministration, because we work row, to reach the fi nal four for hard, and a lot, to reach this the fi rst time history. stage. An unused substitute no more, “What can I say? It’s wonder- Hassan is the 2018 AFC Player of ful, and mabrouk for it.” the Year, and, with such signifi - The next challenge is a semi- cant changes, the 25-year-old is fi nal against the United Arab not one to set limits on what can Emirates, who beat Australia in be achieved. the quarter-fi nals. Qatar’s defender “What I have learned in foot- A sixth win in a row would see Abdelkarim Hassan ball, is there is nothing (that is) Qatar into their fi rst ever AFC (foreground) is marked by impossible,” said the Al Sadd Asian Cup fi nal, and a seventh Iraq’s Humam Tariq during dynamo. would make them champions. the 2019 AFC Asian Cup “Everything is possible, so All unthinkable four years ago, Round of 16 match in Abu we will keep working hard and but in 2019, according to Has- Dhabi on Tuesday. (AFP) pushing, until the end.” san, anything is possible. AlmoezAlmoez Ali, Qatar’sQatar goal machine FIFA Korea DPR and then bagging a there with a game plan and ul- team, which is a dream come Abu Dhabi brace against Saudi Arabia to timately, it doesn’t matter who true. I feel like I’ve got the back- seal top spot in Group E. Having gets the goals; the important ing of everyone, including Qatar kept a lid on his emotions dur- thing is to find the net and fulfil FA president Sheikh Hamad bin hen the Qatari national ing his TV interview after that our objectives.” Khalifa, the other team off icials team travelled to the last match, Ali could contain his “I’m honoured to have achieved and my teammates. WAFC Asian Cup UAE joy no longer, sprinting on to such success and I’ll strive to “Every player needs to feel that 2019, their luggage included the pitch and yelling “top, top, achieve more. Why not?” he trust and I want to repay it by more than just the normal kit, Qatar, Qatar” before joining added. “I have big ambitions, doing everything possible for balls and other equipment his teammates in the dressing but any awards I win – whether the sake of the national team that every team bring to such room to continue the celebra- the competition’s top-scorer and the Qatari fans who are tournaments. It is fair to say tions there. prize or any other accolade – watching us back home. I feel that they had a few aces up Ali and the rest of the squad reflect on Qatar and my biggest blessed to have lived up to their sleeves. were naturally beaming when motivation is doing the country their expectations thus far and I Before the competition kicked they eventually emerged from proud and helping Al Annabi to pledge to keep delivering in the off , no one was quite sure what the bowels of the stadium, but go far in the competition.” knockout stage.” to expect from them, but Al An- it was clear that they were keen It appears Ali and his team- nabi quickly showed what they not to get carried away. WELL-PLACED FAITH mates are moving in the right were made of, turning heads “We came to this competition The 22-year-old may have taken direction, with this tournament with their cohesive style of with a number of goals. The many observers by surprise, marking another positive step play, tactical organisation and first was to win all three games but Qatar coach Felix Sanchez on the road to the 2022 FIFA firepower. in the group stage and we’re is not one of them. The Span- World Cup on home soil. Indeed, the Qataris concluded thankful to God that this mis- iard knows full well what the Sanchez said Ali and the other the group stage with a sparkling sion has now been accom- rangy attacker, who stands 5’11 young stars who have come record, ten goals scored and plished,” he told fifa.com after (1.80m) tall, is capable of. up through the ranks in recent none conceded adding up to Qatar secured the last 16 spot. The pair worked together at times have started to pick up three wins from three and nine With his seven goals so far, Ali is youth level, winning the AFC valuable experience. points from a possible nine. now the highest-scoring Qatari U-19 Championship 2014 – earn- “They’ll be mainstays of the They maintained their clean in the history of the Asian Cup ing a place at the FIFA U-20 side over the next four years. slate in the round of 16 as well finals. He is only two away World Cup New Zealand 2015 in They’ve come on in leaps and as the quarter-finals, riding a from surpassing Iran legend Ali the process – before taking the bounds and this is another momentum that could prove Daei’s record of eight goals at AFC U-23 Championship 2018 opportunity to experience hard to contain for rivals UAE in a single edition of the tourna- by storm, with Ali topping the diff erent scenarios and hone the semi-finals on Tuesday. ment, set in 1996. The young scoring charts. their competitive edge on the But beyond the team strengths forward also became the first Given this background, it is big stage. mentioned above, it is Almoez player in this instalment to hit a small wonder that the Spanish “I’m looking forward to the Ali, the goal machine who has hat-trick (he scored four against tactician has put such faith in World Cup in Qatar,” Sanchez accounted for seven of their North Korea), receiving a com- the young forward this month went on. “It will be a great hon- 12 strikes, who has caused the memorative ball to stick on his in the UAE. our for me to be involved, but biggest stir. mantelpiece. “I am proud of the belief the for the time being, we’re focused After settling the contest in “Scoring is my duty as an at- coach has always shown in me,” on the Asian Cup. We want to go Qatar’s 2-0 opening win over tacker,” he said. “I do my bit to said Ali, “but the past is in the as far as possible. We’ve proven Lebanon, Ali followed this up help us win, but I wouldn’t have past and this competition is a that we can go far. After that we by notching no fewer than four achieved what I have without diff erent story. This time I’m will focus on preparing for the Qatar’s Almoez Ali (right). (AFP) times in the 6-0 thrashing of the team’s eff orts. We go out playing for the senior national 2022 World Cup.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 28, 2019 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT PREVIEW Defence-fi rst Japan intend to Stability breeds follow same plan success, says Qatar against Iran ‘I’d like also to thank the Oman fans who have been supporting star Khoukhius during the competition’ Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu (R) greeting Vietnam’s coach Hang-Seo Park after their Asian Cup quarter-final match on Jan 23. AFP Ritsu Doan’s VAR-assisted pen- Al Ain alty gave Japan a 1-0 win over Vi- etnam in the quarter-fi nals.