Tiger Woods has score to settle as US Open returns WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 paGE 14 Al Duhail hold off Sharjah for victory Al Duhail players after their win over UAE’s Sharjah in the AFC Champions League at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday. (AFP) Scoreline Al Duhail 2 (Almoez Ali 41’, Ramin Rezaeian 51’) bt Sharjah 1 (Igor Coronado 58’ (P)) from the edge of the box to put mo playmaker stepped up and Al Duhail in the lead. coolly converted in his trade- Al Duhail picked up from mark style to half the deficit. where they left off after the Despite relative domi- restart and within six minutes, nance for Sharjah and coach Abdullah Al Ahrak had won a Abdulaziz Al Anbari throw- Al Duhail defender Ramin Rezaeian (left) celebrates after scoring during the AFC Champions League Group C match against UAE’s Sharjah at the Education City Stadium in free-kick just outside the Shar- ing in a trio of attacking play- Al Rayyan on Wednesday. (AFP) jah penalty box and new sign- ers in Khalid Bawazir, Saif ing Ramin Rezaeian curled it Rashid and Salem Saleh, Al AFC Group C on Tuesday. having lost to Al Taawoun on the opening period came just end of the first half, Sharjah perfectly into the top corner to Duhail stood tall to see off DOHA Sharjah went into the Matchday Two to freeze at before the half-hour mark, were caught napping after a double the Qataris’ lead. the match and move up to six game in pursuit of their first three points. when Ahmed Yasser rose high- misplaced pass from Moham- Five minutes later, Coro- points, five points ahead of A fiercely contested tactical win in the AFC Champions Igor Coronado had the first est to meet a cross from a free- med Abdulbaset allowed Luiz nado used his trickery to drib- their opponents. battle at Education City Sta- League since 2004, having chance of the match for Shar- kick. Al Hosani did enough to Junior to collect the ball deep ble his way past two Al Duhail Sharjah’s chances of pro- dium saw Al Duhail emerge collected one point from their jah after eight minutes, but his initially parry it then followed into his own half and supply players before being brought gress to the next round are 2-1 winners over Sharjah FC first two games. free-kick from all of 30 yards through with a sweeper-style an impeccable pass to Almoez down by Ali inside the box, now hanging on their ability to on Matchday Three of the Al Duhail, meanwhile, out sailed over the crossbar. clearance. Ali who expertly applied his prompting the referee to point collect the three points in the 2020 AFC Champions League were looking to make amends Al Duhail’s best chance of Five minutes before the finish into the bottom corner to the spot. The former Paler- reverse fixture on Friday. Late Khalilzadeh goal seals Persepolis win Al Ain, Al Sadd share points over Al Taawoun in thrilling 3-3 draw AFC biggest chance of the half. AFC DOHA Al Rashidi continued to be DOHA the main creative outlet for the A late Shojae Khalilzadeh Saudis, and in the final min- GROUP D of the 2020 AFC goal earned Iran’s Persepolis ute of the half, he once more Champions League took off to FC a valuable 1-0 victory over made progress down the right a fiery start as Al Ain FC put an Al Taawoun FC on Match- and delivered a cross that was end to a run of five consecutive day Three of the 2020 AFC cleared by Siamak Nemati, but losses in the competition when Champions League Group C only as far as Cedric Amissi who they shared the spoils in an ex- on Tuesday. controlled and struck on the citing 3-3 draw with Qatar’s Al Persepolis went into the half-volley, forcing another fine Sadd SC on Tuesday. game chasing their first win in reflex save from Lak as the first The two sides went into the 2020 edition, but for them half ended goalless. the game with contrasting for- to do so, they needed to over- The pattern continued in tunes, with Al Ain needing to come group leaders and hith- the second half, but with Perse- pick up points after opening erto unbeaten Al Taawoun. polis seeing more of the ball and their campaign with two losses After a cagey opening 20 looking more adventurous as while Al Sadd needed to con- minutes, the first chance of the game ticked on. solidate their position at the the game fell Al Taawoun’s Head coach Yahya Gol- top of Group D. way as centre-back Iago San- mohammadi’s men had their Commenting on the draw, tos looked to send a towering best chance of the match in the Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez, header towards goal, but his 72nd minute when club captain said, “We deserved the best attempt went marginally over Ahmad Nourollahi powered a against Al Ain, and we must the crossbar. header from a Bashar Resan develop ourselves. We have a The two sides continued to free-kick, but goalkeeper Cassio long and arduous road ahead battle in the middle of the park, produced a diving save to keep in the Champions League.” Sadd’s midfielder Santi Cazorla (3rd left) celebrates his goal with teammates during the AFC Champions with no major chances being the danger away. Despite not playing a com- League Group D match against UAE’s Al Ain at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. (AFP) created at either end for most of The deadlock was finally petitive match in the past six the first half. broken with eight minutes to months, the inaugural AFC With 10 minutes to go until go through the unlikeliest of Champions League winners Scoreline the break, right-winger Fahad sources. An out-swinging cor- took just five minutes to open Al Ain 3 (Kodjo Fo-Doh Al Rashidi dribbled his way to ner at the near post was nod- the scoring, when Togolese Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez the byline before sending a low ded onto the path of defender striker Kodjo Laba met debu- guides his team during the AFC Laba 5’, Bauyrzhan cross into the path of Mitch- Khalilzadeh, who was well-po- tant Wilson Eduardo’s low Champions League Group D Islamkhan 38’, ell Duke who took it first time sitioned at the far post to con- cross to slot past Qatar inter- match against UAE’s Al Ain at the from five yards out but goal- trol and apply a left-footed national Saad Al Sheeb. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Boualem Khoukhi 67’ keeper Hamed Lak produced finish into the bottom corner It was end to end from that in Doha on Tuesday. (OG)) vs Al Sadd 3 stunning back-to-back saves to to hand Persepolis what would moment on, as Al Sadd looked deny the Australian twice and prove to be the winning goal. to reply in kind with the biggest shot that took Al Sheeb by sur- (Akram Afif 35’, Santi Sultan Madash fumbled the re- RESULT: PERSEPOLIS 1 (SHOJA chance coming down to captain prise - the Qatari keeper rose Cazorla 55’, Baghdad bound to waste Al Taawoun’s Khalilzadeh 83’) BT AL TAAWOUN 0. Hassan Al Haydos on the right, to meet it to no avail as the ball but he slipped before managing crept just under the crossbar. Bounedjah 60’). a shot. At the other end of the Al Sadd drew level when pitch, Al Sheeb needed to come Santi Cazorla scored on his out of his area to head a long AFC Champions League de- rising to clear a lofted ball into ball away from Laba. but; the Spaniard hammered the area but instead headed in Al Sadd equalised just af- in a low shot with his right foot to gift Al Ain the equaliser. ter the half hour mark when from Afif’s cut-back from the Chances came left, right, 2019 AFC Footballer of the left side of the pitch. and centre for both teams as Year Akram Afif fired in a right Not long after, Baghdad they looked to break the dead- footed shot into the bottom Bounedjah got his first goal of Players greet each other at the end of the match at the Jassim Bin lock before the final whistle, in corner. the current edition and put his Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. (AFP) one of the most lively games so Al Ain replied instantly side ahead after he tapped in far in the competition. through Kazakhstan interna- Nam Tae-hee’s low cross, the with chances at both ends be- Laba missed the chance to Al Ain collected their first tional midfielder Bauyrzhan latter having beaten Bandar Al ing missed. Khoukhi missed a equalise when he hit the post. point to remain in contention, Islamkhan, who controlled Ahbabi to assist his teammate. golden opportunity to increase A few minutes after the while Al Sadd moved up to five Iran’s Persepolis FC scored 1-0 win over Al Taawoun FC in Group C of the the ball a few yards outside Al The match sprung to life the difference when he missed hour mark, Khoukhi put the points ahead of the two sides’ 2020 AFC Champions League at the Education City Stadium on Tuesday. Sadd’s area, before firing in a again after the flurry of goals, a header at the far corner, while ball past his own keeper after rematch on Friday.