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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 Liverpool bid Shadab and to seal top-four Faheem revive spot as Klopp Pakistan in calls for focus Ireland’s Test Sunday, May 13, 2018 FORMULA 1 Sha’baan 27, 1439 AH Hamilton ends GULF TIMES Vettel’s pole run in Spain SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL Tabata’s brace powers Rayyan into Amir Cup fi nal ‘We have to enjoy playing in the final. We have to be at our best to beat Duhail and win the title’ By Sahan Bidappa Doha odrigo Tabata’s brace powered Al Rayyan to a 3-0 win over Al Gharafa and into the fi nal of the Amir Cup. RAt the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday, Tabata was at the heart of Rayyan’s impressive performance as they cruised past Gharafa in the semi- fi nal. Michael Laudrup’s men, who lost in the fi nal to Al Sadd last year, face a mighty challenge this time too as they face Al Duhail in the title clash at the Khalifa In- ternational Stadium on May 19. Djamel Belmadi’s Duhail are un- beaten this year and will be going for a historic domestic treble, having already won the QNB Stars League and Qatar Cup trophies this season. Rayyan were thrashed 1-6 by Ghara- fa the last time the two sides met in the league. And Rayyan came into the match vowing to prove a point and re- Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup. deem their season. They had dream start when Taba- ta put them ahead in just the second minute of the game. Gharafa gifted Rayyan possession in the midfi eld, al- lowing Tabata to run into the edge of the box, where he picked up Sebastian Soria on the right fl ank. Soria, after getting past two Gharafa defenders, re- layed it back to Tabata, who fi red Rayy- an in front. Tabata was the key to his team’s eve- ry attacking run as the attacking mid- fi elder tormented Gharafa on the night. If not for goalkeeper Qasim Burhan’s timely interventions Gharafa would have been at least three goals behind in the fi rst-half. In the 31st minute, Burhan parried away a shot from Soria, who then shot Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata celebrates after scoring a goal against Al Gharafa during their Amir Cup semi-final at Jassim Bin over the bar again two minutes later. Hamad Stadium yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil and Shemeer Rasheed Both the chances were set up by Tabata. Burhan was again called into action ceived a wonderful pass from Tabata, able to stop a powerful shot. their energy bit, looked a threat in the just before the half-time, when he had who played a long ball from the half line. Alaaeldin, who had scored the win- fi nal ten minutes and had at least three to dive to his left to save Yohan Mollo’s With only goalkeeper to beat, Myong- ner in the 88th minute against second clear chances. In the 86th minute, Al Gharafa coach Bulent Uygun. low shot. jin expertly chipped it over Burhan to division side Mesaimeer in the quarter- Tabata hit straight to the keeper after Rayyan began the second-half as put Rayyan in the cruise mode. fi nals, once again looked a threat in the a pass from Mollo, but he wasn’t to be with the victory. “I was a bit surprised enjoy the final against Duhail. “We they did the fi rst-half and doubled Gharafa immediately raised their match. But his teammates let him down denied in the next minute. Tabata put at how we dominated the game. We have to enjoy playing in the final. We their lead in the 47th minute courtesy a game and looked to have pulled a goal and cut an isolated fi gure as the match the match to bed with Soria again mak- had a great support from the fans and it have to be at our best to beat Duhail clever fi nish from Koh Myong-jin. back through substitute Ahmed Alaael- went on. ing the assist. helped us to put a good show,” he said. and win the title,” the manager from The South Korean midfi elder re- din, but Rayyan keeper Omar Bari was Rayyan players, who had dropped Rayyan coach Laudrup was delighted Laudrup called on his players to Denmark said. ATHLETICS / DIAMOND LEAGUE Qatar’s Haroun races to third in Shanghai meet By Sports Reporter Makwala ran 44.23 seconds, while fi ghting for the last 100 metres, but I the lead on the straight, 22-year-old Doha 2017 World Championship bronze was stronger and I knew it. I come from Cheruiyot‘s long stride saw him go fi rst medallist Haroun fi nished a creditable the same village as (David) Rudisha, late to stop the clock in 3:31.48 – the 44.51. he was always my example. Now I take fastest time by anyone this year. atar’s Abdalelah Haroun fi n- “I felt really good today and had over.” Cheruiyot never doubted his kick. “I ished in the top three for the some fun. To set a meet record of 43.99 Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski beat was sure I was going to win the race,” he second straight Diamond feels so good. I felt I had the race in the the chase to fi nish third in 1:45.41. said. League meet even as Steven last 120m,” Gardiner said after the win. “I needed to run a good time, and this QGardiner of the Bahamas raced to a Second-placed Motswana athlete race is good for the Diamond League CHERUIYOT TAKES 1,500M 400m victory yet again yesterday. added: “Was a good race, not so tough, An equally entertaining men’s 1,500m points.” Gardiner had raced a world lead- was fi ne. I ran a season best, that was saw another Kenyan prosper in a home Tefera recorded a personal best of ing 43.87 seconds in Doha earlier this my plan, I did and that’s good. I also straight battle. 3:31.63, taking him to eighth on the month, beating 21-year-old Team Qa- had to win it, but I collapsed a bit on A hot pace was set from the start, world U20 all-time list, and fi nished tar member Haroun, who ran 44.50, the end. Next race I’ll catch him (Gar- Cornelius Kiplangat leading them more than a second ahead of Iguider. ahead of third-placed Isaac Makwala diner).” through 800 metres in 1:53. Young (44.92) of Botswana. Meanwhile, Kenya’s new 800m ace Ethiopian Samuel Tefera found himself RUSSIA’S LASITSKENE CLINCHES Yesterday, in Shanghai, Common- Wycliff e Kinyamal lit up a muggy night at the front after the pacer dropped out, HIGH JUMP wealth Games champion Makwala was in the Shanghai Stadium. the world indoor champion looking Russian high jumper Maria Lasitskene off the mark in a fl ash, but Gardiner Commonwealth champion Kinyamal startled before taking up the running. clinched the title clearing 1.97 metres. stayed not too far behind. The World went inside 1:44 for the second time in Abdelaati Iguider gave chase as Timo- Lasitskene is the winner of the 2017 Championship silver medallist picked his career to win in a meeting record, thy Cheruiyot, who had been in second, Diamond League fi nals. The Shanghai up speed in the fi nal quarter of the race world lead and personal best of 1:43.91, sat in third. tournament was the 39th competi- and posted 43.99 seconds, his second fi nishing 0.04 ahead of Jonathan Kitilit. The 2017 Diamond League cham- tion in a row for the Russian athlete, in (From left) Botswana’s Isaac Makwala, Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun and Bahamas’ sub-44 timing in as many races this “A PB and meeting record, the race pion Cheruiyot moved through the fi - which she won gold medals, reported Steven Gardiner in action during the men’s 400m event at the Shanghai Diamond season. was fi ne,” said Kinyamal. “We were nal bend, and although Tefera still held Tass news agency. League meet yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 13, 2018 FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool bid to seal top-four spot as Klopp calls for focus Arsene Wenger bids farewell to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) with star Arsenal after 22 years in charge as midfielder Mohamed Salah. the Gunners boss finishes his long goodbye with a trip to Huddersfield AFP especially for a place in the Champions London League, is not in our hands. But we have to try to get three points against New- castle, then to drop something positive urgen Klopp has warned Liver- for us,” Conte said. pool to forget about the Cham- Chelsea have an FA Cup fi nal date pions League fi nal as they aim with Manchester United on May 19 but to qualify for next season’s tour- this could be Conte’s last league game Jnament by holding off Chelsea on the with the Blues after two stormy seasons fi nal day of the Premier League cam- marred by his feud with the club over paign. Klopp’s fourth-placed side sit their failure to back his transfer plans. two points clear of fi fth-placed Chel- Refusing to take the blame for Chelsea’s sea and, given their vastly superior woes, Conte said: “We’re struggling to goal diff erence, they should seal a top- take a place in the Champions League.