Bayern Munich Awaiting Cup
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FFOCUSOCUS | Page 4 BBASKETBALLASKETBALL | Page 6 Chaos as Al Gharafa Covid-19 defeat Shamal case hits tennis to win Qatar hotel Cup title Thursday, February 4, 2021 SPOTLIGHT Jumada II 22, 1442 AH SC ambassadors GULF TIMES reveal their Club World Cup memories SPORT Page 2 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP EPL Man City restore Duhail hope to spring lead with routine a surprise on Al Ahly victory Reuters The Qatari champions received a bye into the second round when Auckland City pulled out London anchester City re- stored their three- point lead at the top of the Premier MLeague after goals from Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling se- cured a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley yesterday. The routine victory at Turf Moor left City on 47 points from 21 games with second-placed Manchester United, who crushed Southampton 9-0 on Tuesday, three points behind having played one more match. It was a rare error from Nick Pope that handed City a third- minute opener, the Burnley keep- er parrying Bernardo Silva’s shot straight out to Jesus who nodded the ball into the net. The second, seven minutes be- fore halftime, was a classic City goal with Riyad Mahrez feeding Ilkay Gundogan whose low cross was turned in by Sterling from close range. After the break, Pope redeemed himself as he denied Sterling, who was clear on goal but could not beat the outstretched leg of the Burnley keeper. Mahrez had the ball in the net in the 57th minute after good work from Jesus but the eff ort was disallowed for off - side. In another match, Leicester City midfi elder James Maddison created both goals in a 2-0 win Al Duhail’s French coach Sabri Lamouchi (L) and his Al Ahly counterpart Pitso Mosimane of South Africa address the media yesterday ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup clash. at relegation-threatened Fulham as Brendan Rodgers’ side moved By Sahan Bidappa have settled nicely under the 49-year- ‘Club of the Century’ from the Confed- ous team. We are very excited about this Ali Maaloul, who was in Tunisia’s FIFA provisionally up to third in the Doha old and have eked out some impressive eration of African Football (CAF). match,” he said yesterday. World Cup squad at Russia 2018. Mali Premier League. results recently. Today though, Lam- The Cairo-based outfi t will be mak- “We strive to present our best against international Aliou Dieng is a promising Leicester took the lead in the ouchi will face his toughest test as Du- ing their sixth appearance at a FIFA Al Ahly. We know that the match will defensive midfi elder, while Mohamed 17th minute when Maddison’s n October last year, Sabri Lam- hail take on African champions Al Ahly Club World Cup after defeating arch- not be easy as we are facing a team that Magdy was Al Ahly’s hero when he pin-point cross found Kelechi ouchi quietly slipped into his sec- in the FIFA Club World Cup at the Edu- rivals Zamalek SC 2-1 in the 2020 CAF has great successes in Africa and has a scored the winning goal in last Novem- Iheanacho making a run into the ond coaching stint with Al Duhail. cation City Stadium at 8.30pm. Champions League fi nal. Their best number of goods players. They will also ber’s CAF Champions League fi nal. box and the Nigerian forward This was just days after the reign- The Qatari champions received a fi nish in the competition was third at have lot of their fans in the stands, but it “We came here because we are the scored his fi rst league goal of the Iing QNB Stars League winners were bye into the second round when their Japan 2006. is a challenge in an exceptional compe- African Champions. We have great season with a well-directed head- knocked out of the AFC Champions scheduled fi rst-round opponents, New Al Ahly will also be able to call upon tition,” he added. confi dence in ourselves and we aim to er. Maddison grabbed a second League in the group phase itself. With Zealand side Auckland City, pulled out their fans for support at the Education Duhail’s recent good run is thanks to reach our maximum levels in the com- assist just before halftime when their performance dropping to alarming of the tournament due to the nation’s City Stadium, with the huge Egyptian Dudu and Edmilson, with the duo form- petition,” said Mosimane yesterday. he was released down the mid- levels under Walid Regragui, the Duhail coronavirus restrictions. diaspora rallying behind them. Lam- ing a lethal partnership in attack. They “We respect Al Duhail a lot, as they dle before spotting James Justin’s management went back to Lamouchi, The Red Knights will be making their ouchi is well aware of Al Ahly’s strength, also have new striker Michael Olunga, have many good players and they have lung-busting run into the box and with the Frenchman having tasted a debut in the competition and they could but said he and his players were excited who scored a hat-trick in Duhail’s win won the QNB Stars League. Also, they the fullback took one touch to good amount of success during his fi rst not have asked for a tougher opposition for the match – especially with Europe- over Al Ahli in the last 16 of the Amir will play at their homeland and among round goalkeeper Alphonse Are- reign with the club. in Al Ahly. Widely regarded as world an powerhouse Bayern Munich awaiting Cup. Coached by former South African their fans, besides that, they have many ola and score. While Lamouchi has failed to stop the football’s most decorated club, Al Ahly them in the semi-fi nals. international Pitso Mosimane, Al Ahly’s good foreign players. The game will not Fulham manager Scott Parker Al Sadd juggernaut in the league, with SC have been a dominant force in Egyp- “We have had a good preparation current squad includes Egyptian inter- be easy, but I have full confi dence in my made halftime changes with the Red Knights trailing their bitter ri- tian and African football, with their period for this tournament, especially national goalkeeper and club captain players and we will do our best to meet Mario Lemina and Ivan Cavaleiro vals by a whopping 13 points, Duhail success earning them the accolade of since we will face a strong and danger- Mohamed El Shenawy and left-back their high expectations.” coming on. PREVIEW Ulsan Hyundai face uphill task against Tigres By Sports Reporter hoon have left the club. defend against them,” he said yesterday. sent South Korea,” he said. Doha To add to that, they have also not been That Ulsan allowed only seven goals Meanwhile, Tigres have emerged as in action since the conclusion of the in 10 matches throughout their 2020 a force on the domestic scene in recent AFC Champions League in December, AFC Champions League campaign, will years. The Mexican side’s triumph over lsan Hyundai return to the which makes it even more diffi cult for please Myung-bo. Los Angeles FC in the CONCACAF fi nal familiar surroundings of Qa- them against Tigres. While there will be the pressure on came a year after their defeat in the 2019 tar, where they won the AFC South Korean football legend Hong new arrival Kim Ji-Hyeon to make an fi nal. Champions League in Decem- Myung-bo, who has replaced Kim Do- instant impression for the Tigers, they The Tigres have already played four Uber. But the two main architects of that hoon in the managerial role, has had will rely on AFC Champions League competitive fi xtures since the start of victory will be missing for the South limited time to prepare the team. My- MVP Yoon to be the fulcrum in attack. the year, with Ricardo Ferretti’s side Korean outfi t, when they take on CON- ung-bo, who played in four FIFA World Centre-back Kim Kee-hee and de- having the best possible preparation for CACAF champions Tigres at the FIFA Cups for South Korea and captained fensive midfi elder Won Du-jae will be their clash against Ulsan. Club World Cup today at the Ahmad bin them to a historic fourth-place fi nish at key in stifl ing the goalscoring threat New arrival Carlos Gonzalez has made Ali Stadium. The match begins at 5pm. 2002 World Cup, admitted Uslan will be posed by Tigres’ all-time leading goal- a strong start to life at the club with two Ulsan won their fi rst Asian Conti- underdogs against Mexican side Tigres. scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac. Goalkeeper goals coming from his fi rst three ap- nental since 2012, when they beat Iran’s “Our team hasn’t been training to- in Jo Hyeon-woo, who has experience pearances, but had to sit out of the last Persepolis 2-1 in the fi nal in Doha with gether for long since we won the Cham- being successful on the international league match due to injury. Ferretti said Yoon Bit-garam named the tourna- pions League. But we want to go in with stage, was hopeful of the team giving its Gonzalez will have to make do with a ment’s most valuable player. But since confi dence. This championship will best. place on the substitutes’ bench for to- then, their Brazilian striker Junior Ne- motivate us to do well.