12 Friday, February 7, 2020 Sports

Marco Fabian joins Al Sadd Wessam proud of QSC’s defensive until end of season identity ahead of Amir Cup clash

Ayeni Olusegun ers who have risen to the chal- sents a different challenge. Doha lenge. It is important for us that “The Cup competitions our identtity is known defen- always brings surprises and Qatar Sports Club coach Wes- sively,” Wessam told reporters For us, we need to have an to play against Qatar SC, who sam Rizk said his side are eager ahead of the match. identity and defensively we have been on a good run will be to play in the Amir Cup as the Despite their defensive have been able to show a tough challenge, but we will Kings take on Al Ahli at the strength, they have however that. When I came to the be ready. Al Arabi Stadium on Friday. failed to score in their last three team, they were the weakest “Psychologically, the way Since taking over the side matches with just 14 goals we conceded in our last match late last year, Wessam has man- scored in the league so far. defensively but we have against Al Khor was not great. aged to keep a sinking ship afloat Wessam though, is not wor- experienced players who But we have to work hard, foot- and QSC boasts the meanest de- ried but insists the little details have risen to the challenge. ball is as difficult as everyday fence in the top division having will determine the outcome of It is important for us that life. It is important for us as a conceded just one goal in their Fridays showdown. our identtity is known team to be ready against QSC last five league games – a feat “The players have reacted defensively. and take our chances.” Wessam is proud of. well and obviously their per- Also on Friday, Al Shaha- “The Amir Cup is a glori- formance reflects on me as a – QSC coach Wessam Rizk nia take on Al Wakrah at the Al ous competition and with this coach. It is not a burden leading Arabi Stadium. new format, it makes it more this team, and the expectations Shahania are bottom of the difficullt for teams. I think our on us especially after our recent four times, but last won the Cup QNB Stars League with just one match against Al Ahli is the run of form. We just need to in 1992. win all season. They face a tough Mexican international Marco Fabian has joined Al Sadd on a most difficult tie for this round show our capabilities and work “Al Ahli haven’t won any- challenge against a Wakrah side contract until the end of the season, the club said in a statement. but My players are excited to on the small details,” he added. thing in over 30 years and we who are currently sixth in the Fabian, the club’s fifth foreign player joins the QNB Stars League play and see how far we can go. Al Ahli coach Nebojsa Jo- hope to end that. Football is a league and boast of in-form leaders on a free transfer after being released by MLS side Phila- “For us, we need to have vovic said The Brigadiers, who game of mistakes but we are fo- striker Mohammed Benyettou. delphia Union. “I’m happy to play in the Qatari league, and I am an identity and defensively we were winners of the first edition cused on our target which is to On Saturday, Al Arabi face ready for this new challenge. I aim to take to this experience with have been able to show that. of the Amir Cup are targetting be in the final,” Jovovic said. Al Khor while Al Gharafa will all my strength. My goal with Al Sadd will be to compete and win When I came to the team, they another final appearance after With one win and a draw in hope to brush aside Al Markh- titles. I am happy to be in Qatar, and happy to play for Al Sadd,” Qatar Sports Club coach were the weakest defensively decades of mediocrity. their last five matches, Jovovic iya in the last match of the Fabian told the club’s website. (TNN) Wessam Rizk. but we have experienced play- Al Ahli have won the trophy said the Cup competition pre- Round of 16 stage. Mourinho admits ‘best team lost’ as Spurs advance in FA Cup

surprise exit from a compe- after 12 minutes. Son scores late tition he has not won since Ryan Sessegnon’s burst penalty in a 2007 with Chelsea. opened up the Southampton Taking credit for the win defence and when the ball Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. dramatic 3-2 win in classic Mourinho self-pro- bounced to Tanguy Ndombele moting style, he said: “I think on the edge of the area, the as Mourinho targets I did very well because I had to midfielder drilled a powerful Setien refuses first trophy for manage a team with so many shot that took a big deflection difficulties. off Stephens into his own net. to get ‘into Tottenham “The priority is to survive. Southampton’s 34th-min- We have lots of difficulties. I’m ute equaliser carried more Messi’s life’ AFP not speaking just about Harry than a whiff of blame for Llo- London Kane, I’m speaking about in- ris, who limply parried out after Abidal row juries to Giovani lo Celso and Nathan Redmond’s shot for Jose Mourinho admitted Erik Lamela. Long to slot home. AFP Tottenham got lucky after “Today was a team com- Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side Barcelona Son Heung-min’s late pen- pletely unbalanced, really deservedly took the lead in the alty secured a dramatic 3-2 hard to organise it.” 72nd minute. Barcelona coach Quique win against Southampton in Tottenham are without a Redmond made an inci- Setien said on Wednesday he Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth- major trophy of any kind since sive surge from deep inside would not get involved in “Li- round replay. the 2008 League Cup and his own half and slipped a onel Messi’s life” after the Ar- Mourinho’s side were 12 Mourinho would dearly love to pass to Ings, who cut past gentine superstar became en- minutes away from being end that drought, but his team Japhet Tanganga before curl- tangled in a row with the club’s knocked out after squandering will have to improve signifi- ing a fine finish into the far sporting director Eric Abidal. the first-half lead given to them cantly on this erratic display. corner from 18 yards for his Messi hit back at Abidal on by Jack Stephens’ own goal. Mourinho will also have 17th goal of the season. Tuesday after the Frenchman Shane Long and Danny to get Jan Vertonghen back But Lucas came to Totten- had earlier blamed slackness Ings scored as Southampton onside after the defender’s de- ham’s rescue in the 78th min- in the dressing room for the hit back to take the lead at the jected trudge off the pitch fol- ute when he took Dele Alli’s departure of recently-fired boss Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. lowing his substitution. pass and cleverly turned into Ernesto Valverde. But Lucas Moura equal- “I understand his sadness, the space on the edge of the In an interview with Span- ised before Son won and con- it is normal. He is always re- area before drilling a superb ish newspaper Sport, Abidal verted the decisive penalty spectful and always profes- strike into the far corner. said under Valverde, who was with just two minutes left. sional. It doesn’t make me The momentum had fired in mid-January, many “I have to be honest and say happy to make a substitution. swung in Tottenham’s favour players had been unhappy, I think the best team lost on I did it for the team, Jan is and Son won it in the 88th had not worked hard enough the pitch but my team were the Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Moura (left) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Eng- happy for the team,” Mour- minute when he charged into and had not communicated ones with more heart and went lish FA Cup fourth round replay against Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on inho said. the area and went down under properly. to their limit,” Mourinho said. Wednesday. (AFP) Tottenham had won eight minimal contact from goal- “I’m not going to get into “We suffered but we de- of their last nine home games keeper Angus Gunn. Messi’s life, or anyone’s life,” served to win because we were and gave absolutely every- struggling Norwich in the of his reign, Mourinho, who against Southampton, includ- Son stepped up to take said Setien, who replaced Val- in our limits. Southampton thing.” fifth round in the first week of replaced Mauricio Pochettino ing a 2-1 success in the Pre- the penalty himself and fired verde. were fresher than us but we Tottenham, who last won March. earlier this season, will be re- mier League earlier this sea- home to send Tottenham into “What interests me is foot- played with our souls and heart the FA Cup in 1991, will host Aiming for the first trophy lieved Tottenham avoided a son, and they were in front the last 16. ball, everything else are situa- tions that I will not be able to control, therefore I do not sweat on it,” the 61-year-old added. Setien denied he had spo- ken individually to the Argen- Biles wows fans with Serena in Fed Cup fourth decade under tina star about the incident but said it had been briefly dis- cussed in a training session by video of daring vault the squad. pressure from young pretenders Messi signed his last con- tract extension in 2017, with his ahead of Olympics AFP ance since helping Japan defeat Great Brit- current deal running through Paris ain in the 2018 World Group II play-offs. to next year but reportedly con- AFP pic qualifying in June. The world number 10 has won five out taining a clause that could allow Los Angeles The vault features a back Serena Williams enters her fourth decade of six singles ties she has contested since her him to quit Barcelona in June. handspring onto the vault, as a Fed Cup player with the United States 2017 debut. Former Real Betis boss Simone Biles, the most deco- then two flips in the air with on Friday and Saturday as the 2020 quali- However, Japan, whose best Fed Cup Setien said Messi’s behaviour rated American gymnast with her legs straight. A key is gain- fiers get under way. run was a semi-final spot in 1996, have a remained the same despite the 30 Olympic and world champi- ing the height needed to land The 38-year-old icon teams with newly- tough task this weekend, facing Spain in falling out with Abidal. onship medals, has excited fans safely with under-rotation and crowned Australian Open champion Sofia La Manga. Japan lost to the Spanish in a “I have seen him smiling, I with a four-second video clip of botched landings opening up Kenin and teenage star Coco Gauff as the World Group II tie last year when Osaka have seen him looking happy, a training vault no woman has possible major injuries. US tackle Latvia in Everett, Washington. opted to rest. he loves to come to training, he performed in competition. Biles would be favored for In total, there are eight ties with the “I am really happy to be back,” said loves to be here and I have seen The 22-year-old reigning Olympic gold even without such winners earning places in the new-look Serena Williams. Osaka at Thursday’s draw which pitted her him just like he was yesterday world and Olympic all-around an epic vault. Fed Cup finals in Budapest from April 15- against world number 78 Sara Sorribes Tor- or the day before yesterday,” champion showed off a Yurch- She won all-around, team, 17 where 2019 champions France, runners- 13 rubbers. mo in Friday’s opener. Setien said. enko double pike vault and vault, balance beam and floor up Australia, hosts Hungary and wildcard However, despite her longevity, her re- “It would be very special to reach the fi- Spanish media reported lat- landed in a pit of red foam-like exercise gold medals at last Czech Republic will be waiting. lationship with the tournament has been nals, everyone has worked hard to get this er on Wednesday, citing sources bricks with the Twitter caption year’s world championships in A look at the talking points ahead of this very much on-off, playing only in 1999, far. We lost last year but I hope I can make close to the club, that Abidal had “2020?” and three sets of wid- Stuttgart as well as the 2016 Rio week’s qualifiers: 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018. the difference. That’s why I am here. Even if met with Barca president Josep ened eyeballs. Olympics. Serena’s senior service: It was Kenin, now the top-ranked US player at it’s on clay and everyone knows I am a hard- Maria Bartomeu who would no The video had been viewed Biles captured team, all- back in 1999 that Serena Williams made seven in the world after her stunning Grand court player.” longer consider, as speculated more than 2.3 million times as around, floor and vault titles her Fed Cup debut in a semi-final win over Slam breakthrough in Melbourne, has a “I’m trying to learn it.” beforehand, to demand the of Thursday afternoon. at the 2018 worlds after tak- Italy. Teammate Sofia Kenin was just eight Fed Cup singles record of 1-3 while 15-year- Clay courts play easily into the comfort Frenchman’s resignation. It’s a hint that the world’s ing team, beam, floor and all- months old while Coco Gauff was still al- old Gauff has yet to make her debut. zone of a Spain team led by Carla Suarez Barcelona visit Real Betis top gymnast might have some- around crowns at the 2014 and most five years away from being born. Osaka eyes Japan breakthrough: Navarro, her nation’s top player in the ab- on Sunday in La Liga, where thing new to display for the To- 2015 worlds plus all-around and Williams has a 100 percent record in Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi sence of Australian Open runner-up Gar- they trail leaders Real Madrid kyo Olympics and for US Olym- floor titles at the 2013 worlds. singles in the Fed Cup, winning 13 out of Osaka is making her first Fed Cup appear- bine Muguruza. by three points.