Confident Al Sadd Seek Goals Against Nasaf Today
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SPORT Monday 5 March 2018 PAGE | 32-33 PAGE | 34 PAGE | 36 Neymar leaves Jazz hold off Kings Zarco, Rossi andd hospital to 98-91 in tense Dovi dominate onon begin rehab battle final day in Dohaha Confident Al Sadd seek goals against Nasaf today RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA QARSHI, UZBEKISTAN: Doha giants Al Sadd will be looking to score goals to put pressure on hosts Nasaf in their AFC Champions League clash at Qarshi Markaziy Stadium today. Group C leaders and 2011 Asian champions, Al Sadd in their last Bulent Uygun (left), coach of Al Gharafa SC, player regional clash hammered Persepo- Wesley Sneijder (centre) and Ronald Koeman , lis 3-1 to underline their intentions in this year’s championship. Netherlands coach pose for a picture with a fan in “We are going to play a crucial Doha yesterday. game in the AFC Champions League,” Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira said yesterday. Sneijder takes “Everyone in the team knows how important this game is and how important it is to win because the international points could get us closer to the next Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira (second right) speaking to journalists ahead of their AFC Champions League stage of the competition,” the vet- clash against Nasaf at Qarshi Markaziy Stadium in Qarshi, Uzbekistan today. eran Portuguese coach added. retirement “We are on top of our group after Ferreira said Al Sadd miss two are ready to give their best.” Ferreira two games. We have one objective key players in Xavi and Morteza added: “The next two weeks are cru- AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AFP and that is to keep our journey going Pouraliganji but his side has decent cial for us, as we have two Fixtures of AFC Champions League fixtures to with the same intensity. bench strength to mount a serious back-to-back games against Nasaf, THE HAGUE: Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder has be played today and tomorrow “Our mentality is to always score challenge at winning today’s match. the results of which will determine decided to end his international football career after goals. In the Champions League, “Nasaf are a strong side that is the future of our campaign.” 14 years and a record 133 caps during a golden era Today’s matches there are matches both home and playing at home. Al Sadd players When asked about his team’s loss FC Nasaf vs Al Sadd at Karshi Central Stadium, Karshi for his country. Alongside Arjen Robben, Robin van away, and so there are different fac- know about the difficulty of the fix- to Al Duhail in the QNB Stars League, Persepolis vs Al Wasl at Azadi Stadium, Tehran Persie and Mark van Bommel, Sneijder propelled the tors to think about but this won’t ture,” Ferreira said. Ferreira replied: “I was hoping to win Al Jazira vs Tractor Sazi at Mohammed Bin Zayed Sta- Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final where an change our philosophy,” he said. As for his team’s injury problems, the league and the AFC Champions dium, Abu Dhabi extra-time goal from Andres Iniesta saw Spain win When asked to name the strong- Ferreira told reporters yesterday: League as well but the league is now Al Gharafa vs Al Ahli at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, the title. At 33, Sneijder signed with Qatari outfit Al est team in Group C, Ferreira “There are important players who beyond our reach.” Doha Gharafa in January after a poor six-month stint at snapped back by saying: “Al Sadd are missing – Xavi and Morteza Al Sadd will be looking to feared Nice in France. have won the Asian title twice and Pouraliganji, who are both injured. Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah Tomorrow’s matches The Netherlands suffered the indignity of failing we are not new to the competition. This is how football is but who has managed to score four goals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs Tianjin Quanjian, at Jeonju to qualify for the 2018 World Cup despite having Nasaf are an excellent side, whose we will play the game in their two matches so far. A win World Cup Stadium, Jeonju reached the 2014 semi-finals. They recently appointed league has started just three weeks with 11 fit players who today will see Al Sadd posting their Kashiwa Reysol vs Kitchee SC, Hitachi Kashiwa Stadi- Ronald Koeman as the new national coach. ago while ours is almost at its end. third successive win, a feat they um, Kashiwa The former Barcelona defender went to see Sne- So, it is difficult to say which is the We are on top achieved in 2006. Hosts Nasaf will Buriram United FC vs Cerezo Osaka, Buriram Stadium, ijder in Qatar this weekend. strongest team.” of our group after two be looking at their second succes- Buriram “I understand that Koeman wants a fresh start He added: “Moreover, this is not sive home win in Group C following Guangzhou Evergrande vs Jeju United , Tianhe Stadi- with younger players. We spoke openly about it and the right time to be talking about the games. We have one their 1-0 win over Al Wasl two weeks um , Guangzhou I respect his decision,” said Sneijder. strongest team.” objective and that is to ago. Igor Golban headed in the only Zob Ahan vs Al Wahda (UAE), Foolad Shahr Stadium, He played at three European championships and Ferreira said his team was rar- keep our journey going goal of the game two weeks ago as Isfahan three World Cups in the orange shirt and in his prime ing to go for today’s clash. Nasaf bounced back from their Al Duhail vs Lokomotiv Tashkent, Abdullah Bin Khalifa was both a masterful long-range passer and slick fin- “It is a great honour to be here with the same intensity. opening-day defeat to Persepolis. Stadium, Doha isher. In club football he starred for Ajax, Real Madrid in Uzbekistan. I am happy with the Our mentality is to always History favours Al Sadd as Nasaf Al Ain vs Esteghlal, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain and above all Inter Milan, with whom he won a Serie weather and it’s a beautiful country. score goals: Al Sadd have come up against Qatari oppo- Al Hilal vs Al Rayyan , King Saud University Stadium, A, Italian Cup and Champions League treble in 2010. The match venue is excellent as coach Ferreira sition four times but remain Riyadh He also won league titles in his homeland, Spain well,” Al Sadd coach said. winless. and Turkey. Qatar can do ‘a good job’ in hosting Al Gharafa face Al 2022 World Cup, says Koeman THE PENINSULA Ahli’s test in Doha DOHA: Former Dutch great and THE PENINSULA second and third goals of the current cam- the current Netherlands coach paign in a 3-0 victory over Tractorsazi Tabriz Ronald Koeman has backed Qatar DOHA: Al Gharafa will be looking to record two weeks ago as Al Gharafa recovered from in doing ‘a good job’ of hosting the back-to-back home wins in Group A of the their opening-day loss to Al Jazira to put their 2022 FIFA World Cup. AFC Champions League when they welcome first points on the board. Koeman, who visited the Al table-toppers Al Ahli Saudi FC to Thani Bin Al Ahli have begun the competition Gharafa training camp yesterday, Jassim Stadium today. strongly, winning two from two, with goals said: “We know that 2022 FIFA Recent signing Mehdi Taremi scored his from Taiseer Al Jassam and Mohannad Asseri World Cup will be hosted by Qatar. – his second match- It is really nice here and that is my winner in as many first impression. It is my visit to games – helping the Qatar. I have really enjoyed my Officials of Al Gharafa SC Saudi Arabian side to a time here. Everybody knows they presenting a souvenir to 2-1 victory over Al can do a good job to be the host in Netherlands coach Ronald Jazira on Matchday 2022.” Koeman during his visit to Qatar. Two. The 54-year-old added in his A third win in a row brief video chat posted on the Al would edge Al Ahli Gharafa Twitter handle: “It’s the Koeman also met with Al the Dutch national side alongside towards knockout World Cup. It is always a big Gharafa coach and the team man- Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, stage qualification, achievement for every team to agement headed by club President Frank Rijkaard and Dennis Berg- while defeat would see qualify for that tournament. I saw Sheikh Jassim bin Thamer Al Thani. kamp. During his illustrious career, the sides level on a good training session of Al The club officials also presented Koeman won Euro 1988 and played points. Gharafa. I say good luck on Mon- a souvenir to Koeman, a former at the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World The last meeting day and good luck for the rest of defender and midfielder with the Cups. He captained the Dutch side between the pair, in the the championships (QNB Stars Dutch international side. at the 1994 World Cup held in 2013 group stage, Al Gharafa player Wesley Sneijder celebrates with team-mates League).” Koeman was one of the stars of the US. ended in an entertain- during their match. ing 2-2 draw in Doha. 30 SPORT MONDAY 5 MARCH 2018 Arsenal lose again, top-4 Man City march on as finish ‘nearly impossible’ Chelsea woes continue AFP REUTERS BRIGHTON, UNITED KING- DOM: Arsene Wenger MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: admitted a top-four finish for Runaway Premier League lead- Arsenal was now “nearly ers Manchester City beat impossible” after the Gunners champions Chelsea 1-0 at the woes deepened following the Etihad Stadium yesterday to 2-1 loss away to Brighton in extend their lead to 18 points and the Premier League yester- leave the London side further day.