‘Inspirational’ Sindhu wins India’s first-ever World Badminton title page 14 MONday, AUGUST 26, 2019

QOC’s Secy-Gen attends International Judo AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Federation’s award ceremony in Tokyo page 14 Al Sadd vs Al Nassr (8.45pm)

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL 1ST LEG In-form Al Sadd gear up for Al Nassr Xavi says The Wolves will put in their best AFC/TNN Riyadh

Fresh from winning a do- mestic trophy, Al Sadd travel to Riyadh for Monday’s first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-final tie which pits them against Al Nassr. Xavi’s men overcame rivals Al Duhail 1-0 in the Sheikh Jas- sim Cup, Qatar’s annual Super Cup competition, just days after they had eliminated the same side from the AFC Cham- walked away from Abu Dhabi 2019 group stage. losing four. pions League. The Wolves also with the quarter-final ticket af- Key for the Saudi side’s Their only encounter kicked off their league cam- ter defeating Al Wahda 4-3 on chances of getting a result is against Al Nassr in Riyadh end- paign with a convinving win aggregate. Brazilian Giuliano. ed 1-1 in the group stage of the over Al Wakrah. For Al Nassr, an AFC Among players still in the 2011 edition, that year Al Sadd Former Barcelona legend Champions League quarter- competition, only Al Hilal’s went on to lift the trophy. Xavi Hernandez, a former Al Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez addresses the media ahead of the AFC Champions League quarter-final final is an unmapped territory. Bafetimbi Gomis (7) has more This campaign, the two Sadd player and now the coach first leg clash against Al Nassr in Riyadh on Sunday. In three previous appearances goals than Giuliano’s five. sides’ statistics are nearly said his team was ready for the in the competition, the Riyadh- Continental champions identical. Both Al Sadd and Al competition. the competition. We do not some outstanding performanc- Afif is also injured. We are based side reached the knock- in 1989 and 2011, Al Sadd are Nassr won four matches, drew Speaking at the pre-match know what will happen tomor- es saw us in the quarter-finals. trying to prepare him for the out stages just once, exiting in looking to make it back-to- twice and lost as many. conference on Sunday, Xavi row, but we will do our best.” We will make an endeavour to game,” he added. the Round of 16 at the hands of back semi-finals. The similarities do not stop said, “I am happy to be here On his team’s good form, complete the journey and con- Meshaal Barsham, one of Iran’s Zorbahan back in 2011. Their first challenge, how- here, they have both conceded and a very difficult game awaits Xavi said, “We played difficult firm our worth to continue in the players in the side said, On home soil, Al Nassr have ever, will be bringing to an 10 goals, but Al Nassr boast us against Al Nassr. It’s a good matches against Al Duhail in this tournament. “The morale of the players lost three of their nine AFC end an abysmal record in their the more clinical attack, having team which has a good coach the AFC Champions League “We have had some in- was and they realise the im- Champions League matches, journeys to Saudi Arabia; Al netted 15 goals to Al Sadd’s 11. and I know him personally. and against Al Wakrah in QNB juries. Nam Tae-hee (who portance of the game. Our with two of the three defeats Sadd failed to get a single win The return leg match will They have some distinguished Stars League. We have been is nursing a muscle injury) ambition to win.” coming against the same oppo- in nine previous trips to the be playedat the Al Sadd Stadi- players, but we are ready for playing with confidence and couldn’t make it and Akram Meanwhile, Al Nassr nents, Zobahan in the 2016 and kingdom, drawing five and um in Doha on September 16.

Al Wakrah Superb Aguero reaches 400 goals as sign Coulibaly City stroll, Newcastle stun Spurs The Argentine is also the Manchester club’s all-time top scorer; ’s strike eases pressure Al Wakrah have announced the signing French-born Mali defender on Magpies boss Ousmane Coulibaly on a one-year deal. The 30-year-old Coulibaly last played for Greek side Panathinaikos. Al Wakrah will register AFP Coulibaly in the team’s squad instead of Oman’s Jameel al London Yahmadi, who suffered a torn ACL during the club’s friendly game against Turkish side Gaziantep. Yahmadi is ruled out for six to Sergio Aguero reached eight months due to the injury. Al Wakrah will take on Qatar SC on 400 career goals as the Thursday in Round Two of the QNB Stars League. The Waves lost Manchester City striker in- thier opener against league defending champions Al Sadd spired the champions’ 3-1 last Wednesday win at Bournemouth, while Tottenham suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Newcastle on Sunday. With Newcastle’s Joelinton (right) QNB Stars League Weeks leaders Liverpool off to a per- celebrates with his teammates fect start with three successive after scoring against Tottenham 2 & 3 schedule revised victories, City are already un- in London on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) der pressure to keep pace. Tribune News Network Committee. Pep Guardiola’s side did were frustrated by VAR after Doha Al Sailiya’s game against just that thanks to Aguero as the decision-review system Al Sadd in Week 3 has been City’s record goalscorer hit ruled not to award a penalty The Qatar Stars League postponed to September 24 another milestone with a clin- when Harry Kane had tum- (QSL) has revised the sched- from September 15 due to ical double in the south-coast bled under a challenge from ule of second and third weeks the former’s AFC Champions sunshine. . of 2019-20 season QNB Stars League second-leg quarter- Raheem Sterling was also Tottenham playmaker League. final against Al Nassr, to be on the scoresheet – making Christian Eriksen was only Al Shahania’s match played in Doha on Septem- it six goals in four games this used as a substitute amid against Al Sadd in Week 2, ber 16. term for the England winger uncertainty surrounding his which was origi- Also, Al Du- – as City’s second win of the Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scores his 400th career goal as City beat AFC Bournemouth 3-1 during future ahead of the European nally scheduled hail’s match season lifted them to within their English Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth on Sunday. (Reuters) transfer window shutting next for Thursday has against Al Rayyan two points of Liverpool. week. been shifted to in Week 3 on Sep- It was a landmark day all denied City a penalty when “The challenge this season squad were uncertain about In the day’s other game, August 31, as Al tember 15, has round for City, with captain Jefferson Lerma appeared to will be amazing for us after his methods. Wolves forward Raul Jimenez Sadd are involved now been sched- David Silva involved in all trip Silva. winning back-to-back two But Joelinton first goal for scored a stoppage-time penal- in the quarter- uled to be played three of the goals on his 400th City were last week left titles, the challenge will be Newcastle in the 27th minute ty to rescue a 1-1 draw against finals of the AFC Champions at the Al Janoub Stadium on appearance for the club. frustrated during a 2-2 draw great.” gave Bruce some breathing Burnley at Molineux. League, where they will play the request of Asian Football “We felt Bournemouth’s with Tottenham when a last- Meanwhile, space for a few days at least. Ashley Barnes had put their first leg away to Saudi Confederation due to prepa- physicality, a nice three points gasp goal from Gabriel Jesus silenced his critics as New- Davinson Sanchez was Burnley in front after 13 min- Arabia’s Al Nassr in Riyadh rations at the venue for the and a big compliment to the was disallowed by VAR due castle won at Tottenham to caught playing the offside utes with a blistering strike, on Monday. Al Sadd vs Al Nassr game. players, a few things to im- to a contentious handball secure their first points under trap, allowing Brazilian for- giving the forward four goals Al Ahli’s match against It may be noted that the prove, that’s good it’s hap- against Aymeric Laporte. the polarising Magpies boss. ward Joelinton to collect in three games this season. Al Sailiya on August 31 has QSL had hinted at schedule pened when we are winning Asked if City deserved a Since taking over from Ra- Christian Atsu’s inch-perfect But Jimenez netted from also been shifted from the Al changes when it announced games,” Guardiola said. spot-kick, Guardiola replied fael Benitez in the close-sea- ball and fire home. the spot in the 97th minute Sadd Stadium to Al Janoub the fixtures, because of the “The quality of our players in an sardonic manner: “No, son, Bruce had found himself Newcastle were helped by after the Mexican was tripped Stadium, in view of Al Sadd’s possibility of Al Sadd or Al in front made the difference no, no. Penalty? No. under pressure after losing a poor performance from Tot- by Erik Pieters. qualification for the AFC Duhail qualifying for the and we won the game.” “It was clear hands last his first two games, with fans tenham, who have won only Wolves have drawn all Champions League on the AFC Champions League Guardiola was less en- game, clear hands. A penalty doubting his credentials and once in their first three games. three of their league games request of National Teams quarterfinals. thused by a VAR review that today? No, please. former players claiming his Mauricio Pochettino’s side this term.