Al Sadd Vs Al Duhail Part III ‘It Will Be Our Third Game Against Al Duhail in 11 Days
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RRUGBYUGBY | Page 4 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Wallabies eye Barcelona will history as All not risk Messi Blacks face WC for Liga opener pressure against Bilbao Friday, August 16, 2019 CRICKET Dhul-Hijja 15, 1440 AH Hazlewood in GULF TIMES the wickets on Ashes return SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL Sheikh Jassim Cup: Al Sadd vs Al Duhail Part III ‘It will be our third game against Al Duhail in 11 days... We want to win this trophy and Al Duhail would want revenge’ By Sports Reporter Doha aving started his coach- ing career with a bang after leading Al Sadd to the AFC Champions HLeague quarter-fi nals on Tues- day, Xavi has now set his eyes on winning the fi rst trophy with the Qatari giants. The Spaniard masterminded Sadd’s 4-2 aggregate win over Al Duhail in the last 16, giving him a shot at an Asian continental title in his fi rst season as coach. Now he has turned his attention to- wards winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup, the season-opener of the Qatar’s football season. Standing between Xavi and his maiden trophy as manager is once again Al Duhail, who will be keen to avenge their loss in the AFC Champions League, at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium to- morrow. On the eve of the match, Xavi spoke about the importance of winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup but cautioned his players not to take their wounded opponents lightly. The task will be much tougher this time with Sadd missing key players Baghdad Bounedjah, Hamed Ismail and Tarek Salman, who are under suspension after being sent off in the Amir Cup fi nal in May, which Duhail won. Al Duhail coach Rui Faria said he does not believe in revenge in football. Sheikh Jassim Cup trophy. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed Xavi is looking to win his first trophy as Al Sadd coach. “We will miss three players – Baghdad Bounedjah, Hamed Is- season is only just beginning,” he The Champions League win preparing daily for the tourna- against Al Sadd in 11 days and we “Both teams will miss key players. The Sheikh Jassim Cup, mail and Tarek Salman – due to added. over Duhail also confi rmed ment,” he said. are ready for this confrontation. We will participate with 11 players, launched in 1977, over the years, suspension. It will be our third The former Barcelona midfi eld- Sadd’s place in the Club World Xavi also praised his players, We began working since the end of who have ambition and desire to has been played in the month of game against Al Duhail in 11 er urged his players to keep their Cup, which will be held in Qatar who he said “had a winning men- the away match of the AFC Cham- win the match,” he said. August and sets things in mo- days,” said Xavi yesterday. focus and not get carried away by in December. And Xavi said his tality”. “We have great players, pions League, where we analysed Faria said he and his players tion for an exciting season. The “We want to win this trophy the Champions League win. “If team was looking forward to the such as Akram Afi f – he is excel- our mistakes. My team is ready to were not looking at Sheikh Jassim tournament is a one-off match and Al Duhail would want re- we don’t give our 100 percent, high profi le competition. “It’s a lent and can play in the Spanish present a big match and win the Cup as a revenge match against between the winners of the QNB venge. As I said earlier, Duhail we won’t be able to win titles. We great opportunity for us to play league. We are very happy to have championship,” he said. Sadd. “I do not believe in revenge Star League (QSL) and Amir Cup. are one of the best teams in the managed to reach the next stage in in the Club World Cup. There him with us.” Faria revealed that key striker in football. The players are sad Al Rayyan won the previous Middle East. We are ready for the the Champions League because we are only three players in the team Meanwhile, Duhail coach Rui Almoez Ali will miss tomorrow’s after the loss in the Champions edition of the tournament after game. It’s a game of 90 minutes. were able to do just that. And so, who took part in the 2011 edition Faria feels the AFC Champions match along with Mehdi Benatia, League and they will do their best beating Al Duhail 6-4. Al Sadd We need to be motivated and also we need to keep giving our best in and they played against Barce- league loss will have no impact on who had already been ruled out on Saturday but it is not a revenge have the most impeccable record be wary of Al Duhail. We also the Super Cup in order to win the lona. Now it’s time for the others. their game against Sadd tomor- for four months after undergoing match,” the Portuguese manger in the tournament with 14 tro- need to improve our work, as the title,” he said. We are ready for that and we are row. “This is the third match for us a knee surgery in France last week. said. phies. Qatar win two gold and two bronze medals at West Asia youth athletics meet Qatar’s Hamza Sowaisi won gold in the shot put event with an 18.98m eff ort yesterday. (Right) Omar Abdulmajeed won Qatar’s first gold in Asian Athletics Association president and IAAF vice-president Dahlan al-Hamad (centre) attends the the championships, topping the 400m hurdles event in 53.42 seconds. Team Qatar also won two bronze medals courtesy Hafiz Madni in opening ceremony of the 3rd West Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. 800m and Mohamed Khalid Zakaria in 100m sprint. Gulf Times 2 Friday, August 16, 2019 CRICKET FOCUS FIRST TEST Patel takes fi ve wickets as Sri Hazlewood in Lanka reach 227 for seven AFP the ball even after Mendis com- gave solid support to Dickwella Galle, Sri Lanka pleted his 10th Test half-century as Sri Lanka fought back. Lakmal with a boundary off him. was given out caught at slip when For the next delivery, the pe- he was on nine but he successful- eft-arm spinner Ajaz Pa- nultimate ball before tea, Mendis ly reviewed the decision. tel became the fi rst New attempted to play an expansive “We had lost too many wick- Zealander to claim a fi ve- drive without much foot work ets when I walked in and some- the wickets on wicket haul in Galle as the and was caught at fi rst slip by one needed to hang in there with Ltourists restricted Sri Lanka to Ross Taylor. Dickwella, who was our last rec- 227 for seven at stumps on day The slide continued after ognised batsman,” Lakmal said. two of the fi rst Test yesterday. tea with Kusal Perera (1) and “I just told him that I will hold In reply to New Zealand’s fi rst Dhananjaya de Silva (5) adding to one end up and for him to do the innings total of 249 all out, Sri the misery. scoring. It worked well for us and Lanka were on 143 for two as An- Mathews was dismissed soon when the loose ball was on off er, gelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis after completing his half-centu- I cashed in too. It was important Ashes return laid the foundation for a big total. ry, becoming Patel’s fi fth victim. for us to get closer to their total.” However a lapse of concentra- “I think with surfaces like There were some cheeky shots At stumps, holders Australia were 30-1 — a deficit of 228 runs tion saw Mendis throw away his that off er you something, you’ve played by Dickwella, who is un- wicket in the penultimate ball got to stay patient and ask good der pressure to save his place AFP before tea and they collapsed, questions of the batsman,” Patel having been overlooked for the London, United Kingdom losing fi ve wickets for the addi- told reporters. World Cup. tion of 18 runs. “We know Sri Lankans are Lakmal’s contributions were From 143 for two, Sri Lanka good players of spin, so you’ve welcomed as well as Sri Lanka ustralia’s Josh Hazle- slumped to 161 for seven before got to respect that and make sure know that chasing anything wood marked his entry an unfi nished 66-run stand for you put balls in good areas for above 150 on this track is dicey. into this season’s Ash- the eighth wicket between Niro- long period. I think you’ve got to Resuming from the overnight es with three wick- shan Dickwella and Suranga Lak- keep hanging in and play the long score of 203 for fi ve, New Zealand Aets as England were dismissed mal stopped the rot. Sri Lanka game. Yes, there’s turn, but it’s were knocked out for 249 losing for 258 after the second Test at trail New Zealand by 22 runs. slow turn.” their last fi ve wickets for 46 runs. Lord’s fi nally got underway yes- It was the second fi ve-wicket Off -spinner William Somer- Lakmal claimed the four wick- terday. haul in Test cricket for Bombay- ville joined the party, dismissing ets to fall on day two while Tim World Cup-winning England born Patel, who was tidy with his Akila Dananjaya for a sixth ball Southee was run out.