ACL Semi-Final: Al Sadd Look to Draw First Blood Against Iran's Persepolis
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SPORT Monday 1 October 2018 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 27 Del Potro savours Messi and co ‘amazing year’ after ‘angry’ after Barca injury hell slip up again Kashima and ACL semi-final: Al Sadd look to draw Suwon gear up for first leg in Kashima first blood against Iran’s Persepolis THE PENINSILA RIZWAN REHMAT KASHIMA: Kashima Antlers THE PENINSULA ACL SEMI-FINAL First leg will compete in the AFC Tomorrow at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium; kick Champions League’s last four DOHA: Former champions Al off: 6:15pm for the first time when they Sadd will be looking to carry their Facts take on Suwon Samsung rich goal-scoring form into their Bluewings at Kashima Soccer Al Sadd are the only side left in the competition AFC Champions League semi- Stadium on Wednesday. to have won the AFC Champions League, while final against Iranian giants Perse- The teams twice met in polis in the first leg to be played they were also the last team from West Asia to the group stage, sharing a win at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium lift the coveted trophy when they defeated apiece, before Kashima tomorrow. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the 2011 final. ousted Shanghai SIPG in the Last week Al Sadd - the 2011 last 16 in what was their first AFC Champions League winners The Doha team have overcome Saudi Arabia’s ever knockout stage win and - crushed Al Rayyan 5-1 in their Al Ahli and Iran’s Esteghlal in the knockout then eased past another ‘Qatar Clasico’ clash and then fol- rounds and have not lost since the group stage Chinese side,Tianjin lowed the impressive show with as they aim to repeat the feat of seven years Quanjian, 5-0 on aggregate another resounding win over ago and end East Asian dominance. in the quarter-finals. Qatar SC winning the match with Kashima, up 2-0 from the a 5-1 scorecard on Thursday. Bounedjah sealed Al Sadd’s first leg, was in total control Feared Algerian striker passage to the ACL semi-finals after first-half goals by Baghdad Bounedjah has scored after a thrilling encounter with Serginho and Hiroki Abe. three goals last week while fast- Iran’s Esteghlal. Shoma Doi polished off the improving winger Akram Afif - Al Sadd, a two-time winners win in Macau, where the who is proving to be a terror for of the Asian club championship, match was moved because rivals in the QNB Stars League drew 2-2 against Esteghlal to Tianjin was hosting the World matches - scored a goal each complete a 5-3 win on aggregate Economic Forum. Al Sadd captain Xavi (centre), winger Abdulkarem Hasan (second right) and striker Baghdad Bounedjah against Al Rayyan and Qatar SC. at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Al Suwon won the now (right) during a team's training session, in this file photo. “I am satisfied to see the team Sadd arrived for the return leg defunct Asian Club Champi- continue winning both in Asia and on home soil with a 3-1 cushion onship twice in the early domestically and not waste points. “It is very important for us to “(When) we scored three second behind team-mate having beaten their Iranian rivals 2000s but have only once At Al Sadd, we have a strong squad have a strong strike force, as we goals, I asked the players to slow Bounedjah who has a tally of 14. in the first leg at Azadi Stadium. before, in 2011, reached the and I am reassured by the team’s have a crucial game coming up down the tempo of the game to “I am very happy with my Al Sadd’s goals were scored semi-finals. performances until now,” team in the AFC Champions League. endure through the game,” Fer- success in the scoring, which was by Afif (27) and Bounedjah (90 + But having eliminated coach Jesualdo Ferreira said after We should work towards scoring reira said. done with the help of my staff 2). Esteghlal, who played most domestic rivals Ulsan Al Sadd beat Qatar SC 5-1 at a big number of goals in the first “The temperature was very and my team,” Afif said earlier in part of the second half with 10 Hyundai in the last 16 and Suheim BIn Hamad Stadium. leg, so that it can be of benefit in high, but the Al Sadd playersplayers the week. men, were lifted by goals by then edged past two-time thethe second legleg in Tehran,” the were veryvery impressive,” he added. “My performance in the AFC Rouhollah Bagheri (32) and winners Jeonbuk on penalties experienceexperience PortuguesePortuguese Afif, the 21-year-old Champions League is improving Morteza Tabrizi (49). in the previous round, they added. leftleft winger,winger, has been the in every game and I’m always “It feels great to have reached have a chance to advance to AfterAfter watching Al talktalk ofof thethe seasonseason so far.far. trying to do my best,” he added. the semi-finals of this prestigious the showpiece event for the It is very important SaddSadd taketake a com-com- TheThe Aspire AcademyAcademy Afif said Al Sadd is thrilled to championship,” regular skipper first time. mandingmanding 3-0 lead by graduate has pumpumpedped be in the semi-finals of the ACL. Hassan Al Haydos, who is They deefated Jeonbuk for us to have a strong thethe 29th minute, Fer-Fer- inin eight goals in Al “We are happy to have uncertain for tomorrow’s clash, 4-2 on penalties at Suwon strike force, as we reirareira saidsaid hehe eveneven Sadd’s six QNBQNB Stars reached the semi-finals though said after Al Sadd sealed their World Cup Stadium in Suwon, have a crucial game asked his players save League matches, only we had a tough time playing semis berth. south of Seoul. The two K their energyenergy for tomor-tomor- against Estaghlal,” he said. “We have worked extremely League 1 teams entered the coming up in the AFC row’srow’s crucialcrucial “Despite not having the full hard to reach thus far. The penalty shootout after they Champions League. match.match. strength of players, we managed players have put in great efforts were tied 3-3 on aggregate We should work well and maintained top level in all through the AFC Champions and went scoreless in extra towards scoring a big both legs,” he said. League so far,” he added. time. “We are now fully concen- “I want to say ‘well done’ to number of goals in trating on our clash against the players and want to thank the the first leg, so that Persepolis,” Afif said. fans for their support,” Al Haydos ASIAN CL SEMI-FINAL it can be of benefit “We will continue to work said. First leg in the second leg in hard to make our fans happy. Our The match kicks off at 6:15 Kashima Antlers (JPN) vs Suwon Samsung goal is to do our best in every pm at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Bluewings (KOR) Tehran: Al Sadd coach game we play,” Afif said. Al Sadd will travel to Tehran Venue: Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima Jesualdo Ferreira Jesualdo Ferreira Two weeks ago, a slick for the away fixture at the Azadi Kick-off: October 3, 1:00pm penalty in injury time by Stadium on October 23. 2022 FIFA World Cup: Al Rayyan Stadium moves towards completion A bird’s eye view of the under construction Al Rayyan Stadium Arena, one of the venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The construction work is in full swing for the 40,000 capacity stadium, which will host the World Cup matches till the quarter-final stage. Its standout feature is the facade that incorporates various symbols of Qatari culture and is inspired by the sand dunes of the nearby desert. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy will deliver the venue using environmentally- friendly building materials and practices. Every part of the stadium district has been designed with sustainability in mind. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup, almost half of the stadium’s modular seats will be removed and given to football development projects around the world. TOP: A computer- generated picture showing the pitch. 26 SPORT MONDAY 1 OCTOBER 2018 Europe win back Ryder Cup AFP Garcia becomes SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, leading Ryder FRANCE: Europe’s finest golfers recaptured the Ryder Cup yesterday, Cup scorer holding off a dramatic United States AFP fightback to complete an emotional upset victory with Italy’s Francesco Molinari clinching the outcome. SAINT-QUENTIN-EN- Reigning British Open champion YVELINES, FRANCE: Sergio Molinari defeated five-time major Garcia became the leading winner Phil Mickelson 4 and 2 to give points-scorer in Ryder Cup Europe an insurmountable 14 1/2-9 history as his 2 and 1 win over 1/2 lead over the favoured Americans American Rickie Fowler helped in the biennial team showdown at Le Europe regain the trophy at Le Golf National. Golf National yesterday. “It was amazing,” Molinari said. The 38-year-old Spaniard, a “It’s an incredible achievement. We controversial wildcard pick by did just an amazing job.” captain Thomas Bjorn after a poor In the process, Molinari -- who season, passed Nick Faldo’s pre- had been winless in six prior Ryder vious mark of 25 points, reaching Cup matches -- became the first 25.5 since making his debut in European and only the fourth player 1999. ever to go 5-for-5 in a Ryder Cup and “I don’t usually cry, but I did so just two months after hoisting couldn’t help it.