Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013 Gulf trio on the Photo of the day verge of sealing Asian Cup spots SINGAPORE: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain can put the dis- appointment of 2014 World Cup failure behind them by becoming the first three sides to navigate their way through Asian Cup qualifying today. The Gulf trio did not even make the final stages of World Cup qualifying for various reasons but expected home victories for all three on Friday will earn them places at the 2015 Asian Cup finals in Australia. The hosts automatically have a berth as do holders Japan and third-placed finishers in 2011 South Korea courtesy of their performances four years ago, while North Korea will be present having won the Challenge Cup for emerging Asian nations. Bahrain face Malaysia in Manama on Friday, confidently predicting they will join them despite having been surprisingly held 1-1 by the Southeast Asians in Kuala Lumpur last month. Bahrain, though, will have to contend without key defender Hussain Baba as well as midfielders Sayed Dhiya Saeed and Abdulwahab Al Malood for Friday’s clash. The Bahrainis then take on Yemen at home on Tuesday with head coach Anthony Hudson predicting progression from Group D with posi- tive results from the two games which the country’s Football Association have made free for fans. “We want to secure our berths in our next two games, which I am confident we will,” the Englishman said earlier this month. Bahrain top the group on seven points from three games with 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar occupying the other qualifying berth in the group on six points. Malaysia are third on four with Yemen looking for their first point when they take on Qatar on Friday. David Coulthard of Scotland performs in a Red Bull Racing Formula One car on the helipad of the Burj Al In Group C, three times winners Saudi Arabia have won all three of their Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on October 30, 2013 . — www.redbull.com matches to sit top ahead of their match against 2007 winners Iraq on Friday. Iraq are third in the group and need a positive result with second placed China, buoyed by the success of Guangzhou Evergrande who won the AFC Champions League last week, eyeing three more points when they host bot- tom side Indonesia on Friday. Mexico crush Kiwis China then host the Saudis on Tuesday with their final match away to Iraq, who play home qualifying games in Dubai, looking like the key match to MEXICO: Mexico thumped New Zealand 5-1 in the first leg of “We must win there and we still have a lot to improve. We’re a decide who joins the Saudis in Australia. Group E is also being controlled by a Gulf nation with the UAE also boast- their qualifying playoff on Wednesday to take a massive step small step from getting what were looking for.” ing a 100 percent record ahead of their fourth match of the campaign at towards a place in next year’s World Cup finals. Mexico have qualified for every World Cup since they host- home to Hong Kong. After scoring just three goals in their last four CONCACAF ed the finals in 1986, with the exception of 1990 when they Victory will book a place in Australia with a second chance of securing a qualifiers at home, Mexico rediscovered their scoring touch as were banned by FIFA after fielding over-age players in a berth also available on Tuesday should they need it when they host Vietnam. they outclassed the Oceania champions at the Azteca youth tournament, but almost failed this time. The Southeast Asians have lost all three of their matches but an unlikely victo- Stadium. The CONCACAF region’s traditional heavyweights were ry at home to Uzbekistan on Friday can thrust them back into the qualifying “The team were sensational, I’m very happy because the minutes away from missing out on the playoffs altogether picture. The central Asians are in second in the group on four points, level lads did a phenomenal job, they gave their all,” said Mexico when they were beaten by Costa Rica last month but survived with Hong Kong. In Group B, Iran, who have qualified for 2014 World Cup coach Miguel Herrera. “We needed an aggressive and dynam- only after Panama blew a 2-1 lead against the US, who quali- finals face two away matches over the next four days in Thailand and Lebanon ic team with lots of determination because we needed to win fied automatically along with Costa Rica and Honduras. as they look to secure a place in Australia. Syria take on Singapore in Group A the match.” Defender Paul Aguilar opened the scoring for ‘El “We’re not at all overconfident, we’re not thinking this is trying to keep pace with Oman and Jordan. — Reuters Tri’ in the 32nd minute and Raul Jimenez quickly added a sec- over, its a 0-0 draw for us and we’re going to start from zero,” ond to give Mexico a 2-0 lead at halftime. Striker Oribe Peralta Herrera said. scored twice in the second half and Rafael Marquez added “It was important not to get desperate until we got the Cruzeiro celebrate the fifth. Chris James grabbed a late consolation goal for New first goal. The team didn’t lose their concentration. “I can see Zealand who will host the return leg in Wellington on Nov. 20 myself coming back on the 21st (Nov) with the (World Cup) Brazilian title with the winners advancing to next year’s tournament in ticket.” Under the guidance of Herrera, their fourth coach of Brazil. “The worst we can do is think it’s settled,” Peralta said. the qualifying campaign, Mexico had no problems overcom- ing New Zealand, who allowed the Mexicans to dictate the SAO PAULO: Cruzeiro were confirmed as Brazilian champions during match after adopting a defensive approach. half time of their 3-1 win over Vitoria on Wednesday when their clos- The All Whites have only qualified for the World Cup twice est rivals slipped up and helped ease their way to a third national title. before and the odds were heavily stacked against them with There was still 45 minutes to go in their own game but closest chal- their captain Winston Reid ruled out of the playoffs because lengers Atletico Paranaense went down 2-1 at Criciuma in an earlier of an ankle injury. “It was always going to be tough for us and match and Cruzeiro knew they could not be caught at the top. we made it tough for ourselves in certain areas,” New Zealand They still won the match with second half goals from Ricardo coach Ricki Herbert said. Goulart and Julio Baptista to end the game with a 16-point lead with “We pride ourselves in certainly defending better than we four matches remaining. did tonight and that was always going to be costly against a Thousands of fans took to the streets in the club’s home city of very good side.” Belo Horizonte, while players danced round the field in celebration. Mexico dominated possession from the outset on “It’s hard winning the Brazilian league, there are a lot of good teams,” Wednesday but needed more than half an hour to get the ball said a jubilant manager Marcelo Oliveira. “We worked hard and we past New Zealand keeper Glen Moss, who pulled off a string were all in this together, and there was a great spirit in the side day in, of spectacular saves during the match. day out. “Our numbers were expressive and I’m very happy.” Cruzeiro But a mix-up with defender Andrew Durante in the box were particularly dominant during the second half of the season and left Aguilar with an open net for the first goal, before an became the only champion to beat every other team in the league at unmarked Jimenez headed in for the second goal off a corner. least once. Oribe scored three minutes into the second half when he They were also the first club outside the traditional hotbeds of Rio tapped in a low cross from Miguel Layun, then added his sec- de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to win the Serie A since they themselves ond when he again combined with Layun. won it back in 2003. They have so far scored 72 goals in 34 games, 19 New Zealand were facing the prospect of a rout in the more than any other team, and have a goal difference of +42, more energy-sapping high-altitude Mexican capital when Marquez than the next six teams combined. made it 5-0 with six minutes still to go. “We’ve been united, we work hard, and we are serious about how But James caught the home team napping when he we go about things,” midfielder Willian said of the key to their success scored a minute later with a shot that hit the post and drib- after beating Gremio 3-0 last week. “We’re all playing well and enjoy- MEXICO: New Zealand’s Andrew Durante (top) and bled over the line. ing a good phase.” “The defending off crosses, allowing players free in the One of the most surprising aspects of their campaign is the lack of goalkeeper Glen Moss (center) vie for the ball with Mexico’s forward Oribe Peralta (bottom) during their box at crucial times, we’ve always been incredibly strong in a truly world class player, Tostao, a former Cruzeiro player and now a that area,” Herbert said.