14 Saturday, February 2, 2019 Sports Qatar’s historic victory delights passionate fans across nation Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu IKOLI VICTOR Doha Japan coach Jubilant Qatar fans par- tied in the streets of Doha as disappointed they celebrated their team’s amazing AFC Asian Cup 2019 triumph on Friday. Qatar are but pleased now the champions of Asia for the first time after beat- with progress ing Japan 3-1 in the final of the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi Reuters on Friday. ABU DHABI While the national team celebrated their victory in Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu Abu Dhabi, the fans here at was naturally disappointed that home were no less passion- his side missed out on a winning ate. The euphoric citizens a fifth Asian Cup title on Friday and expatriates rushed to the but believes the improvement streets to celebrate the stu- of the squad augurs well for the pendous victory. future. Thousands had gathered Moriyasu, who took over af- at the Aspire Zone, Souq Wa- ter last year’s run to the round qif and Katara to cheer the of 16 at the World Cup, had team from the blast of the made it clear throughout their whistle. Fans carrying the na- time in the United Arab Emir- tional flag were dressed in the ates that his squad was a work national colours to fully sa- in progress. vour the moment. “The goal was to be cham- Traffic jams were antici- pions so I’m disappointed,” he pated as the fans rushed out to said. “But I feel proud at how we the street in their cars to cheer developed under pressure. We the historic victory. all the fans for coming to As- had a mix of youth and experi- At the Aspire Zone, a gi- Special day! pire to cheer the players. The ence and our seven matches we ant screen was mounted with crowd here has been awesome showed development against fans already seated two hours This is the most and I am so happy for the love teams playing different styles. to the kickoff of the epic final. special day in my life to the country.” “I wasn’t to thank my expe- Every bit of the space was to witness this great “I can’t believe this hap- rienced players and I hope that filled as it turned out to be a pening. I am happy to witness today’s result makes the young- family picnic with food and success. I am happy this amazing moment in the er players hungry for success. drinks, tables and chairs posi- and congratulate all history of Qatar and it will al- “I think this tournament tioned for the big occasion. the fans for coming ways stay with me for the rest will be a base to rebuild the Ja- Everyone stood in unison to Aspire to cheer the of my life. It is like a dream. pan team. It’s my job to over- to sing the national anthem Look at the fans from differ- see the process but I want the of Qatar and cheered every players. The crowd ent countries wearing our col- players to be proud of what we moment the players surged here has been ours to cheer Qatar,” another have done in this tournament.” forward into the rival’s area awesome and I am female fan said. Moriyasu blamed himself for or whenever they cleared a so happy for the love Francis Oriel, a Briton, Qatar’s first goal and said once dangerous incursion into to the country. said: “I am in shock of Qatar’s Japan conceded the second, it Qatar’s area. exploits at the Asian Cup. This was always going to be tough to When the opening goal Qatar football fan is a reflection of what we are to get back into the match. was scored by Almoez Ali, expect in the 2022 World Cup “”We made a poor start. We many fans didn’t realise the Fans cheer during the Qatar national team’s victory in the AFC Asian Cup final against Japan.( Agencies) A Qatari fan, Mohammed in Qatar. The amazing crowd couldn’t get into our rhythm. quality of his record-breaking al Jabber, said: “This is the here, the music and partying We conceded the first goal be- goal until it was replayed and At the blast of the final the end of Aspire zone to the danced to the loud music most special day in my life to will continue until tomorrow. cause there was a mis-match they screamed loud like it had whistle, fans carried their pic- other. There were similar played out in the designated witness this great success. I I am so proud to be here cel- between the Japan and Qatar just happened. nic chairs and danced from scenes at Souq Waqif as fans area for the game. am happy and congratulate ebrating with Qatar.” systems,” he said.

Proteas clinch 1st t20i Windies aim Big centuries by Burns, Head for big first Aussies in control Scoreboard innings lead Australia (1st Innings): against M. Harris c C.Karunaratne b Fernando ...... 11 J. Burns ...... 172 reuters AFP U. Khawaja c Mendis b Fernando ...... 0 North Sound (Antigua) M. Labuschagne c Dickwella b C.Karunaratne ...... 6 Canberra T. Head lbw b Fernando ...... 161 K. Patterson not out ...... 25 West Indies pressed home and Travis Head Extras (lb1 nb5, w3) ...... 9 their advantage on day two of plundered Australia’s first Total (four ; 87 overs) ...... 384 the second Test against Eng- To bat: Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye centuries of the home summer Richardson, Nathan Lyon land in Antigua on Friday, Friday in a stirring fightback Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Harris), 2-15 (Khawaja), 2-28 racking up 212 for five at tea as they ruthlessly exposed Sri (Labuschagne), 4-336 (Head) in their first innings. Lanka’s inexperienced attack Bowling: Rajitha 20-5-67-0, Fernando 20-2-99-3, The home team put on 96 C. Karunaratne 14-0-87-1, Perera 19-0-90-0, De in the second Test at Canberra. Silva 14-2-40-0. runs in the first session, with Australian skipper Tim Toss: Australia opener John Campbell the Paine won the toss at the Ma- lone man dismissed before nuka Oval and put his side in Australia’s centurians Travis Head (left) and Joe Burns run between overlooked for series against lunch, caught behind for 47 on a flat track conducive to bat- the wickets during the first day of the second and final Test Pakistan and India, opener off Ben Stokes. ting, a gambit that paid off after match against Sri Lanka in Canberra on Friday. (AFP) Burns survived a dropped Kraigg Brathwaite made a some early wobbles. catch on 34, but was otherwise patient 49, while Shai Hope At stumps, they were a On a cool, overcast day, “We knew the first hour was invincible and brought up his cracked 44 with five fours. commanding 384 for four with Burns and Head dug Australia going to be tough, bit of grass fourth Test ton off 147 balls It was a frustrating first Burns not out 172 and Kurtis out of a hole after they lost on the , so despite losing with a single. session for England, who Patterson, who was dropped Marcus Harris, Usman Kha- the three wickets we just knew His 172 surpassed his pre- recovered and bagged four first ball, on 25. waja and we had to absorb the pressure,” vious high score of 170 against wickets before tea on a North Head fell for 161 after a cheaply to be in trouble at 28 said Burns. New Zealand in 2016. Sound pitch that looked dis- 308-run stand with Burns -- for three. “We also knew they were an Burns’ knock was the first South Africa’s Faf du Plessis (left) celebrates after scoring 50 during tinctly less green than on day Australia’s first stand over 200 After weathering the storm inexperienced bowling attack century for Australia since the first T20 cricket match against Pakistan at the Newlands one. since and Mitch and as the new ball lost its that was going to present scoring Khawaja’s 141 against Paki- Stadium in Cape Town on Friday. South Africa won the match by six Marsh achieved the feat in the shine, the pair started cashing opportunities if we got through stan in Dubai in October and runs. Batting first, they made a massive 192 for six with Reeza Hen- Brief scores (at tea): third Test against England in in on a Sri Lankan attack miss- those tough periods. Hopefully only the second an Austral- dricks hitting 74 and Du Plessis getting 78. Usman Shinwari bagged West Indies 212 for 5 (Bravo 18*, December 2017. ing their top bowlers and fields- we can come out tomorrow and ian has scored since the fifth three for 31. During chase, Pakistan replied with 186 for 9. Babar Dowrich 19*) lead England 187 (Moeen was the men who put down a host of do much the same.” Ashes Test in Sydney almost 13 Azam (38), Hussain Talat (40) and Shoaib Malik (39) were the main 60, Bairstow 52, Roach 4-30) by 25 runs best of the bowlers with 3-99. chances. Back in the side after being months ago. scorers. Hendricks, Morris 2-39 and Shamsi shared six wickets. (AFP) Clash of generations for Super Bowl title LeBron James returns

reuters Rams head coach, 33-year-old ing their third consecutive to spark Lakers to win ATLANTA Sean McVay, will become the Super Bowl appearance, their youngest to win a Super Bowl. fourth in the last five years and AFP James called the 36-day The New England Patriots If the Patriots lift the Vince ninth since 2002, winning five Los Angeles absence some of the darkest and Los Angeles Rams will Lombardi Trophy 66-year-old times. days of his career. play for a Super Bowl title on Bill Belichick becomes the old- With a win the Rams, who LeBron James made a tri- “I worked my ass off to get Sunday in a generational clash est. won a Super Bowl in 2000 umphant return to the court back to this point,” James said. that could come to define At 24, Rams’ Jared Goff is before relocating to the West on Thursday, breathing new “It was the toughest stretch of an era or mark a new begin- the fourth youngest quarter- coast, would celebrate their life into the floundering Los my career not being out on the ning for the National Football back to start a Super Bowl and second Super Bowl title and Angeles Lakers with a 123-120 floor.” League. with a victory would become first since their move to Los overtime victory over the Los James said he is at “80 per- The NFL will celebrate a the second youngest winner Angeles in 2016. Angeles Clippers. cent” fitness and will see how landmark 100th anniversary behind Pittsburgh Steelers’ For all of Belichick and James, who missed 17 he feels in the morning when next season with either the Ben Roethlisberger. McVay’s coaching and motiva- games due to a groin injury, he wakes up. He played more Patriots’ old guard as defend- The Patriots’ Tom Brady, tional brilliance and the quar- scored a team-high 24 points, than he expected with the ing champions looking to ex- 41, will replace Peyton Man- terbacking wizardry of Brady grabbed 14 rebounds and de- game going into overtime. tend their dynasty into a new ning as the oldest quarterback A view of replica Vince Lombardi trophy at Super Bowl LIII at the and Goff, the battle for the livered nine assists in his first “I am at 80 percent right century or with the kids from to win a Super Bowl if he can Centennial Park in Atlanta on Friday. (USA TODAY Sports) Super Bowl will most likely be NBA game since Christmas now. But I was good enough Los Angeles having seized the secure a sixth ring that would won in the trenches. Day. to feel confident to just keep torch. also all but put an end to the player ever to be named Su- completions (235), passing at- The Patriots’ offensive line Showing no sign of the in- pushing throughout the game,” In sport a changing of the debate over whether ‘No. 12’ is per Bowl most valuable player tempts (357) and touchdown has put an impenetrable force jury that resulted in the longest he said. guard is usually a slow, drawn- the greatest NFL player of all- four times. passes (18). field around Brady, allowing absence of his 16-year career, “I want to see how my body out process and rarely comes time. He owns almost every sig- The Super Bowl will pro- the 41-year-old time to work James played 40 minutes and reacts tomorrow. That’s the as sharply defined as it could The future Hall of Famer nificant Super Bowl quarter- vide a matchup that could not his magic particularly in two scored the go-ahead basket tell-tale sign for me is how my be in this year’s Super Bowl. is the only starting quarter- backing record including sin- be more different in both style contests where the Kansas City with 1:15 left in overtime after body feels after having to play If Los Angeles beats New back in league history to win gle game passing yards (505), and substance. Chiefs and San Diego Chargers the Lakers blew a 14-point lead 40 minutes unfortunately with England on Sunday in Atlanta, five Super Bowls and the only career passing yards (2,576), The Patriots will be mak- failed to register a sack. in the fourth quarter. the overtime.”