NBA | Page 5 High-fl ying Harden makes history at the fabled Garden Friday, January 25, 2019 FOOTBALL Jumada I 19, 1440 AH Neymar hoping GULF TIMES for divine help aft er fresh injury SPORT Page 3 ASIAN CUP Sanchez backs Qatar in tough game against S.Korea ‘The pressure of being in a quarter-final is more than welcome and I think they have to enjoy it, and work very hard’ AFC Abu Dhabi We’re taking the Asian ead coach Felix Sanchez believes pressure will Cup back to Doha, says not play a part when his Qatar side face Ko- Qatar’s Afi f Hrea Republic in today’s eagerly anticipated AFC Asian Cup 2019 Reuters tribute to South Korea as a quarter-fi nal encounter. Abu Dhabi “tough” team who play football Qatar head into the game “in the right way”. against one of the tournament “The players are very confi- favourites having won Group E atar’s Ali Afif eschewed dent,” he added. “But at the and then beating Iraq 1-0 in the the usual pre-match same time we know it’s going Round of 16 – a run of victories Qconventions ahead of to be very tough and have to that has seen them score 11 times a quarter-final clash against be ready to produce a good and keep four successive clean South Korea yesterday, boldly performance.” sheets. declaring his side would be Paulo Bento is hoping to de- Despite Qatar never having taking the Asian Cup back to liver a third Asian Cup to South progressed beyond this stage in Doha to celebrate with their Korea and the Portuguese any of their previous nine ap- fans. coach was cautious about pearances at the competition, A deep political rift between the challenge presented by Sanchez believes his squad is ad- Qatar and the United Arab the Qataris, particularly their equately equipped to cope with Emirates, among other speed in the transition from the undoubtedly intense nature countries, has resulted in only defence to attack. of an AFC Asian Cup quarter- a handful of fans making the fi nal tie. short trip across the Gulf of We got messages from “Up until this point the team Arabia to support the 2022 Doha that they are has performed well and has World Cup hosts. supporting us and will achieved some very good re- Qatar have nevertheless try to repay them with sults,” explained the Spanish shown impressive form in ‘ our unstinting eff orts. tactician. reaching the quarter-finals, The whole squad will do “Of course, all of them are winning four matches without so and we will celebrate professional players and they are conceding a goal and knock- together and go back to used to playing in competitions ing out 2007 champions Iraq Doha with the Cup for such as their domestic leagues in the last 16. them.” and the AFC Champions League, Afif said getting past pre- — Ali Afi f, so they are used to having this Qatar’s Hassan al-Haydos and his teammates take part in a training session on the eve of their AFC Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea tournament favourites South Qatar player kind of pressure. yesterday. PICTURES: Fadi al-Assaad Korea and into the semi-finals “The pressure of being in a of the continental champion- quarter-fi nal is more than wel- win over Iraq. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez ship for the first time today He was not concerned about come and I think they have to en- Whilst acknowledging their addresses a press conference should not be the extent of having only a three-day break joy it, and work very hard to have loss was a blow, Sanchez re- ahead of the quarterfinal against their ambition. after needing extra time to the chance to have at least one mained adamant that his squad South Korea yesterday. “We know they are supporting get past Bahrain in the last 16, more game. has suffi cient depth to deal with us even they are not here,” the though, nor about forward Son “I want them to feel the pres- their enforced absence, some- competition, it is normal to have experienced midfielder said of Heung-min not having found sure in the right way because it is thing which he believes is par for injuries or players suspended. We the absent fans. the net in two matches. a very important game, but they the course in tournament foot- are a group of 23 players, and we “We got messages from Doha “It’s not mandatory that Son are absolutely used to these kinds ball. have every confi dence in all the that they are supporting us scores goals for the national of situations.” “We know we are going to face players who are here. and will try to repay them with team,” he said. Qatar will be without the sus- a very tough game against what “Of course, it would be better our unstinting eff orts. The “What is most important is that pended Abdelkarim Hassan and many people believe are one of to have everyone available, but whole squad will do so and we we’ve scored in every game in Assim Madibo after the key duo the favourites for the tourna- we are sure that we will maintain will celebrate together and go this competition. I don’t care picked up their second yellow ment,” he said. our [current level] and be ready to back to Doha with the Cup for who scores.” cards of the campaign during the “Once you reach this far in the compete against Korea Republic.” them.” Bento was delighted that the Afif has only played 10 minutes video assistant referee (VAR) as a substitute at the tourna- system was being introduced ment so far with Felix Sanchez from the quarter-final stage South Korea’s Son relieved aft er seeing off Bahrain preferring younger players he but said it should have been AFC he said. “If you think you’re has brought through from his utilised from the start of the Al Ain tired, then you’re tired. After the days as coach of Qatar’s age tournament. game I feel tired of course, but group teams. The winners of today’s match I will try to recover as quick as The Spaniard was a little will play holders Australia or on Heung-min was a possible and play again. In three more respectful of the usual hosts the United Arab Emirates relieved man after Korea days I can recover. pre-match protocols, paying in the semi-finals in Al Ain. SRepublic saw off Bahrain to “It’s the same when I play with advance to the quarter-finals of Tottenham, I have to recover as the AFC Asian Cup despite a dis- quickly as possible and I’m look- appointing performance that saw ing forward to playing.” the West Asian side take Paulo Son has adopted the role as the Bento’s team to extra-time. leader of the team following The Koreans looked to be on the withdrawal from the squad their way to a comfortable win through injury of Ki Sung- when Hwang Hee-chan put yueng, whose involvement in them in front two minutes be- the tournament came to an end fore half-time but, after Bento’s following a hamstring injury. side missed a string of chances The Korean players dedicated early in the second period, the win to the Newcastle United Bahrain battled back to level man – who celebrates his 30th through Mohamed al-Romaihi. birthday yesterday – and That took the game into extra- Son accepted that, while Ki’s time, where a fine header from absence is a blow to the team, Kim Jin-su in stoppage time at it represents an opportunity for the end of the first period won South Korea’s Son Heung-min (left) greets the supporters following their win in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup someone else to impress. the match for the Koreans to set Round of 16 match against Bahrain on Tuesday. (AFP) “He’s a big miss,” said Son. “He’s up their meeting with Qatar in one of the best players in the the last eight. quarter-final and we know it’s you take the result and we’re a busy period over Christmas team, in the squad. If he’s miss- “Not pleased with our perform- going to be very tough game, looking forward to playing in and the New Year with his side ing then it’s a big miss. Someone ance and we know we can do like today. So we’re looking the quarter-final.” in England. Despite a hectic else has to be ready and bounce better than that,” Son had said forward. We got the result. The Tottenham Hotspur star schedule, though, he stressed up and show good play and after the game. “We’re look- “Of course, the performance joined up with his team for the he was not feeling fatigued. show what they can do. Of ing forward to playing in the was not great but sometimes final round of group games after “It’s about the mentality, I think,” course we’re going to miss him.” Gulf Times 2 Friday, January 25, 2019 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Channel police call off search for missing footballer Sala AFP an area of approximately 1,700 square miles through the player and his agent Meissa St Peter Port, Guernsey (4,400 square kilometres), “with a signifi cant N’Diaye. “I began to look into arranging a pri- amount of this searched more than once”.