SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 21 You will inspire us all to live together in peace QNB STARS LEAGUE and harmony despite Today’s fixtures all the differences Thomas Bach International Olympic Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Markhiya At Al Khor Stadium 4.40pm we have Committee President Al Arabi vs Al Ahli At Al Arabi Stadium 6.50pm FOOTBALL Qatar Total Open: Radwanska arrives as qualifying round begins THE PENINSULA with the qualifying round today and the final The tournament which will give away Polish tennis will be played on February 18. prize money worth $2.666m, will also fea- star Agnieszka DOHA: Former Wimbledon finalist and The qualifying round will see 32 players, ture 32 players in the doubles’ category of Radwanska former world number 2, Polish star including Qatar’s promising player Mubarka the competition. poses for a Agnieszka Radwanska arrived in Doha ahead Al Nuaimi taking part. Meanwhile, QTSBF executive director photograph of the 2018 Qatar Total Open yesterday. Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton and tournament director Saad Al Mohan- upon her She will be joining a star cast which fea- Federation (QTSBF) hosts the tournament nadi said that Khalifa International Tennis arrival at tures top players in the calibre of world No. at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash and Squash Complex is ready to welcome the Hamad 1 Caroline Wozniacki who recently won the Complex, with eight players progressing from the game’s best players as well as tennis fans. International Australian Open, Romanian Simona Halep, the qualifying round to the main round that He added that this year’s edition is Airport in Doha Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, Spaniard Garbine begins on Monday. expected to be extremely competitive thanks ahead of the Muguruza, Czech Karolina Pliskova, Latvia’s QTSBF Secretary General Tariq Zeinal, to the inclusion of the world’s top seeds, 2018 Qatar Jeena Ostapenko, Frenchwoman Caroline who is also the tournament’s general coor- which will be a unique opportunity for fans. Total Open Garcia, German Angelique Kerber and Rus- dinator, said that all preparations are fin- Al Mohannadi also said that ticket sales yesterday. sian tennis queen Maria Sharapova. ished for the event, which sees the partici- are very promising, expecting the 2018 edi- The high profile tournament will start pation of the top 10 world seeds. tion of the event to be the best ever.

Kremlin ‘regrets’ court’s rejection of Olympic athletes’ appeals

AFP

MOSCOW: The Kremlin said yesterday that it regretted the rejection of a last-minute appeal by dozens of its athletes to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. “We regret this. We are taking this decision into consideration... and undoubtedly we will con- tinue to help athletes to stand up for their rights,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists after the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “Now the main thing is to support our ath- letes: both those who remained in our country and those who went to Korea and will compete there,” Peskov added. On Friday, 47 Russians implicated in doping lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the A general view during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Pyeongchang Olympics, just hours before the Olympic Stadium yesterday. RIGHT: A torchbearer carries the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony. opening ceremony. The applicants, who included Korean-born speed skater Victor An, had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn an IOC decision not to invite them to South Korea. The Russian Olympic Committee expressed Koreans unite as Pyeongchang “extreme regret” at the ruling. In a statement, it said “the athletes and the world sporting community as a whole still does not know the concrete reasons why such leaders Winter Games get underway of world sport as (biathlon gold medallist) Anton Shipulin, Victor An and (cross-country skiing world champion) Sergei Ustyugov did not receive AFP Pence sat directly in front of the the waist and with his chest heavily the spotlight in women’s figure invitations to the games.” North Korean delegation. oiled. skating, where a showdown is Earlier yesterday, Russian Deputy Prime Min- PYEONGCHANG: The two Koreas Kim Yu-na, South Korea’s Expectations are sky-high for expected with her fellow Russian ister Vitaly Mutko claimed that the court was marched together and South Korea’s former gold medal-winning figure an array of stars at Pyeongchang, teen, Evgenia Medvedeva. under pressure from Olympic officials when it president shared a historic hand- skater, wore skates as she lit the including American skiers Mikaela Another teenage breakout star rejected the bid. shake with Kim Jong Un’s sister as Olympic cauldron, after being Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn, while the could be Chloe Kim, 17, the Amer- “It’s difficult for CAS to make decisions the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics handed the torch by two members drama in figure skating centres on ican whose parents are Korean and against the backdrop of an earlier pressure,” opened in a spirit of intense of the joint Korean women’s ice whether Japan’s “Ice Prince” Yuzuru who is tipped for gold in snowboard Mutko told Interfax news agency, referring to rapprochement yesterday. hockey team -- one player from the Hanyu can recover from injury to as well as adulation by the host objections from the International Olympic At a glittering but sub-zero cer- North and one from the South. retain his crown. nation. Committee. emony, South and North Korea Lee Hee-beom, head of the Potential winners also include Competition gets into full swing The IOC was swift to welcome the decision, brought the crowd to its feet as they Games organising committee, said French flag-bearer Martin Fourcade today with five gold medals avail- the latest twist in the Russian doping scandal, entered behind the blue-and-white “the North and South have become in biathlon, hoping to add to his two able, in ski jumping, cross country saying the ruling “supports the fight against Korean unification flag. one through the Olympics”. gold medals in Sochi in 2014. skiing, biathlon, speed skating and doping and brings clarity for all athletes”. South Korean President Moon “Pyeongchang Olympics will Alpine giant slalom great Marcel short-track speed skating. The Russian situation has proved highly con- Jae-in shook the hand of a smiling become the hope and light for eve- Hirscher of Austria is also among Ninety-one countries -- plus the tentious in the build-up to Pyeongchang, after Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of ryone that hopes for peace, not only the gold medal hunters. “Olympic Athletes from Russia” -- their team was banned. But a certain number of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on the Korean peninsula but in The sensational 15-year-old are competing for 102 gold medals “clean” Russian athletes were allowed to take part as he entered the VIP seating sec- northeast Asia and the entire world,” Alina Zagitova of Russia will take in 15 different sports. as neutrals. tion, and again as the Korean ath- said Lee. letes marched. In contrast, Russia’s athletes It cemented what has been a entered the ceremony behind a neu- rapid improvement in Korean ties tral flag after their team was sus- since North Korea -- after months pended over a doping scandal. of fierce nuclear rhetoric and mis- Despite the ban, 168 “Olympic Ath- sile tests -- agreed last month to letes from Russia” will compete in attend its first Olympics in the Pyeongchang. South. Just hours earlier, 47 Russians Kim Yo Jong, the first member lost a court bid to take part in the of the North’s ruling dynasty to ven- Games after they were left off the ture South since the Korean War, list of athletes deemed clean from forms part of the highest level del- doping. egation ever to cross the border. Shivering athletes and specta- South and North Korea last tors are bracing for one of the marched together at the 2006 coldest Winter Olympics on record, Winter Olympics in Turin. They also with real-feel temperatures made the symbolic gesture at the plumbing minus 10C at the opening opening of the 2000 and 2004 ceremony. Olympics in Sydney and Athens. Japan’s speed skaters are among “You will inspire us all to live the athletes who decided it was too together in peace and harmony cold to brave the open-air cere- despite all the differences we have,” mony, while organisers handed out said International Olympic Com- heat packs, blankets and hats to mittee president Thomas Bach, keep spectators warm. before Moon declared the Games But Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua, open. echoing his eye-catching entrance A volunteer carries the IOC flag as Olympic Athletes from Russia march during the In highly unusual scenes, at the Rio Olympics, happily braved Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. hawkish US Vice President Mike the chill as he appeared stripped to 22 SPORT SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2018 Silva puts Lanka on top Coleman gets AFP another chance at

DHAKA: Roshen Silva hit an unbeaten half-century to put Sri break ‘his’ record Lanka in command of the second Test after stretching their lead REUTERS to 312 against in Dhaka yesterday. BOSTON: World silver medallist sprinter Christian Coleman gets The visitors reached 200-8 another chance to break the 60 metres world record this week- at stumps on day two in their end, a mark he believes already belongs to him. second innings. The batting “I do believe I am the record holder, and I think a lot of peo- effort came after debutant spin- ple do as well regardless of if it is official,” the 21-year-old American ner led an said in a telephone interview ahead of today’s Boston Indoor Grand inspirational attack to dismiss Prix. Bangladesh for 110 in the morn- Coleman opened his season with an astonishing 6.37-second ing session. dash in the 60m at a meeting in Clemson, South Carolina last Silva was batting on 58, his month, crossing the line 0.02 seconds quicker than countryman second fifty in the game, which Maurice Greene’s 20-year-old world record mark. came amid a regular fall of wick- However, the performance is not likely to ratified as a new ets on what seemed a difficult global record because electronic starting blocks were not used. batting pitch at the Sher-e- The blocks, which measure false starts, are required for record- Bangla National Stadium. recognition purposes, the International Association of Athletics The highest successful run- Federations (IAAF) says. chase at the ground is England’s The global governing body is now waiting for USA Track & 209-1 against the hosts in 2010. Field (USATF) to decide whether to submit the mark for possible Sri Lankan cricketer Roshen Silva (right) reacts after scoring a half century as Bangladeshi wicketkeeper “I don’t think it is possible to ratification. Liton Das looks on during the second day of the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e- get more than 300 runs on this “It will still be my PR (personal record) and nobody else has a . It is common sense but Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. faster PR,” Coleman said. “In my opinion it is a world record.” cricket is a funny game,” Silva Despite his claim, Coleman does not expect the performance to told reporters. Suranga Lakmal, who Rahman took three mistakes from the first innings be approved. “We bowled them out for claimed three wickets with his while spinners and then I believe we can perform “I am thinking it is not because they didn’t have the exact spec- 100 and we wanted to get more pace , was keeping Silva Mehedi Hasan Miraz claimed well in the second innings and ifications,” said Coleman, who drove for more than an hour after than 300-plus runs actually. company on seven as the island- two each. Opener Kusal Mendis can win the match.” Earlier the race to meet an anti-doping official at a roadside stop to “We passed it,” added Silva, ers kept building on their sizable was out early after veteran left- Bangladesh, who started the day undergo a drugs test, another record requirement. playing just his third Test since first-innings lead of 112. arm spinner on 56-4 in response to Sri Lan- “I’m not too concerned about it,” he added. “I know I have the his debut in India last year. Paceman Mustafizur trapped the batsman leg-before ka’s 222, faltered against capabilities to do it (break the record again). for seven. Left-handed opener Dananjaya’s mystery spin that With his training going so well, the time had not really come SCOREBOARD Dimuth Karunaratne, who made rattled the hosts’ middle and as a shock, Coleman said. “The only part that surprised me was (I innings) ...... 222 (nb1), Dananjaya 10-2-20-3, Herath 12-1-31-0 32, and Dhananjaya de Silva, lower-order. that it happened so early in the season.” A bigger audience will be Bangladesh (I innings) Sri Lanka (II innings) who hit 28, got starts but failed Dananjaya, who is playing watching on Saturday when Coleman returns to the indoor arena c & b Lakmal ...... 4 D Karunaratne c Kayes b Mehedi ...... 32 to convert them into bigger his first Test after 19 one-day to go up against 300m world record holder Noah Lyles. lbw b Perera...... 19 K Mendis lbw b Razzak ...... 7 scores. Silva got to the grind internationals and nine “The key will be for him just to go out there and do what he run out (De Silva/Dickwella) .....0 D de Silva b Taijul ...... 28 building crucial partnerships games, returning did in Clemson,” Greene told Reuters. b Lakmal ...... 1 D Gunathilaka lbw b Mustafizur ...... 17 including a 51-run fifth-wicket impressive figures of 3-20. “The unique thing is when you get in a race and nobody is Liton Das b Lakmal ...... 25 D Chandimal lbw b Mehedi ...... 30 Mehedi Hasan ...... 38 R Silva (batting) ...... 58 stand with skipper Dinesh Chan- The 24-year-old Dananjaya around you (like Clemson), it’s like a tune-up race, you are very b Dananjaya ...... 17 N Dickwella c Mahmudullah b Taijul ...... 10 dimal, who made 30. has off-spin as his stock deliv- comfortable, you are very relaxed. c Chandimal b Dananjaya ...... 0 D Perera c Liton b Mustafizur ...... 7 Bangladesh’s Mehedi was ery but can surprise the batsmen “But now he will have a couple of names beside him. So the Abdur Razzak c and b Dananjaya...... 1 A Dananjaya c Liton b Mustafizur ...... 0 hoping against hope for a with leg-spin and carrom intensity level comes up. The more comfortable Christian is, the Taijul Islam run out ...... 1 S Lakmal (batting) ...... 7 turnaround. balls. more relaxed, he is going to run better.” MAINTAINING SPEED Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Perera ...... 0 Extras (LB 4) ...... 4 “Anything can happen in Dananjaya cleaned up skip- Greene, a former world record holder in the 100m, believes Cole- Extras (LB 2, W1, NB1) ...... 4 Total (8 wkts) ...... 200 cricket. You can lose wickets for per Mahmudullah Riyad for 17, man can eventually run the 60 in 6.35 or 6.36 seconds. Total (all out, 45.4 overs) ...... 110 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-53, 3-80, 4-92, 5-143, 6-170, Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-12, 4-45, 5-73, 6-107, 8-107 7-178, 8-178 zero or one or two runs. It can and got two more wickets in “I told him, ‘Now you know you can run that fast, don’t worry 8-109, 9-110, 10-110 Bowling: Razzak 17-2-60-1, Mustafizur 12-2-35-3, Tai- happen in the first innings,” the Sabbir Rahman -- out for a duck about trying to chase it (the world record), start perfecting your Bowling: Lakmal 12-4-25-3 (w1), Perera 11.4-4-32-2 jul 19-2-72-2, Mehedi 14-3-29-2 allrounder said. -- and Razzak to flatten the race’,” the 2000 Olympic champion said. “But if we can learn from our Bangladesh batting. The start is already there. SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 23 Golf: Strong field for Qatar Masters THE PENINSULA Darren Clarke DOHA: Former Open Champi- ons Darren Clarke and Paul Lawrie will head a strong chal- lenge from some of the European Tour’s most experienced players when they are joined by Ryder Cup Thomas Bjørn and his vice-captain, Robert Karls- son, at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. A strong field will once again assemble at Doha Golf Club for the 21st edition of the event, which boasts a star-studded list of former winners including the 1999 Open Champion Lawrie, who has twice triumphed in the Qatari capital. The event will be held from February 22-25. Paul Lawrie The Scot’s first win came in the early stages of a season which would define his career, when he soared to a seven- charge to famously defeat Jean Clarke, meanwhile, plays the years ago. He has been playing stroke victory in February of van de Velde to the Open Cham- event for the seventh time but his way back into form early in 1999, before mounting a late pionship later that season. for the first time since 2011, when the 2018 campaign with eight of he finished in a share of 12th his ten rounds thus far this sea- place before later that season son under par, six of them lifting the Claret Jug courtesy of sub-70. a dominant display at Royal St While a second victory in George’s. The Northern Irishman Qatar will undoubtedly be at the played in the inaugural edition forefront of Bjørn’s mind in of the event back in 1998, when Doha, his fierce competitive he claimed his best finish to date spirit will also mean he always in the event thanks to a tied ninth has one eye on September’s strokes clear of Spain’s Alvaro and Andy Sullivan, who appeared finish as Andrew Coltart earned showpiece in Paris as he leads Quiros, for the tenth of his 11 in the most recent contest at his maiden European Tour vic- Team Europe into battle against European Tour titles. Having Hazeltine in 2016, while Nicolas tory. The 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk’s USA team. made the cut in 15 of his 17 Colsaerts - a star of the famous Bjørn will land in Qatar confi- His close friend and former appearances at Doha Golf Club, Miracle at Medinah in 2012 - also dent of a strong performance on European Tour Number One he will surely be confident of plays. Jamie Donaldson, who a course upon which he has Karlsson is the only Vice Captain rekindling the kind of form famously struck the winning shot played 13 times, and claimed vic- Bjørn has selected thus far, and which earned him two Ryder Cup of The 2014 Ryder Cup at Glene- tory in 2011. the Swede will also be present in appearances as a player. agles, is also joined in the field The great Dane has made the Qatar for his 17th appearance in Other former Ryder Cup stars by his team-mates for that tri- Thomas Bjørn weekend in ten of those 13 an event which he has also won. in the field for this year’s Com- umph under Paul McGinley, appearances, with two top ten Karlsson emerged victorious mercial Bank Qatar Masters Victor Dubuisson and Stephen finishes to add to his win seven in 2010 after finishing two include Englishmen Chris Wood Gallacher. Wenger calls for cool heads Real in dress as Arsenal face Spurs test rehearsal before PSG showdown AFP Arsenal manager Arsene AFP for, but we dropped two in a LONDON: Arsene Wenger has Wenger kicks the ball on game we were controlling,” he warned his Arsenal stars to keep the sidelines during the MADRID: Just days before said of last week’s game, when their cool when they face bitter English Premier League Paris Saint-Germain touch Levante twice came from rivals Tottenham as the heated football match between down in the Spanish capital, behind to draw. north London derby returns to Arsenal and Everton at Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid “We needed to make it Wembley for the first time in 25 the Emirates Stadium have the chance to boost their three straight wins and we years. in London on Saturday. fragile confidence when they couldn’t do it.” Barcelona have Languishing in sixth place in face Real Sociedad in La Liga what looks like a straightfor- the Premier League, Wenger’s today. ward home meeting with side are however just four points The reigning European mid-table Getafe tomorrow, behind fifth placed Tottenham. champions have been shipping fresh from securing their place With their hopes of a top a worrying number of goals in in the Copa del Rey final by four place and qualification for the build-up to their Champi- beating Valencia on Thursday. the Champions Leahue hanging ons League last-16 showdown The Catalans do not face Chel- in the balance, the Gunners can with the likes of Neymar, Edin- sea in their Champions League ill-afford a damaging defeat at son Cavani and Kylian Mbappe. last-16 tie until February 20 so the hands of their hated neigh- Zidane’s side have kept just can focus on further consoli- bours on Saturday, while one clean sheet in their last eight dating their nine-point lead Tottenham are also a point adrift outings, and they could pay a over Atletico Madrid at the of the top four and desperate to heavy price for any goals con- summit of La Liga. avoid defeat. ceded against the French giants Atletico visit bottom club Given the high stakes amid in next Wednesday’s match at the Malaga today, while third- the fight for local bragging rights, Santiago Bernabeu. placed Valencia host local rivals the crowd of over 80,000 are “It shows that we need to Levante tommorow having suf- certain to make it a frenzied work even harder. That’s foot- fered six consecutive losses in occasion. ball -- whoever your opponents all competitions. Clarence Wenger knows players can players to stay focused. “There years earlier. Wembley is a boss Mauricio Pochettino has not they are there to make things Seedorf The former Dutch lose their composure if they get is always huge passion before happy hunting ground for Arse- given up hope of pipping Man- difficult for you,” said Zidane international, and ex-Real swept up by the derby the game and the emotion at nal’s current generation as well. chester United to second place. after last week’s disappointing Madrid midfielder, Clarence atmosphere. stake that becomes a bit more They have won their last Defeating Arsenal would 2-2 draw at Levante. Seedorf, will take charge of And, with new boys Pierre- agitated,” he said. nine games at the national sta- help that ambition, while carry- That result left Madrid Deportivo for the first time Emerick Aubameyang and “It is always a game that is dium, including a penalty ing the added bonus of derailing fourth in the table, a point when they take on Real Betis at Henrikh Mkhitaryan making charged emotionally. shoot-out victory over Chelsea Arsenal. behind Valencia in third but Riazor on Monday. their maiden north London “For us, it is an opportunity in this season’s Community “I believe we can finish sec- with a game in hand. Real Seedorf was appointed by derby appearances and Totten- to come back closer to the Shield. ond. Of course we’re going to Sociedad lie in the lower half of the Galician side at the begin- ham midfielder Dele Alli in the Champions League places, Asked if he preferred the fight for that to happen,” Pochet- the table but they score goals ning of this week after Cristobal midst of a diving storm, the Arse- which is a priority.” Although game to be at Wembley, Wenger tino said. for fun -- witness a 5-0 win Parralo was sacked in the wake nal manager cautioned his Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-0 at said: “Yes, because we have a “The gap is not massive over Deportivo La Coruna last of the 5-0 defeat at Anoeta that ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE the Emirates Stadium in Novem- positive history there. but it will be tough. It’s key on weekend. They also have one left the club in the relegation ber, they haven’t won an away “Of course Wembley is a Saturday to win the game, to of the worst defensive records zone. Today’s fixtures (GMT) league game against their rivals pitch that is quality, a stadium be in the race for the top in Spain, so Cristiano Ronaldo Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal (1230) since 2014. with a big crowd and it is always four.” -- who turned 33 this week -- LA LIGA Everton vs Crystal Palace (1500) Fortunately, for Wenger’s a special day in your mind so Pochettino believes former will hope to fill his boots along Fixtures (all kick-offs GMT) Stoke City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (1500) men, with Tottenham playing overall, yes. Paris Saint Germain winger with Gareth Bale and Karim Today Swansea City vs Burnley (1500) their home games at Wembley “At Wembley you play spe- Lucas Moura, who arrived last Benzema. Zidane’s side are still Villarreal vs Alaves (1200), Malaga v Atletico West Ham United vs Watford (1500) this season while White Hart cial games where you are under month, is ready to make his 19 points behind leaders Bar- (1515), Leganes v Eibar (1730), Real Madrid vs Manchester City vs Leicester City (1730) Lane is rebuilt, it will be the first pressure to perform and we debut, possibly as a substitute. celona, who remain unbeaten, Real Sociedad (1945) Tomorrow north London derby at the responded well to it every time.” “I think he will be ready to but the Frenchman refuses to Sunday Huddersfield Town vs AFC Bournemouth (1200) national stadium since 1993. Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is be in contention for Saturday,” completely give up on a suc- Sevilla vs Girona (1100), Barcelona vs Getafe Newcastle United v Manchester United (1415) (1515), Celta Vigo vs Espanyol (1730), Valencia Southampton vs Liverpool (1630) - Special day - Arsenal won a doubt having been forced off Pochettino said. cessful La Liga title defence, 1-0 on that occasion in the FA with a calf injury in the win over “He is starting to feel the publicly at least. vs Levante (1945)

February 12 Monday

Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion (2000) Cup semi-finals, avenging a 3-1 Everton last week. legs. We need to assess him, but “I am always going to say loss to Tottenham at the same Tottenham are unbeaten in after the last session I hope we that the league is not over. Deportivo vs Betis (2000) stage of that competition two their last eight league games, and can put him in contention.” There are a lot of points to play SPORT Saturday 10 February 2018

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 233 RadwanskaRa arrives Silva puts Sri Lanka Wenger callslls foforr ini DohaD as qualifying on top in second Test cool heads as ArsenalArsenall round begins against Bangladesh face Spurs testestt Relegation-threatened Kharaitiyat and Markhiya fight to stay alive in QSL

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Al Kharaitiyat will meet Al Markhiya while Al Arabi take on Al Ahli in their own backyard as week 16 of the QNB Stars League (QSL) comes to a close today. Al Kharaitiyat’s new coach Yasser Sebaie TODAY’S FIXTURES said his wards were out to make a strong Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Markhiya statement for the second successive week At Al Khor Stadium 4.40pm when they clash with Al Markhiya. Al Arabi vs Al Ahli “This match is like a final for us. Both At Al Arabi Stadium 6.50pm teams are badly seeking points to stay away from the relegation zone. The drawn encounter against Al Sailiya last week has “This is a crucial game for us as it is high given us a big boost. It helped a lot in boost- time we performed to our full potential and Qatar SC players celebrate after winning their QNB Stars League match against Al Sailiya yesterday. ing our players’ confidence and that is earned some points. Or else, our position reflecting on their training sessions,” coach will be difficult,” he said. Sebaie said. “Both teams are under pressure and in “We had missed five players, yet we a similar situation, staring at relegation. I could put up a strong display. I am glad to hope my players are ready to wage an Qatar SC bring down see my players hugely motivated after a important battle and will rise to the occa- series of negative results. sion by collecting full points against Al “We hope to get full points from the Kharaitiyat. match against Al Markhiya. However, we “We badly need a victory to help our- will sorely miss ace striker Rachid Tiberka- selves stay in good shape. It will do a world high-flying Al Sailiya nine and goalkeeper Ahmed Sufiyan for this of good for our players’ morale. Our per- game, but we will try to make a strong formance does not reflect on our results. We statement. deserved to earn more points than what we THE PENINSULA were rewarded for their early “In football, what is more important is have. QNB STARS LEAGUE endeavour when Soroush fired in the performance of 11 players on the field. I “I don’t care about the absent players in YESTERDAY’S RESULTS DOHA: Qatar SC secured a superb extraordinary style. Having picked intend to make appropriate substitutions in the rivals’ line-up (referring to Al Kharaiti- Qatar SC beat Al Sailiya 2-0 2-0 victory over high-flyers Al Umm Salal beat Al Khor 2-1 up the ball 40M out, he advanced order to make up for their absence. yat’s ace striker Rachid Tiberkanine and Sailiya at the Al Ahli Stadium in their forward before unleashing an “All coaches are under pressure and I Ahmed Sufiyan). I am focusing on our play- QNB Stars League (QSL) played at unstoppable strike into the corner am no different. I try to overcome that with ers. We will miss the services of Bilal the Al Ahli Stadium yesterday. bookable offence. The Peregrines beyond the outstretched arms of all my experience. I hope to take the team Mohammed, Medhat Mustafa and Musaab The game’s only goals came searched valiantly for a goal and, in goalkeeper Baba Malick. to safety by the end of this season’s QNB Mahmoud,” said Yousef. through Osama Omari in the 29th the 78th, Abdukholiqov was again Moments later, Al Khor were Stars League,” Sebaie said.. Meanwhile, Al Arabi (12 points) will have and 84th minutes. thwarted by Al Hail who remarka- close to doubling their lead as Ariel The match kicks off at 4.40pm. Saad Natiq back from a one-match suspen- The match started in quick fash- bly tipped his shot onto the bar and Thierry rose to meet a Madson cross, Al Kharaitiyat, precariously placed with sion even as injured Ahmed Fathy will be ion and Luis Jimenez of Qatar SC away to safety. but was unable to find the target. 10 points, are only two points ahead of bot- out of action. thought he had opened the scoring With the home side running out Things did get better for the tom side Al Markhiya, so both badly need to The midfielder is expected to take the in spectacular fashion with a volley. of ideas, Qatar SC were able to catch home side when Tunisian attacking collect points to stay safe. field in their Week 17 game against Al Sadd, However, the referee spotted an them on the break and seal the vic- midfielder Oussama Darragi Syrian Sebaie, who took over from Tuni- dubbed the Qatar Derby, on February 17. infringement in the run-up to the tory late on. Ali Awad’s neat shot received two yellow cards in quick sian Ahmad Al Ajlani, saw his wards hold The Dream Team will take delight from the goal. rebounded off the post into the feet succession to receive his marching fourth-placed Al Sailiya 2-2 in his first match fact that goalkeeper Masoud Zeraei is in out- Not long after, it was Al Sailiya of Omari, who rounded a defender orders. in charge last week. That The Thunders were standing form. He had made many saves when who should have scored, but Temur- and fired into an empty net. The Orange Fortress did not let without five regular players makes the draw they held Umm Salal goalless in Week 15. khuja Abdukholiqov saw his header Qatar SC, who now have 15 the dismissal get to them and were more creditable. Ghanian Kwame Karikari mainly car- being brilliantly saved by opposi- points, will be delighted with the quickly back on equal terms after However, against Al Markhiya, they will ries their goal-scoring hopes. tion No.1 Jassim Al Hail. victory, while Al Sailiya missed the the break. Rhaili was well placed at be without ace Moroccan striker Rachid Al Ahli (16 points) are coming off a 0-4 In terms of league position, the opportunity to make ground. the back post to react to a corner Tiberkanine, the fifth best scorer in the QSL defeat to Al Duhail and would be keen to get game turned on its head in the next Elsewhere, Umm Salal came and head home. with 10 goals, and goalkeeper Ahmed their campaign back on track. exchange as Omari got the game’s from behind to secure a late 2-1 Into injury time, and with the Sufiyan. The Brigadiers will be without centre- first goal. A brilliant whipped cross away win at Al Khor yesterday. game drawing to a close, Rami Al Markhiya, who lost 1-3 to Al Rayyan back Khaleel Sherif and influential from the right by Abdul Hussain Soroush Hossein scored for Al Shamalah paced down the left wing last week, will miss the services of Bilal midfielder Yassine Chikhaoui. But new was tidily swept home from close Khor in the 14th minute, and Umm before cutting the ball back to sub- Mohammed, Medhat Mustafa and Musaab recruit, Tunisian Hamza Younes, and range. Salal replied through Adil Rhaili in stitute Maher, who curled home and Mahmoud. Their first-phase match had Meshaal Abdullah are experienced strikers Just minutes later, and chasing the 54th and Maher Yousef (90+2). secured full points. ended in a goalless draw. who can score against any side. an equaliser, Al Sailiya had captain Al Khor approached the game Umm Salal moved to 24 points, Al Markhiya coach Yousef Adam high- The teams had played out a 2-2 draw in Magdi Siddiq sent off for a second in great need of points and they while Al Khor stayed on 14. lighted the importance of today’s game. the first phase.

Skipper Sajjad’s hat-trick goes in vain as Qatar go down fighting in Doha thriller Qatar skipper Tamoor Sajjad (left) celebrates with team-mates after taking a hat-trick against Uganda at the Qatar Cricket Stadium in Doha yesterday. Sajjad bagged four for 33 to lead the Qatari attack as the hosts dismissed Uganda for 191 but in reply, fell short of five runs despite a brilliant knock of 52 by the captain. Sajjad won the Man-of-the-Match for his brilliant efforts with the bat and bowl. INSET: Action from yesterday’s match. Pictures: Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula