SPORT Wednesday 23 January 2019 PAGE | 08 PAGE | 10 Indian skipper Ruthless Nadal Virat Kohli cruises into sweeps top last four of ICC awards Australian Open AFC Asian Cup: Al Annabi defeat former champions Iraq 1-0 Al Rawi the hero as Qatar reach quarters THE PENINSULA / AFC ABU DHABI Qatari players celebrate after Bassam Al Rawi scored a goal during their AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 match against Iraq, played at the Al Nahyan Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, yesterday. A superbly struck free-kick by Bassam Al Rawi yesterday guided Qatar into the last- eight of the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals. Al Rawi produced the match-winner in the 62nd minute with a free kick that dipped in ate to beat goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachem as Qatar stunned the 2007 cham- pions 1-0 at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. It was the fourth successive win for Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez. Qatar, who topped Group E, beat Lebanon, North Korea and Saudi Arabia before edging past a determined Iraq yesterday. In the quarter-final on Friday, Qatar will take on Korea who yesterday beat Bahrain in the round of 16. Despite Iraq’s industrious start to the game, it was Qatar who spurned the first genuine opportunity when 2018 AFC Player of the Year Abdelkarim Hassan rattled the bar with a shot from close-range following Abdelaziz Hatim’s cross in only the fourth minute. As Qatar continued to press in the opening stages, a well-placed Hatim came close to connecting with Hasan’s whipped delivery, only for goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb to then dive bravely at the feet of an onrushing Mohanad Ali to repel Iraq’s opening attack of the tie. Iraq suffered a blow shortly after the half-hour mark as influential midfielder Humam Tareq left the pitch on a stretcher, although an Ahmed Ibrahim header which forced Al Sheeb into a smart save subse- quently demonstrated the threat still posed by Srecko Katanec’s charges. However, 2000 and 2011 quarter- Qatari defender finalists Qatar were to end an absorbing Bassam Al Rawi Football Associations first half in the ascendancy as Hasan’s (left) celebrates after deflected cross brushed an upright and Al scoring the only goal of Rawi headed Akram Afif’s corner agonis- yesterday’s match. condemn Saudi-based ingly wide of the target. The second period began just as brightly and, after Iraq custodian Jalal Hassan had pirate TV network denied Akram Afif, Qatar went ahead on 62 minutes, Al Rawi curling home a THE PENINSULA delightful free-kick that Hassan could do DOHA little about. Moments later, Hassan spread himself In their strongest attack yet on broadcasting theft, soccer’s well to deny his rampaging Qatari governing bodies and top leagues have condemned Saudi namesake, before producing another fine Arabia-based pirate network beoutQ. stop to keep out a fierce Hatim drive from FIFA, UEFA, the English distance. Premier League, La Liga, the Iraq, though, refused to buckle, as first German Bundesliga and the Ali Adnan flashed a free-kick inches past Asian Football Confederation the post and then Ahmed Ibrahim’s 80th weighed in on yesterday by The activities of minute header missed by a similarly fine blasting beoutQ’s actions as beoutQ are a clear margin. “a clear and flagrant breach and flagrant breach It was not to be though for the 2007 of our intellectual property of our intellectual champions as Qatar, with captain Hasan Al rights”. Haydos excelling throughout, valiantly held In a joint statement property rights. firm despite late Iraqi pressure to move ever issued yesterday, the game’s beoutQ’s piracy closer to realising their title aspirations. governing bodies yesterday harms not only us, as said: “Collectively, we, as rights holders, but rights-holders in various also our legitimate football competitions, licensees and, condemn the pirate entity ultimately, the fans of beoutQ, which continues to our competitions. South Korea knock Bahrain out abuse the operations of rights holders and legitimate REUTERS since 1960. Victory came despite cross was parried by Sayed However, Bahrain were level broadcasters through its per- DUBAI Korea making a slow start and Shubbar, the rebound fell to Hwang seven minutes later with Al Romaihi sistent and illegal screening of events for which it has made Miroslav Soukup’s Bahrain looked Hee-chan who made no mistake scoring from close range after Hong no effort to secure the rights; the latest example of which Kim Jin-su’s extra-time header took the more likely to break the from eight yards out. Chul had slid in to keep out Mahdi is the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.” South Korea past a stubborn deadlock. The Koreans continued to press Al Humaidan’s initial goal-bound “The activities of beoutQ are a clear and flagrant breach Bahrain and into the quarter-finals Mohamed Marhoon’s strike in the opening exchanges of the effort. of our intellectual property rights. beoutQ’s piracy harms of the Asian Cup yesterday as Paulo from distance flashed just wide of second half, with Hwang Ui-jo’s Hwang Ui-jo should have won not only us, as rights holders, but also our legitimate licensees Bento’s side sealed a 2-1 win at Kim Seung-gyu’s goal with only attempt blocked by Shubbar and it for Korea three minutes into and, ultimately, the fans of our competitions. Money raised Dubai’s Rashid Stadium. four minutes on the clock and, Hwang In-beom shooting over from stoppage time when Waleed Al from the sale of TV rights helps us to support the partici- The goal, scored in stoppage midway through the half, the Al outside the area. Jung Woo-young Hayam’s poor back pass was inter- pants, as well as to develop and grow the sports of which time of the first period of extra time, Riffa midfielder skied his free kick then had his free kick deflected cepted by the Gamba Osaka striker, we are guardians from the grassroots up. Piracy kills that earned Korea a barely-deserved from a similar distance over the bar. wide. but he slid his shot wide of Shub- investment,” the football bodies said. win after Bahrain’s Mohamed Al Korea grew more assertive and Soukup’s team were never bar’s goal. In October, beIN launched a compensation claim worth Romaihi had earlier cancelled out scored the opening goal two overawed and, with 20 minutes Kim Jin-su’s bullet header fol- $1bn against the Saudi piracy channel while Qatar filed an Hwang Hee-chan’s opener to take minutes before halftime, with Tot- remaining, Jamal Rashed’s curling lowing Lee Yong’s deep cross from action at the World Trade Organisation. the game beyond 90 minutes. tenham Hotspur forward Son effort looked destined for the back the right eventually secured the win The AFC said on Jan. 9 that it was taking legal action in Bento’s side will now face Qatar Heung-min heavily involved. of the net, only for goalkeeper Kim for Korea, who may have to Saudi Arabia against beoutQ for illegal broadcasts of the in the last eight as the Koreans seek The 27-year-old’s incisive ball Seung-gyu to steer the ball wide for improve if they are to end their Asian Cup, the region’s biggest football tournament which to win the title for the first time found Lee Yong and, while his low a corner. 59-year wait for the title. is being played in the United Arab Emirates. 08 SPORT WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2019 In-form Wade blasts Cricket Kohli sweeps top ICC awards Australia over AFP unanimous choice for the award, NEW DELHI with South African fast bowler Test snub Kagiso Rabada coming second India captain Virat Kohli in both the cricketer of the year AFP (pictured) said yesterday he was Virat Kohli category and the Test player of SYDNEY “very very happy” after ICC Awards and Appointments the year. becoming the first-ever player “This is well deserved rec- In-form wicketkeeper to clinch all three top honours, Awards ognition for an extraordinary Matthew Wade has blasted including cricketer of the year, ICC Cricketer of the Year talent,” ICC chief executive David Cricket Australia after he was in the International Cricket Richardson said of Kohli. overlooked for a recall to the Council awards. ICC Test Player of the Year “His regard for the game and Test side to face Sri Lanka, Kohli, who recently led India ICC ODI Player of the Year particularly for Test cricket is saying he and other players to their maiden Test and one-day also recognised and appre- were unclear about the criteria series triumph in Australia, was Appointments ciated. He is passionate in his for national selection. also voted the Test and ODI Named captain of the ICC Test support of the longest form of Wade, who whacked an men’s player of the year as the the game and its continued unbeaten 84 from 49 balls for cricket’s world governing body and ODI teams of the year importance.” Australia opener the Twenty20 Big Bash announced its annual honours, Aaron Finch won the T20 per- League’s Hobart Hurricanes on chosen by former players and formance of the year award for Monday night, has scored over veteran journalists. the second time for his 172 -- 1,000 runs across all formats “It feels amazing. It’s a the highest-ever individual T20 this summer. reward for all the hard work that score -- against Zimbabwe in The 31-year-old has also you do throughout the calendar Harare last July.