SPORT Saturday 28 April 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 ’s Al Attiyah Three PSG stars in marches ahead with big line for French Player lead in Jordan of the Year award Al edge in high drama to clinch Qatar Cup ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA Al Duhail players and officials celebrate their win over Al Sadd : An injury time penalty in the Qatar Cup final at Al Sadd goal from Yousef Alarabi helped Stadium in Doha yesterday. QNB Stars League (QSL) winners Pic:Baher Amin/The Peninsula Al Duhail edge Al Sadd 2-1 in a thrilling and action packed final of the Qatar Cup. Playing at Al Sadd Stadium, Al Duhail struck in the tenth minute of the injury time through a spot kick. Alarabi who was entrusted with the kick sent the ball past the Al Sadd keeper in the last kick of the match to give them the coveted trophy, the second one of the season. Al Duhail got the spot kick awarded through a Video Assistant referee (VAR). Referee Abdulla Ali Athba referred a decision to the VAR as Al Duhail claimed a spot kick. The VAR awarded the decision in favour of Al Duhail with the field referee pointing to the spot kick, a decision which evoke protests from the Al Sadd coach and players. Finally after much drama on and off the field, Alarabi kept his cool to send the Al Sadd goal- keeper Saad Abdulla Al Dosari the wrong way with his spot kick conversion. The defending champions went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead, having scored in the 29th minute through Hassan Al Haydos. Al Duhail bounced back to draw level in the 78th minute And finally in the end Al Arabi the league competition. Coach the wrong foot with Haydos, who a few attacks but could not add aiming to add more titles having from Ismail Mohamad Mohamad. scored a decisive goal, he fin- Jesualdo Ferreira’s, which fin- lay in wait at the far post, guiding to the goals tally. won the season-opening Sheikh Alarabi gave full credit to his ished the match with his strike,” ished second in the QSL, were the ball past a rival defender and Al Duhail finally were able Jassim Cup, but that was not to team-mates for the team. Amin said. looking to avenge their twin QSL goalkeeper Amin to put his team to draw level with a strike from be as the late penalty shattered “It is all team work. Full Both the teams adopted a losses to Djamel Belmadi’s side ahead. Ismail Mohamad Mohamad in their dreams. credit to my team-mates. We did cautious approach in the starting in the title clash and retain the Thereafter, Al Duhail pressed the 78th minute. The midfielder Ferreira’s team defeated Al not give up when we were down, few minutes and gradually Cup they won last year. hard for the equaliser in the last took control of a loose ball to slot Rayyan 6-4 in the penalty shoot we knew and we were confident picked up the pace as a full house Both the teams had their quarter of the first half but home his left footed placement to make it to the title clash, after that we could score and in the settled down to watch some high share of chances but could not without any success as the Al past a diving Al Sadd both the teams shared two goals end we did,” said Alarabi. quality football dished by the two trouble the scorers until coach Sadd defense stood their ground goalkeeper. apiece at the end of regular Al Duhail goalkeeper teams. Ferreira’s team struck on the to repulse the attacks. Goaded by a goal, Al Duhail period of play. Lecoumet Kloud Amin said the Al Sadd were keen on goal front. In the second half, both the almost took the lead but Nam On the other hand, Al fighting spirit fetched them the focusing on the task at hand The Wolves took the lead teams playing attacking brand Tae-Hee angular drive missed Duhail coasted to an easy 6-1 victory. instead of looking back at past through a dead ball situation. of football. Al Sadd were not the target by a whisker. win over Al Gharafa, with all “We did not give up, we were records as they had lost to the Baghdad Bounedjah back header contend in just hanging on to the Al Sadd which picked up two the goals coming in the second down by a goal, we fought back. QSL winners Al Duhail twice in caught the Al Duhail defense on one goal lead but came up with domestic titles last season were half. , Al Kharaitiyat eye next round ARMSTRONG VAS ambition is to go far in this com- Al Kharaitiyat coach Yasser In the other third round THE PENINSULA petition with the resources we Al Sebaei is happy that his team matches tomorrow, Mesaimeer have and we hope to spring a has been able to hold on to the take on Al Sailiyah, while Al DOHA: QNB Stars League (QSL) surprise. We have faith in our QSL spot for the next season and Wakra meet Al Arabi, both relegated side Al Markhiya aim abilities and resources and we is ready for Emir Cup test. matches at Grand Hamad to continue their impressive run will match with an equally good “We will play according to Stadium. in the prestigious Emir Cup performance and enthusiasm,” the high standards we have set The Emir Cup competition is when they take on Al Khor in the Sellimi said. for ourselves. We want to show contested by QSL and Qatargas pre-quarter-finals match at the “We have been hit by injuries to the football loving people that Second Division clubs. Abdulla Bin Khalifa Stadium in all departments. But the we deserve to be in the league The five-week event is here today. absence due to injuries during (QSL). We have a lot of ambition played in five phases: The semi- In the second-round match, the fag end of the season is a and the Emir Cup is a prestigious finals will be played on May 11 Mohamed Salah Elneel did the common thing. We are not going competition and we wish to keep and 12. The final will be played star-act for Al Markhiya by to be affected by the absence of on wining,” Sebaei said. on May 19. scoring twice and setting up a some key players in important Al Kharaitiyat defeated The first four finishers in the third one in their 4-1 win over positions,” he added. Qatargas League team Al Sha- QSL have earned a place in the Al Shamal to advance his team Al Markhiya’s opponent Al hania, which has qualified for quarter-finals, while the to the next stage. Khor finished eight in the next season’s QSL, to advance remaining eight teams will Al Markhiya are eager to 12-team QSL, which is played on into the next round. feature in the pre-quarter-finals prove a point in their Emir Cup a double lef format. Rachid Tiberkanine scored and second round. and coach Adel Al Sellimi said In the second match of the twice as Al Kharaitiyat beat Al Al Sadd is one of the four they aim to spring a surprise in day, Al Kharaitiyat, which Shahaniya by a 3-1 score line. teams which has been seeded one of the popular retained the QSL spot in the The winner of the Al directly into the quarter-finals tournament. play-off with Al Wakrah, take Kharaitiyat-Umm Salal match along with QSL champions Al Al Kharaitiyat coach Yasser Al Sebaei speaking to journalists in this “Al Markhiya will try to play on Umm Salal, which finished will meet Al Duhail in the Duhail, Al Rayyan and Al file picture. a good level of football. Our fifth. quarter-finals. Gharafa. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2018 Ricciardo tops the Qatar’s Al Attiyah marches timesheets in ahead with big lead in Jordan Baku practice REUTERS THE PENINSULA Al Attiyah said: “The stages 2018 JORDAN RALLY - POSITIONS AFTER SS6: Jordanian crew of Khaled and got firmer as the day went on 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Ford Fiesta R5 51min 17.3sec Emad Juma in a similar car. BAKU: Red Bull’s Daniel DEAD SEA, JORDAN: The longest and dried and we were able to 2. Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al Kuwari (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 56min 38.2sec Ahmad and Shadi Shaban Ricciardo staked his claim to stage of the Jordan Rally was lost go quicker. We had no problems 3. Vojtech Stajf (CZE)/Markéta Skacelova (CZE) Skoda Fabia R5 57min 59.0sec were a distant fifth overall in their a repeat Azerbaijan Grand to inclement weather conditions and will try and keep up the 4. Khaled Juma (JOR)/Emad Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 59min 05.9sec Mitsubishi and third in MERC 2. Prix victory with the fastest in the region, but that failed to same pace to the finish 5. Ahmed Shaban (JOR)/Shadi Shaban (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 1hr 02min 01.6sec Fellow Jordanians, Ihab Al Shorafa time in yesterday’s practice prevent Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah tomorrow.” and Yousef Juma, rounded off the while Formula One world from storming into a comfortable Vojtch Stajf and Markéta learning all the time. Then we another two or three kilometres. top six in another Mitsubishi champion Lewis Hamilton lead of 4min 20.9sec after five Skácelová had a baptism of fire lost time with the flat tyre.” So we lost even more time. Lancer derivative. remained off the pace. slippery gravel stages of the in their Škoda Fabia R5 and were “We only took one spare with Tomorrow we will fight to try and Today, the rally reaches a con- Australian Ricciardo, the opening round of the 2018 FIA never able to match the pace of us. On the second loop, on the win back the second position. But clusion with a further eight special man of the moment after Middle East Rally Championship Al Attiyah on the driver’s second Mahes stage, we had a puncture I had to drive cautious on the last stages, starting with a run in the winning in China two yesterday. ever gravel rally with his R5. He about six kilometres in from the two stages, so as not to get 11.74km of Suwayma at 09.14hrs weekends ago, lapped the fast Heavy overnight rain forced lost over three minutes with a start. There was a big rock lying another flat tyre.” and passes through Rawda straights and tight turns of the route modifications and the loss puncture in the fourth stage and in the line. I did not see it Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri (12.69km), Amar (8.55km) and street circuit with a best time of the 30-kilometre Palms special slipped to third overall on his because it was at the end of the was the class of the MERC 2 field Ma’in (16.91km) at 09.57hrs, of one minute 42.795 seconds that was scheduled to run twice, Jordanian debut. corner. Nasser said he saw it as in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10.35hrs, and 11.23hrs, on ultrasoft tyres. but the Ford Fiesta R5 driver and “It has not been easy,” said well. We hit it with the left-front X with Qatari navigator Nasser Al- respectively. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen French navigator Matthieu Baumel Stajf. “We left the road a couple and the tyre was flat within a few Kuwari and moved up to second The four stages are repeated was second fastest on a cool won all five of the day’s timed of times in Baptism in the hundred metres. place after the Czech driver’s in the afternoon at 13.17hrs, and gusty evening, a mere tests that did take place to remain morning. Some places we were “We had to stop and change problems Al-Thefiri won every 14.00hrs, 14.38hrs and 15.26hrs 0.069 slower, with Red Bull’s firmly on track for a record- too slow. It is only my second it but it happened in a part of the stage in the showroom category provided that recent weather con- Max Verstappen coming back equalling 12th victory in the time on gravel with the R5, but stage where we could not stop to and reached the overnight halt ditions have not affected the stage strongly from an afternoon Hashemite Kingdom. we made some notes and are change it and we had to drive for 3min 27.7sec clear of the surfaces. crash with the third best time. Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, who was quickest in the opening session for Mercedes in a time of 1:44.242, was fourth while team mate Ham- ilton could manage only fifth. Ricciardo, winner of a chaotic race in Baku last year, had been a 0.035 of a second slower than Bottas in the first practice. The early story was pro- vided by 20-year-old Ver- stappen, who had promised on Thursday to drive faster but with more control after a season littered with collisions and spins. Instead, the Dutch driver locked up while braking and skidded sideways into the tyre wall with 55 minutes remaining, sitting out the Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah in action during the sixth remainder of the session stage of the Jordan Rally in Dead Sea, Jordan yesterday. while his mechanics prepared to rebuild the car. Qatar beat Jordan 25-11 to finish third in West Asia Vandeweghe stuns

THE PENINSULA Halep to advance Bader Bakaddouri looked the rest of the points through sevens tournament also took unstoppable as he went on to two penalties. place this week in Beirut. BEIRUT: Qatar secured the score four tries during yester- In the Cup final played Qatar took part in the to Stuttgart semis third place in the Asia Rugby day’s match. yesterday, Lebanon beat Iran tournament which also saw Championship 2018 Division Andor Benyi made one in a thriller which saw the two Lebanese teams and Syria REUTERS III (West) when they over- conversion and added two hosts scoring 29-17 after the competing on Wednesday and in the opening set on the back powered Jordan 25-11 in more points through a penalty teams were tied at 10-all at Thursday. of her strong service game. The their play-off match to round up Qatar’s score. half time play. Qatari women were the STUTGART: American CoCo 26-year-old then sealed a yesterday. For the losing side, Alongside the Asia Rugby eventual winners of the tour- Vandeweghe shocked world decisive break to clinch the first At the Fouad Chehab Ibrahim Izmigna scored a try Championship Division III nament beating Lebanon Red number one Simona Halep in set and gain the upper hand in Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, and Firas Dar Khalifeh added West competition, a women’s in the final. straight sets yesterday to move the contest. into the semi-finals of the Despite stepping up her Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in attack, Romania’s Halep Stuttgart. struggled to find a way past her Vandeweghe, who won 6-4, opponent who cruised through 6-1 in an hour and 14 minutes, the second set to reach the last Coach Emery announces departure fired five aces and 19 winners four of a claycourt event for the to exert her dominance in the first time. AP claycourt event despite previ- Vandeweghe next takes on ously stating her dislike for the sixth seed Caroline Garcia who PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain surface. later overcame Ukraine’s Elina coach Unai Emery is leaving the I have told the US Open semi-finalist Svitolina 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 in two club at the end of the season, the Vandeweghe raced to a 5-4 lead hours and 16 minutes. latest to pay the price for failing players I’m leaving. to lead the team to the European I thank President glory its owners crave so much. Nasser Al Khelaifi, Emery joined PSG from the sporting director Sevilla two years ago on a two- Nadal eyes title after year contract, which will not be Antero Henrique, the extended. supporters and all the He addressed the players players for these two Dimitrov, Thiem before yesterday’s training, ahead Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery of the French champions’ against seasons: Emery Guingamp tomorrow. crash in Barcelona “I have told the players I’m losing 6-1 at Barcelona in the ($216m). But while PSG wrestled improve and grow with the club.” AFP leaving,” Emery said. “I thank return leg of the last 16. the French title back from Monaco PSG has been reportedly won the last 14 points of the President Nasser Al Khelaifi, the “It was a difficult time,” the with five games to spare, and is linked with a move for Arsenal match to reach the semi-finals. sporting director Antero Hen- Spanish coach said Friday at a on course for another domestic manager Arsene Wenger, who is BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal’s It was his second win over a rique, the supporters and all the news conference. treble, the club again fell short in leaving the London club after path to an 11th Barcelona title top 10 player following his players for these two seasons.” PSG failed to reach the quar- Europe. almost 22 years in charge, and was cleared of dangermen victory over Belgium’s David Emery replaced Laurent terfinals again this season, beaten Like Blanc before him, the with former Borussia Dortmund Grigor Dimitrov and Dominic Goffin in Antwerp last October. Blanc, who was fired after failing home and away by Real Madrid responsibility for that setback has coach Thomas Tuchel. Thiem yesterday when they He will face Carreno-Busta to get PSG beyond the quarter- in a 5-2 aggregate loss. been placed firmly on Emery’s Regarded as a brilliant tac- crashed to shock quarter-final for a place in the final. finals of the Champions League. It was another disappointing shoulders, even though the tician and owning a reputation for losses. Nadal, who has won his last He arrived with a strong repu- moment for a club funded by players let him down with their giving young players a chance at Second seed Dimitrov was 40 sets played on clay, was tation after guiding Sevilla to cash-rich Qatari investors QSI. performance against Madrid. the top level, Tuchel has been knocked out by fifth-seeded taking on Slovakian qualifier three straight Europa League Emery was given lots of There has even been talk that without a club since getting fired Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta Martin Klizan for a place in the titles, but he lost the league title money to build a team capable of Neymar could leave during the by Borussia Dortmund last May. 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). Thiem, the third- semi-finals. Klizan, ranked at last season and made unwanted winning this season’s Champions offseason, amid reported interest Tuchel has also been linked seeded Austrian, was stunned by 140, had defeated Novak history in the Champions League. League. PSG broke the world from Madrid. But Emery sought to Arsenal. 19-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas Djokovic in the second round. PSG became the first team in record by signing Neymar from to assure supporters the Brazil Chelsea manager Antonio with the fast-rising Greek The day’s other quarter-final the Champions League to be elim- Barcelona for €222m ($260m) striker will stay. Conte, who has had a difficult stunning the world number sees Goffin, the fourth seed, inated from the knockout stage and bought Kylian Mbappe from “PSG has got a solid project,” season with the London club, is seven 6-3, 6-2 in 80 minutes. facing Roberto Bautista Agut, the after winning the first match 4-0, Monaco in a deal worth €180m Emery said. “Neymar wants to another possible replacement. World number 63 Tsitsipas eighth-seeded Spaniard. SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2018 SPORT 19

Delhi end losing Qatar finish second in Kuwait and streak with big advance to the Asian Regional Finals win over Kolkata THE PENINSULA

THE PENINSULA NEW DELHI: Inspired by half-centuries from new KUWAIT CITY: Qatar qualified for the 2019 ICC World skipper Shreyas Iyer and Twenty20 Asian Regional Finals after finishing second Prithvi Shaw, Delhi Dare- in the Western Sub Regional qualifiers held in Kuwait devils finally ended their City. three-match losing streak Qatar went down to United Arab Emirates in the with a 55-run thumping win final match of the tournament which concluded over Kolkata Knight Riders yesterday. (KKR) in an Indian Premier Batting first Qatar scored 115 with Kamran Khan League (IPL) clash at the (29) and Tamoor Sajjad (36) making the top contri- Ferozshah Kotla yesterday. butions for them but UAE reached the target with With Friday’s win, Delhi’s ease, losing just one wicket. stay at the bottom of the Before yesterday’s final match, Qatar had recorded points table ended as they four consecutive wins during the tournament. climbed to the 7th spot while Al Anabi defeated Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Maldives KKR remained static at No.4 and hosts Kuwait. despite their fourth loss in Brief Scores: seven matches. Qatar: 115 in 18.4 overs (Kamran Khan 29, Tamoor Delhi Daredevils: 219/4 Sajjad 36; Mohammad Naveed 3 for 22, Zahoor Khan Qatar team players and officials pose for a photograph after finishing the 2019 ICC World Twenty20 Western Sub (Shreyas Iyer 93 not out, 2 for 16) Regional qualifiers as runners-up at Kuwait City yesterday. Prithvi Shaw 62) KKR: UAE: 121 for 1 (Ghulam Shabber 63 n.o.) 164/9 (Andre Russell 44)

Three PSG stars Al Badi guides Latino 291 to top in line for French Player of the honours on penultimate day Year award AP THE PENINSULA Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi PARIS: Neymar is among DOHA: Ahmed Mohammed the four nominees for the Al Badi guided his 16-year French league’s Player of old gelding Latino 291 to the Year award. complete a flawless routine The Brazil striker as the duo grabbed major was shortlisted Friday honours on the penultimate along with Paris Saint- day of the final leg of the Germain teammates Hathab Equestrian Tour Edinson Cavani and 2018. Kylian Mbappe. The At the state-of-the-art Al other nominee is Mar- Shaqab Arena yesterday, Al seille winger Florian Badi and Latino 291 com- Thauvin. plete the first round of the Neymar has scored Medium Tour in 69.48 19 league goals in only 20 seconds to grab the top prize games, but has not of the day worth QR6,250. played since cracking a Damorano, ridden by metatarsal in his right Mohammed Said Haidan, foot against Marseille on completed the same task in Feb. 25. He had surgery 69.95 seconds to grab the in Brazil in March. second spot on the podium Cavani won the which also offered a prize award last season and is cheque for QR5,000. again the league’s top Mohammed Khalifa scorer with 25 goals, Albaker guided Carport to while Mbappe has secure the third place with chipped in with 13. PSG a ride that lasted 72.41 has already sealed the seconds. He won QR3,750 title and scored 104 goals in prize money. with four games left. Jazly, ridden by Jaber Thauvin has scored Rashid Al Amri and Dollar 22 goals overall in an Van De Zuuthoeve, guided Hathab Equestrian Tour final stage - Yesterday›s results outstanding season for by Sheikh Abdulla bin Marseille, which is fourth Nasser Al Thani, rounded up Comp. (6) Small Tour, Table A, Two rounds with jump off (1st Round) , Art. 273.3.4.1+ in the French league and the top five of the QR25,000 4.4+2.2, 100/115 cm, Prize Money QR15,000 hoping to win the Europa event, and secured prizes Rank/Horse Rider Faults Time Prize money League. Thauvin scored worth QR2,500 and QR1,750 1 : Henrico Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi 0 51.85 QR3,750 on Thursday as Marseille respectively. Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi guides Latino 291 over an 2: Graffiti De Lully CH Saeed Hamad Al Rashdi 0 55.26 QR3,000 beat Salzburg 2-0 in the Earlier, in Small Tour, obstacle during Round 1 of the Medium Tour of the final 3: Daydreamer EC Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi 0 55.72 QR2,250 first leg of the Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi cap- leg of Hathab Equestrian Tour yesterday. 4: Michael Jackson Mohammed Al Ghazali 0 58.61 QR1,500 semifinals. tured double glory when he 5: Vlacido Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi 0 59.40 QR1,050 The winner will be marked his name among the routine that lasted 55.72 the 12th round of the hugely named on May 13. top three twice. seconds. popular Hathab Series. Comp. (7) Medium Tour, Table A, Two rounds with jump off (1st Round) , Art. 273.3.4.1+ Neymar will have his Al Qadi guided Henrico Ghanim won a total of Hathab Series is an ini- last post-surgery medical 4.4+2.2, 120/130 cm, Prize Money QR 25,000 in an errorless run and com- QR6,000 for the two wins. tiative of H E Sheikh Joaan exam on May 17. He 1: Latino 291 Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi 0 69.48 QR6,250 pleted the round in 51.85 to Graffiti De Lully CH, bin Hamad Al Thani, Pres- could be available for take the lead ahead of ridden by Saeed Hamad Al ident of the Qatar Olympic 2: Damorano Mohammed Said Haidan 0 69.95 QR5,000 Brazil’s training sessions today’s second round, and Rashdi was second after a Committee. The champi- 3: Carport Mohammed Khalifa Albaker 0 72.41 QR3,750 that start May 21 near Rio later secured the third spot routine which he took 55.26 onship is jointly organised 4: Jazly Jaber Rashid Al Amri 0 73.48 QR2,500 de Janeiro. in the same event, this time seconds to complete. by Al Shaqab and Qatar 5: Dollar Van De Zuuthoeve Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser Al Thani 0 75.03 QR1,750 PSG broke the world with Daydreamer EC with a Today is the last day of Equestrian Federation. record by signing Neymar from Barcelona for €222m ($260m) and bought Mbappe from Monaco in a deal worth Wozniacki retires from Istanbul quarters with injury $180m.

REUTERS the start of the decider. 3-0 in the second set. Woz- Up next for 32-year- niacki took a medical ISTANBUL: Top seed old Parmentier is Roma- timeout to deal with her Caroline Wozniacki was nia’s Irina-Camelia Begu, injury but struggled there- Neymar forced to retire from her who battled past Donna after and called it quits Istanbul Cup quarter-final Vekic 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-1. after Parmentier won the against Pauline Parmentier After being broken in second set. yesterday with an the first game of the Earlier, twice grand abdominal injury. opening set, Wozniacki slam champion Svetlana Wozniacki won the took a 4-1 lead before her Kuznetsova made 21 opening set before opponent drew level. unforced errors in her 6-1, France’s Parmentier fought The Dane then switched 1-6, 7-5 defeat by Slove- back to level the contest gears to claim the opening nia’s Polona Hercog. at 4-6, 6-3. Unable to con- set. Hercog, 27, will take on tinue, Australian Open Seeking her maiden Maria Sakkari of Greece champion Wozniacki con- victory over Wozniacki, who beat Dutch qualifier Caroline Wozniacki ceded the match before Parmentier raced ahead Arantxa Rus 6-3, 7-6(6).