Al Rayyan in Must-Win Clash to Keep QNB Stars League Title Hopes Alive
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Woods ready for leap into unknown at fan-free PGA Championship PAGE 14 THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 Fighting for life Al Rayyan in must-win Jakobsen suffers Tour of Poland horror crash clash to keep QNB Stars League title hopes alive A le photo taken on April 10, 2019, shows Netherland’s Fabio Jakob- sen celebrating as he crosses the nish line to win the 107th edition of the ‘Scheldeprijs’ one day cycling race in Schoten, Belgium. (AFP) KATOWICE (Poland): Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was ghting for his life on Wednesday after he was thrown into and over a barrier at 80km/h in a sickening conclusion to the opening stage of the Tour of Poland. Footage showed 23-year-old Jakobsen, of the Deceuninck- Quick Step, racing elbow-to-elbow with fellow Dutchman Dylan Groe- newegen of Jumbo-Visma as both men frantically tussled in a tight sprint to the line in Katowice. However, Jakobsen came off worst, somersaulting over the barriers before colliding with a photographer after Groenewegen had veered suddenly to the right, squeezing his rival into the security wall. “His condition is very serious. His life is directly threatened,” tour doctor Barbara Jerschina told Polsat Sport. “Unfortunately, it is a serious head and brain injury. He has lost a lot of blood. He is very strong. I hope he will survive.” Governing body, the UCI said they strongly condemned the “danger- Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre speaks to the media ahead of the ous behaviour” of Groenewegen. Deceuninck-Quick Step tweeted: Week 20 clash against Al Sailiya. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabio Jakobsen. When we have news, we will let you know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.” The incident comes a year to the day after the death of 22-year-old Belgian sprinter Bjorg Lambrecht, who died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the 2019 Tour of Poland. “It was an unfair ght and one of the riders suffered tremendously, two more suffered as well,” Tour organiser Czeslaw Lang told TVP Sport. (AFP) Fulham reach Premier League promised land EYES ON THE BALL: Al Rayyan players during training on Wednesday evening. AFP He wrapped up the victory LONDON for Fulham with three min- to bounce back and start win- utes of extra-time left when he Standings ning matches, especially after FULHAM beat Brentford 2-1 grabbed his second of the night. POS CLUB M W L D GF GA GD PTS a back-to-back draw against Al in the Championship play-off The left-back swapped pass- 1 Al Duhail 19 14 1 4 36 15 21 46 Wakrah and Al Shahania since final at Wembley on Tuesday es with Aleksandar Mitrovic and 2 Al Rayyan 19 12 1 6 36 15 21 42 the restart. to earn an instant return to stroked past Raya from inside 3 Al Sadd 19 12 5 2 48 28 20 38 Trabelsi’s side finished a the Premier League thanks to the area to give Fulham boss 4 Al Gharafa 19 9 6 4 30 26 4 31 shock third last season. They two goals in extra-time from Scott Parker the biggest win of AYENI OLUSEGUN matches left. have so far found it hard this defender Joe Bryan. his short managerial career. 5 Al Arabi 19 6 6 7 27 25 2 25 DOHA Al Rayyan coach Diego time around with fewer goals In a game considered the Promotion was confirmed Aguirre, who has seen his team 6 Al Sailiya 19 7 8 4 21 24 -3 25 and a leaking defence. most valuable single match for Fulham, but only after AL Rayyan’s disappointing crash out of the AFC Champi- 7 Al Wakrah 19 5 8 6 25 28 -3 21 “The match with Al Rayyan in world football, Bryan was Henrik Dalsgaard had pulled draw against Al Arabi last week- ons League, knows winning the 8 Al Ahli 19 5 10 4 23 33 -10 19 will be different from Al Sha- the unlikely hero after the two one back for Brentford in the end shifted the title balance to league or the Amir Cup trophy 9 Qatar SC 19 4 9 6 18 25 -7 18 haniya because Al Rayyan are London sides were locked at 124th minute. Al Duhail, and the Red Knights is the requirement for him to 10 Umm Salal 19 3 9 7 17 35 -18 16 competing for the title they need 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. He headed home af- took full advantage as they beat keep his job next season. 11 Al Khor 19 3 10 6 21 30 -9 15 to win to stay alive, but for us, Henrik Dalsgaard scored a ter Christian Norgaard had Al Gharafa 2-0 to extend their “Every game is challenging 12 Al Shahania 19 2 9 8 22 40 -18 14 the three points are essential, late consolation for Brentford knocked a free-kick across the lead at the top to four points. and everybody knows Al Sailiya which makes us expect an in- but it was too little too late face of goal. Al Rayyan know well that a will be a tough opponent but we in unceremonious fashion, Agu- lieve that it’s possible. tense and exciting match. for Thomas Frank’s side, who The Craven Cottage club win over Al Sailiya on Thursday are ready to play a good game. irre believes the team needs to “The difference between “We have prepared well but have not played in the English will earn around £135 million at the Al Janoub Stadium will This is what I feel and this is move past Tabata and focus on Duhail and us is four points, unfortunately, our continuing top-flight for 73 years. ($176 million) for bouncing keep their title fight going for what we must do so we can con- the remaining matches at hand. and there is still nine points problem is not taking the op- Left-back Bryan broke the back from relegation last sea- another weekend no matter the tinue fighting for the title,” the “No need talking about left to play. In football, any- portunities in front of the goal. deadlock for Fulham in the son and this result also gives result between leaders Al Du- Uruguayan said ahead of the Tabata,” Aguire said, adding, thing is possible but we have We will try to overcome this 105th minute when he caught rookie boss Parker a first suc- hail and reigning champions Al crunch clash. “For us as a team, we are in a to win our games and maybe problem,” Trabelsi said. Brentford goalkeeper David cess of his fledgling manage- Sadd on Saturday. Al Rayan’s top goal-scorer situation where we can win the it will be enough or not, we’ll Also, on Thursday, seventh- Raya off-guard with a free- rial career. However, if Al Rayyan, so far is Yacine Brahimi with 12 league and we will give our best see,” he added. placed Al Wakrah will hope to kick from 35 yards out. “We’ve done what we’ve who last won the Falcon Shield goals, the closest teammate to for that. We need to win each Meanwhile, Al Sailiya coach end their five-game winless run While Raya and everyone done tonight, but there’s still in 2016, fail to win against the Algerian is Abdulaziz Hatem game until the last, and in foot- Sami Trabelsi who is also the when they take on fifth-placed else expected a cross, Bryan improvement, and that’s what Sailiya, Al Duhail can seal their with six goals. With Rodrigo ball, you never know. We are longest-serving coach in the Al Arabi at the Jassim Bin curled the ball into the near makes me so proud and hap- seventh league title with two Tabata now signed with Al Sadd second now, but we need to be- QSL, said the Peregrines need Hamad Stadium. post to break the deadlock. py,” Parker told Sky Sports. Clay king Nadal still preparing to play French Open AFP tournament will go ahead. women’s draws looks inevitable. other players in different situations MADRID “I trust it will yes, it is in my mind Serena Williams, Novak Djoko- and they need to play because they and I am preparing for it,” said the vic and Andy Murray are all still due have financial problems and need to RAFAEL Nadal on Wednesday said 34-year-old in a briefing with interna- to play. earn money after a few months with- he still intends to play at the French tional media on Wednesday. “The tournament is still big, it’s a out income.” Open next month and remains hope- “But we have to wait for events, to Grand Slam,” Nadal said. “I am not ar- Nadal also said lessons need to be ful it will go ahead, despite with- see how everything evolves because it rogant enough to say the tournament learned after the “mistake” of the ill- drawing from the US Open due to is true that in recent weeks the situa- is not big because I am not playing. fated Adria Tour in June, which was coronavirus concerns. tion seems to have worsened a little. There will be important players. organised by Djokovic and led to sev- Nadal also insisted the US Open But my hope and my intention would “Of course it’s a tournament under eral players, including the Serb, test- will not carry an asterisk without its be to be there if conditions allow.” special circumstances but still a Grand ing positive for coronavirus.