Al Duhail Win Amir Cup ARMSTRONG VAS the PENINSULA the Red Knights Edge Al Rayyan to Complete Domestic Trophy Treble
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPORT Sunday 20 May 2018 PAGES | 26 PAGE | 27 Nadal ousts Buffon bids tearful Djokovic to reach farewell to Rome final Juventus Al Duhail players and officials celebrate after winning the 2018 Amir Cup final at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. Pictures: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Al Duhail win Amir Cup ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA The Red Knights edge Al Rayyan to complete domestic trophy treble DOHA: Qatar football giants Al Duhail We are very happy with the last night edged Al Rayyan 2-1 in a feisty contest to win the Amir Cup at the victory as it was a tough Khalifa International Stadium. final. Al Duhail have worked The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin very hard to complete the Hamad Al Thani gave away the winner’s trophy to Al Duhail skipper Karim treble and now we look Boudiaf and coach Djamel Belmadi at forward to clinch the AFC the presentation ceremony that took Champions League. We have place immediately after the pulsating taken the club to a whole battle under lights. QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin new level. Sorry Al Rayyan, Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and QFA but we are the best in Vice-President Saud Al Mohanadi were Qatar: Al Duhail's Brazillian also present. defender Lucas Mendes Watched by 45,764 spectators including the FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Al Duhail completed a trophy forward weaved past a host of defenders treble after Boudiaf (34) and Youssef El deep inside the rival defense, but his Arabi (81) produced the goals that mat- placement from close range missed the tered in the tense final at the iconic target. venue. In the second half, Al Rayyan began For Al Rayyan, their only goal was on a promising note when Tabata curled scored by veteran forward Sebastian Al Duhail enjoyed the upper hand Al Duhail’s first goal, however, did in a near-perfect free-kick but Al Duhail Soria who headed home from close right from the kick-off, weaving different 2-1 not come about from a deadball keeper Amin positioned himself well to range in the 69th minute. patterns of attacks on the pitch to create situation. palm the ball away. The hardworking It was the third trophy triumph for space in the heart of the Al Rayyan Karim Boudiaf 34' Boudiaf, who was fulcrum of the Al Tabata continued to trouble the Al Duhail Belmadi’s side that also won the QNB defense. Belmadi’s side used the long 69' Sebastian Soria Duhail attacks, latched on a loose ball defense as Al Rayyan produced the Stars League and the Qatar Cup in March balls to create confusion in the Al Rayyan Youssef El Arabi 81' which came via a clearance from the Al equaliser in the 69th minute. and April respectively. camp with Mendes creating a sense of Duhail player and after beating his The 37-year-ol Al Rayyan captain “We are very happy with the victory uncertainly with his aerial crosses. marker with a couple of quick body latched on a loose ball on the right flank as it was a tough final,” Lucas Mendes, Al Duhail had more accuracy in both Under-23 players to take the field for Al feints, he unleashed a powerful shot that to essay a gentle floater which eluded Al Duhail’s left-back, said after the the aerial sorties and ground passes with Duhail, saw his well measured cross beat Al Rayyan keeper Barry in the 34th the leaping Al Duhail keeper. An match. Al Rayyan missing on the accuracy being stopped by Al Rayyan keeper minute. unmarked Soria made no mistake to “Al Duhail have worked very hard factor. Barry. Al Rayyan midfielder Rodrigo Tabata, head home with a snap-header much to to complete the treble and now we look Besides enjoying more ball pos- Al Rayyan, after playing second who was well policed by the Al Duhail the roar of the Al Rayyan supporters. forward to clinch the AFC Champions session the first half, coach Belmadi’s fiddle for most part of the proceedings, defense for most part of the final, got Buoyed by a goal, Al Rayyan almost League. We have taken the club to a side forced six flag kicks in contrast to came with the occasional forays. In the himself in the thick of action soon doubled their lead with Soria-Tabata whole new level. Sorry Al Rayyan, but Al Rayyan’s two. 20th minute, Al Rayyan striker Soria afterward. combination missing the target from we are the best in Qatar,” he added. Al Duhail kicked off proceedings dic- tried to beat the rival keeper with a back Presented with a lot of space and a close range. Team Director Adnan Al Ali said: “It’s tating terms with Al Rayyan only able to heel placement but could not connect clear look at the goal, Tabata unfurled a Despite the attacks, Al Rayyan’s been a very good season for Al Duhail. produce the occasional threatening making a mess of the cross essayed by long ranger but Al Duhail’s lanky keeper equaliser lasted a mere five minutes. Al Rayyan fought well in the final and move. team-mate Mohsine Moulaouali. Amin tipped the ball over for the second Al Duhail had the last laugh in the we are very happy to finish the domestic In the first 10 minutes, Al Duhail Soria, 34, was again in the thick of flag kick in favour of Al Rayyan. 81st minute when El Arabi got himself season with the Amir Cup title. Now we came close twice to breaking open the action three minutes later, when he Al Duhail almost doubled the lead a in a perfect position to finish off a break will focus to win the Asian Champions rival team’s defense. On the first failed to beat the rival keeper from close minute from the first goal but Korean move, connecting a square pass from League.” occasion, Sultan Al Brake, one of the two range. striker Nam Tae-hee. The Korean Mohammed Moosa Ali. 24 SPORT SUNDAY 20 MAY 2018 SUNDAY 20 MAY 2018 SPORT 25 Freeze frames from the 2018 Amir Cup final The panorama view of Khalifa International Stadium during the Amir Cup final last night. Pictures: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata (left) vies for the ball with Al Duhail’s Karim Boudiaf. Al Duhail’s Murad Naji (left) vies for Al Duhail’s Karim Boudiaf (not in picture) scores their first goal against Al Rayyan in the Amir Cup final at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. the ball with an Al Rayyan player. Al Duhail’s Karim Boudiaf (left) celebrates with team-mates after Al Rayyan’s Sebastian Soria shoots at goal. Al Duhail’s Almoez Ali dribbles past Al Rayyan players. scoring their first goal against Al Rayyan. 26 SPORT SUNDAY 20 MAY 2018 AFP complaining about losing the match Nadal ousts because of the schedule. But having to end ROME: Rafael Nadal closed in on an eighth at night and coming back to play early in Rome Masters title as he dismissed old rival the day affects a lot,” he said. Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 yesterday “Nobody has ever, ever reached me in Djokovic to reach to reach the final for a record-extending my entire career to ask me about what I 10th time. think would be the best scheduling. I don’t The last-four success will give think that is fair, we will address it in the the Spanish top seed added confi- next players’ council.” Rome final dence ahead of the French Open, Djokovic has rediscovered his form this where he has won a record 10 week after months of elbow injury titles. problems, including an operation earlier Nadal, still unbeaten in this year. Nadal now semi-finals at the Foro Nadal now stands 10-8 over Djokovic stands 10-8 Italico, unleashed a in semi-finals, with the pair having played trademark clay-court each other at all four Grand Slam tourna- over Djokovic attack after winning a ments, the ATP Finals, Davis Cup, the Olympic in semi-finals, tight first set lasting well Games along with eight of the nine Masters with the pair over an hour. 1000 events. Nadal took 73 minutes to win having played “I need to be able to the opening set after leading 5-2. But to each other at all play my best tomorrow,” take the early lead, the top seed had to avoid Nadal said of a Sunday being reeled in by Djokovic. four Grand Slam final against either Djokovic, a four-time Rome winner and tournaments, the defending champion Alex- former world number one, battled back to ATP Finals, Davis ander Zverev or Croatian 5-5 with a break of the Spaniard before Cup, the Olympic Marin Cilic. the set went to a tie-break, which Nadal Games along “I’m very happy with my took on the first of two set points with a with eight of game. It all worked for me, the backhand winner down the line. tactics, the shots.” Nadal took a 2-1 lead in the second set the nine Masters The 31-year-old world number two with another break of Djokovic and never 1000 events. cut the deficit in his head-to-head series lost control. with Djokovic to 26-25, after their 51st The top seed kept his nose ahead until meeting since first facing off in 2006.