SPORT Monday 17 AprilApril 2017 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 29 PAGE | 31 Team Qatar embarks Messi keeps Ferrari's Sebastian on Thailand journey, Barcelona's VVettel pips Hamilton eyes ICC League crown hopes alive for Bahrain win Emir Cup: Mesaimeer to take on Al Arabi RizwanRizw Rehmat The draw ceremony of Emir Cup Football Tournament they can to prepare well for this ThThee Peninsula in progress at Shangri-La Hotel in Doha. Emir Cup popular football event," the QFA heads for exciting second round and the The final of President said. ootball minnows the tournament will be played on May 19, the last day "With just one month to go Mesaimeer have a of the ongoing football season. in this season, the public is now date with Doha turning their attention to the giants Al Arabi in Emir Cup," he said. the second round "The teams and their play- Fof the Emir Cup, the most ers will have to up the ante and popular football tourna- deliver strong performances to ment in the country. advance in this event. In another second-round "A couple of games of the clash,c Muaither - who have Emir Cup have already been beenbe relegated from the Qatar played and we know the remain- StarsSta League (QSL) - will take ing matches will also witness onon Al Khor. intense battles on the pitch," he Newly-promoted Al added. MarkhiyaMar have been drawn to "I am sure fans will get to see playplay Al Ahli while Al Wakrah's surprise results as all teams are matchmat against Al Shahaniya will looking to win the Emir Cup," he windwin up the second-round said. actionactio in the Emir Cup. The second round action InI the third phase of the commences on April 23 while tournament,tour Al Gharafa will play round three matches will be held thethe winner of Mesaimeer-Al on April 27 and 28, organisers ArabiArab clash while Al Sailiyah will 19, the last day of the ongoing Ansari, General Secretary, 45th edition of the tournament said yesterday. May 3, 4 and 5 tackletack the triumphant side from football season. Ahmed Al Buainain, Executive would be a memorable event. are reserved for round four the matchm between Muaither and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Committee Member, Hani Bal- The Emir Cup football final action while May 13 and 14 will AlAl Khor.K bin Ahmed Al Thani, President lan, Executive Committee will be played on May 19, the feature round five matches. UUmm Salal will take on the of the Qatar Football Associa- Member, Ibrahim Khalil Al QFA President said during his Al Arabi Stadium, Qatar SC winwinnern from the match involv- tion (QFA), attended the draw Mohannadi, Executive Commit- speech at Shangri-La Hotel. Stadium, Al Sadd Stadium, Al inging Al Wakrah and Al ceremony that was conducted tee Member, also attended the "The fans can expect fierce Ahli Stadium, Al Gharafa Sta- Shahaniya.Sh at Shangri La Hotel, Doha. ceremony. competition from the participat- dium and Lekhwiya Sports Club The final of the tourna- Saoud Al Mohannadi, Vice While talking to the press, ing teams as the club players and will host the Emir's Cup matches mentm will be played on May President, QFA, Mansoor Al QFA President predicted the the coaches are doing everything this year. United rock Chelsea to ignite title race, Liverpool on the rise London AFP anchester United blew the Premier League title Mrace wide open with a 2-0 win over lethargic leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool are back in third place after a 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion yesterday. Antonio Conte's Chelsea side were rocked by Marcus Rash- ford's early goal and a deflected Ander Herrera strike soon after half-time at Old Trafford deliv- ered a major blow to their title ambitions. The Blues barely managed an attack of note and a second defeat in their last four league Manchester United's Ander Herrera scores their second goal games leaves them clinging to a four-point lead over second against Chelsea during their English Premier League match placed Tottenham, who had played at Old Trafford yesterday. piled on the pressure with a 4-0 rout of Bournemouth on Chelsea's cause wasn't when they struck again in the Saturday. helped by the absence of goal- 49th minute. After appearing set to cruise keeper Thibaut Courtois, who Ashley Young's persistence to the title for most of the sea- was injured earlier in the week, opened space for Herrera and the son, Chelsea now face a and the pre-match withdrawal Spaniard's shot from the edge of nerve-jangling final six matches of left wing-back Marcos Alonso the penalty area deflected off as they try to hold off a strong due to a reported illness. Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma challenge from their London And the Blues looked less before looping over Begovic. rivals. solid than usual at the back as At the Hawthorns, Liverpool It was a sweet moment for United carved them open to take playmaker Roberto Firmino set- United manager Jose Mourinho, the lead in the seventh minute. tled a scrappy game with a who had suffered a 4-0 thrash- It was a goal rooted in con- close-range header in first half ing against Chelsea in October troversy from Chelsea's point of stoppage-time to condemn on his first return to the club view as United midfielder Her- Albion boss Tony Pulis to his first since being sacked last season. rera appeared to handle to win ever home league defeat against United were also knocked back possession. the Reds. out of the FA Cup quarter-finals Even so, Chelsea defender The Brazilian converted a by Chelsea last month and David Luiz was still exposed too flick-on from Lucas Leiva to seal avenging those painful losses easily by Herrera's precise pass, Liverpool's fifth win in their last kept alive their bid to qualify for with Rashford allowed to gallop seven games. the Champions League via a top clear before slotting a cool fin- Liverpool are unbeaten since four finish. ish under Asmir Begovic for his losing at Leicester in late Febru- Mourinho's men, unbeaten ninth goal of the season. ary and now lead City by two in their last 22 league games, are United, whose leading points, although Pep Guardiola's now fifth, four points behind scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic team have a game in hand in the fourth placed Manchester City started on the bench, were race for an automatic spot in the with a game in hand. rewarded for a vibrant display Champions League group stage. SPORT MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 27 Team Qatar embarks on Thailand journey, eyes ICC League crown Fawad Hussain team’s departure to Bangkok. Nitish Rana The Peninsula “ All the teams are tough but we are very optimistic about atar national team yes- winning the tournament after terday embarked on a undergoing strenuous prepara- Rana shines journey to Thailand, tions for the event,” said the seeking a rise in their seasoned cricketer who has as Mumbai Qstatus in international years of experience in playing at cricket with a title-triumph at the domestic levels in Pakistan, Eng- ICC World Cricket League Asia land, Scotland, Bangladesh and overcome Division 1 starting next week in the UAE. Chaing Mai. Haq said his team has all the Gujarat The team left for Bangkok ingredients of winning the after an extensive six-month tournament. preparation for the tournament “ Qatar is one of the best Mumbai dubbed as vital for the compet- competing teams in the tourna- IANS ing teams, as the winning side ment. We have a balanced side will directly get promotion to and most importantly all the xtending their winning Division 5. players are showing hunger to streak to four matches, Apart from Qatar and hosts win the title,” said Haq who has EMumbai Indians Thailand, Kuwait, China, Bhu- also represented Pakistan at the defeated Gujarat Lions by six tan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia junior level. wickets in an Indian Premier are taking part in the contest, The Qatari captain praised League (IPL) match in Mum- which will conclude on May 1. QCA President Yousef Jeham Al bai yesterday. The Qatar Cricket Associa- Kuwari for his support for the Nitish Rana (53), Rohit tion (QCA), knowing the national team and for promo- Sharma (40 not out) and importance of the event, devised tion of the game in Qatar . Kieron Pollard (39) were the training schedule for the team in “ We have the ability to rise major contributors to Mum- Qatar team's players and officials celebrate after their win over Saudi Arabia in the Twenty20 the last six months accordingly, in international cricket and this bai's cause. ranging from vigorous training is because of all out support from match at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium, in this last year's file photo. Chasing a challenging and matches against teams like the QCA. The president has been total of 177, Mumbai started Saudi Arabia and Kenya. In their very supportive and assisting us a series against them recently participating teams. In order to on all cylinders to win the title,” off on a bad note as the home final phase of preparation, the in every possible manner.” and hold psychological advan- ensure the title we are keen on said the 32-year-old. side lost opener Parthiv Patel team played 50-over matches Qatar will open their cam- tage against them.” winning every single match. Awais Mali, Khadeer (0) on the second ball of the against various local sides.