Sport WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2021 NoNo demons in Karachi pitch, says Elgar I hadhad a feeling the wicket would be slow and low as the ball ggotot ssofter and the day went on, but I didn’t think it would be a 14-wicket14- day. There were a few very soft dismissals iinn bbotho innings. If you apply yourself there are no real demdemons in the wicket. Dean Elgar Sport |09 QVA SENIOR MEN'S LEAGUE: Al Sadd beat Al Gharafa 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-14); Al Rayyan beat Al Shamal 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-19) World Championship: We will fight until the last second, says Benali Qatar ready for ‘tough’ Sweden clash THE PENINSULA – DOHA TODAY'S FIXTURES Qatar vs Sweden 31st Place Game Asian champions Qatar have Cape Verde vs Republic of vowed to put up a strong fight Korea (5:00pm) against European giants Quarter-final to Sweden when the two sides 27th Place Game clash in the quarter-final of the kick off at 10:30pm D.R. Congo vs Chile (5:00pm) 27th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Cairo today. 25th Place Game Al Annabi reached the last-8 Tunisia vs Austria (5:00pm) stage of the global event after finishing second in the Group 29th Place Game II, topped by defending cham- Angola vs Morocco (7:30pm) pions Denmark. Today’s quarter-final that Quarter-finals will start at 10:30pm (Qatar Denmark vs Egypt (7:30pm) time) is expected to be another Sweden vs Qatar (10:30pm) thriller for Qatar, who Spain vs Norway (10:30pm) defeated Argentina 26-24 in France vs Hungary (10:30pm) their last group match to book last-8 spot. Qatar’s pivot Youssef Benali the quarterfinals for the first yesterday termed Sweden game time in the tournament’s history tough but promised all-out since the 1999 edition that also effort from his side. took place in Egypt. “Sweden are a big team and African champions Egypt they are one of the teams who and Asian champions Qatar could win the World Champi- have marched on in the World onship title, so we will face a Championship after booking tough opponent,” Benali said their places in the quarter- yesterday. Marzo – the leading scorer in some players like him who will because it’s too far. We need to obviously Frankis is one of finals alongside six European “We will fight until the final the tournament so far with 53 just score some goals no matter take things game by game and them. We build a defence where teams, Denmark, Norway, second of the game against goals – will be team’s main what,” Sweden’s talismanic not think too much about the we feel secure, I’m pretty sure Spain, France, Sweden and Sweden to snatch a place in the hope in the quarter-final but scorer Hampus Wanne told future,” said Wanne. we can make it difficult for Hungary. tournament’s semi-finals,” the Sweden will come up with a Egypt 2021’s website Meanwhile, Sweden’s them,” he said. The quarter-final games Qatari star said. special plan to avoid damage yesterday. keeper Andreas Palicka praised Two non-European teams witness a tough competition “The tournament is difficult from the goal-scoring machine. He said one of the pre-event Marzo’s performance. to show up in last-8 for the first between top flight teams after especially in presence of a big “We need to be aggressive favourites Sweden were not “Frankis is a great player time since 1999 title holders of World Champi- number of teams for the first like we have been most of the looking beyond the last-8 stage who’s doing really well in this After finishing the main onship, Denmark and the tour- time alongside lack of prepa- games. We need to get into as all their focus is on today’s tournament, we are preparing round games of the 27th IHF nament’s runners up in the last ration due to coronavirus pan- positions where Frankis Marzo clash. for Qatar though as we do for Men’s Handball World Cham- two editions Norway alongside demic,” he added. doesn’t get too comfortable but “We need to focus on Qatar, each opponent. There are a few pionship - Egypt 2021, two non- European Champions Spain all Qatar’s Franklin we have to accept that there are we can’t talk about a final now things we are preparing for and European teams have reached reached to the hot spot. Al Sadd storm into quarters with magnificent 7-0 win CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA Defending champions Al Sadd stormed into the quarter-finals of the Amir Cup with a crushing 7-0 win over Muaither SC yesterday. Al Sadd took a 2-0 lead at half time before stepping up to add five more after the break. Al Sadd’s seven-star goal fest was powered by Hashim Ali (10, 30), Mohammed Al Bayati (61), ROUND OF 16 Boualem Khoukhi (64), Akram Afif Yesterday’s Results (82), Yusuf Abdurisag (78, 90+2), Al Rayyan 1-0 Al Markhiya Asian Player of the Year in Al Sadd 7-0 Muaither 2019, Afif played a major role in Al Al Gharafa 2-2 (5-4p) Sadd’s win, assisting in three of those goals in addition to his 82nd- Al Shahania minute stunner. Today's fixtures Playing on their home ground Al Sailiya vs Al Khor Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, the at Grand Hamad Stadium 17-time champions never looked 4:30pm under threat and went on to dom- Al Arabi vs Umm Salal inate the proceedings since the at Qatar SC Stadium kick-off and enjoyed a comfortable PICTURE: HUSSEIN SAYED 7:15pm 74 percent ball possession. Al Sadd's players celebrate their 7-0 win over Muaither in the Amir Cup pre-quarter-final match yesterday. Coach Xavi Hernandez decided to start without some of Al Sadd’s reflect Al Sadd’s dominance or Abdurisag kicked the ball into the from Yohan Boli. The Ivorian Al Rayyan's Yohan biggest stars including 2018 AFC what was yet to come in the net while goalkeeper struggled to struck in the 46th minute to take Boli celebrates after player of the Year Abdelkarim pre-quarter-final. reach the same as Al Sadd made it Al Rayyan into the scoring his goal. Hassan, former Qatar captain After the break, Al Sadd revved 5-0. quarter-finals. Rodrigo Tabata and South Korean up their attack and played with Afif, after assisting in three of In the last-eight stage, Al star Woo-Young Jung in the last-16 aggression. the previous goals, added one Rayyan will meet Al Kharaitiyat clash yesterday. In the 63rd minute, Uira more to Al Sadd’s account with fol- who qualified at the expense of Al That didn’t lead to a decline in Marques brought down Al Sadd’s lowing a dramatic finish. Under-23 Wakrah, with a 2-1 win on Monday. Al Sadd’s performance as they Abdurisag and the resulting player Ahmed Suhail Al Hama- Al Rayyan have previously won went on to dominate right from the penalty kick was successfully con- wende was given the opportunity the Amir Cup titles on six occa- starting whistle. verted by Boualem Khoukhi to to take a free kick in the 86th sions, in 1999, 2004, 2006, 2010, Al Sadd drew first blood when make it 3-0 in favour of the hosts. minute, but the ball hit the 2011 and 2013. Spanish star Santi Cazorla’s long Just two minutes later, crossbar. Elsewhere, Al Gharafa secured pass was received by Afif who Mohammed Al Bayati, assisted by Afif headed the ball on the a berth in the quarters after quickly flicked the ball over the Hashim, made it 4-0 as Muaither rebound, but the Muather goal- defeating Al Shahania 5-4 in a head of Muaither goalkeeper players were left stunned. keeper succeeded in deflecting the thrilling penalty shoot-out. The Abdulrahman Mubarak Al. The ball Hashim, after making a notable same. Afif made no mistake in the scores read two-all at final whistle, landed at Hashim’s feet. With no contribution, was replaced by second rebound as he beat the Moayed Hassan (23) and challenger in sight, Hashim Tabata in the 71st minute. Muaither keeper to score his first Jonathan Kodjia (40) gave a 2-0 directed the ball into the net for his The former national star did goal of the match. lead for Al Gharafa before Brirahim side’s opening strike. not take long to make his presence Just when Muaither though the Gueye (83, 90) struck late to take The same player combination felt. goal fest was over, Abdurisag, once the game into the shoot-out. was involved in Al Sadd’s second Abdurisag found Tabata with again assisted by Afif, added one Al Gharafa will now face Al goal. Afif passed the ball to a short pass just outside the penalty more during the injury time to Sadd for a place in the charging Hashim who shot at the area and positioned himself close make it 7-0. semi-finals. goal from just outside of the to the Muaither goalkeeper while Earlier, at the same venue, Al The quarter-finals of Qatar’s penalty area. Tabata created a chance with a Rayyan’s victory against Al most popular tournament will be Half time lead of 2-0 did not clever pass behind his back.