FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 4 Arteta confi dent Lowry shades Aubameyang James as will stay at Raptors power Arsenal past Lakers Monday, August 3, 2020 CRICKET Dhul-Hijjah 13, 1441 AH England’s Broad GULF TIMES ‘considered retiring’ aft er Test snub SPORT Page 7 QNB STARS LEAGUE Duhail take big stride towards title aft er win over Gharafa With three matches remaining, the Red Knights need to win two to clinch the title By Sports Reporter Doha l Duhail restored their four- point advantage over Al Rayy- an at the top after a 2-0 win over Al Gharafa in the QNB AStars League at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. The league leaders had dropped two points in their fi rst game since resump- tion of the league last week, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Umm Salal. But yesterday, Duhail were back in business as goals from Mohamed Muntari (fourth minute) and substitute Paulo Edmilson (80th minute) ensured they stayed on course for the title. With three matches remaining, the Red Knights need to win two to clinch the title. One of those matches is against defending champions Al Sadd. Rayyan’s draw against Al Arabi on Sat- urday could prove costly for the Lions. Al Gharafa, who had beaten Al Arabi 1-0 last week, could not repeat that performance and had to play second fi ddle to Al Duhail, who had more of the ball. The Cheetahs remained on 31 points, but retained their fourth posi- tion in standings. Defender Sultan al-Breik had a role in Al Duhail’s both goals as he provided the assists with measured crosses from the left. Muntari was on target as he Al Duhail’s Mohamed Muntari (left) celebrates after scoring against Al Gharafa in the QNB Stars League at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. sent home a rebound after Almoez Ali’s shot came off the rival defence, with Duhail’s Han Kwang-Song then Al Khor and Al Wakrah now have 15 and kick was well-saved by Al Wakrah Karim Boudiaf setting the stage with a headed the ball against the right post 21 points respectively. Al Khor were goalkeeper Saoud al-Khater, Ibrahim Substitute Lucas Borges chested-down cross from al-Breik. off a free-kick from Ali Afi f, both be- fi ghting to avoid relegation, while Al Amada sent his shot wide and Tiago scored the equaliser for Gharafa struck back through Jonath- ing substitutes. Gharafa made desper- Wakrah, playing in the top fl ight after a Bezerra headed a free-kick just over the Al Khor against Al Wakrah. an Kodjia, their hero in victory over Al ate attempts at the goal and Ahmed al- gap of two seasons, were looking to im- bar in stoppage time. Arabi, but he sent his shot wide. Du- Janehi was unlucky not to have scored prove their position in the league. Changing ends, Al Wakrah defender hail’s Asim Madibo and Almoez tested as his missile shot in stoppage time beat It was Al Wakrah’s second successive Lucas Mendes headed over in the 50th Gharafa custodian Qasim Burhan, while goalkeeper Mohammed Al Bakri, but draw, following their goalless result minute. Cristian Ceballos too had a Sofi ane Hanni and Ahmed Alaaeldin the ball hit the post before going out. against Al Sailiya in Week 18 when the good run among the Al Wakrah ranks. too joined Kodjia in the rival attack. Muad Hassan then skied the ball to add QNB Stars League resumed after a long Borges helped Al Khor draw parity with One such move saw Duhail defender to Al Gharafa’s woes. break last weekend. Al Khor had lost 1-2 a gem of a goal as he volleyed in the ball Mehdi Benatia beat Alaaeldin to the ball to reigning champions Al Sadd in the after being assisted by Helal and Ama- in a one-on-one situation. Duhail ef- BORGES’ STRIKE SECURES POINT previous round. Al Wakrah and Al Khor da, in that order, from the left. fected four substitutions in the second FOR AL KHOR AGAINST WAKRAH were locked in a goalless draw in their After Ahmed Hammoudan and Borg- half and the fi rst among them, Edmil- In the day’s earlier match, Al Khor and fi rst-leg match. es created danger in the rival goal in the son replacing Almoez, brought them Al Wakrah played out a 1-1 draw at the Benyettou took Al Wakrah ahead by 79th minute, Al Wakrah’s Omar Ali had result as the former, after a darting run Al Janoub Stadium yesterday. Mo- slamming in a bicycle kick after Ahmed his long-range shot brilliantly parried along the right, doubled their lead by hamed Benyettou put Al Wakrah ahead Sohail set the stage for it. Stung by the by goalkeeper Baba Djibril. Soon, Saoud volleying home al-Breik’s cross from in the 17th minute, while Lucca Borges defi cit, Al Khor created a few worth- just about managed to collect Borges’ the left. pulled Al Khor level in the 67th minute. while moves. Helal Mohamed’s free- free-kick and the stalemate continued. SPOTLIGHT I am happy to be back, says Al Sadd coach Xavi By Sports Reporter to achieve victories,” he said, lot, but that does not mean we will be Doha “Al Ahli want to avoid a bad result pushovers. Our aim to achieve a posi- because they are among the clubs in the tive result. After the Al Shahania match, danger zone, we also cannot lose points there was no choice but to work to cor- l Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez because our ambition is to fi nish the rect mistakes. We have a good group has recovered from corona- season in second place or achieve the of players and I have big confi dence virus infection and will be in league title, so we want victory against in them and their abilities in order to charge for his side’s QNB Stars Al Ahli. On paper, we are stronger, but achieve the required result. Last week, I ALeague match against Al Ahli at the Al we have to show this strength on the worked on correcting the mistakes that Janoub Stadium today. Xavi had tested fi eld as well, especially because we are we committed against Al Shahania. I positive for the Covid-19 and had to training well and I am completely satis- asked the players to continue working miss out on his side’s 2-1 win over Al fi ed with the level of players in training to provide the best in the next stage,” Khor 2-1 last week. and also in the last game,” added Xavi. added Nebojsa. Having recovered since then, Xavi Meanwhile, Al Ahli will look to put In another match today, Qatar SC said he was happy to be back with Sadd behind their disappointment of losing face Umm Salal at the Al Sadd Stadium. after completing his mandatory quar- to 1-3 to Al Shahania in Week 18. Al Ahli Qatar SC, who went down fi ghting 1-2 antine period. “I am happy to be back are in eighth position with 19 points. to Al Rayyan after taking the lead last guiding my team after completing my They were beaten 2-1 by Sadd in the week, are ninth with 17 points. Coached quarantine. I thank the players for their fi rst leg. by former Qatar international mid- good performance in the last match Al Ahli coach Nebojsa Jovovic said fi elder Wesam Rizik, Qatar SC are still against Al Khor despite the fact that we Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez is all smiles during a press conference yesterday. his team will try and not repeat the in danger zone and will eye full points. faced an organised side,” the Barcelona mistakes they did against bottom- Umm Salal are also facing relega- and Spain midfi eld great said. and not the stadium. I am satisfi ed with tential and are third in the table with 35 ed his team to win all the remaining placed Shahania. “I will not look for ex- tion threat, but are in good spirits after Xavi said it was not a pleasant expe- the team, the result was close to a draw, points, 11 behind leaders Duhail. The four matches. “We will face Al Ahli and cuses in the upcoming games. We know snatching a point from league leaders rience to watch his side in action from but we managed to win and it is very Wolves have uncharacteristically lost we have to win, there are four fi nals left our team’s problems during the match Al Duhail last week. the comforts of his hotel room, but was important at this stage, especially as we fi ve matches this season, which has for us. Certainly, winning the league ti- against Al Shahania,” he said The draw against Duhail had helped delighted with his side’s performance. play after the competition was stopped dented their title hopes. tle is very diffi cult now, but Al Sadd al- “Sadd are a strong team and have Umm Salal climb to 10th spot from 11th “Al Khor match was diffi cult for me for many months,” he said. Xavi conceded that retaining the title ways plays to win. The last four games distinguished players who represent with 15 points. The Orange Fortress had while I was watching it from the hotel Al Sadd have not played to their po- would be next to impossible, but want- are fi nals for us and we will do our best the national team.