SPORT Tuesday 29 January 2019 PAGE | 05 PAGE | 06 Kohli bows out Triumphant as India secure Djokovic motivated unbeatable to match Federer’s series lead Slam record AFC Asian Cup semi-final against UAE My squad is ambitious and Qatar confident of victory they want to keep going. It has not been easy to keep THE PENINSULA Al Annabi created ABU DHABI history by reaching the getting the results AFC Asian Cup semis we have done Unbeaten Qatar today take on for the first time after a hosts UAE in the Asian Cup game after game, semi-finals in front of what will phenomenal run of five but hopefully in be a hostile crowd at the consecutive wins. the semi-final we 42,000-capacity Mohamed Bin can perform well Zayed Stadium but head coach The Qatari team is in Felix Sanchez yesterday again and reach remained unfazed. great form, having not the final: Sanchez Sanchez vowed his team is conceded any goal till will enter the do-or-die clash now and has scored with confidence, adding that 12 in five matches. there was ‘no pressure in his camp’ that includes 2018 Asian Player of the Year Abdulkarim Qatar's Almoez Ali leads Hassan and high-scoring striker the scoring charts at Almoez Ali who has scored the Asian Cup with seven goals in the seven goals, including tournament. Al Annabi on Friday created a sensational haul of history by reaching the AFC four against North Asian Cup semi-finals for the Korea. That puts him just first time after a phenomenal one behind Ali Daei's run of five consecutive wins. record for most number Qatar, with their of goals in a single 2 27),'/ remarkable performance Sheikh Hamad bin tournament. throughout the tournament, Khalifa bin Ahmed Al have raised expectations back Thani, Qatar Football home and Sanchez feels high Association (QFA) stakes in the eagerly-awaited forward to the game, and their President, shakes hands battle against the arch-rivals results up until now show that with Ahmed Alaaeldin .!01! . will bring the best out of this group are mentally very during a practice session players. strong. My squad is ambitious which took place in Abu Watch the “I think that one of the key and they want to keep going. It Dhabi, yesterday. %') $ / reasons for us reaching this has not been easy to keep semi-final on stage of the competition is that getting the results we have the players have been aware of done game after game, but the pressure. In any compe- hopefully in the semi-final we “The key point for us is that .+ $ giant screen tition you have pressure as you can perform well again and everyone is ready and waiting need to get the right results,” reach the final.” to play and to help the team in % THE PENINSULA ! " Sanchez said on the eve of the Qatar will be missing the process. I am sure that the DOHA second semi-final. Abdelaziz Hatem and Bassam 11 that start will perform very !# !" $ &!' % “The team, I believe, has Al Rawi through suspension but well for us against a strong side !# % '!( $ All Qatar football fans will coped very well with the situ- will welcome back Abdelkarim that has shown great organi- have an opportunity to watch ation so far. Of course, all of us Hassan and Asim Madibo after sation and which has talented 1 .01%!%4 6 the national team take on know there is added pressure the duo served a one-match players who can make a dif- #$%& 5 ,- )!, . '!' #$% hosts UAE in Asian Cup 2019 because it is the semi-final, but ban during the quarter-final ference,” he added. ' $ 5 ./ +!, 5 & )!, ' $ semi-final today in a fanzone I think we are feeling confident win over Korea Republic. “The match against the UAE 5 .- )!, . '& '!' atmosphere at Katara rather than under pressure While wary of the threat the is more difficult than the ones 55 0 '!, /(1 (!) 2) esplanade. ahead of the match. UAE will pose, Sanchez said we have faced previously. As 55./ '!, !" + '!, Katara will be live “It is a very big game for us, that his players are fully pre- you progress in a tournament streaming the most anticipated and we are very pleased to be pared for what is sure to be every game becomes harder 2130%0%140 0%0%2 much of the tournament on a in the semi-finals of this very another stern test in front of a and harder. ') & - giant screen for the fans, they important tournament. Hope- full house at the Mohammed “We must try to play in the *+ ' *- announced on their social fully against the UAE, we are Bin Zayed Stadium. correct way in order to get the )( ( '+ media platforms. going to play to our strengths “As I have said previously right result. My players are ),)+ )& )(-( The match will kick-off at and try to do our very best to it is normal to be missing highly motivated and want to '- )+ 5pm Doha Time and fans can continue (even further) in the players at this stage of a com- achieve the win which would +& *+ &/ watch the match with other competition.” petition,” Sanchez said help go through to the final,” fans for free on the huge screen “The players are looking yesterday. he concluded. +3 + +3 ' set-up at the esplanade. Qatar’s winning form is good news for planners at QFA RIZWAN REHMAT beginning - I am optimistic about leadership and the team “The major positive has been “We did that when we beat THE PENINSULA the mindset of our players. I am backroom staff headed by that we have scored 12 goals in Saudi Arabia (in the first phase of optimistic about their per- Sanchez were turnings things just five matches. The youngsters the tournament). The stadium Qatar’s five consecutive wins at formance level. I am thrilled to around for the young Qatar side. have stepped up. The good thing then was full of Saudi fans. the AFC Asian Cup have been the see them fight and I have enjoyed “We have a great team of has been that we also saw the Beating them (2-0) was a big result of players delivering their battles so far. If you put all backroom staff. There are mental players who were on the achievement. We will be entering fighting performances against top that together, you get a strong conditioners with the side. These benches come up and deliver the stadium with the drive to win sides, QFA Secretary-General side,” he added. experts help the players on the straight away. That’s been huge. the match. The team will battle Mansoor Al Ansari said yesterday. “I was always optimistic that mental side of the preparation. That shows that even our players hard. Qatar, coached by Felix the technical level we’d exhibit The players have every support on the benches are in top mental “The Qatar team has shown Sanchez, today take on hosts UAE would be very high. Even when they need. The squad also has the and physical condition. It’s a great fighting spirit during this today on the back of wins over we were set to play South Korea, support of our leadership. QFA comforting thought,” Al Ansari tournament. We were able to South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, I was confident that we would win President Sheikh Hamad bin said. pass all challenges in this tour- North Korea and Lebanon. because - with all due respect to Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani has Al Ansari said playing UAE on nament. This is football. Anything “Technically, I believe we are the competing teams - we were been going to meet the squad their home soil could be used to can happen. I am certain every more advanced than the UAE side. much better on the technical side,” every single day from Oman,” Al Qatar’s advantage. fan will see a winning strategy in The previous five matches prove the QFA official said. Ansari said. “Many people would see that play in the match,” he added. that we have played at a very high “The Koreans and Australian “The QFA President is going we are playing away and that “(Coach) Felix Sanchez is level compared to our rivals,” Al sides of the past were technically there to show support. That alone could be a disadvantage but it is doing great. He has done fantastic Ansari said yesterday. much better. Same with Saudi is a big motivation for our a big advantage as well. You get work with the core group that is Qatar’s in-form players have and Japan. These are still great players,” he added. a competitive edge when that playing in the UAE. Hopefully our Mansoor Al Ansari, fired in 12 goals in five matches, teams but they are not at the level Al Ansari said Qatar firing in happens. The feeling in this Qatar good form continues and his Secretary-General, Qatar thanks largely to Almoez Ali’s they were in the past. Iran is a 12 goals in just five matches vs UAE clash will be that we have good work also carries on like it Football Association tally of seven. strong technical side,” he added. clearly made the difference for to give our best come what may,” has been the past few months,” “I have said this from the Al Ansari said the QFA the young side. Al Ansari said. he said. 06 SPORT TUESDAY 29 JANUARY 2019 Triumphant Djokovic motivated to match Federer’s Slam record AFP who both won six Australian Open men’s MELBOURNE singles titles.