SPORTMonday 22 January 2018 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 28-29 Bloodied Sanchez transfer Djokovic Ronaldo ‘soon or never’, says meditates to ‘lose scores twice Mourinho fear and stress’ Qatar under-23 football players pose for a photograph following a training session in Changzhou, China yesterday. AFC U-23 ASIAN CUP Road to semis FIRST SEMI-FINAL QATAR VS VIETNAM Venue: Changzhou Olympic Sports Center Date: January 23 Kick-off: 11.00am SECOND SEMI-FINAL UZBEKISTAN VS SOUTH KOREA Venue: Kunshan Sports Center Date: January 23 Kick-off: 2.30pm QATAR Qatar and Japan emerge from the group stage with a perfect record. Felix Sanchez’s side started steadily with 1-0 wins over Uzbekistan and Oman, but fol- lowed those successes up with a crucial 2-1 victory over host nation China PR, three points which guaranteed them top spot in Group A. In their quarter-final tussle against Palestine, Almoez Ali gave Al Annabi a healthy 2-0 lead going into the break at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center. Hashim Ali’s second half strike helped Qatar survive a late Palestine revival, as they sealed a 3-2 win to keep alive their title hopes. Goals scored: 7 Goals conceded: 3 Top goalscorer: Almoez Ali (5 goals Qatar get set for a fighting and currently tournament leading scorer) VIETNAM Vietnam’s journey has been a remark- able one. Having qualified for the tournament as one of the best second- show in the AFC semi-final placed teams, they began their Group D campaign, despite taking the lead, with a 2-1 loss to South Korea. However, a nar- row 1-0 win over Australia revived their THE PENINSULA have done so well. I hope we tournament such as Australia,” are to win the title,” he added. quarter-final aspirations, and a draw play with the same team spirit Moein said. The tournament’s leading against Syria, coupled with Australia’s loss CHANGZHOU: Captain against Vietnam also and “We will enter the game goal scorer is understandably to the Koreans, proved to be enough to Ahmed Moein said he will be reach the final,” Moein said. knowing we have remain looking to add to his tally of send them through as group runners-up. relying on the fighting spirit Qatar, coached by Felix The understanding focused and play with concen- five goals. Bashar Resan’s miss from the penalty of his players when Qatar take Sanchez, have beaten tration. We have our “I hope I can continue to spot then earned Vietnam a place in the on Vietnam in the semi-finals Uzbekistan, Oman, China and and harmony among instructions from our coach,” keep scoring and get more semi-finals, as Park Hang-seo’s charges of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Palestine on their way to the the players along he said. goals, and that my team keeps defeated former champions Iraq 5-3 in a tomorrow. semi-finals. It is a kind of deja with the fighting Star striker Almoez Ali, on winning until the end of the penalty shootout after an extraordinary On Friday, Qatar edged vu for Al Anabi who sailed spirit has done us meanwhile, has urged his tournament. I hope we can 3-3 draw following extra-time. Palestine 3-2 to seal their last- through the competition at the huge favours. Qatar side to stay focussed in win the title,” he added. Goals scored: 5 four berth after posting three last edition of the U-23 event the game against Vietnam. Ali Salat, the team’s media Goals conceded: 5 wins in as many matches in before losing to South Korea I hope we play with “It is amazing that I was coordinator, said: “We are Top goalscorer: Nguyen Quang Hai the first stage of the 16-team in the semi-finals in 2016. the same team spirit able to score two (more ready. The Qatar players are (2 goals) tournament. Moein said the lessons against Vietnam also goals), and I want to say con- confident going into the semi- “It’s a new challenge for have been learnt after a feisty and reach the final: gratulations to my team final. The players are quick to UZBEKISTAN Uzbekistan had a difficult start to their us,” Moein said yesterday after contest in the quarter-finals. Skipper Moein because we played a very learn and are considered dis- a training session. “There are “We have acknowledged good game,” Ali said follow- tinguished individuals. We can Group A campaign after a 1-0 loss to Qatar many reasons for us to be in and corrected the mistakes we ing the win in which he qualify for the final.” on the tournament’s opening day. They this position and for me the had against the Palestinian “The clash against the scored two goals. Salat added: “The Qatar have subsequently gone from strength to fighting spirit at this champi- side. Those mistakes cost us a Vietnamese team will not be “Qualifying for the semi- squad, led by coach Felix strength, securing successive 1-0 wins over onship has done the job for lot. We have rectified our mis- easy. They played a great finals is very important for us, Sanchez, will put together the China and Oman to guarantee a last eight us,” he added. takes and we will be ready to game against Iraq (in the quar- and we are very happy to plan that will help us achieve appearance. “The understanding and Vietnam in a way that brings ter-finals). They are one of the reach this stage (of the tour- our goal. We all have a great Facing defending champions Japan in harmony among the players us the advantage and win that best organized teams in this nament). However, I will still ambition to reach the final.” the quarter-finals, Uzbekistan showcased along with the fighting spirit we are looking at,” the tournament. They have beaten tell my team that we must The tournament ends on a dominant display of football and raced has done us huge favours. We 21-year-old added. strong teams in the continue working hard if we January 27. to a comfortable three-goal lead within 39 minutes. Jasurbek Yakhshiboev duly sealed a comprehensive 4-0 win with his second goal of the game after the break. Al Duhail maintain winning streak in week 13 Goals scored: 6 Goals conceded: 1 THE PENINSULA their goal difference with third- QNB STARS LEAGUE STANDINGS Top goalscorer: Jasurbek Yakhshi- placed Al Rayyan to six. boev (2 goals) POSISION/CLUB MATCHES WINS LOSSES DRAWS GF GA GD POINTS DOHA: Al Gharafa’s new recruit Algerian midfielder Jugurtha 1: Al Duhail 13 11 0 2 47 16 31 35 Wesley Sneijder opened his goal Hamroun played as striker in the SOUTH KOREA account in Qatar as the action- company of Hassan Al Haydos 2: Al Sadd 13 10 2 1 36 15 21 31 South Korea came from a goal down filled 13th leg of the QNB Stars as The Wolves continued to miss 3: Al Rayyan 13 10 2 1 34 19 15 31 to narrowly beat Vietnam 2-1 in their Group League came to a close on the services of injured Algerian 4: Al Sailiya 13 6 5 2 26 24 2 20 D opener, but a goalless draw with Syria Saturday. ace Baghdad Bounedjah. Ham- 5: Umm Salal 13 5 4 4 22 21 1 19 on Matchday Two put their qualification There were three big-mar- two games. They have 35 points, roun did not fail Portuguese 6: Al Gharafa 13 4 4 5 22 20 2 17 hopes in doubt. However, a rousing 3-2 gin wins, one draw and two four ahead of Al Sadd and Al coach Jesualdo Ferreira and net- 7: Al Ahli 13 4 6 3 16 21 -5 15 win against Australia saw them go through narrow victories as Al Duhail Rayyan who possess 31 points ted two goals to take his tally this 8: Al Khor 13 3 8 2 14 26 -12 11 to the last eight as group winners. maintained their unbeaten each. season to six to be on par with 9: Qatar SC 13 3 8 2 13 30 -17 11 In their quarter-final showdown with streak. Al Duhail’s defensive mid- team-mates Al Haydous and 10: Al Arabi 13 2 7 4 16 26 -10 10 Malaysia, Cho Jae-wan’s wrote himself into Al Sadd smashed six past Al fielder Karim Boudiaf netted Bounedjah in a coincidence. 11: Al Kharaitiyat 13 2 8 3 17 33 -16 9 the history books when he found the back Sailiya without reply, while Al their all-important goal while Al Sailiya, nevertheless, 12: Al Markhiya 13 1 7 5 8 20 -12 8 of the net just 11.35 seconds into the game Rayyan and Al Gharafa both won the league’s top scorer Youssef stayed fourth on 20 points, one - the second fastest goal in any AFC 4-2 against Al Kharaitiyat and El Arabi, who has scored 19 goals ahead of Umm Salal, who could tournament. Umm Salal respectively. so far, failed to make it 20 this not add points to their account back-to-back victory and Qatar SC made a big leap, Cho’s historic effort, followed by Han Al Duhail and Qatar SC week. this week. remained sixth. from the very bottom to ninth in Seung-gyu’s 85th minute winner, helped defeated Al Arabi and Al Al Arabi’s loss saw them slip Al Gharafa’s victory was Al Ahli stayed seventh on 15 the table with 11 points.