MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021 12 Bahrain hold Euro giants in friendly Substitute Sayed Dhiya Saeed puts Bahrainis ahead from penalty spot, but Viktor Tsyhankov equalises for home side in stoppage time

Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim• Lutfallah in fine form, makes a number of impressive saves

Sayed Dhiya Saeed• misses golden opportunity to score second goal in final minute of regular time

TDT | Manama

ahrain held European gi- ants Ukraine to a 1-1 draw Blast night in an interna- tional friendly match played at Metalist Oblast Sports Complex in the Ukranian city of Kharkiv. Substitute Sayed Dhiya Saeed fired in from the penalty spot in the 74th minute to put the Bahrainis ahead, but it was not enough to get the win as the hosts were able to equalise in the opening minute of stoppage time through Viktor Tsyhankov. It was an impressive result for Bahrain’s Mohammed Al Rumaihi, right, dribbles past Ukraine captain Bahrain, who are ranked 99th Alaswad in a five-man midfield; ball home. Bahrain are in Group C of in the world, against their 24th- and Mohammed Al Rumaihi as Saeed had a chance to put the joint-qualifying, along with Iraq, ranked opponents. the lone striker. game away in the 89th minute Iran, Cambodia and Hong Kong. Ukraine dominated posses- Lutfallah was on top of his after receiving a brilliant pass They are set to go against Cam- sion throughout the match, and Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah looks to punch the ball away as other game, making a number of fine from Ali Madan, but he shot just bodia on June 3, Iran on June 7 players look to make a play had a huge advantage on shot saves and keeping the visitors in inches wide of the left post. and then Hong Kong on June 15, attempts, 26-6. But the Bahrainis World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Bahrain head coach Helio it for much of the match. Ukraine eventually made Bah- all in the Kingdom. held their own and were able to Cup 2023, while Ukraine are Sousa fielded a starting 11 that After a goalless first half, Bah- rain pay for that missed opportu- The Bahrainis are currently come away with the stalemate. prepping for their campaign in included Ebrahim Lutfallah be- rain were given a penalty in the nity. Pressing hard for a leveller, second in the group with nine The tune-up was part of Euro 2021. tween the posts; Ahmed Nabeel, 73rd minute when Humaidan Artem Dovbyk was able to send points. Iraq are the leaders with both teams’ preparations for The Bahrainis are now sched- Hamad Al Shamsan, Ahmed Ab- was taken down by goalkeeper in a cross from the left of the box 11, Iran third with six, while upcoming international play uled to fly back to Bahrain today. dulla and Sayed Redha Isa on the Anatoliy Trubin in the penalty directly to an unmarked Tsy- Hong Kong and Cambodia com- next month. The Bahrainis are They are set to play another exhi- back line; Mohammed Marhoon, area. Saeed stepped up to take hankov on the other side of goal, plete the Group C table with gearing up for their remaining bition game on Friday against Ma- Ali Haram, Jassim Al Shaikh, the spot kick the very next min- and he just needed to tap the ball five points and one point, re - joint-qualifiers for the FIFA laysia ahead of the joint-qualifiers. Mahdi Humaidan and Komail ute, and he was able to send the in from close range. spectively.

Bahrain national basketball team Verstappen makes most of Leclerc’s Monaco misery to take championship lead begin FIBA Asia Cup preparations AFP | Monte Carlo

Twenty-six player ax Verstappen capital- • Mised on Ferrari pole-sit- squad named for first ter Charles Leclerc’s cruel phase of training last-minute withdrawal to win Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix TDT | Manama and go top of the drivers’ world championship for the first time. Carlos Sainz for Ferrari took 26-player roster has been second with Lando Norris of Anamed for the first phase McLaren completing the po- of training for the senior men’s dium. national basketball team ahead Red Bull’s Verstappen dis- of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021. placed Lewis Hamilton at the This was announced yester- top of the 2021 standings after day by the Bahrain Basketball the Mercedes world champion Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates on his car after winning the race Association. finished in seventh. it was a cruel end to his dream The continental competition The Dutch driver pitched of winning his home grand prix. is scheduled to take place in Bahrain’s talented young forward Muzamil Ameer runs drills during training up in the Principality trailing “In the garage it was very August this year in Indonesia. along with his teammates Hamilton by 14 points, and It is so special to win difficult to feel ok, but I guess The Bahrainis, coached by 1987 Joining them from Manama waidrat and Nasser Almosawi leaves it four points ahead. here. Of course I’m now I’m getting used to this NBA champion Sam Vincent, are Mustafa Hussain, Ahmed from Riffa. “It’s so special to win. The feeling here unfortunately,” said have already qualified for the Salman Ramadhan, Moham- This year’s FIBA Asia Cup will first time for me on the podi- very proud. But I’m Leclerc. competition, and the nationals med Hussain, Hasan Nowrooz, mark the 30th edition of the um here. It was all about look- thinking ahead to the “I’ve never finished a race have begun their preparations Muzamil Ameer, Ahmad Najaf, continent’s leading basketball ing after the tyres. I was pretty rest of the season here - this year, I don’t start it. for the event locally. Mohammed Ameer and Yousef championship. It will feature much in control,” said Verstap- MAX VERSTAPPEN It’s a difficult one to take and I The training list includes Al Murbati; from Muharraq 16 national teams. pen after taking the chequered also feel for the team.” players from back-to-back are Mohammed Buallay, Bader Bahrain have appeared in flag waved by tennis superstar tine pitstop took a disastrous His last minute absence was league-and-cup champions Al Abdulla Jassim, Mohammed the Cup, originally known as Serena Williams. turn as a wheel refused to come all the more unexpected as a Ahli, Manama, Muharraq, Al Kuwayed, Mohammed Juma’a the Asian Basketball Cham - Hamilton had a low key off. couple of hours earlier Ferra- Hala, Al Najma, Nuwaidrat and and Ali Rabea; and from Al Hala pionship, eight times in the weekend, qualifying in seventh The Finn’s frustration will ri had announced repairs had Riffa. are Hussain Jan, Hussain Sal- past, including in 1977, 1979, and finishing in seventh. have been nothing to the heart- been carried out without a grid Star Ahli players Maytham man, Abdulrahman Ghali and 1987, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2011 and His teammate Valtteri Bottas ache Leclerc suffered just be- penalty after Leclerc’s accident Jameel, Ahmed Hassan Al De- Al Watheq Ali. 2013. was in contention to pounce on fore the start when he report- in qualifying 24 hours earlier. razi, Hesham Sarhan, Moham- The rest of the squad features The Bahrainis’ best finish was any mistake by Verstappen. ed a gearbox problem on his For the 23-year-old it was just med Qurban and Subah Hus- CJ Giles and Ali Jaber from Na- 10th in the 1999 competition But then his race came to an Ferrari. the latest misfortune at Mo - sain lead the team. jma, Hassan Abbas from Nu- hosted by Saudi Arabia. embarrassing end when a rou- For the locally-born Leclerc naco.

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