GGOLFOLF | Page 5 TTENNISENNIS | Page 6 Johnson Australian ‘excited’ for Open set to start season aft er under Covid Saudi title cloud Monday, February 8, 2021 FOOTBALL Jumada II 26, 1442 AH Ahly boss Mosimane GULF TIMES praises Qatar’s organisation of Club WC SPORT Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Monday, February 8, 2021 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FOCUS Ahly manager Mosimane praises Qatar’s organisation of Club World Cup l Ahly SC manager Pitso has implemented strict health faced any issues during the past “The airport, transportation, Mosimane applauded and safety protocols in order to fi ve weeks. We are trying our best hotels, stadiums and training Qatar’s commitment to host the tournament safely dur- to look after our health – and pitches are all fantastic – and safely hosting the FIFA ing the Covid-19 pandemic. the health of our opponents. We these are the most important AClub World Cup during a press Al Ahly will face Bayern Mu- comply with these rules to ensure components when it comes to conference yesterday. nich in the semi-fi nals of the the safety of everyone and in or- hosting a successful World Cup. Mosimane and his players have tournament today after a 1-0 der to continue playing football.” From a technical point of view, spent fi ve weeks in a medical victory over Al Duhail SC – the Mosimane went on to praise everything is compliant here. I’d bubble in order to participate in host country representatives – at Qatar’s readiness to host the FIFA give it a green tick.” the tournament, which got un- Education City Stadium. World Cup in under two years’ Al Ahly face Bayern at Ahmad derway on Thursday night. Qatar Mosimane said: “We haven’t time. Bin Ali Stadium today at 9pm. REPORT Gignac penalty sends Mexico’s Tigres into fi nal Tigres UANL beat Palmeiras 1-0 to become the first Concacaf side to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup By Sahan Bidappa Doha igres created history by becoming the fi rst Con- cacaf team to reach the fi nal of the FIFA Club TWorld Cup after Andre-Pierre Gignac’s second-half penalty se- cured the Mexican side a 1-0 win over Palmeiras yesterday. Palmeiras went into the con- test at the Education City Sta- dium as favourites, but the South American champions were clear- ly outsmarted by Tigres in an en- tertaining match. In the fi nal to be played on Thursday, Ricardo Ferretti’s side will take on the winner of today’s second semi- Tigres’ coach Ricardo Ferretti. (AFP) fi nal between Bayern Munich and Al Ahly. ton once again kept his team in seconds later the South Ameri- Palmeiras, who had won the the game after saving a Gignac cans thought they had equalised Copa Libertadores title just a header. when Rony had the ball in the net week ago, were on the backfoot Palmeiras lost control of the but the goal was ruled off -side. right from the start as Tigres midfi eld in the last fi ve minutes Palmeiras had struck extreme- went close in the third minute. of fi rst half with Ze Rafael in par- ly late in the Copa Libertadores Luis Rodriguez whipped in a ticular having a poor match, but fi nal against Santos to earn their cross from the right and Carlos the Brazilians managed to go into place at the global showpiece, Gonzalez struck a point-blank the break without conceding. and pressed for an equaliser header but Palmeiras’ goalkeeper Tigres continued to press Pal- as the clock ticked down. And Weverton dived to his right to meiras in the second half and they nearly had one in the 76th make a spectacular save. were awarded a penalty eight minute. After a cross from Wil- On the eve of the match, the minutes after the restart. Luan lian from the right was fl icked by South Americans had spoken Garcia brought down a charg- Luiz Adriano, the ball defl ected about the threat of Tigres’ striker ing Gonzalez in the box with the off a Tigres defender which Gignac and the Frenchman justi- Paraguayan striker goal-bound. missed the target by less than a fi ed the hype around him. Gignac Gignac stepped in to take a penal- meter. had scored two goals on Thurs- ty and hit a powerful shot into the Palmeiras had one fi nal chance day in Tigres’ 2-1 win over Asian Tigres UANL’s Andre Pierre Gignac (right) celebrates with teammates Javier Aquino (centre) and Carlos Gonzalez after scoring a goal against bottom-left corner even though it in the last minute of stoppage champions Ulsan Hyundai in Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final at Education City Stadium yesterday. (Reuters) brushed Weverton’s gloves. time. Matias Vina tried a low their tournament opener. Palmeiras made a double sub- shot but the defl ected ball went The 35-year-old has been a games since joining on a free ward was once again a livewire In the space of four minutes, minute, Palmeiras goalkeeper stitution in the second half bring- past the post resulting in a corner huge success at the Liga-MX transfer in 2015. Yesterday, the and looked dangerous every time Gignac drew two terrifi c saves tipped Gignac’s curling, goal- ing in Felipe Melo and Patrick de as the Tigres held on to celebrate outfi t, scoring 144 goals in 244 former Marseille and French for- Tigres went on attack. from Weverton. In the 32nd bound right-foot shot. Wever- Paula in the 56th minute. A few a famous victory. PREVIEW BAYERN MUNICH VS AL AHLY, 9PM Favourites Bayern go up against spirited Ahly By Sahan Bidappa Doha ith a record-equal- ling sixth title in their sight, Bayern Munich are no short Wof motivation as they face Afri- can giants Al Ahly in the semi- fi nals of the FIFA Club World Cup at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium to- day. In the last seven years of the competition featuring continen- tal club champions, a European club has gone on to win the title and it more or less looks the same this time, barring a shock. For, Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick (right) and his Al Ahly counterpart the European champions Bay- Pitso Mosimane exchange pleasantries after the press conference ern are arguably the best football yesterday. team in the world right now, with a mix of exciting youngsters and win the tournament’s title. We nated against Duhail in the fi rst experienced stars. are favourites to win the game,” half, but their performance was Since Hansi Flick took charge he said. below-par in the second half. of the Bavarians in November “We know that Ahly is a tough Mosimane said Al Ahly de- 2019 replacing Niko Kovac, they opponent, they are the Bayern served to play against Bayern, but have elevated to a diff erent level Munich of Egypt, but the UEFA was against any excessive hype to the rest. Under Flick, Bayern Champions League winners are towards the anticipated match. have won fi ve titles – Bundesliga, the teams most likely to claim the “Sure, it’s an important and his- DFB Pokal and DFB-DFL Super Bayern Munich stars Robert Lewandowski (left) and Joshua Kimmich train in Doha yesterday. (Bayern Munich) title,” he added. torical game, but I don’t think it Cup, Champions League and Ahly, who defeated hosts Al will be the most important game UEFA Super Cup – this season, The only setback Bayern have Qatari capital via Munich. three days, so we’re just taking it very brilliant coach, I just met Duhail 1-0 on Thursday, are on a in Ahly’s history,” the South Afri- and will be looking to emulate had prior to their match against The Germans had only one day one step at a time in training,” he him for a short while, and he is 32-match unbeaten streak in all can said yesterday. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, who Al Ahly is a nine-hour fl ight delay of training yesterday, but Flick said yesterday. working to develop his team, so competitions. But the Egyptians “Ahly deserve to reach the achieved a rare feat of winning to Doha. The club’s players had to believes his players are in good Despite the huge gulf in class I like his way of thinking,” Flick will know that they are up against World Cup semi-fi nal after beat- maximum six titles in 2009. spend the night in the plane af- shape to take on Al Ahly. “Our between the two sides, Flick said said. a mighty opponent. ing Al Duhail, and also because Bayern are on a fi ve-match ter Berlin airport refused to give aim is to win this competition. Ahly would be tricky opponents. Bayern’s defensive midfi elder The Red Devils have kept nine we are the African Champions. winning streak, with their lat- their plane clearance for takeoff We know that it’s considered as “Ahly is a big team and they want Joshua Kimmich admitted his clean sheets in 11 games, a record You should enjoy your work, and est victory in the Bundesliga at at midnight due to a night-time something of a burden, but we to put on a spirited display, as side were heavy favourites. “I which ensures that Bayern can- we play football for success and Hertha Berlin on Friday, giving fl ight ban. are motivated, and we want to they always change their tactics am happy that we are participat- not aff ord to be complacent amusement, and we are fully them a seven-point advantage at Finally when they left Berlin, cap off an outstanding year with a in the frontline, making use of ing in the FIFA Club World Cup against a well-drilled opposition.