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SPORT Thursday 7 December 2017 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 32-33 PAGE | 35 Real deal Ronaldo Follow-on decision NB NBA:A Westbrook bags set for fifth left Steve Smith aanothernot triple double Ballon d’Or sweating as Thunder win This handout picture released by the press office of the Emir of Kuwait Diwan yesterday shows Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah (right) presenting FIFA president Gianni Infantino with a Kuwaiti national team kit, bearing his name at Bayan palace in Kuwait City. Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho scores the first goal from a penalty during their UEFA Champions League match against Spartak Moscow FIFA ends at Anfield, Liverpool, Britain yesterday. Kuwait’s Coutinho nets hat-trick as suspension Kuwait City AFP Liverpool crush Spartak orld football governing body FIFA announced yesterday it was lifting Liverpool three more than Shakhtar and nine Wits suspension of Kuwait, after the Reuters UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ahead of third-placed Napoli who Ronaldo Gulf state’s parliament adopted a law meant Yesterday’s Results dropped into the Europa League after to end government interference in the sport. razilian Philippe Coutinho GROUP E a 2-1 defeat at bottom team “The suspension of the Kuwait football struck a hat-trick as Liv- Liverpool 7 - 0 Spartak Moscow Feyenoord. association is lifted,” FIFA’s President Gianni erpool crushed Spartak NK Maribor 1 -1 Sevilla A City side missing several reg- sets new Infantino announced alongside a Kuwaiti offi- Moscow 7-0 to move into GROUP F ular starters was on the back foot in cial in a short video shared widely on the knockout stages of the Feyenoord 2 -1 Napoli the first half as Bernard rifled a Twitter. BChampions League as Group E Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - 1 Manchester City superb shot into the top corner in the record Infantino was visiting Kuwait to announce winners. GROUP G 26th minute before Ismaily added the eagerly anticipated decision. Liverpool manager Juergen FC Porto 5 -2 Monaco the second in front of a full house in Reuters World sports bodies led by FIFA and the Klopp fielded an attacking line-up RB Leipzig 1- 2 Besiktas Kharkiv. Substitute Sergio Aguero International Olympic Committee suspended and it was too much for the Russians GROUP H netted a stoppage-time penalty for eal Madrid’s Cristiano Ron- Kuwait in October 2015 for the second time to handle with a fourth- minute Real Madrid 3 - 2 Borussia Dortmund City after Gabriel Jesus was tripped aldo set a record for scoring since 2010 over alleged government med- Coutinho penalty, a tap-in from the Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 0 Apoel Nicosia but coach Pep Guardiola had little to Rin every Champions League dling in sports. Brazilian and a close-range Roberto cheer about on his milestone 100th group game as his side won an The suspensions meant Kuwait missed Firmino effort making it 3-0 inside Champions League appearance as entertaining encounter 3-2 yes- out on the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup 18 minutes. group and a spot in the Europa manager. terday at home to Borussia and the 2019 Asian Cup, and before that the Sadio Mane’s blistering volley two League. Sevilla stuttered into the last 16 of Dortmund, who clinched a spot Rio 2016 Olympic Games. minutes after the break made it 4-0 Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk the Champions League after being in the Europa League. On Sunday, the Kuwaiti parliament passed and a deflected shot from Coutinho booked a Champions League knock- held to a 1-1 draw by Group E’s bot- Real were guaranteed a place a new law in line with FIFA’s requirements completed his hat-trick. out stage berth after first-half goals tom side Maribor. in the last 16 as Group H runners and on Tuesday, Kuwaiti clubs elected the Mane scooped in a low cross from by Brazilians Bernard and Ismaily ernando Llorente scored his first up behind Tottenham Hotspur, but head of a new football federation. Georginio Wijnaldum in the 76th gave the Ukrainian side a 2-1 win over goal for Tottenham Hotspur as they coach Zinedine Zidane still fielded Analysts say the crisis in Kuwaiti sports minute and the outstanding Mohamed Manchester City in Group F rounded off their impressive group a strong side for the game, only was the result of a power struggle within the Salah made it 7-0 as the Reds con- yesterday. stage campaign by strolling to a 3-0 resting Marcelo, Karim Benzema, ruling elite. demned Spartak to third place in the City finished top with 15 points, home win over APOEL Nicosia. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. ACL 2018: QSL leaders Al Duhail drawn in Group B Chinthana Wasala Rayyan will compete in Group D AFC National Team AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2018 DRAW The Peninsula along with last year’s runner-up, Competitions Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Iran’s Director Shin Man GROUP A: Al Jazira (UAE), Al Ahli (KSA), Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRI), Winner atar football giants and QNB Esteghlal and the winner of Al Ain Gil shows the draw Stars League leaders Al vs Bahrain’s Al Malkia match of Playoff 3 for Al Duhail SC GROUP B: QDuhail will begin their AFC which will be played on January Al Duhail SC (QAT), Al Wahda (UAE), PFC Lokomotiv (UZB), during the official Champions League (ACL) quest 30, 2018. Winner of Playoff 2 GROUP C: in Group B next year, details There could be a fourth Qatari draw in Kuala Persepolis FC (IRI), Al Sadd SC (QAT), Al Wasl (UAE), Winner showed yesterday. team at next year’s tournament Lumpur yesterday . of Playoff 4 GROUP D: At the draw ceremony held if Al Gharafa beat Uzbekistan’s Al Hilal SFC (KSA), Esteghlal FC (IRI), Al Rayyan SC (QAT), Win- at the AFC Headquarters in Kuala Pakhtakor in Doha on the same ner of Playoff 1 GROUP E: Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday, day. If Al Gharafa win, they will Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR), Kitchee SC (HKG), Winner of Play-off 4, Winner of Play-off 2 coach Djamel Belmadi’s team was be clubbed in Group A, which also GROUP F: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Melbourne drawn along with Al Wahda comprises the UAE’s Al Jazira, Al Victory (AUS), Winner of Playoff 3 (UAE), Lokomotiv Tashkent Ahli Saudi FC and Iran’s Tractor- GROUP G: Guangzhou Evergrande FC (CHN), Japan 2nd Club, Jeju United (Uzbekistan). The winners of the sazi Tabriz. FC (KOR), Buriram United (THA) West Region play-off between Al Duhail’s first team man- GROUP H: Sydney FC (AUS), Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN), Kashima Ant- Zob Ahan Esfahan FC (Iran) and ager Ismael Ahmed Hashim and lers (JPN), Winner of Playoff 1 Aizawl FC (India) will also be able the media coordinator Mohamed to enter group B. Bashir Al Sulaiti took part in the Meanwhile, the reigning draw ceremony yesterday. ready to make necessary arrange- Kashima Antlers and Australian Chinese Super League champions will be the winners of the previous Emir’s Cup champions, Al Sadd, “Al Duhail is ready for the task ments to make their stay in Doha A-League leaders Sydney FC. Guangzhou Evergrande will face edition, Urawa Red Diamonds of led by Barcelona legend Xavi Her- ahead and our experience will as pleasant as possible. Shenhua upset their rivals South Korea’s Jeju United, Thai- Japan who failed to qualify. nandez, will compete in Group C play a big role in the tournament,” Chinese FA Cup winners Shanghai SIPG in last month’s FA land’s Buriram United and the Group F includes Japan’s alongside Iran’s Persepolis, the Hashim said. Shanghai Shenhua will go on as Cup final, without the services winner of Japan’s Emperor’s Cup, Kawasaki Frontale, Ulsan UAE’s Al Wasl and Jordan’s Al Ismail continued by saying favourites in Group H, but are of Argentine forward Carlos following the draw held in the Hyundai FC of Korea, Melbourne Faisaly or Uzbekistan’s Nasaf. that they welcome all the clubs expected to face a tough test Tevez. Malaysian capital. Victory of Australia and the win- Coach Michael Laudrup’s Al and the fans to Doha and will be against top Japanese club Two-time winners and However, a notable absentee ner of Play-off 3. 30 SPORT THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2017 Real deal Ronaldo set for fifth Ballon d’Or Paris British bookmakers have Real have a staggering seven -- although he has netted eight Chelsea don’t AFP stopped taking bets on Ronaldo, players on the shortlist of 30 goals in five games in the Cham- who is a cramped 10-1 on with Karim Benzema, Marcelo, pions League -- and Real are ristiano Ronaldo (pictured) favourite to win, with Messi, tro- Isco, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos already eight points behind Mes- fear European looks set to match his phyless last season, at 6-1. and Toni Kroos all nominated si’s Barcelona. superpowers, Cgreat rival Lionel Messi Behind this pair the bookies alongside their talisman Messi in contrast tops the today by claiming a fifth Ballon round out their own top five with Ronaldo. Liga scoring charts with 13 goals d’Or as recognition for leading Paris Saint-Germain’s gifted The only other Barca player and also secured a brilliant hat- says Conte Real Madrid to a La Liga and Brazilian forward Neymar, the other than Messi, is the Uru- trick for Argentina against Champions League double last veteran Juventus goalkeeper guayan centre-forward Luis Ecuador to clinch a last-gasp London season.