FOOTBALL | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 5 Ulloa nudges Kohli’s maiden leaders T20 ton in vain Leicester as Lions win by closer to title 6 wickets Monday, April 25, 2016 MOTOGP Rajab 18, 1437 AH Masterful Rossi GULF TIMES gets start to fi nish win in Spain GP SPORT Page 8 FOOTBALL / QATAR CUP Lekhwiya outclass QSL champions Al Rayyan ‘After losing QSL title we were determined to make amends and today’s win gives us confidence going into the final’ By Sports Reporter Doha l Rayyan’s dream of a domes- tic treble this season came unstuck in spectacular fash- ion at the Sheikh Jassim bin AHamad Stadium when they crashed to a 3-1 defeat against Lekhwiya in the fi rst semi-fi nal of the Qatar Cup yesterday. Jorge Fossati’s side had swatted away all comers to dethrone Lekhwiya in the Qatar Stars League with much to spare, but ever since that they seem to have completely lost the plot, lurching from one defeat to another. So much so that they failed to win any of their fi ve remaining matches in the QSL, and yesterday their jinx continued in the four-team Qatar Cup when their defi ciencies were thoroughly exposed by Djamel Belmadi’s Lekhwiya. Lekhwiya were clinical after the break and were 3-0 up before Rayyan got a late consolation from Nathan. In truth, the opening 45 minutes were tight and tetchy as both teams looked for a foothold in the tie. Lekhwi- ya looked the better side in the open- ing exchanges, controlling the ball and making the most of the few chances they carved open. The best of which fell to midfi elder Karim Boudiaf after a fi ne cutback from wingback Khalid Muftah, but the Le- Lekhwiya’s Mohamed Muntari (left) celebrates his goal with teammate Youssef Msakni during the Qatar Cup match against khwiya captain’s shot ballooned over Al Rayyan yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil & Shemeer Rasheed Lekhwiya’s Nam Tae Hee (right) celebrates his goal. the bar. The fi rst half ended evenly poised at 0-0. marked his eleventh goal of the season, In the second half, Belmadi’s side and ensured Lekhwiya’s place in the came out on the front foot and duly Qatar Cup fi nal on April 29 against ei- took the lead on the 49th minute. A ther Al Sadd or El Jaish. long ball from Boudiaf was met by a Nathan gave the Al Rayyan faith- well-timed run of Yousef Msakni. The ful something to cheer about after he Tunisian international then nodded headed the ball into the goal from a the ball past onrushing Al Rayyan goal- corner. However, it was too little too keeper Omar Barry. late for Al Rayyan, who were simply Al Rayyan immediately went looking outclassed by their opponents on the for an equalizer and captain Rodrigo night. Tabata drew a sharp save from Lekhi- Coach Belmadi was pleased with the wya stopper Ivanildo Santos. performance of his players. Al Rayyan where masterfully spooked Rayyan coach Lekhwiya coach “It was one of the best performances by Lekhwiya on the break in the 56th Jorge Fossati Djamel Belmadi by the team in recent months. After minute, eff ectively ending the contest. losing our Qatar Stars League title we Speedy 22-year-old Mohamed Mun- He then side-stepped Al Rayyan goalie Al Rayyan looked shell-shocked dominance on the evening with a third The diminutive midfi elder scythed were very determined to make amends tari made a run into the opponent’s Bari before a composed fi nish from the and tried to create chances but where goal of the highest quality, thanks to his way past three Al Rayyan defend- and today’s win gives us confi dence box and received an incisive diagonal Qatari international gave Lekhwiya a denied by a resilient Lekhwiya back- South Korean international Nam Tae ers and fi nally sidestepped the keeper going into the fi nal and thereafter the ground pass from his captain Boudiaf. 2-0 lead. line. The Red Knights underlined their Hee. to send the ball into the goal. The strike Emir Cup,” he added. PREVIEW Jaish to face off against Sadd in today’s semi- fi nal By Sports Reporter hope to end the season with trophy as Doha they go into the match against the Sol- diers. Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira has fter the two teams played out said that the game is a fi nal for his team. a draw in the last game of the “We are getting into a big situation in Qatar Stars League (QSL), El which you don’t have another chance. Jaish and Al Sadd go head-to- We have to win. This is very important Ahead in the Qatar Cup semi-fi nal at the for us as players and coaches as we take Al Sadd Stadium today. this as a fi nal and we don’t have other El Jaish ended the QSL season as chances to make up for it,” Ferreira said. runners-up with 48 points. The Sol- “Qatar Cup is very important in this diers will hope to win this time around country and winning two games will and book their spot in the Qatar Cup give you the championship. But in Emir fi nal for a third time. Cup we have three games, as we quali- El Jaish head coach Sabri Lamouchi fi ed for quarter-fi nals. For us, as Al stressed that this match was a lot dif- Sadd, we always have pressure even in ferent than the league match. “It is a El Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi (centre) at a press conference on Saturday; (right) Al Sadd coach Jesual Ferreira (centre). PICTURES: Anas Khalid the QSL and I love tough games. It feels Cup game and it’s diff erent than the good when you beat a strong team,” last game of the league,” he said. “This good reaction to anything coming from “The numbers are not very important. advantage of Al Sadd’s defensive weak- weakness,” added the forty-four-year- added the Portuguese tactician. is our chance to end the season with a Al Sadd because if we don’t have this We drew our last game with them and nesses. “Yes there is a weakness in Al old tactician. “We want to get out of the season trophy. We are looking forward to win spirit we will not have enough to quali- they kicked us out of the Emir Cup last Sadd and we also have our weaknesses With that thrilling 2-2 draw in the with a title. This is a very important the match and get out of this season fy for the fi nal.” season. They are a very good club with and they will try to take advantage. The last QSL game, Sadd secured the third game and it will be very open because with at least one trophy.” Speaking about the statistics which a very good team.” fi rst step is to work hard, good team spot in the league and booked their both teams are very eager to win the ti- He added: “I wish the players have a favour Jaish over Sadd, Lamouchi said, Lamouchi hopes that they can take work and the second step is to fi nd their place in the Qatar Cup. The Wolves will tle,” said the 69-year-old. Gulf Times 2 Monday, April 25, 2016 FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE FOCUS Villa fl ops won’t Ulloa nudges leaders be protected from fan backlash Leicester closer to AFP I can’t be led down that road. London I can’t succumb to that and I won’t. It is diffi cult circum- stances for everybody and I don’t elegated Aston Villa’s want to be accusing the fans beleaguered players of anything because they keep face three more weeks turning up. title, Arsenal held of public humiliation “They are trying to voice their Rbefore their nightmare season opinions in certain ways about comes to an end. certain players. But we are pro- But Villa caretaker manager fessional people, the garden is Ranieri’s side are eight points clear of Spurs, who host West Bromwich today Eric Black has no plans to shield not always rosy and you have to any of his highly-paid but under- respond and that’s all we can do. achieving troops from their fate “I’m not here to tell the fans in the fi nal fi xtures. Angry Villa what to do. They have had the fans have targeted goalkeeper worst season in recent history for Brad Guzan, defender Joleon this club. They have seen poor Lescott and midfi elder Leandro performances and poor results Bacuna for particular ridicule, and they have every right to voice with the trio’s every touch booed their anger.” during Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Two goals from Dusan Tadic home to Southampton. helped Southampton to a victory But Black, who was also criti- that was more comfortable than cised by supporters for his sub- the scoreline suggested. He add- stitutions, insists the abuse di- ed to Shane Long’s opener while rected at players and himself will Sadio Mane made it 4-2 late on not infl uence his team selection after Ashley Westwood had twice for the remaining three games. pulled Villa within one goal. “When you’re bottom of the Southampton still harbour league with 16 points and you’re hopes of qualifying for the Eu- relegated, whether you’re in the ropa League and manager Ronald right frame of mind I don’t know, Koeman said: “What you like is, but I can only pick on what I see,” at the end of the season, to play Black said.