CRICKET | Page 5 NBA | Page 7 Another Spurs get 32nd To Advertise here Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Rohit ton but straight at home another loss by defeating for India Cavaliers Saturday, January 16, 2016 FOOTBALL Rabia II 6, 1437 AH Another big win GULF TIMES expected of Zidane’s rejuvenated Madrid SPORT Page 4 AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP, DOHA Hosts Qatar edge closer to quarters with win over Iran ‘It was a tough game from the beginning. Iran is a great team but I think we played a good game and deserved three points’ By Sports Reporter Doha atar edged closer to a place in the quarter-fi nals with a 2-1 win over Iran at the Al Sadd Stadium yesterday. Goals on Qeither side of the break saw the hosts claim a morale-boosting victory in what was a keenly contested encounter which even saw Iran miss a penalty. The match began in a frenetic note, similar to Qatar’s opening encoun- ter against China. And mirroring that match, this one too saw Iran being the dominant side during the initial stages of the match. It took the home side about a quarter of an hour to settle down and fi nd their rhythm. Iran were dominating possession but were unable to fi nd the bite in the fi nal third. Qatar were soaking up the pres- sure and looking to attack on the coun- ter and that is how the fi rst goal of the match was scored. Akram Afi f launched a long ball from the deep which Ahmed Ala latched onto and scored with a great left-foot- ed fi nish in the 35th minute. Ala was rewarded with a start in this match Qatar’s Ahmed Alaa celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal against Iran yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma & Agencies after his goal as a substitute against China. And he didn’t disappoint coach lot of the match in the Qatar half, that where they attempted three shots but the three points. Now is the time to en- Felix Sanchez on this decision. Afi f and didn’t translate into any real threaten- still couldn’t score. Two minutes later joy it because we have our fi nal [group Ala had combined for that goal in the ing chances. Qatar, on the other hand, they reduced the defi cit through Ali stage] game in three days.” China match too. The pass from Afi f were looking dangerous whenever Karimi but the two minutes of added Meanwhile Iran coach said that he was something that Al Sadd’s Xavi, they went on the off ensive. In the 56th time weren’t enough for them to fi nd was proud of his players despite the who was watching from the stands, minute, Abdelkariim Hassam scored an equaliser. defeat. “We dominated the game but would be proud of. the second goal for Qatar off a corner. Iran had 12 attempts on goal but only at the end they’re not going to give any Both teams had a chance apiece as It was clever goal which saw the Qatar three were on target while Qatar had points to the better players, but to the the fi rst half drew to a close but for skipper lose his marker and then tap it just four but all were on target. team that scores the most goals,” said Qatar’s Ali Asad had his shot saved by in to double his team’s advantage. The clash against Iran was supposed Iran coach Mohamed Khakpour. Iran keeper Mohammadreza Akhbari Qatar scored this goal just when Iran to be Qatar’s toughest in Group A and “My captain, I’m really proud of him while Iran’s Arsalan Motahhari fi red were looking dangerous and it put the they have emerged with fl ying colours and the other players because they his header over the bar. home side back on top again. In the and will be feeling confi dent going into did their best, they were putting 100 Iran started the second half with 67th minute, Iran fi nally seemed to get their fi nal group match against Syria percent into the game and missing even more determination than they a break when Qatar defender Ahmed which will be held on Monday. Qatar the penalty is just part of the game. It had done in the fi rst. Motahhari was Yasser conceded a penalty. But skipper now have six points from their two happens and many great players in the again the threat but Qatar keeper Mu- Cheshmi saw Qatar keeper Naim guess matches but with two other teams at world have missed penalties. hannad Naim was able to save his shot the direction correctly and produce a three points – Syria and Iran, the hosts “To reach six points after two games “It was a tough game from the be- “But I’m so proud of them because from the near post. great save. will have to beat Syria to ensure that is the best situation, but we’re still not ginning. Iran is a great team, one of the they played a great game tonight. They The visitors were again dominating Iran had a few more attempts, a goal- they top the group and get an easier qualifi ed for the second round,” said best in the competition, but I think we sacrifi ced for each other and that’s possession and while they did play a mouth scramble in the 88th minute opponent in the quarters. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez. played a good game and we deserved good enough for me.” DELIGHT Kharbin brace inspires Syria to a comeback win mar Kharbin celebrated his life and Mahmoud al-Mawas and Khar- 22nd birthday in style with bin both had chances to level the scores. goals either side of half-time Muayad al-Khouli then struck the as Syria kept alive their AFC underside of the crossbar as Syria’s re- OU23 Championship quarter-fi nals surgence continued. hopes with a 3-1 comeback win over And on the stroke of half-time Syria 10-man China at Abdullah Bin Khalifa drew level as Kharbin converted from the Stadium yesterday. penalty spot after China goalkeeper Du Liao Lisheng had given China the had been sent-off for upending al-Baher. lead with a fi rst half free-kick just as he Kharbin then completed the turna- had done in the 3-1 defeat by Qatar. round nine minutes into the second But after Kharbin converted from the half with a dipping strike from the edge penalty spot on the stroke of half-time of the area that clipped the underside of after China goalkeeper Du Jia had been the crossbar on its way across the line. sent-off , the striker completed the And with seven minutes remaining, comeback at the start of the second half al-Baher was on hand to follow up from before Mahmood al-Baher sealed the close range to seal the win. win as Syria bounced back from their “For the fi rst half I think we played opening 2-0 defeat by Iran. very good, but when the opponent “I am very happy today because we tried to attack we did not know what to have to win today and we won,” said do, but we tried to defend, said China Syria coach Muhanad al-Fakeer. Syria’s Omar Kharbin (third left) scored a brace to help his team defeat China. coach Fu Bo. “I think we played a good match. We RIGHT: Both teams had large number of fans cheering. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed “But after our player got the red card tried to press on China, but in the fi rst we did not give up, but we struggled 20 minutes we bring the last match match easier for us. minutes as Liao lifted a free-kick from and it stretched our defence. with us to the fi eld and I see my play- “But we have to now forget this 30 yards up and over the wall and into “Although the scoreline is the same ers fearing they would lose. But after 20 match again and look to the future.” the back of the net in a virtual carbon for the two matches, it is totally diff er- minutes we used the sides very well and China started brightly as Zhang Yun- copy of his goal against Qatar at the ent. In today’s match we lost our goal- we were lucky because the China goal- ing and Liao created early opportunities. same venue earlier in the week. keeper and after he was sent-off it put a keeper had a red card and it make the And China were rewarded after 21 The goal, through, spurred Syria into lot of strain on the defence.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, January 16, 2016 AFC U23 C’SHIP, DOHA PREVIEW POSITIVE THINKING Aussie Edwards remains upbeat Upbeat North despite opening loss Korea face Saudi Arabia today ‘We had a lot of supporters and I feel sorry for them because they shouted a lot. So in the next game we have to do more so we can repay them for their support...’ Australian midfielder Ryan Edwards in action during the match against United Arab Emirates. Aussies lost the match 1-0 ustralia midfi elder Ryan “There’s still two more Edwards has called on games to go. We just need to his side to maintain their focus on our recovery and belief despite a 1-0 loss make sure it’s not all over… Ato United Arab Emirates in their stay positive and try to pick opening Group D match at the ourselves up AFC U23 Championship in Qatar.