NNBABA | Page 5 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Warriors Federer hold off says he is Raptors to too old to win on road be favourite Monday, January 15, 2018 FOOTBALL Rabia II 28, 1439 AH Liverpool hand GULF TIMES Manchester City first defeat of the season SPORT Page 2 ASIAN U23 CHAMPIONSHIP Confi dent Qatar take on China in crunch clash today ‘I believe that in a long competition like this, confidence is important, because over the course of 90 minutes you can be the first or the last team’ course of their two games, even SPOTLIGHT during their defeat to Uzbekistan, that they have talented players and are very well organised. “We will approach the game as Striker Almoez if it was a fi nal.” Massimiliano Maddaloni, meanwhile, is adamant that Chi- upbeat as Qatar na will not be adversely aff ected by their defeat to Uzbekistan on Matchday Two, saying: “As far target three points as we are concerned, we need to refl ect on the result of the game against Uzbekistan in a positive manner. “We need to have confi - dence because we are growing up as a team. “We need to face our next opponents, who are Qatar, in a positive frame of mind.” Elsewhere, Uzbekistan head into their decisive fi xture against Oman at the Jiangyin Sports Center knowing that a win would also see them through to the competition’s knockout phase. Following their impressive win over China, a victory that reignited the Central Asian side’s hopes in the wake of an opening day defeat to Qatar, head coach Ravshan Khaydarov is grateful to at least be in with a chance of progressing to the last eight. “The next game against Oman is very important for us,” he ex- plained. “The win against China AFC With plenty still to play for, was very important because of Changzhou Almoez believes Qatar have what the situation we found ourselves it takes to get the job done and go in following the game against through, in spite of the passionate Qatar. ivewire Qatar striker home support that is sure to await “I think that every team in Almoez Ali has declared them. this group will now face a battle that his side are primed and “We are doing very well in this to qualify, as all four teams still ready to go ahead of today’s tournament so far and we already have a real chance to reach the Lcrucial AFC U23 Championship have six points,” said the Al Duhail Qatar coach Felix Sanchez and star forward Akram Afif, who will be a key player in today’s match against China. quarter-fi nals.” Group A encounter with China at forward who has a goal and an as- AFC securing a spot in the quarter- “To qualify for the next round our next game (in the quarter- With his team yet to gain a the Changzhou Olympic Sports sist to his name thus far. Changzhou fi nals thanks to solid 1-0 wins would be a good achievement, fi nals).” point following back-to-back Center. “We have a very important game over Uzbekistan and then China, but I think fi nishing fi rst gives Despite seeing China beaten by at the hands of China and Qatar, Needing only a point to guaran- against China coming up and we results that see them currently you confi dence because you will Uzbekistan in their second game Hamad al-Azani is looking for tee their progress to the quarter- are preparing ourselves well. The ead coach Felix occupying fi rst place ahead have fi nished top of a very tough of the competition, Sanchez is Oman to shine brightly in what fi nals, the Qataris will go into the team is ready for the match. Sanchez believes Qa- of the group’s fi nal round of group,” said the Spaniard. not about to take the East Asian could potentially be their fi nal game as group leaders and favour- “At the AFC U-19 Champi- tar can strike a sig- matches. “I believe that in a long com- powerhouse lightly ahead of the game at the tournament. ites to reach the knockout phase onship in Myanmar in 2014, we Hnifi cant psychologi- With today’s crunch clash petition like this, confi dence key encounter. “I was disappointed with the thanks to successive victories over played against Myanmar and there cal blow by fi nishing top of an against host nation China is important, because over the “We know that China are a last result (against Qatar), and Uzbekistan and Oman. were nearly 30,000 spectators intriguing Group A at the AFC looming large on the horizon, course of 90 minutes you can be very strong team and we will plan for sure we will try our very best By way of contrast, host nation there. U23 Championship 2018. Sanchez feels his side could gain the fi rst or the last team. well for the match, just as we did to qualify. China, following Friday’s defeat “I think the team will face the Qatar, who were fourth at the a signifi cant boost if things go “If we can now get a result for the other two teams in the “It would be a great pity to go to Uzbekistan, realistically need same sort of challenge against tournament’s 2016 edition, have their way at the Changzhou Ol- against China, it would give us group.” he explained. out of the competition without all three points to keep alive their China as the stadium will be full. put themselves on the verge of ympic Sports Center. even more confi dence going into “China have shown over the having won any points.” hopes of reaching the last eight. Nevertheless, we are ready.” DAKAR RALLY Peterhansel wins stage eight, al-Attiyah third Agencies behind the Peugeot duo and did enough won the eighth special stage between Tupiza, Bolivia to hold off Peterhansel in the battle Uyuni and Tupiza but his compatriot for second place in the general clas- Adrien van Beveren retained the motor- sifi cation. The Qatari was top of the cycle overall lead. eigning Dakar Rally champion timesheets at the fi rst two waypoints, Meo, riding a KTM, won for the sec- Stephane Peterhansel beat but ended up two minutes adrift – with ond time in the race taking the 498-kil- Peugeot teammate Cyril De- another seven still separating him and ometre stage in 5hr 24min 1sec. Rspres to top the eighth stage of Peterhansel in the overall standings. American Ricky Brabec was second the marathon’s 2018 edition. Al-Attiyah’s teammates Bernhard on a Honda 1min 8sec back and another Peterhansel was lower than usual in ten Brinke and Giniel de Villiers traded KTM rider, Australian Toby Price was the starting order, having lost his overall places in the general classifi cation, the third. lead on Saturday when he spent over an latter dropping down to fi fth after los- Van Beveren, who rides a Yamaha, hour and a half at a standstill with sus- ing over 20 minutes on the day. lost 8min 44sec but remains 22 seconds pension damage. Having inherited a sizeable lead on ahead of Argentine Kevin Benavides in Yesterday, he recovered a small chunk Saturday, Peugeot driver Carlos Sainz the overall standings. of the lost time, recording his second paced himself through the stage as he Organsiers have cancelled today’s stage win of this year’s Dakar in the opened the road, fi nishing seven min- scheduled ninth stage from Tupiza to 498km timed special between Bolivian utes down on his stage-topping team- Salta in Argentina due to poor weather. cities Uyuni and Tupiza. mate. “The stage is cancelled because Despres, 45 hours down in the general With today’s test called off due to in- there’s a lot of water in the bivouac to- classifi cation after opening-week tra- clement weather, the Spaniard will head day, and tomorrow we’re expecting vails, challenged Peterhansel through- into the closing fi ve-day stretch of the some storms as well. These are not the out the day but had to do with runner- marathon with a lead of one hour and best conditions to hold the stage,” the up, 49 seconds off the pace. seven minutes. rally’s sporting director Marc Coma told Toyota’s Nasser al-Attiyah was third Argentinian biker Diego Martin Duplessis in action in the Dakar rally yesterday. Meanwhile, Frenchman Antoine Meo AFP. Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 15, 2018 FOOTBALL BOTTOMLINE W Cup adds to pressure on players: Hassan By Sports Reporter like challenges, and I’m ready to fi ght U-23 team at the U-23 Asian Football Doha for my dreams.” Confederation (AFC) Championships KAS Eupen coach Claude Makelele in China. stressed that staying positive in the Speaking about the performance tar defender Abdelkarim Has- wake of challenges was key to a team’s of his Qatari players, Makelele add- san has admitted Qatari teams success. ed: “They’ve been doing really well. are under additional pressure Under his supervision, the team has There’s still more to be done to help to win competitions because enjoyed a recent run of positive results them grow as players and play their Sthe country is hosting the FIFA World but is battling hard to avoid relegation. part in the Qatar national football team. Cup in 2022. He praised 23-year-old Japanese strik- But I think their experience with KAS Hassan, who is on loan from Al Sadd er Yuta Toyokawa who transferred from Eupen will help them develop the right at Qatar-owned Belgian top fl ight team Leeds United to KAS Eupen on loan.