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GULF CUP | Page 2 CRICKET | Page 4 Xavi backs Root’s epic Qatar’s Afi f 226 sets up to build on England fi nal success day push Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Rabia II 6, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT Asian Cup champions Qatar reach Gulf Cup last-four Qatar’s Akram Afif (left) celebrates his goal with teammates Abdulkarim Hassan (second from left), Tarek Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez reacts during Abdulkarim Hassan goes around the Khalifa International Stadium with a Qatari flag to Salman and Hassan al-Haydos (right) against the UAE yesterday. PICTURES: Ram Chand, Noushad Thekkayil the match against UAE. celebrate the victory over the UAE in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup yesterday. REPORT Bahrain keep maiden title hopes alive with 4-2 win A win over Kuwait saw Bahrain seal their place in the last-four stage; Sousa’s side will play Group A toppers Iraq in semis By Sahan Bidappa Doha ahrain’s dream of land- ing their fi rst Arabian Gulf Cup title is alive af- ter their thrilling 4-2 win Bover Kuwait at the Khalifa Inter- national Stadium yesterday. Bahrain had gone into the contest in fourth place in Group B, with just one point from two matches. But they leapfrogged Oman and Kuwait with a stun- ning display in their fi nal group game. With defending champi- ons Oman losing to Saudi Arabia 1-3 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium around the same time, Bahrain players erupted in joy at the fi nal whistle. While Saudi qualifi ed as Group B toppers with six pints, Bahrain fi nished on four points, the same as Oman. But a better goal diff er- ence to Oman sealed their place in the semis. On Thursday, Bahrain will take on Group A winners Iraq, while hosts Qatar play Saudi in a mouth-watering second semi- fi nal. In a see-saw contest, Bahrain got on to the scoreboard fi rst when Ali Madan gave them the lead in the stoppage time of the fi rst half. Kuwait levelled after Bahrain’s Ali Madan (left) in action with Kuwait’s Amer al-Fadhel during the Arabian Gulf Cup match yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma Bahrain players celebrate their victory over Kuwait yesterday. Yousef Nasser converted a penal- ty in the 59th minute, before Jas- with Zanki replacing the forward foul. had put in in the last few months. sim al-Shaikh restored Bahrain’s in the 43rd minute. Four minutes later, al-Shaikh I have 23 players here and they are lead in the 69th minute. Al-Mutawa’s injury seemed to piled on Kuwait’s misery after ready to give it their all. Most of Thiago Augusto made it 3-1 have an eff ect on his teammates he scored from outside the box. them played a key role in our tri- for Bahrain in the 83rd minute. as they conceded two minutes With Bahrain needing another umph at the West Asian Champi- Ahmed Zanki, however, kept after his substitution. With al- goal to get past Oman on goal onship,” he said. Kuwait’s chances alive by the re- Fadhel bringing down Madan, diff erence, they continued to at- “We have a very impressive ducing the defi cit with an 85th the referee pointed to the spot tack. And it was Augusto, who team and what they are showing minute strike. With Kuwait run- which the latter converted duly came in as substitute in the 77th in this tournament is proof that ning out of time for an equaliser, to give Bahrain the lead. minute, who found the net after we are one of the best teams in Augusto sealed the deal for Bah- Kuwait started the second half receiving a cross from Sayed Dhi- Asia,” Sousa added. rain with a stoppage time goal. in earnest and equalised after ya. Zanki kept Kuwait in the game Kuwait coach Thamer Enad Both the teams went all out in they were awarded a penalty for a with a goal in the 89th minute, was disappointed after his side’s attack in search for the opening foul on Zanki. Nasser stepped in but Augusto’s goal in the dying defeat and lamented the loss of goal, but lacked the accuracy in to convert the penalty. seconds ensured Bahrain’s place key players due to injuries. “We the fi nal third. Kuwait were dealt In the 65th minute, Kuwait in the semis. were not in a top condition today. a double blow in the fi rst half af- thought they had taken the lead Bahrain’s Portuguese coach Three back-to-back matches in ter midfi elder Talal al-Fadhel had after Nasser slammed it past Helio Sousa said his side de- short time had an eff ect on our to make way for Fahad al-Ansari goalkeeper Sayed Jaff er. But upon served to go through to the semis. players. We had to make changes in the 34th minute, while captain a VAR review the goal was over- “We played a very good game, due to injuries and we suff ered on Bader al-Mutawa too got injured ruled as Nasser had committed a which showed the hard work we the pitch due to that,” he said. Bahrain’s Thiago Augusto (centre) scored a brace yesterday. Gulf Times Tuesday, December 3, 2019 2 COMMENT SPOTLIGHT Xavi backs Qatar’s Afi f to build on success Vodafone Reuters strong start to life in the profes- number of standout perform- Hong Kong sional ranks. ers from Qatar and is the second “I have to say congratulations player in succession — following to Akram Afi f. (The award is) on from Al Sadd club mate Ab- gives fans fi rst orld Cup win- well deserved because his per- dulkarim Hassan — to be named ner Xavi Hern- formance was amazing in both the continent’s leading player by andez expects big sides,” said Xavi, referring to the the confederation. things from newly national team lifting the Asian That growing production line Wcrowned Asian Player of the Cup and Al Sadd’s run in the has Xavi believing the 2022 FIFA in-stadium Year Akram Afi f after the Qa- Champions League. World Cup hosts will be more tari striker was named the con- “It was a big regret we than capable of making an im- tinent’s leading player by the couldn’t reach the fi nal, but he pact at the fi nals on home soil in Asian Football Confederation was making a diff erence in the three years’ time. digital yesterday. national team and for the club, “I think they are working re- Former Barcelona midfi eld- so I think it’s well deserved.” ally well,” the Spaniard said. er Xavi, a four-times UEFA Afi f has long been touted as “They have a very good team, Champions League winner as one of the most promising tal- also a very good coach and they well as a 2010 world champion ents in the region and has had are very well organised on the experience with Spain, works daily with spells in Belgium with Eupen pitch. 23-year-old Afi f after making and in Spain with Sporting Gijon “They have a very, very good the long-awaited start to his before joining Al Sadd last year. generation of young players, coaching career in the summer “With this kind of talent, he not only Akram — he’s one of with Qatar’s Al Sadd club. has many ambitions,” Xavi said. the best — but also Almoez Ali, And Xavi, who led Al Sadd “He’s still young and I think he Boualem Khouki. Japan’s Saki Kumagai (left), winner of AFC Women’s Player of the Year, to the semi-fi nals of this year’s can do many things in his ca- “I think they’re working really and Al Sadd manager Xavi, who received the AFC Men’s player of the Asian Champions League, be- reer.” well and can compete in 2022 for Year award on behalf of Qatar’s Akram Afif, pose with the trophies lieves Afi f can build on his Afi f is one of a growing sure.” during the annual awards ceremony in Hong Kong yesterday. (AFP) FOCUS Saudi pick up 3-1 win to reach semis Herve Renard’s side play hosts Qatar in the semi-final on Thursday By Sports Reporter platform www.fans.vf.qa, open Doha to everyone in Qatar, off ers inter- By Sports Reporter active games that allows players Doha to predict match results and an- odafone Qatar, the Of- swer a series of quizzes and trivia fi cial Telecommunica- on a daily basis. audi Arabia defeated tions Sponsor of the defending champions 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, Our Fan Zone Oman 3-1 to enter the Vcontinues to introduce innova- demonstrates that we semi-fi nals of the 24th tive fan experiences with its lat- have our sights set SArabian Gulf Cup yesterday. est ‘Fan of the Match’ in-stadi- fi rmly on delivering With the win at the Abdullah um competition. ‘ outstanding digital Bin Khalifa Stadium, Saudi Ara- ‘Fan of the Match’ — a fi rst for experiences for Qatar’s bia fi nished with six points from Qatar sports events — gives all major sporting events. Most three matches and qualifi ed for fans the opportunity to take part importantly, Vodafone the last-four stage along with in the digital quiz that runs dur- Qatar will continue being Bahrain from Group B. ing the half-time of each match a partner in the country’s Oman fi nished with a tally of in a test of their knowledge on vision for delivering four points from a win, a loss Arabian Gulf Cup history.

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