FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

Four previous meetings in the AFC Asian Cup have produced one win for each team. won the first encounter, defeating Japan 3-0 in the Blue Samurai’s first appearance in 1988, before a 1-1 draw in Lebanon in 2000, a result which was repeated in Hanoi seven years later. ASIAN CUP 2019 FINAL Japan won the most recent meeting 3-2 in the quarter-final in 2011 in QATAR VS JAPAN (5 PM)

ASIAN CUP 2019 FINAL: Rising Al Annabi ready for the Blue Samurai test Qatar to keep up their quest for excellence as the Cup beckons

AFC Team stays HEAD coach Felix Sanchez be- focused lieves success in Friday’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final against Japan would represent as UAE an historic achievement for his talented Qatar side. cries foul The West Asians head into the eagerly anticipated show- DPA down at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed ABU DHABI Sports City Stadium looking to claim their first-ever AFC COACH Felix Sanchez is con- Asian Cup title, while their op- centrating on the most “im- ponents stand on the brink of Coach Sanchez’s belief portant game in Qatar football winning a record-extending history,” when his side meet fifth Continental crown. “The players are determined to get the victory we want Japan in Friday’s Asian Cup fi- Having seen them shine by putting in one more huge effort against Japan so that nal rather than worrying about brightly throughout the com- we can make the Qatari people happy once again a UAE appeal over the eligibil- petition, Sanchez believes his and make history. We know Japan have several strengths ity of his players. charges are now ready for and a few weaknesses, so we will need to be excellent “If we get the result that one final push as they look throughout the game in order to achieve the win we want.” gives us the trophy it will be to make history for the West the biggest thing in (our) foot- Asian nation. ball history,” the Spaniard told reporters on Thursday. STATS FACTS A potential distraction is the JAPAN FIFA world ranking: 50 appealing to the governing Ranking in Asia: 3 AFC that the Qataris have Previous Asian Cups: 8 used ineligible players during Best: Champs (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) the tournament, including in 2015: Quarter-finals Tuesday’s semi-final 4-0 win Nickname: Blue Samurai over the hosts. Coach: Top scorer at 2019 Asian Cup: (4) “I’m not concerned at ROAD TO THE FINAL all ... no worries about it,” Group F (First) Sanchez said. Japan 3-2 Turkmenistan; Japan 1-0 Oman “We’re here one more day, Japan 2-1 Uzbekistan tomorrow we’re playing one Round of 16 Japan 1-0 Saudi Arabia game and only focused on the Quarter-final game,” he added. Japan 1-0 Vietnam “Any other thing that’s not Semi-final related to the football point Japan 3-0 Iran of view is not related to our QATAR minds at this moment.” FIFA world ranking: 93 Ranking in Asia: 13 The UAE allege the Previous Asian Cups: 9 21-year-old Rawi and 22-year- Best performance: Quarter-finals (2000, old Ali have not met residency 2011) requirements to be eligible. 2015: Group stage whether the protest might Nickname: The Maroons act as motivation for his play- Coach: Felix Sanchez Bas Top scorer at 2019 Asian Cup: Almoez Ali (8) ers: “My players need no more ROAD TO THE FINAL motivation than to play an Group E (First) Asian Cup final.” Qatar 2-0 Lebanon; Qatar 6-0 North Korea FIFA requirements man- Qatar 2-0 Saudi Arabia date that a player switching Round of 16 Qatar 1-0 national teams must either Quarter-final qualify through their parents Qatar 1-0 South Korea or grandparents or have resid- Semi-final ed in a country for five years Qatar 4-0 United Arab Emirates . after their 18th birthday. Sanchez said beating four- “This is definitely the times champions Japan on most important game in Qa- Friday would be the biggest tar’s football history” said the achievement in the game for Spaniard. the host nation of the 2022 “We are now obviously at (From left) Japan captain & head coach Hajime Moriyasu, Qatar skipper Hasan Al Haydos & head coach Felix Sanchez with the Asian Cup 2019 trophy at the Zayed World Cup. the stage of the tournament Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on eve of the final on Thursday.(AFP) Win or lose, however, where the team is in a confi- Sanchez and Qatar will return dent mood and looking for- “The players are deter- sive record throughout the no surprise to Sanchez, who against the very best in Asia,” everyone in Asia, and it is not a to Doha to great acclaim and ward to starting the game. Ob- mined to get the victory we campaign – they have scored revealed that Qatar’s stellar declared the Barcelona native. surprise to me that we are here not just because of victories viously if we win the trophy, it want by putting in one more 16 times and are yet to concede performances have already “We have had six games as we already knew the quali- over their local political rivals. will be Qatar’s biggest achieve- huge effort against Japan so – sees them face the Japanese helped achieve one of their and six different stories, there ties of our players.” “It doesn’t matter what ment in terms of football. that we can make the Qatari as distinctly worthy finalists. pre-tournament objectives. has been pressure during the “The game against Japan is happens tomorrow, we’re very “Hopefully, we can have people happy once again and With wins against previous “When we arrived to play in group stage and then even now another story for us. Japan proud of them,” said Sanchez. one more good performance. make history.” champions in the form of Sau- the AFC Asian Cup, our target more pressure during the have great quality and have won The coach is still with- One of the key things for us is Qatar’s appearance in the di Arabia, Iraq and South Ko- was to test ourselves against knockout phase. We trust the the AFC Asian Cup many times. out injured defender Hamid that there is a great team spir- latter stages of the competition rea already racked up during everyone, to be able to com- team and believe in them. However, we are ready (for the Ismail but Abdelaziz Hatim it, everyone is working togeth- has surprised some observers, UAE 2019, his side’s presence pete against all the teams here, “We came here with the challenge) and will play in a way and al Rawi are back from er to achieve the same result. although Al Annabi’s impres- among Asia’s elite has come as and to be able to hold our own hope that we could challenge to negate the threats they have.” suspension. Captain Haydos urges teammates to remain cool and calm

AFC enter the decider in rare form, The Qatari captain is a play- ABU DHABI a status further underlined er of rich experience, racking by their stunning 4-0 defeat up over 100 senior caps despite QATAR captain Hasan al Hay- of hosts the UAE in the semi- What will make the being just 28 years old, and dos has urged his teammates final on Tuesday. difference is the physical tasting AFC Champions League to remain composed and pa- Their sudden success has and mental readiness glory with Al Sadd back in 2011. tient as they chase a first ever to led enthusiastic celebra- of the two teams. “There are no words to AFC Asian Cup title in the final tions back home, but their on- describe what playing in the against Japan on Friday. field leader says his side must Hassan al Haydos final means to me. It is defi- Under head coach Fe- remain composed if they are to nitely very important to us as lix Sanchez, Al Annabi have take the final step to becoming make no difference as we are a team,” he declared. stormed into the decider with Asian champions. playing in the final and this is “Also, I have played nearly six successive wins, and a sev- “What will make the differ- the most important thing for us. 130 games for the country (in- enth at Zayed Sports City Stadi- ence is the physical and mental “I think the most impor- cluding youth football) and it um will write an unprecedented readiness of the two teams,” tant thing in the game is to is the most important match chapter of success into the foot- said Haydos, who will join You- remain calm, everyone will be I will have played in. Hope- ball history of a nation that had nis Mahmoud, excited, but remaining calm fully, we can get the result we never previously progressed and Mile Jedinak as recent AFC is crucial. Everyone must be want and win the title. We can beyond the quarter-finals. Asian Cup-winning captains if patient and put into practice promise our fans that we will With 16 goals scored, and successful on Friday. what the coach tells us. deliver our best performance none conceded, in the tourna- “Japan may have had one “We must be highly fo- and make them happy as we Qatar captain Hassan al Haydos (right) with coach Felix Sanchez Bas at the Asian Cup 2019 pre-match ment so far, Al Haydos’ side more day to rest, but this will cused and patient.” did in previous games.” conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Thursday. (EPA-EFE) 12 Friday, February 1, 2019 Sports Al Annabi aim to rise to the challenge

VINAY NAYUDU DOHA

HAVING mesmerised the world for almost a fortnight since they played their first match against Lebanon at the Asian Cup 2019, World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar are now a few hours away from the most important game in their national football his- tory when they take on Japan in the final in Abu Dhabi on Friday at 5pm. Having cruised into the final of Asia’s biggest compe- tition unbeaten and without having conceded a single goal, their biggest test would be in overcoming the Blue Samurai, who are four-time champions and eyeing a fifth. Maturity seems to have stemmed from hard-earned success for the young Qatari players. And the sublime striker Almoez Ali with re- cord-equalling most goals to his name in the tournament, struck just the right note say- ing, “We will need patience in the final, and if we are pa- The Qatar team ahead of a training session at the Armed Forces Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Thursday evening. (REUTERS) tient, we have a chance of be- ing champions.” mined to get the victory we been a lot of unwanted dis- the moment. My players need the semi-final. dor and former Barcelona seven of the last eight quarter- Backed and guided by one want by putting in one more tractions. From the disgrace- no more motivation than to After threatening to bore and Al Sadd legend Xavi finalists and three of the four of the most looked at coaches huge effort against Japan so ful behaviour of the UAE play an Asian Cup final,” re- crowds to death in their first Hernandez has intriguingly semi-finalists. You can trust in Felix Sanchez, Qatar also that we can make the Qa- fans in the semi-final, to an marked Sanchez. five games, the Blue Samurai already made the biggest the soothsayer! have a shrewd tactician who tari people happy once again attempt at getting Qatar dis- Motivated, they are in- go into final unbeaten in 11 prediction. So, when Qatar captain has seldom been off the mark and make history,” said the qualified in the final. They deed. Brilliant, scoring at matches since Hajime Mori- Opining on Al Kass tel- Hassan al Haydos kicks the this Asian Cup. Spaniard. seem to stop at nothing. every opportunity and keep- yasu took over as coach after evision, Xavi had remarked, ball to roll later today, all “One of the key things If that happens, Qatar The Al Annabi are however ing cool heads, Qatar have last year’s World Cup. now famously that Qatar television screens across the for us is that there is a great would have done wonders just not perturbed. been a revelation. In contrast, While all Qatar support- and Japan would be play- globe and the giant ones in team spirit, everyone is like what Greece did when “We are only focused on Japan, who captured the last ers are praying and wishing ing the final and that the Al Qatar will come alive, and the working together to achieve they won the Euro champion- the game we’re going to play. of their record four Asian for the nation’s watershed Annabi would go on to lift World Cup 2022 hosting na- the same result. ships in 2004. Any other thing not related to titles in 2011, upset tourna- moment to arrive soon, the the trophy! tion will rise with hopes of the “The players are deter- Surely though, there have football is not in our minds at ment favourites Iran 3-0 in World Cup 2022 ambassa- He correctly predicted dream coming true. A World Cup, and a team to match? Qatar get it right on the pitch

AFP exposure. ABU DHABI The quality of the facilities is such that Aspire is sought QATAR’S transformation out for warm-weather training from also-rans to Asian Cup by major European clubs like finalists was meticulously Manchester United and Bay- planned and has been years ern Munich. in the making – and has final- It also searches far and ly given Qataris some swag- wide for high-quality coaches, ger as they prepare to host including current national the World Cup. team boss Felix Sanchez, who The wealthy Gulf state moved from Barcelona’s acad- has long projected its power emy in 2006. through football, notably by Sanchez was in charge winning the right to host the of Qatar’s under-19s in 2014 Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu (centre) with his players during a train- 2022 World Cup and by buy- when they won their first ing session in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (EPA-EFE) ing Paris Saint-Germain, the Asian title, with a squad in- club of Neymar, the world’s cluding Ali and several others most expensive player. now at the Asian Cup. Glory is what matters: What was missing was a “We work very hard all the respectable national team, but time. Every training session Qatar seem to have solved that we train together, it’s like a Japan coach Moriyasu problem after putting together family,” Portuguese-born de- a record-breaking run in hos- fender Pedro Correia told AFP. AFC a Qatar team that has scored tile conditions in the United “All the time we’re like a ABU DHABI 16 times in their previous six Arab Emirates. family, it’s important. And games and have yet to concede Plastic bottles and even we take that into the games... HAJIME Moriyasu will be- a goal as they booked their shoes rained down on the Qa- we’re in the final because come the first man to win place in the country’s first-ev- tari players as they thrashed of that.” the AFC Asian Cup as both a er AFC Asian Cup final. the hosts 4-0 to reach their After leaving Aspire, near- player and a coach on Friday The Japan coach, though, first Asian Cup final, keeping ly all the players join Qatari should his Japan team defeat is confident his team is an unprecedented sixth clean teams with close links to the Qatar in Friday’s final, but well-equipped to handle sheet in the process. academy. Eight of the semi- the former midfielder has no Felix Sanchez’s impressive The ongoing Gulf blockade final starters came from the interest in personal accolades young side. of Qatar has sent tensions sky- same club, Al Sadd. as he prepares for the tourna- “We are aware they are a high, and with Qataris largely “We like to keep the ball, ment decider. very strong team, that they barred from UAE the Maroons play football. This is our style, Moriyasu was a member have scored 16 goals and have been virtually bereft of it’s good football, enjoyable. of the Japan side that won the kept clean sheets all the way fans. But despite this, they Believe me, we work very hard country’s first title in 1992, through, but no matter how have cut a swathe through the every training session to play when Takuya Takagi’s goal they play we will stay the competition. like this,” Correia said. sealed victory in the final over same,” he said. “We will ana- Almoez Ali has netted a Qatar will take another Saudi Arabia, and since then lyse them and then we will ex- record-equalling eight times, step in their World Cup prepa- the Japanese have gone on press our best on the field. and Qatar’s goal difference of rations when they play this to claim the trophy in 2000, “We are also a team that scored 16, conceded none is Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani with Qatar coach Felix year’s Copa America as guests, 2004 and 2011 to become the has reached the final, so I want the best in Asian Cup history. Sanchez and other officials in Abu Dhabi on eve of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 final. along with Japan. AFC Asian Cup’s most suc- the players to be confident be- It is a far cry from 2015, “We’re working very hard cessful nation. cause of that. We have been when Qatar lost all three being the World Cup’s first post- stems from Doha’s Aspire football and Aspire has gone with the young players in this Now the 50-year-old, who developing as a team through- group games. war hosts not to have previously Academy, which has produced to the lengths of buying team,” said Correia. “All the took over as Japan coach fol- out each game and I want us to But whatever happens in played in the competition. athletes of the calibre of world clubs in Spain and Belgium, players are 22, 23. lowing the country’s run to the show that development on the Friday’s final with Japan, Qa- champion high jumper Mutaz and forging links with oth- “This is all part of the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA field tomorrow.” tar have shown they need to be ‘Like a family’ Essa Barshim. ers including Leeds United, thinking to prepare for the World Cup in Russia last sum- Despite a sluggish start to taken seriously in 2022, despite Qatar’s success on the pitch But the major focus is to give its players greater FIFA World Cup 2022.” mer, is looking to guide his the tournament, the Japanese nation to a record-extending also have a perfect record at fifth AFC Asian Cup title from the 2019 Finals and Moriyasu the dugout. believes his players have grown But while doing so would better and more adaptable as Japan’s Yoshida blasts Asian Cup ‘stupidity’ before final make history, Moriyasu is re- the competition has progressed. maining focused on complet- “I think what has im- AFP gibility of two Qatari players himself needing to be re- ing the task at hand. proved from our side is that ABU DHABI from host country the UAE. strained by teammates after “Tomorrow as a team we the players can now read the “I think the AFC should reacting furiously to a petulant would like to try to take the game and they play well as a JAPAN captain Maya Yoshida control stuff about penalties I expect both teams to give slap from Sardar Azmoun. trophy back home, but I’m unit,” he said. has warned that problems on and suspensions,” Yoshida 100% effort tomorrow (in “We met some of the Iran not too interested in what it “Over the six games, we and off the pitch are embar- said Thursday, noting also the final), with fair play, to guys in the lift and they apolo- means to me,” said the for- have played against different rassing the Asian Cup as the that Japan’s tempestuous 3-0 show the world how we play. gised for what happened,” mer midfielder. “I just want to types of opponents and some- Blue Samurai prepare to face semi-final victory over Iran said Yoshida. celebrate the title with all the times we hold the ball and Qatar in Friday’s final. had ended with rival players Maya Yoshida “I expect both teams to give team and we will do our best sometimes we have turned de- The Southampton de- almost coming to blows. 100% effort tomorrow, with in training as well. fence into attack. Sometimes fender called on tournament “But I would mention that football and with fair play.” fair play, to show the world “I can say that it’s going to we put teams under pressure organisers to deal swiftly with if (the tournament) is broad- The tournament slogan how we play. That would be a be a tough match. We’ve al- and sometimes we spend a incidents of “stupidity” that, cast all over the world, you has rung hollow in the Emir- big step, not only for Japan but ready played six matches and long time in defence and we according to Yoshida, risk don’t want to see any stupid ates, where finalists Qatar Asian football.” we know they’re a strong op- play with persistence. damaging the reputation of things, especially after the have been frequently abused The Asian Cup has seen its ponent, so we have one more “I think this is how they’ve Asian football. game,” he added. by hostile local fans over the share of controversial referee- fight to do and we’re going to improved throughout the His plea came as the Asian “We are representing Asia Gulf blockade of the country. ing decisions, with hosts UAE do it with determination so tournament and no matter Football Confederation (AFC) under the hashtag #bringingasi- Japan’s upset of title fa- twice awarded soft late penal- that our players can have the how the game goes tomorrow I confirmed to AFP that it had atogether – so it’s important to vourites Iran also came close ties that left rivals players and best performance on the field.” want the players to be focused received a protest over the eli- represent Asia by playing good to boiling over, with Yoshida coaching fuming. Japan captain Maya Yoshida. Moriyasu’s side take on and to play with continuity.” Sports Friday, February 1, 2019 13 QSL Cup final Crouch returns to Premier League with Burnley in Vokes swap deal At 38, Peter Crouch joins Burnley until the end of the season

REUTERS United at Old Trafford on BURNLEY, ENGLAND Tuesday, has signed a 3-1/2- year contract at Stoke, having FORMER England interna- struggled to secure a regular tional Peter Crouch returned starting place of late at Turf to the Premier League on Moor. Thursday at the age of 38, The Wales international signing a short-term contract won two promotions to the to join Burnley from Stoke Premier League with Burnley City with Wales striker Sam in his seven seasons with the Vokes heading in the opposite club, scoring 62 goals in 258 direction. appearances. No financial details of the “It’s great to have it fi- deals were disclosed, but Brit- ish media reported that Vokes was valued at around 9 million pounds ($11.81 million). Al Gharafa players celebrate with the QSL Cup trophy after winning the final against Al Duhail at the Abdullah Bin Nasser Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Thursday. Crouch was part of the Stoke team relegated to the second-tier Championship Ambition last season but has not started a game since September. unchanged The former Tottenham “I want to get more games Al Gharafa edge Duhail Hotspur and Liverpool for- ward, whose deal with Burnley and I would love to add to the runs until the end of the sea- 100 Premier League goals. son, has previously played for My game has probabl six Premier League clubs in changed a little bit. I’m not 1-0 to retain QSL Cup his career and scored 108 top- 25. But my attributes haven’t flight goals. waned. I never really had He also won 42 caps for blistering pace, so I haven’t England, scoring 22 goals be- lost that. I know I can impact Weiss scores the only goal from his rebound penalty; VAR helps ref give red card Meghessib tween 2005 and 2010. games at this level.” Despite his age, Crouch IKOLI VICTOR any trouble for Qasem Burhan said he still had the ambition DOHA under the Gharafa bar. to play at the highest level. nally done,” he told Stoke’s In the second half, Weiss “I still want to achieve official website https://www. AL Gharafa won the QSL Cup had the first shot on goal that things,” he told Burnley’s stokecityfc.com/news/vokes- for the second successive sea- was deflected for a corner website https://www.burnley- delight. “It has been a long day son with a slim 1-0 win over kick, giving Gharafa some res- footballclub.com/news/2019/ and a lot of waiting around but ten-man Al Duhail at the Ab- pite after having been on the january/crouch-hungry-to- I am delighted - I just can’t dullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa back-foot for most of the ses- hit-claret-goal-trail. wait to get started now.” The Stadium in Doha on Thursday. sion. “I want to get more games 29-year-old joined Burnley It was a third title triumph Ahmed al Meghessib was and I would love to add to the from Wolverhampton Wan- for Gharafa in the competi- given the marching order for 100 Premier League goals. derers and was part of the tion, making them the most violent play in the 66th min- “My game has probably Wales team which reached the successful side. They reached ute. changed a little bit. I’m not semi-finals of Euro 2016. the final at the expense of The game should have 25. But my attributes haven’t “Burnley was a huge part Al Kharaitiyat who defeated been wrapped up in the 78th waned. I never really had of my life, I really found my them in the semi-final. How- minute if referee had allowed blistering pace, so I haven’t home there and I made a lot of ever, that result was over- Gharafa’s Ambro Ali’s goal. lost that. I know I can impact good friends there, but it was turned by the Qatar Football He was ruled offside after the games at this level.” time for me to move on - and Association’s Disciplinary referee consulted with his as- Vokes, who waved good- what better club to do that Committee after Al Gharafa sistant. bye to Burnley fans after the with than Stoke City,” Vokes protested that Al Kharaitiyat Edmilson was anonymous 2-2 draw with Manchester added. violated the rule of resident for most of the match and players and fielded six of them when he got a chance to score, in the match in place of a max- he fired straight at keeper imum five. Burhan in a one-on-one situ- Gharafa’s only goal of the ation. match was scored by former Wesley Sneijder who’s Al Duhail Slovenian winger recovering from injury ex- Vladimir Weiss in the first pressed his delight at winning half. His rebound from the his first trophy in Qatar. “Eve- penalty spot was the differ- ry prize is a prize and I am very ence as French coach Chris- happy with it. It was a great tian Gourcuff won his first sil- team effort in the final and my verware since his return to the first trophy in Qatar.”

Boardroom Diogo Amado celebrates with Vladimir Weiss after he scored his goal in the QSL Cup final on Thursday. Results decision club he last handled 16-years es. Record Moroccan signing judged to have handled the Al Gharafa 1 - 0 Al Duhail ago. Mejdi Benatia made his de- ball inside the box and the ref- (Weiss 13) O Gharafa reached the final While Gourcuff and his but for the League champions eree pointed to the spot. at the expense of Al players celebrated with the after his handsome transfer Vladimir Weiss missed the Cautions: Kharaitiyat who defeated trophy, for Duhail and their from Italian giants Juventus. resultant kick following a save assistant boss Madjid, it was He received a yellow card for by but reacted Al-Gharafa SC: 4 Nasser them in the semi-final. Abdulsalam al Ahrak (70 ); However, that result was another disappointing result unsporting behavior in the quicker to tuck in the rebound overturned by the Qatar in the QSL Cup final. 22nd minute. in the 13th minute. Al-Duhail SC: Football Association’s Duhail were the favourites His giant figure at the back Duhail’s prolific striker (22) going into match having re- could not prevent Al Duhail Youssef El Arabi was close to Expulsions: Al Duhail SC: Disciplinary Committee. corded impressive results in from conceding a penalty leveling the tie twice but his Former Stoke City’s Peter Crouch in action during a FA Cup Third Ahmed al Meghessib (66) the group and knockout stag- when Sultan al Braik was ad- efforts were too tame to cause Round match in Coventry recently. (REUTERS) Liverpool held in title blow, Chelsea humiliated Brisk Atalanta oust Juventus, Fiorentina reach cup semis debut following the Argentine Bournemouth dent Chelsea’s striker’s loan move from Ju- ventus. DPA four minutes left. top-four hopes with 4-0 win Bournemouth made them ROME Colombian Zapata has pay in the 47th minute when been on target in the last 10 AFP Leicester defence and slotted Josh King converted a David ATALANTA beat Italian Cup outings, with 15 total goals LONDON a clinical finish into the far Brooks pass. holders Juventus 3-0 with a scored in the Serie A, where corner for his 11th goal of the Brooks added to Sarri’s Duvan Zapata brace Wednes- Atalanta are the most prolific LIVERPOOL wasted a chance season. woes in the 63rd minute as the day to advance to the semi- side and unbeaten Juve have to take complete control of Liverpool’s quickest league Bournemouth winger eased finals as the Bianconeri exited the best defence. the Premier League title race goal since April 2016 had the past the flat-footed David Luiz after winning the last four edi- Juve’s Cristiano Ronaldo, as Leicester earned a 1-1 draw Kop belting out songs of praise to lash in the second goal. tions. also on 15 league goals, had against the leaders, while for their former manager Ra- Chelsea’s fans were furi- The hosts pressed fiercely no scoring opportunity, while Chelsea’s bid for a top-four fael Benitez, who mastermind- ous, chanting “you don’t know before the Bergamo crowd and Sami Khedira fired the Bian- finish was rocked by a humili- ed Newcastle’s victory against what you’re doing” at Sarri netted two close goals before coneri’s best chance into the ating 4-0 thrashing at Bourne- City. when he substituted Higuain. the break against the stutter- hands of Etrit Berisha on 68 mouth on Wednesday. But Liverpool quickly lost But the misery wasn’t over ing Bianconeri, who missed minutes. After second-placed Man- their rhythm and Leicester for Chelsea, who conceded Leonardo Bonucci and had to Atalanta are to play a two- chester City lost at Newcastle defender Harry Maguire pun- again in the 75th minute when replace captain Giorgio Chiel- leg semi-final against Fioren- on Tuesday, Jurgen Klopp’s ished sloppy marking from Leicester City’s Harry Maguire (left) vies with Liverpool’s Mohamed King struck, before Charlie lini in a weakened defence. tina, who beat 10-man Roma side would have moved seven Virgil van Dijk to meet Ben Salah during their Premier League match at Anfield in Liverpool, on Daniels netted in stoppage- Joao Cancelo came on for 7-1 earlier in rainy Florence, points clear at the top with a Chilwell’s header with a close- Wednesday. (EPA) time to condemn the west Lon- Chiellini and lost a venom- where Federico Chiesa’s hat- win over Leicester. range finish on the stroke of doners to their heaviest league ous ball to favour the winning trick and strikes by Luis Mu- But Liverpool, chasing a half-time. gave City fresh hope. United only two points behind loss in over two decades. drive from Timothy Castagne riel, Marco Benassi and a Gio- first English title since 1990, Liverpool appealed in vain At Dean Court, Chelsea in sixth. Tottenham staged a late on 37 minutes. vanni Simeone brace sealed had to settle for a frustrating for what looked a clear penalty suffered a second succes- Chelsea were in control fightback to close the gap on Further defence dithering the crushing of the Rome Gial- draw that left them five points when Naby Keita went down sive defeat that left their bid early on and Mateo Kovacic’s Manchester City to two points two minutes later gave room lorossi. ahead of champions City. under a challenge from Ricar- to qualify for the Champions header was tipped onto the bar with a 2-1 win over Watford. to the in-form Duvan Zapata Italy international Chiesa Following a warm-weather do Pereira. League under severe threat. by Artur Boruc. After a miserable week that for a searing drive before Juve struck off assists from Kevin training break in Dubai, Liv- Yet it took a superb save The Blues, winners in just But, not for the first time saw Tottenham knocked out of boss Massimiliano Allegri was Mirallas on seven and 18 min- erpool were ahead in the third from Alisson Becker to stop one of their last four league this season, Maurizio Sarri’s the FA and League Cups, Mau- sent off for protesting. utes before adding his third on minute at snowy Anfield. Roberto Firmino scoring an games, drop down to fifth team lacked a cutting edge, ricio Pochettino’s third-placed Another blunder from 74 before being replaced by Senegal winger Sadio own goal as Liverpool were place -- below Arsenal on goals even with Gonzalo Higuain side lifted the gloom at Wem- Mattia De Sciglio paved the Simeone, who netted two late Mane wriggled through the forced to settle for a point that scored -- with Manchester making his Premier League bley. way for Zapata’s second with goals.