Sport THURSDAY 24 DECEMBER 2020 MessiMessi breaksbreaks Pele'sPe record with 644 goals for Barca When I started playing football I never thought I would break any records. And even less the one I achieved today. I can only thank all those who helped me over the years, my team-mates, my family, my friends and all those who support me every day. Lionel Messi Sport | 10 QATAR SENIOR VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE: Police beat Al Wakrah 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-19); Qatar SC beat Al Rayyan 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23) Qatar Clasico: Bounedjah scores winner as Xavi's Al Sadd spoil Blanc's QSL debut FAWAD HUSSAIN deadlock in another Afif- THE PENINSULA inspired attack after Cazorla picked his pass and set Feared striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who took a diving Bounedjah scored deep into the touch with a low pass from the second half as Al Sadd edged Spaniard. It was Bounedjah’s arch-rivals Al Rayyan 1-0 in sixth goal of the season. their traditional Qatar Clasico Soon after the opening goal, clash at Jassim Bin Hamad influential defender Abdelkarim Stadium. Hassan came off the bench to After a sensational first half help Al Sadd maintain the lead performance from both the for remainder of the match. sides, Al Sadd dominated the Barsham made a good save final session with Bounedjah from Al Rayyan captain Yacine netting the winner in 83rd Brahimi’s free kick, which minute – once again proving his turned out to be Al Rayyan’s last mettle following his brace in the effort as Al Sadd wrapped up Wolves’ 2-1 win over Al Arabi another good performance of in the Amir Cup final on Friday. the season. It was Al Sadd’s 9th Yesterday’s stiff loss came win as they remained the only in French coach Laurent Blanc’s unbeaten side of the season. first match in charge of Al In other Round 10 clash, Al Rayyan. Ahli conceded three penalties With Al Ahli being thrashed (48’,68’, 89’) and Qatar SC’s by Qatar SC 4-1 in yesterday’s Yousif Belaili converted all at other match, Xavi Hernandez- Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium to coached Al Sadd moved 7 points hand them huge defeat. clear on top of the QNB Stars Anthony Okpotu scored League (QSL) table with Al Qatar SC’s first goal in the 10th Gharafa retaining their second minute while Al Ahli's only goal place with 21 points. came from a penalty taken by Xavi, with his vast expe- Nabil El Zhar in the 42nd rience in Qatar, clinched the minute. opening battle with Blanc in Al Ahli remained third with Qatar Clasico, dubbed the battle Al Sadd’s coach Xavi Hernandez greets Al Rayyan’s new coach 19 minutes after the loss. between two big names of Laurent Blanc during their QNB Stars League match, played at Al Sadd's Santiago Cazorla congratulates Baghdad Bounedjah Earlier yesterday, Al Arabi football world, although both the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, yesterday. after the latter scored against Al Rayyan yesterday. moved to 9 points after coaches hugged each other after defeating Al Kharaitiyat 3-1 at the tense tie. Al Ahli Stadium, yesterday. As expected, the match got Akram Afif sneaked into the made a few attacks and won a Haydos to replace Rodrigo Ibrahim Nasser Kalla (16), off to a fast start and swung circle from a long pass in the corner in one of those moves Tabata, who hardly made his Mehrdad Mohammadi (47) and both ways with both the top 22nd minute. that could have given them the presence felt yesterday. Aron Gunnarsson (55) scored Al teams enjoying moments of Afif, the current AFC Player lead. Afif missed a golden oppor- Arabi’s goals while Rachid brilliance. The players were of the Year, would not miss such Gabriel Mercado’s touch tunity by his standards after Tiberkanine scored the only charged up for the big match a chance but all credit to young from the corner kick created a receiving an angular pass from goal of Al Kharaitiyat in the 50th exchanging attacks right from Al Rayyan goalkeeper Fahad goalmouth melee and Al Sadd ROUND 10 Al Haydos but he fired the ball minute. the first whistle. Younis, who held his nerves to were lucky not to concede a YESTERDAY'S RESULTS straight in hands of goalkeeper After Tiberkanine’s slick Ivorian striker Yohan Boli block the attempt. goal as none of the three Al Al Kharaitiyat 1-3 Al Arabi Younis. strike came what could be almost put Al Rayyan ahead in The first 30 minutes did not Rayyan players managed to get Al Ahli 1-4 Qatar SC Bounedjah also missed an described the most spectacular the 10th minute but he was yield any goal but the fans had a goal-scoring touch. Al Rayyan 0-1 Al Sadd opportunity of scoring from a goal of the season so far. declared off-side after he already enjoyed thrilling action Al Sadd responded with a close range off a rising ball from Iceland star Gunnarsson, pushed the ball past Al Sadd with Al Sadd, who took two few threatening attacks but the former Arsenal midfielder San- after receiving a short pass near goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham shots on target, having a slight stalemate continued as referee - failed to find the target from tiago Cazorla. the edge of his own box, ran on a Mohammed Al Alawi cross. edge over their arch-rivals. Abdulhadi Alasmar blew the close range. Afif remained In the 78th minute, Blanc with the ball for a short distance Boli outpaced his marker to pick The Wolves came close to half-time whistle. instrumental in more Al Sadd sent fresh legs in Abdulaziz and then in one single move Mohammed Juma Al Alawi’s scoring again in the 33rd minute The high-octane match attacks with his brilliance but Hazaa while calling back Boli fired the ball from around 70 cross and deflected the ball into after national team player resumed in a similar fashion the wait continued for Clasico’s as Al Rayyan were totally on the yards into the net with Al the net from close range but the Boualem Khouki’s snap-header with Al Sadd making another opening goal. Al Sadd, however, receiving against fiery Al Sadd. Kharaitiyat keeper way out of linesman declared the move - on a high jump - from a long fiery attack and was well begun to dominate the pro- However, luck owing to missed position. The long-range shot off-side. cross landed on the top of the responded by Al Rayyan with a ceedings keeping the ball in chances and a brave show from took Al Kharaitiyat goalkeeper Al Sadd too were creating net. counter attack. possession. Younis kept them at par on the by surprise and he could do their chances and came close With less than 10 minutes Afif set Bounedjah but the With the clock closing on an scorecard with their rivals. little to stop the ball from going to scoring after feared striker left in the half-time, Al Rayyan Algerian - marked tightly hour-mark, Xavi sent Hasan Al Finally, Al Sadd broke the into the net. QSL champions Al Duhail to take on Auckland City in tournament opener Three Qatar 2022 stadiums to host FIFA Club World Cup matches THE PENINSULA – DOHA two years’ time,” said Nasser Al Khater, Chief Executive Officer, FIFA World Cup Hosting the second edition of the Qatar will host the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC. FIFA Club World Cup in a row will Qatar 2020 from 1 to 11 February 2021, “Over the past few months, during allow us to build on our operational after it was postponed earlier this year PARTICIPATING TEAMS the global pandemic, we have worked experience and apply learnings both due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six AFC Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) diligently to ensure the safety, health from 2019, as well as the continental confederations, as well as CAF Al Ahly (EGY) and wellbeing of players and fans as we the host nation’s league champions, will hosted several important local and tournaments attended by fans in Concacaf Tigers UANL (MEX) Qatar throughout 2020. It will help compete in the tournament, which will CONMEBOL TBC on Jan. 30, 2021 international footballing events, and we ROUNDROUND 1 ROUNDROUND 2 5TH PLACE PLACE AND 3RD3 PPLACELACEC be held across three FIFA World Cup OFC Auckland City (NZL) look forward to welcoming the world’s ensure we deliver an amazing SEMI-FINALS AAND FINAL Qatar 2022 stadiums – Ahmad Bin Ali, UEFA Bayern Munich (GER) best clubs in the New Year for what will experience for every fan when the Khalifa International and Education Host Al Duhail (QAT) Feb 1 Feb 4 Feb 7 Feb 8 Feb 11 be yet another important milestone on Middle East and Arab world hosts its City. KhalifaKhalKh lififa InternationalItInternattiionalSt Stadiumadiudi m 02 05 the road to Qatar 2022,” Al Khater first FIFA The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, inau- TTeTeam A vs COCCONMEBOLO L added. Inaugurated exactly two years World Cup in gurated just last week, will stage the Team B vvs W2/W3 before Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup 17:00 21:00 just under opening match between Qatari cham- final, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium has a two years’ pions Al Duhail and Auckland City of AhmedAhmeAh dBi BinnAl AliAliSt StadiumS adiudi m 01 06 capacity of 40,000 seats and is a dem- AAl Duhail SC W2/W3W vs time: Nasser New Zealand on February 1 at 20:30, onstration of Qatar’s commitment to vsv Auckland FCF Bayern Al Khater and the final will be played at Education City FC Munich sustainability, having been largely con- City Stadium on February 11 at 21:00.