Muntari Strikes As Qatar Ease Past Luxembourg in Hungary
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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Longines Hathab QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune has achieved impressive success despite pandemic challenges: Hamad Al Attiyah PAGE 15 THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 Muntari strikes as Qatar ease past Luxembourg in Hungary TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA FIFA World Cup 2022 host nation Qatar made an impres- sive start to their European Zone FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign defeating Luxembourg 1-0 at the Nagy- erdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Wednesday. The cool climes seemed no deterrent to Al Annabi as Mo- hamed Muntari’s 12th minute strike from close range earned coach Felix Sanchez’s men a much-deserved victory. The 2019 Asian champions had more chances but lacked in finishing in front of the goal. Qatar – invited by UEFA as a guest nation to take part in the European qualifiers as they fine tune their prepara- tions for the next year’s World Qatar’s Mohamed Muntari (left) celebrates scoring with a teammate, while his teammates (right) rejoice during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification friendly against Luxembourg in Debrecen, Hungary, on Tuesday.( AFP) Cup at home – will face Azer- baijan on Saturday before fin- ishing their European sojourn against the Republic of Ireland on March 30. Qatar will return in Sep- tember to take on European champions Portugal and Ser- bia – the two other teams in Group A. The Al Annabi started with a charge against the 98th- ranked Luxembourg. Qatar, ranked 58th, then made the most of a chance after a defen- sive error in the 12th minute. Lars Gerson took too long to clear the ball with Almoez Ali swooping in to steal the ball. The Qatari forward then passed it onto Muntari, who fired in from the box. Qatar should have doubled their advantage in the 15th minute but Almoez’s point blank shot was saved by Lux- embourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris, though the forward should have done better. Lux- embourg, though, tried to hit back immediately even as Qa- tar’s defence looked shaky. Qatar’s winger Pedro Miguel on the right flank had an outstanding game as the Luxembourg’s Aldin Skenderovic (right) and Qatar’s Ahmed Alaaeldin (centre) vie for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification 30-year-old was unlucky not friendly at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Wednesday. (AFP) to score, having hit the wood- work twice in the second half. Coach Sanchez praised his we adapted well. We created Almoez and Muntari in the The Qatar coach indicated Luxembourg had more of players after the match but ad- chances and were able to win front. They did well in all the he would rotate players for the ball in the second half but mitted there was room for im- even though Luxembourg had facets of the game both defen- the next two games “Now it’s failed to find the net as the Qa- provement. “I think the play- good offensive players,” the sively and forward. But more time to recover and analyse tar players were more organ- ers did well today. We played Spaniard said. than just two players, the team and then try to find the best ized. The 87th minute sending at a good rhythm, the game Sanchez was also im- as a group were very compact option against Azerbaijan. We off of Aldin Skenderovic did not was much faster than what pressed with Almoez and and worked well together. We have three days of rest. But help Luxembourg as Qatar held our players are used to back Muntari’s performance up- were able to combine and cre- will surely give some players Luxembourg’s Pinto and Qatar’s Pedro Miguel vie for the ball during on to make a winning start. in the Qatar Stars League. But front. “Today we started with ate good chances,” he added. opportunities,” Sanchez said. the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification friendly on Tuesday.( AFP) Turkey captain Yilmaz’s hat-trick stuns Netherlands AGENCIES free-kick into the top right cor- erlands captain Georginio The home side were gifted BERLIN ner for the final 4-2 scoreline Wijnaldum told NOS TV. a chance to double their lead as Cakir saved a stoppage time “Our start to the second in the 34th minute, as wing- CAPTAIN Burak Yilmaz penalty from Memphis Depay half was also obviously inex- er Donyell Malen clumsily scored a hat-trick and goal- to complete an impressive cusable.” brought down Okay Yokuslu. keeper Ugurcan Cakir saved Turkish showing. It was Turkey’s second Yilmaz hammered the a penalty as Turkey beat two- The defeat is an early set- straight win over the Neth- spot-kick past the static Krul. time finalists Netherlands 4-2 back for the Dutch in Group erlands, after a 3-0 victory in Thoughts of a comeback on Wednesday in a bad start G as only the winners from 2015 which helped them qual- appeared to be snuffed out for the Dutch into qualifying the 10 groups qualify directly ify for the Euros ahead of the within 60 seconds of the re- for the 2022 World Cup. for next year’s finals in Qatar, Oranje. start, as Calhanoglu collected Veteran Yilmaz opened the with Turkey and the Dutch The Dutch have lost four Umut Meras’s pass and drilled scoring in Istanbul in the 15th considered favourites. of their last nine World Cup a low strike into the bottom with a shot deflected by Mat- Yilmaz’s wonderful free- qualifying matches, having corner from 20 yards out. thijs de Ligt, and converted a kick sealed Turkey a crucial been unbeaten in their previ- The night indeed belonged penalty in the 34th after Do- win, though, in a match be- ous 34 such games. to Turkey and Yilmaz, with nyell Malen brought down tween the two favourites to The visitors started bright- the veteran completing his Okay Yokuslu. qualify from Group G. ly but fell behind in the 15th hat-trick with a sweetly-struck AC Milan’s Hakan Calha- The defeat is a dreadful minute. Seconds after ref- free-kick into the top corner noglu made it 3-0 seconds af- start to the campaign for the eree Michael Oliver waved nine minutes from time. ter the restart in a meeting of Netherlands, who failed to away Dutch penalty appeals, The Netherlands kept two teams that failed to qualify qualify for either Euro 2016 or Yilmaz’s long-range strike took pushing and after two saves in for the 2018 tournament. the 2018 World Cup, but are a big deflection and spun past quick succession from Cakir, The Dutch pulled two back one of the favourites ahead of Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul. were awarded a penalty deep within two minutes from Davy the delayed Euro 2020 finals It was 35-year-old Lille into injury-time for a foul by Klaassen and Luuk de Jong in this year. striker Yilmaz’s 25th inter- Liverpool centre-back Ozan the 75th and 76th. “Soon after we were claim- national goal, making him Kabak. But Lille’s Yilmaz ended ing for a penalty after a corner Turkey’s forward Burak Yilmaz (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring his teams’s fourth goal the second Turk to reach that But Cakir had the final say, their comeback effort another and lost concentration, they during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group G match against The Netherlands at the Ataturk mark after record goalscorer diving to his right to keep out four minutes later by curling a countered and scored,” Neth- Olympic Stadium, in Istanbul, on Tuesday. Turkey beat The Netherlands 4-2. (AFP) Hakan Sukur. Depay’s spot-kick. 14 Thursday, March 25, 2021 Sports Barwa Grand Pix of Qatar QWFF, Aspire Academy MAN AND MACHINE NE of the most interesting aspects of pre-season testing is seeing what the different manufacturers have been Oworking hard on during the winter. New technology is being rolled out all the time in MotoGP™ and 2021 is no excep- sign agreement for FIE tion, as we saw plenty of new parts being put through their paces at the Official Qatar est.T Here’s a look at the significant parts each manufacturer brought to the table ahead of Round 1 under the lights. DUCATI: The Grand Prix Doha 2021 innovation kings of MotoGP™. In recent years, Ducati have led the way in bring- ing new and before unseen additions to the track. 2021 has seen the Bologna factory unveil some more crea- tions, the most notable being their new front aero. This is quite a significant change and something we’ve never seen before, it seems like it’s more than just a ‘winglet’. We don’t know for sure, but Ducati could possibly be look- ing at tidying up the airflow to increase top speed and create more grip in the corners. It’s a very interesting update and what we do know for sure is that Gigi Dall’Igna and Ducati are Qatar Weightlifting & Fencing Federation (QWFF) General-Secretary Khalid Issa Al Hamadi, Deputy Director-General at Aspire Academy Ali Salem Afifa, Khaled Sweid, and other continuing to flex their muscles in the aero department. officials during an agreement signing at the Aspire Academy on Wednesday. FIE Grand Prix Doha 2021, a Tokyo Olympics qualifying event, will be held from March 26 to 28. Elsewhere, the famous ‘salad box’ is a different shape. Then, as we’ve seen with Aprilia, Honda, KTM and Suzuki, a TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK an agreement signing ceremo- three days, with the grand fina- we are happy to partner with halls are ready at the main front holeshot device was heavily testing in Qatar.