Sports Thursday, November 26, 2020 15 Iniesta goal takes Japan’s Vissel into last 16

AFP I know they are very good Doha players, and we can do much, much, much better.” Andres Iniesta scored his had landed in first goal in the Asian Champi- Doha after a string of disap- ons League as Vissel Kobe pow- pointing results back home, ered their way to the last-16 conceding a whopping 58 (From L) Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, with a dominant 3-1 win over goals in 33 league matches Brazilian forward Neymar and French forward Kylian Mbappe cel- Fabio Cannavaro’s Guangzhou and losing five games in a row. ebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League Group H second-leg Evergrande in their Group G Results But their coach Atsuhiro Miura match against RB Leipzig at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris clash on Wednesday. Vissel Kobe 3 ( 44’, Douglas was basking in joy on Wednes- late on Tuesday. (AFP) The Spain and Barcelona 74’, Andreas Iniesta 84’) bt Guangzhou day, saying he was ready with legend fired a right-footed Evergrande FC 1 (Kyugo Furuhashi 55 (OG)) a game plan against a side shot from the centre of the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 (Sung-Eun Na packed with several Brazilians. Neymar keeps PSG on box in the 84th minute to help 44’) bt Sydney FC 0 “Guangzhou is a very Yokohama F Marinos 1 (Jun Amano 90’) the Japanese side consoli- bt Shanghai SIPG 0. strong side, they have several date their position at the top good Brazilian players but we course in UEFA Champions of their group with two wins analysed how they play and from as many matches. of brief purple patches during how to prevent them from League with Leipzig win They are now five points which they had the Kobe de- playing to their strengths,” ahead of Guangzhou and Su- fence under pressure, the goal said Miura. AFP maintain possession and stop won Samsung Bluewings and they were looking for never “We did everything well Paris the waves of Leipzig attacks. assured of a spot in the knock- materialised. and everything went how we “There are lots of things out phase after the group was Vissel Kobe regained the wanted it to. That’s why we got A nervy Paris Saint-Germain that happen that people may- reduced to three teams fol- lead in the 74th minute when this result.” were outplayed for long spells be don’t know about,” insisted lowing Malaysian side Johor Douglas, who had come on but held on after an early Ney- Marquinhos, with PSG having Darul Ta’zim’s withdrawal just five minutes earlier, took Amano strikes for mar penalty to beat RB Leipzig struggled with injuries, sus- from the tournament. advantage of a great back-heel Yokohama 1-0 on Tuesday and revive their pensions and coronavirus in- Iniesta, who was declared from and blasted In Group H, Jun Amano Champions League campaign. fections all season. MVP of the match, had been the ball home. scored the only goal of the Last season’s runners-up Here they were without as an influential presence for Vis- Brazil-born Elekson, now match in the 90th minute as had lost two of their opening many as six first-team regulars. sel Kobe throughout the en- known as Ai Kesen, had a Yokohama F. Marinos sneaked three matches in Group H and “I don’t think we had the counter with his quick think- goal disallowed for off-side on a 1-0 victory over Shanghai would have been staring at an means to put in an exceptional ing and crisp passing, and that eight minutes and when Inies- SIPG to go top with three wins early exit from the competi- performance, but the most im- reflected in their first goal in ta struck two minutes later, it from as many matches. tion had they lost again to the portant thing was the victory.” the 44th minute at the Khalifa extended Cannavaro’s misery After several near miss- Germans behind closed doors The decisive spot-kick was International Stadium. Vissel Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates after scoring during in Doha. es by both sides, SIPG were at the Parc des Princes. awarded when Marcel Sabitzer The Spanish veteran dashed the AFC Champions League Group G match against Guangzhou “The result is bad. We tried awarded a penalty late in the Yet Neymar’s 11th-minute was rather harshly adjudged his way up on the left flank to Evergrande at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. (AFP) but I know that something in game for Ken Matsubara’s foul spot-kick proved enough for a to have fouled Angel Di Maria. control a long diagonal pass my team is not clear. I don’t on Mirahmetjan Muzepper. PSG side struggling with inju- Neymar rolled the ball and after advancing further scoring lasted only 10 minutes Cannavaro made three know if they are afraid to play But penalty-taker Oscar ries and suspensions, as Leip- home from 12 yards for his turned around near the goal- as the forward first conceded substitutions in a desperate bid or they are not confident any- watched in dismay as goal- zig failed to convert any of the first Champions League goal line to tap the ball onto the path a corner and then watched for victory after having drawn more,” the Italian complained keeper Powell Obinna Obi chances that came their way. of the season on what was his of the advancing Kyogo Furu- in horror as his attempted their opening game against Su- after the match. produced a great save. Amano “We are a team who, in the first start in almost a month hashi who struck with a clean, clearance from the resultant won Samsung Bluewings. “I need to try and do my then killed off the contest by difficult moments, manage to after injury. low shot from close range. kick found his own net to give But although the two-time best to give them the confi- tapping in a rebound in the stick together and do a good “Paris didn’t have a single Furuhashi’s personal joy at Guangzhou the equalizer. champions enjoyed a couple dence to play. This is my job. last minute. job. Once again we proved chance in the whole match, that,” captain Marquinhos and the penalty was a joke,” told RMC Sport. Nagelsmann fumed to Sky Both PSG and Leipzig are Germany. now level on six points with “To see that at this level AFC thanks Jeonbuk pip Sydney FC to keep hopes alive two games still to come, is really sad. Di Maria dived. with Manchester United There was no contact.” Qatar for AFC was collected by goalkeeper three points clear at the top Alongside Neymar, Ky- Doha Song Beom-keun, then a Kosta of the section after easing to lian Mbappe saw his Euro- Barbaroses first-time attempt a 4-1 victory over Istanbul pean goal drought go on – ensuring Na Sung-eun’s first half strike to stab in ’s Basaksehir. Ligue 1’s leading scorer has was the difference as Jeonbuk cross missed the target. Crucially, PSG have the still not scored a Champions successful Hyundai Motors got their first Gambian winger Modou head-to-head advantage over League goal in 2020 in eight win of the 2020 AFC Cham- Barrow was lively through- Leipzig, thanks to an away appearances. Champions pions League in a 1-0 victory out the first half and his cross goal, if the two teams end level Nevertheless, PSG did not over Sydney FC at Al Janoub from the right landed at Gus- on points. They lost 2-1 when need their French World Cup- Stadium on Wednesday, con- tavo’s feet just seven yards off the teams met in Germany winning superstar to be at his League signing the Australians to ear- the goal line, but the Brazilian three weeks ago. best as Leipzig -- who have ly elimination. striker was denied a second Thomas Tuchel’s team not managed to replace Timo AFC The two sides went into the goal of the campaign by a he- go to Old Trafford next and Werner since the Germany Kuala Lumpur match knowing defeat would roic diving save from Sydney the feeling is that the French striker left for Chelsea -- were make the losing team the first to FC goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic. champions could still just as unable to turn their domi- The president of the Asian exit the 2020 AFC Champions The deadlock was finally easily advance to the last 16 in nance of possession into goals. Football Confederation (AFC) League (East), with both teams Jeonbuk’s midfielder Na Seong-eun celebrates his goal during the broken just before the half-time first place as they could fail to Dayot Upamecano saw his Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim having collected just one point AFC Champions League Group H match against Australia’s Sydney FC whistle as Gustavo teed-up Na qualify at all. header tipped over by Key- Al Khalifa praised the efforts from their first three matches. at the Al Janoub Stadium on Wednesday. (AFP) who fired from the right through They brushed Leipzig lor Navas and Emil Forsberg of Qatar towards delivering a Sydney FC matched their the legs of into the aside in the semi-finals of last turned a Dani Olmo cross over successful 2020 AFC Champi- opponents for possession to 13 games. his initial effort blocked into bottom corner to put Jeonbuk season’s competition in Lis- the top in the first half. ons League. throughout and had several Caution reigned for the the path of Kim Bo-kyung who Hyundai Motors in front. bon in August but collapsed The pressure continued at Chairing the AFC Execu- chances, but were left to rue opening 15 minutes with pos- curled from an angle, but his The result means Jeon- worryingly in their last meet- the start of the second half, tive Committees online meet- their profligacy as their win- session being exchanged fre- shot sailed wide. buk Hyundai Motors hit four ing with Julian Nagelsmann’s but Forsberg and Sabitzer ing on Wednesday, the AFC less run in the competition quently in the middle of the Sydney FC responded half- points, moving within touching team after taking an early lead. notably missed the target and President extended thanks to extended to 11 matches. Mean- park and with little in way of way through the opening peri- distance of leading pair Yoko- Here they again went in the chances dried up after the Qatar Football Association, while, Jeonbuk Hyundai Mo- clear cut-chances. That is until od with back-to-back chances; hama F. Marinos and Shanghai front and then succeeded in home side reverted to a three- the Qatari authorities and the tors extended their unbeaten Na tried his luck with a shot first a low SIPG who face-off in the second seeing the game out despite man central defence in the medical professionals and run against Australian teams from inside the box, seeing drive from 25 yards out that Wednesday fixture of the group. struggling desperately to closing stages. front liners, for their outstand- ing contribution, stressing that these combined efforts ensured the AFCs successful Thrilling Al Huwaila Cup win for Zakhir Racing’s Daneyan completion of the West Zone ‘Worth his weight in gold’ – Dortmund matches and now their con- tinued assistance is on show in the East Zone competition. hail record-breaker Erling Haaland “We are now looking for- ward to an outstanding AFC AFP “Erling is a fantastic play- Champions League final on Berlin er,” said England winger Jadon December 19, 2020 and we ex- Sancho, who hit the net with a tend our gratitude to the Mem- Borussia Dortmund say the superb free-kick on Tuesday. ber Associations and clubs for form of Erling Braut Haaland “I am happy to play with helping us reach this important is pure gold with the Norwe- him – he works hard every day milestone. It has been a sig- gian striker netting a record 16 on and off the pitch.” nificant achievement which has goals in his first 12 Champions Having also scored four demonstrated the exceptional League games, bettering even goals in Saturday’s 5-2 rout of professionalism which exists in superstars like Cristiano Ron- Hertha Berlin, Haaland’s form Asia,” the AFC President said. aldo and Lionel Messi. has taken Dortmund to the Sheikh Salman underlined “For us, he is worth his verge of the last 16 in Europe. that the unity and transpar- weight in gold because he can A home win against Lazio ency that have been so suc- carry the team along,” Dort- next Wednesday will put Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi presented cessfully evident in the last mund sports director Michael Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Dortmund in the Champions trophies to the winners of Al Huwaila seven years will provide the Zorc said of Haaland. Erling Braut Haaland (centre) League’s knock-out stages. Cup after Zakhir Racing’s Daneyan solid foundations on which a “Every minute, he shows during the UEFA Champions With the games com- registered his 7th victory when the brighter future can be built, ex- that he wants to be successful.” League match vs Club Brugge ing thick and fast, Dortmund 5yo won the Thoroughbred Condi- pressing confidence that Asian The 20-year-old show- on Tuesday. (AFP) coach Lucien Favre warns that tions (Class 2) in a thrilling finish to football is on the right track to cased his lethal finishing with the 1.94m Haaland needs pro- the 1900m feature on dirt at QREC’s weather the current impact of two goals in Tuesday’s 3-0 win who both needed 19 games to tecting. Al Rayyan Park on Wednesday. Zu- the COVID-19 pandemic. over Brugge. reach the 15-goal milestone. “He’s still growing, some- hair Mohsen, Zuhair Maki’s ward had Shaikh Salman added that He has hit 17 goals in 13 Having scored eight times times he has a problem with landed a C&D under Ronan Thomas the AFC will continue to work games for Dortmund this sea- in six group stage games for his knee. If we overdo it, it earlier this month, and the jockey to deliver all the competitions son, including netting 10 times Red Bull Salzburg last season, could work against us after- got together with the grey horse in 2021 and with FIFA to guar- in seven Bundesliga games, Haaland has netted another wards.” again. As the action heated up at the antee the successful completion and continues to shine in the eight in six Champions League Haaland “always wants to business end, Daneyan managed to of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for Champions League. games for Dortmund since his play – but that’s my problem,” hold on to his advantage edging out the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 He is the first to score 16 January transfer. Favre added. Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 goals in his opening 12 Eu- Not even the likes of Messi Dortmund are one point Al Thani’s Topsy Turvy by a quarter while keeping the health and ropean games, breaking the or Ronaldo scored so many behind European champi- of a length. Khalifa bin Sheail Al Ku- well-being of all participants as record held by Ruud van Nis- Champions League goals at the ons Bayern Munich in the wari’s Zamharer completed the top a main priority. telrooy and Roberto Soldado, start of their illustrious careers. Bundesliga. three under Marco Casamento.