SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 16

Marouane Fellaini leaves Man Utd for China’s Shandong shock Japan to AFP | London anchester United Mannounced that mid- fielder Marouane Fellaini has left the club to join Chi- na’s Shandong Luneng on a permanent transfer. The Belgium internation- win first Asian Cup al, 31, arrived at Old Traf- ford from Everton in August 2013 and went on to make Goals from , and give Felix Sanchez’s side the trophy 177 appearances throughout five-and-a-half seasons at The National | Dubai United, scoring 22 goals. “Everybody at United atar won the Asian Cup thanks Marouane for his for the first time after service and wishes him well Qdefeating Japan 3-1 in for the future as he com - yesterday’s final in . KNOW WHAT pletes his move to Shandong The Gulf side, making a first Luneng Taishan FC in appearance in the continental China,” said a state- showpiece, sealed the trophy ment on United’s at Zayed Sports City Stadium Qatar Almoez Ali (R) website. through goals from Almoez Ali, struck a magnificent Fellaini joins fel- Abdulaziz Hatem and Akram opening goal to set a low Belgian inter- Afif. new record for most national midfielder scored for goals at a single Mousa Dembele Japan midway through the sec- Asian Cup in swapping Pre- ond half. Seeking a fifth Asian mier League for title, the four-time champions da’s miserable night the Chinese Su- had never before lost the final. was secured when per League af- Qatar took the lead on 12 min- he then headed over ter the 31-year- utes when Ali received Afif’s the Qatar goal from old signed for chipped pass with his back to inside the six-yard Guangzhou goal, took two touches and guid- box. R&F from Tot- ed an overhead kick in off the Ja- The build-up tenham last pan upright. It was the striker’s to the match had month. ninth goal of the month, setting been dominated by The former a new Asian Cup record for a issues surrounding Everton play- single tournament. the eligibility of Ali and er, who last year Fifteen minutes later, Qatar Qatar defender Bassam signed a new and im- had doubled their advantage. Qatar’s forward Akram Afif (R) vies for the ball with Japan’s defender Tsukasa Shiotani Al Rawi. Not long before proved deal until 2020, Afif laid the ball to Hatem who, er, Qatar lost defender Boualem Japan’s pressure was reward- nament. the final, the Asian Foot - was a key figure at Old 25 yards from goal, curled his Khoukhi following a clash of ed, though, in the 69th minute. With eight minutes remain- ball Confederation released Trafford under previous shot past Shuichi Gonda and heads in their penalty area. Al Ain’s Tsukasa Shiotani found ing, Qatar made the victory safe. a statement saying they manager Jose Mourinho. high into Japan’s top corner. Now dominant in possession, Yuya Osaka with a pass, whose Japan captain was had dismissed a protest But he has featured only It was Afif’s 10th assist of the Japan should have found a way lay-off put in Minamino. The adjudged to have blocked with by the UAE Football once, as a late substitute, tournament. back into the game almost im- Red Bull Salzburg striker coolly his hand Abdelaziz Karim’s Association fol- in United’s seven Premier On 56 minutes, Afif nearly mediately. However, substitute dinked the ball over the onrush- header from a corner – the Vid- lowing Tuesday’s League games since Mour- supplied another, but Hatem Yoshinori Muto failed to hit the ing to give Japan eo Assistant Referee was con- semi-final be- Marouane inho was sacked and Ole pushed the winger’s pass over target with a header when well a lifeline. It marked the first goal sulted – leaving Afif to slot home tween the two Fellaini Gunnar Solskjaer brought the crossbar. Three minutes lat- placed. Qatar had conceded in the tour- from the penalty spot. Yoshi- teams. in as caretaker manager.

Real Madrid draw Barcelona Australia, Serbia close in on finals in Copa del Rey semis

Alex De Minaur starred• as Australia moved to the brink of the Davis Cup finals

AFP | Paris

ormer champions Australia Fand Serbia both took com- manding 2-0 leads after the first day of qualifying for the Lionel Messi of Barcelona shoots towards goal during the Copa del Quarter revamped Davis Cup finals yes- Final match between Barcelona and Sevilla on Wednesday terday. AFP | Madrid row while Madrid are into the Alex De Minaur and John last four for the first time since Millman eased to straight-set eal Madrid will face de- they won the competition in victories in Adelaide as Lleyton Rfending champions Bar- 2014. Hewitt’s Australia dominated celona in the semi-finals of the Two Clasico games in a week Bosnia, while Dusan Lajovic and Copa del Rey. will crank up the pressure on Filip Krajinovic claimed wins The draw made yesterday both teams at the end of the for Serbia against means there will be back-to- month but Real also have a in . Alex De Minaur of Australia hits a return against Mirza Basic of Bosnia and Herzegovina back Clasicos, with the second testing schedule around the Former world number one The Australia captain earlier was vindicated as rubber, winning 7-6 (10/8), 6-7 leg due to take place in the first leg, sandwiched between Hewitt has been critical of the this week said it was like him Millman also claimed his maid- (6/8), 6-2 to give the visitors last week of February, before a city derby against Atletico in new Davis Cup format, slam- “coming out asking to change en point after making his debut the lead in Biel, ahead of world Madrid host Barca in La Liga and their Champions ming Barcelona footballer things for the Champions in the 2017 semi-final loss to number 11 Karen Khachanov’s on March 2. League last-16 first leg away Gerard Pique, whose invest- League”, but his team had little Belgium. match against 362nd-ranked The first leg will be played to Ajax. ment group has led the changes. trouble yesterday. Marc-Andrea Huesler. at Camp Nou next week before Real reached the Copa del Millman, who stunned Roger Medvedev survives scare Elsewhere, Taro Daniel drew a return at the Santiago Bern- Rey semis after completing Federer at last year’s US Open, Serbia also moved to within Japan level at 1-1 with China in abeu. Real Betis will play Va- a 7-3 aggregate victory over brushed aside Bosnian number one win of qualification despite Guangzhou by beating Zhang lencia in the other semi-final. Girona on Thursday while Bar- one Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-2, the absence of Australian Open Ze, after Yoshihito Nishioka’s Real Madrid’s club director celona pulled off a brilliant 12 before rising star De Minaur champion Novak Djokovic, as shock loss to Li Zhe, while An- Emilio Butragueno said after comeback to beat Sevilla, over- winners in qualifying beat Mirza Basic 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) Lajovic saw off world number dreas Seppi helped Italy move the draw: “Madrid against turning a 2-0 first-leg deficit by this weekend will join to claim his first Davis Cup win. 593 Sanjar Fayziev 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 2-0 in front against India. Barcelona is one of the best winning 6-1 at the Camp Nou. automatic qualifiers “It’s a dream come true for before Krajinovic’s 6-2, 6-4 win Kazakhstan also claimed the matches that can be seen all Valencia scored two late Croatia, France, United me, and I’m so happy I finally over . first two points against Por- over the world today. It will goals to overcome Getafe on States, Spain, Argentina was able to get a win for my Russian youngster Daniil tugal, with be a great knock-out match.” Tuesday and Real Betis needed and Britain in November’s country in Davis Cup,” said the Medvedev survived a scare and beating Barca are chasing a record extra time to knock out Es - finals in Madrid 19-year-old De Minaur. against Switzerland’s Henri Joao Sousa and Pedro Sousa fifth Copa del Rey success in a panyol. Hewitt’s decision to leave out Laaksonen in their opening respectively.