Sport MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2020 Formula One: Mercedes star Hamilton wins record-equalling 7th world title That's for all the kids out there that believe in the impossible. You can do it. Physically, I'm in great shape. And mentally this year has been really hard for millions of people and it's no different for us athletes. Lewis Hamilton Sport |09 TENNIS: LINZ WTA TOURNAMENT FINAL, Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) beat Elise Mertens (Belarus) 7-5, 6-2 in Linz, Austria ACL: Qatar set to host East Zone matches THE PENINSULA — DOHA resume the competition fol- with all partners to ensure the lowing the suspension of safety of all participants by A few days separate from the football activity last March due taking several strict preventive first whistle that will signal the to the COVID-19 pandemic. measures throughout the tour- resumption of the AFC Cham- The upcoming AFC Cham- nament to ensure the safety pions League, East Zone, pions League competitions for and health of all players and matches in Doha. the East Zone will be held at officials. The opening match four stadiums – three of which The AFC’s confidence in between Shanghai Shenhua of are scheduled to host matches Qatar and its organisational China FC and Australia’s Perth during the FIFA World Qatar capabilities is a significant Glory at the Education City 2022 ™ namely the Education reason for hosting matches Stadium will officially mark the City Stadium, Al Janoub East Zone matches resumption of the remaining Stadium and Khalifa Interna- On this occasion, Mr Hani matches of the AFC Champions tional Stadium – in addition to Taleb Ballan, a member of the League 2020 that were stopped the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Executive Committee of the in March because of the in Al Sadd Sports Club. Qatar Football Association and COVID-19 situation around the Three of the training sites Qatar StarsLeague CEO, said in continent. nominated for use at the FIFA a statement: “We are pleased Sixteen teams will partic- World Cup Qatar 2022 ™ will with our capability to provide a ipate in this group from six Perth Glory players arrive at the Hamad host the training sessions for the safe atmosphere for the AFC to countries: China, South Korea, International Airport to take part in clubs competing in the East Zone complete the AFC Champions Australia, Japan, Malaysia and the AFC East Zone Champions League. of the AFC Champions League. League (East), and we look Thailand, and will compete for These designated sites are forward to welcoming the top a spot to face the winner of the the training complexes at Qatar football clubs from East Asia in AFC Champions League (West) remaining. Qatar first got the hosting the AFC Champions more reaffirms its ability and University, Al-Oqla, and Al-Ersal, November and December. Iran’s Persepolis in the final AFC nod in June to host the League (West) from September readiness to host the 2022™ allowing players to train in "We are proud to be scheduled for December 19th West Zone matches in Sept- 14th to October 3rd 2020 and World Cup. Qatar’s agreement modern facilities meeting the selected as the host country for 2021. Oct. Once the event was suc- writing a new chapter in to host the AFC Champions highest FIFA standards. the remaining matches of the A total of 44 matches will cessfully conducted, the AFC Qatar’s history for its accom- League (East) fall in line with The Qatar Football Associ- AFC Champions League 2020 be held in Qatar following the had no hesitation to seek plishment in hosting major the country’s support to assist ation (QFA), the Supreme Com- for the East teams for the resumption, with one round Qatar’s assistance in hosting sporting events. AFC in completing one of the mittee for Delivery & Legacy, second time in a row after the already played in the East the East Zone matches also. Whether, at the continental biggest and most prestigious and the Qatar Stars League successful hosting of the AFC groups and only five more Following its success in or global level, Qatar once continental tournaments set to Foundation (QSLF) are working Champions League (West)." South Korea’s Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya reach Qatar clash in doubt as six semis after wins on penalties players test THE PENINSULA — DOHA score-line, the match was straightaway pushed to the tie- positive Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya breaker, as stipulated by the yesterday claimed thrilling tournament rule in the event victories on penalties to reach of a tie, without extra time. REUTERS — LONDON the semi-finals of the 2020-21 Al Kharaitiyat’s Oumar Sako season Ooredoo Cup. and Abdulmajid Anad missed Six South Korea players and a In yesterday’s first quarter- their spot kicks. Al Wakrah won member of the team’s staff tested final, Al Wakrah defeated Al after all of their four players con- positive for the new coronavirus Kharaitiyat 4-3 on penalties verted the penalties. before their 3-2 defeat by Mexico (1-1 after regular time) at the Lucas Mendes, Mohamed in an international soccer friendly Al Arabi Stadium, while Al Benyettou, Salih Mohamed Al on Saturday, casting doubts over Sailiya edged Al Arabi 5-4 in Yahr and Murad Naji scored their clash with Qatar tomorrow. sudden death (2-2 after regular from the penalty spot for Al Yonhap news agency reported time and 4-4 after tie-breaker) Wakrah, while only Rachid that South Korea were initially at Qatar SC Stadium. Tiberkanine, Evans Mensah informed of four players and one Mohamed Benyettou put and Moustapha Alhaje could staff member testing positive Al Wakrah ahead in the ninth score from the spot for Al around 20 hours before they began minute, but Daniel Goumou Kharaitiyat. Al Wakrah sur- their first international match of the equalised for Al Kharaitiyat in prised the Al Kharaitiyat year in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. the 71st minute. With a 1-1 backline with a stunning goal. A retest of players who tested negative returned two more posi- Al Sailiya and Al Arabi players Al Wakrah's goalkeeper Saoud Mubarak Al Khater (second left) celebrates tives and the match was played only fight for the ball during their with team-mates after a blocking a penalty during yesterday's quarter-final. after discussions with the Mexican quarter-final, yesterday. Football Federation and the Aus- trian Football Association. Benyettou picked up a short Soon came the equaliser Serigne Mbodji and Majdi The Korea Football Association pass from a team-mate outside through Goumou’s spectacular Siddiq scored for Al Sailiya, said in a statement that a game the Al Kharaitiyat box and header. Khaldoun Ismail while Fahad Waad’s shot was could go ahead as long as a team moved a couple of steps. Mousa charged into the Al blocked by Al Arabi goalkeeper has 13 healthy players with at least Finding a narrow angle to Wakrah box and slipped in a Sataa Al Abbasi. one goalkeeper, Yonhap reported, work on, Benyettou quickly short cross for Abdulmajid For Al Arabi, Hamdi Har- adding South Korea had 19 players launched a fierce drive that Anad to set up an unmarked baoui, Marc Martinez, Gaser including two goalkeepers available. smashed into the goalpost to Goumou, who jumped high Yahia and Sebastian Soria con- The initial four players who the left of keeper Shehab into the air, a few feet away verted from the spot, whereas tested positive were Kwon Chang- Mamdouh. from the keeper, and nodded Ahmed Abotrika was off-target hoon, Hwang In-beom, Lee Dong- The ball hit the post and the ball home. (even with his retake of a shot), jun and Jo Hyeon-woo, with Kim crashed into the net as Al Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Al thus forcing the sudden death. Moon-hwan and Na Sang-ho joining Wakrah celebrated the early Ansari (24th minute) and After Al Sailiya’s Abdulla Al them on the list later. goal in absolute jubilation. Ibrahim Nasser Kalla (33rd) Marri found the target, Al All the players and the member Close to the half-hour scored for Al Arabi, while Arabi’s Mohammed Bader Say- of staff will have to spend 10 days mark, Mensah, under pressure Ahmed Hammoudan (78th) yar’s shot was blocked by Al in quarantine in Austria. from four Al Wakrah players, and substitute Abdulqadir Ilyas Sailiya goalkeeper Amine Hwang Ui-jo and Kwon Kyung- swivelled on the edge of the (86th) scored for Al Sailiya in Lecomte with his leg, signalling won scored on either side of the box and fired a slick drive that regular time. In the tie- a famous victory for The break for South Korea while Mexico flew agonisingly over the bar. breaker, Tiago Bezerra, Ilyas, Peregrines. netted three times in three minutes in the second half, through Raul Jimenez, Uriel Antuna and Carlos Salcedo, to seal the victory. Seven Qatari referees to officiate in ACL matches South Korea are scheduled to face Asian Cup winners Qatar in a THE PENINSULA — DOHA Saud Ahmed Al Maqaleh, friendly in Maria Enzersdorf, Austria Youssef Aref Al Shammari and tomorrow. Seven Qatar referees will Zahisneid Al Shammari will be officiate games in the AFC the assistant referees The Korea Football Association said in a Champions League, East The QFA Referees Com- statement that a game could go ahead as Zone matches set to take mittee held a brief gathering place from November 18 to at its headquarters to honour long as a team has 13 healthy players December 19. the selected referees in the with at least one goalkeeper.