Late Drama Seals Hilal
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CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 6 GOLF | Page 7 Roglic set for Cink’s title title charge as drought ends his team riders with Safeway test negative Open triumph Tuesday, September 15, 2020 FOOTBALL Muharram 27, 1442 AH Furious Neymar GULF TIMES alleges racism as fi ve sent off SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL / AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE COMMENT Hosting Asian CL important milestone for return of Xavi excited as continental football and 2022 asser al-Khater, just over two years from now. CEO of FIFA World Hosting the AFC will be an im- Cup Qatar 2022 has portant test to ensure its readi- discussed the impor- ness to host matches through to Ntance of the Qatar Football As- the quarter-fi nal stages of the Al Sadd aim to sociation (QFA) stepping in to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” host the remaining matches of said al-Khater. the Asian Football Confedera- “We are particularly excited tion (AFC) Champions League to showcase once again our in- in the West region, starting novative cooling technology yesterday and concluding on that will guarantee a tempera- October 3. ture of 18 to 24 degrees Celsius Top teams from across the at a time when we still haven’t go one better AFC Western Zone will com- yet made it through the sum- pete over 39 matches from the lovers around the world.” mer’s heat.” group stage through until the One of the necessary safety In addition to the stadiums ‘In the last two editions of the Champions League, we reached the semi-fi nal where the winner measures has been the restric- that will be used throughout will meet their counterpart tion of fans entering stadiums the tournament, al-Khater semi-final... We are now playing at our home and this is good for us’ from the Eastern Zone to lay to watch the matches, with also discussed other elements claim to Asia’s most prestigious venue capacities strictly limited of the country’s hosting capa- By Sports Reporter club competition. The compe- throughout the tournament due bilities that will be on display Doha tition was suspended in March to Covid-19. as well: “The compact nature of of this year as part of a global Al-Khater had a message the tournament means that all response to limit the spread of about this decision to the foot- participating clubs will be able confi dent Al Sadd Covid-19. ball world: “While it is unfor- to stay in one accommodation take on Al Ain today Besides praising the return of tunate that matches will not be throughout their stay in Qatar. in an Asian Champi- continental football, al-Khater open to fans, we believe in the This will reduce travel time and ons League match with also discussed the stringent power of football to bring peo- increase training time, leading Acoach Xavi Hernandez clearly safety measures put in place by ple together – even if this means to better football on the pitch excited about the possibility of organisers to ensure the tour- coming together digitally or due to the reduced impact of going one step further than the nament was safe and secure for through television screens.” travel on player performance. semi-fi nal spot they had to con- players and offi cials involved. Three of the four stadiums to “Also, three FIFA World Cup tend with during the past two Commenting on the safety be used in the tournament are training sites will be used by seasons. measures taken, al-Khater said: FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums. the competing clubs through- With a fi nely-tuned team “From the very beginning, we Al Janoub, Education City, and out the tournament. These are comprising a decent mix of have worked with the Qatar Khalifa International Stadiums key venues for the FIFA World dashing youngsters and battle- Football Association, the Qatar will all host matches during the Cup as they will enable teams to hardened seniors at his disposal, Stars League and the Asian Foot- tournament. stay and train in the same FIFA Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi ball Confederation to ensure that In particular, the 2020 AFC standards venue throughout was raring to make an early im- all possible safety precautions are Champions League will mark the tournament.” pact in the tournament. taken so that the tournament is the fi rst international sporting Al-Khater concluded by Al Sadd head coach Xavi Her- delivered safely for everyone in- event to be held in the 40,000- recognising the role diff erent nandez expressed his confi dence volved. This includes putting in seat Education City Stadium, stakeholders have played in in his team, ahead of the upcom- place a series of measures at eve- which hosted its fi rst offi cial planning for a safe and success- ing Group D clash against Al Ain ry step of the user journey from game as part of the local QNB ful return of continental foot- on Matchday 3 of the AFC Cham- arrival at Hamad International Stars League earlier this month. ball in Qatar: “I really want to pions League 2020. Al Sadd coach Xavi (left) during a training session on the eve of the AFC Champions League match against Airport to hotels, training sites Education City Stadium’s take this opportunity to thank “We are very excited to start. Al Ain in Doha. (Twitter/AlSaddSC) and stadiums. completion was announced the great work that all parties Al Sadd is at the top of the group “The AFC Champions League digitally in June due to the pan- involved in planning and de- D. We have a lot of youngsters doesn’t mean anything. I know “We cannot rest too much be- home. Coach Pedro Emanuel’s is a prestigious tournament demic. The digital launch of the livering the AFC Champions and experienced players as well. everyone is excited but we have tween games, it’s tough but fair men then slightly improved that we are honoured to host. stadium was dedicated to front- League are doing to ensure the We are training well and we will to be calm, and go game by game, for all teams. We must focus and on that performance, but not We are particularly thrilled to line workers battling Covid-19. safety of everyone involved, but forward to a strong start, in a step by step.” avoid mistakes.” enough as they lost to Saudi Ara- have been able to step in and “The AFC Champions League most importantly, the frontline competition that will be diffi cult Star striker Akram Afi f, new Al Sadd defender Abdelkarim bia’s Al Nassr 2-1 on Matchday help the AFC at this late stage will be yet another substantial staff who are working to provide for everyone,” said Xavi addition Santi Cazorla, who has Hassan also spoke of his side’s Two. of the tournament and play a event that Qatar will host as critical support to ensure that “I’m happy with what the already made a big impact in the readiness. “Our group is not easy, Al Sadd, on the other hand, role in facilitating the gradual, one of numerous test events, to all those have involved have all team’s performances at the start QNB Stars League with his prow- but Al Sadd is fully prepared and needed an own goal from Al safe return of Asian football to maximise our preparedness well the support they need.” of this season. In the last two edi- ess in the midfi eld and a host of we hope to qualify as the group Nassr’s Abdulelah al-Amri to stadiums – on behalf of football ahead of the FIFA World Cup in (Qatar2022.qa) tions of the Champions League, other dashers in the squad, Xavi toppers. We’ll take every match salvage a draw away from home we reached the semi-fi nals, and has nothing to complain about. separately, as they come.” on Matchday One, before go- everyone is dreaming of reaching “All the players are ready, and The Al Sadd star added: “We ing on to beat Sepahan by a the fi nal. We are now playing at Akram is in good condition,” he have benefi ted a lot from the re- 3-0 scoreline thanks to Akram our home and this is good for us.” said when asked about Afi f’s fi t- sumption of the Qatari league Afif’s chip and captain Hassan As for the game, the coach ness.” We are only missing Salem and the early start to training, al-Haydos’ brace in the second said: “As I mentioned earlier, al-Hajri and Ali Asad, who need and this gives us more readiness half. we are in a good period, but the more time to recover from injury.” than the rest of the teams.” Champions League is completely Regarding the change in the Abdelkarim promised the Al TODAY’S MATCHES diff erent and we will face Al Ain, tournament format, Xavi said: Sadd fans that the team will give Group C (Education City Stadium) which is also a diff erent team “The tournament’s new format their best, adding: “We aspire to 6pm: Al Duhail (QAT) vs Sharjah from last season. They have a is totally diff erent. There will be be the best and hope for success (UAE) good coach and a lot of good local a single knockout game after the from God. Certainly, we will miss 9pm: Persepolis (IRN) vs Al Taa- and foreign players, but we are group stage. We must be careful. the fans, but most importantly, woun (KSA) ready to compete.” Everybody must be ready and re- the game will be played on the Group D (Jassim Bin Hamad Xavi added: “I feel very good.