Djokovic sets up blockbuster final with Nadal PAGE 13 SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 2018 Qatar to face Argentina in Copa America, fairly easy draw for hosts Brazil PAGE 12 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S FINAL (11.30AM) WE ACHIEVED SOMETHING THAT IS HISTORY FOR US: QATAR COACH FELIX SANCHEZ Qatar’s players celebrate their victory with coach Felix Sanchez at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (Right) Qatar players do a salute to themselves soon after the history-making triumph against South Korea. ‘We played a great game. The players made a huge effort’ Qatar will play UAE in Asian Cup 2019 semis Gem of a goal DPA In an attritional contest ABU DHABI Abdelaziz Hatim, who had earlier collected the A magnificent long-range booking which rules him strike from Abdelaziz Hatim lifted Qatar 1-0 over South Ko- out of the semi-final, rea in Abu Dhabi on Friday to produced a moment of set up a last four meeting with quality to separate the hosts United Arab Emirates teams. His shot from 25 in their first ever Asian Cup yards perhaps caught semi-final. Hatim struck with just 12 keeper Kim Seung Gyu minutes remaining to settle a unaware but hit the bottom scrappy game in which chanc- corner at tremendous pace. es were rare. The 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar now meet the UAE, 1-0 he was fouled by Mohammed winners over champions Aus- Abdulrahman and casually tralia, in Tuesday’s second knocked the ball back to Mat semi-final. Ryan only for Ali Mabkhout to Ali Mabkhout bagged the pounce and score. only goal in Al Ain to contin- A video review failed to ue the UAE’s bid to replicate save Degenek’s blushes and reaching the final in their pre- the Socceroos reign as cham- vious tournament as hosts 23 pions was coming to an end. years ago. Roared on by a sold-out South Korean star Son crowd – a rarity in the compe- Heung Min was largely kept tition – at the Hazza Bin Zayed quiet by the excellent Qa- Qatar’s Abdelaziz Hatim (No. 6) celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the 78th minute of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (AFP) Stadium, the UAE had the first tari defence, who have yet to chance when Ismail al Hama- concede in the tournament, perhaps caught keeper Kim very good for the country.” hit the post, with the game Afif easily held by Kim. come back Abdelkarim Has- di’s poked shot was saved by though they had a let-off Seung Gyu unaware but hit South Korea responded goalless, when Sheeb looked Son alternated on the san and Assim Madibo who Ryan. when Hwang Ui Jo’s potential the bottom corner at tremen- immediately when Hwang beaten. flanks rather than his previous were banned from their first Alberto Zaccheroni’s UAE equaliser was disallowed for a dous pace. turned in Kim Young Gwon’s “I think during the 90 min- number 10 role but had little victorious quarter-final from started without the injured marginal offside. “We achieved something cross but the assistant flagged utes we created not too many impact. While he helped his three attempts. Khalifa Mubarak and sus- The first semi-final is be- that is history for us,” Qatar and the video referee con- opportunities but more than country’s under-23 side to the Australia started the sec- pended Khamis Esmaeel and tween record champions Ja- coach Felix Sanchez said. “It firmed the decision. the opponent, or more clear Asian Games last September - ond half strongly and forward were dealt a further blow when pan and Iran on Monday with was difficult for us to keep the The Koreans will rue Lee [chances] than the opponent,” which ensured an exemption Apostolos Giannou, one of defender Mohamed Gharib the final February 1. ball in the first 25 minutes but Chung Yong’s inexplicable South Korea coach Paulo Ben- from military service – their two newcomers to a reshuf- went off with a knock. In an attritional contest we were very organised and back-post miss after keeper to said. Asian Cup title drought from fled team due to Tom Rogic’s They should have gone Hatim, who had earlier col- did not concede many clear Saad Al Sheeb misjudged a “In resume, the oppo- 1960 continues. suspension, was denied by off- in front in first half injury lected the booking which rules chances. cross and their inability to get nent was more effective than Hatim, harshly, and Bas- side as he tried to celebrate his time when Mabkhout sent a him out of the semi-final, pro- “We played a great game, the best out of captain Son, of- our team.” sam al Rawi, deservedly, 29th birthday with a goal. free header just over but this duced a moment of quality to these players made a huge ef- ten isolated on the wing. A nondescript first half in- picked up yellow cards that But they were shocked in third of the tournament mid- separate the teams. fort. I congratulate them, I They were also unlucky cluded only one shot on target, rule them out of the next the 68th minute when Milos way through the second half His shot from 25 yards think they did something very, when Kim Jin Su’s free kick an effort from Qatar’s Akram game though Qatar can wel- Degenek appeared to think proved decisive. OMANIS’ SUPPORT, FANS’ LOVE POURS IN FOR AL ANNABI Thousands of Omani and other football fans among the total 13,700 at the stadium supported Qatar during their key clash with South Korea in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 quarter-final at the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Friday.(EPA-EFE) 12 Saturday, January 26, 2019 Sports Ogier leads Monte Carlo opener as Tanak drops back Hosts Brazil get fairly easy draw, Qatar REUTERS MONTE CARLO set to face Argentina in Copa America SIX-TIMES world champion Sebastien Ogier led the season- AGENCIES rivals he said his aim was to opening Monte Carlo Rally RIO DE JANEIRO triumph. at the halfway stage on Fri- “It’s going to be difficult day after overnight leader Ott FIFA World Cup 2022 hosts and no matter who we play Tanak suffered a puncture and Qatar, making their debut in we have to win,” he told re- dropped down the standings. the South American tourna- porters. “The idea is that we The Frenchman, who has ment as guests, found them- are as good as anyone; we switched from M-Sport Ford selves in a tough Group B just need to keep notching up to Citroen, led Hyundai’s 2018 alongside Argentina, Colom- the victories.” overall runner-up Thierry Neu- bia and Paraguay at the 2019 They could also be with- ville by two seconds after the Copa America draw in Rio de out Lionel Messi. The Barce- day’s six stages in the French Janeiro on Thursday. lona forward took a sabbati- Alps north of the principality. Hosts Brazil were given a cal from international soccer Ogier, who won four of his kind draw and will face Peru, after a disappointing World titles with Volkswagen and the Venezuela and Bolivia. Cup in Russia and has not others with M-Sport, is chas- The third of the three top said whether he will return to ing his sixth successive Monte seeds Uruguay are in perhaps play in Brazil. Carlo win. Hyundai’s Norwe- the most difficult Group C, The Copa America is the gian Andreas Mikkelsen was in along with the other invited oldest international tour- third place while Tanak fell to side Japan, plus Ecuador and nament in the world and is seventh, the Estonian now two reigning champions Chile. Argentina, meanwhile, played between the 10 South and a half minutes off the pace This year’s tournament have reached the last two fi- American nations and invit- after stopping to change a wheel will kick off with Brazil The groups for the 2019 Copa America are displayed during the draw of the tournament, in Rio de Janeiro, nals of the Copa America and ed teams. on his Toyota. against Bolivia in Sao Paulo Brazil on Thursday. The 2019 Copa America will be held in Brazil between June 14 and July 7. (AFP) lost both times on penalties. In addition to Rio de Ja- Neuville moved into the on June 14 and take place in Another loss would extend a neiro and Sao Paulo, matches lead after stage four and was five Brazilian cities. The final perform at the highest level, former Brazil captain Cafu Brazil and Argentina. trophy drought that stretches will be held in Porto Alegre, 3.4 seconds up at lunchtime but is at Rio de Janeiro’s Marac- to play with joy and to be and aided by soccer luminar- The host nation have not back to 1993. Belo Horizonte and Salvador. then lost some 19 seconds after ana stadium on July 7. proud of representing Bra- ies like former Inter Milan won a major title since lifting The two-times World Cup “Undoubtedly, there is going down an escape route “People have questioned zil.” defender Javier Zanetti, Uru- the Copa America in 2007 winners will come to the tour- always a great respect and on the sixth stage when he ap- me about the draw and some “We need to play really guayan Diego Lugano and six and coach Tite, whose side nament with Lionel Scaloni admiration for Brazil’s foot- proached a corner too quickly.