December 20, 2020
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Sport SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2020 IndiaI crumble to record low as qquicks fire Australia to victory We were expecting a real dogfight right to the end, late day ffour, maybe day five in this Test. Again, it shows the talent we haveh with the ball and when our boys execute, and there’s aanything in the wicket, that’s what can happen. Australia Test captain Tim Paine Sport |06 QATAR SENIOR MEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE: Al Shamal beat Al Ahli 86-85; Qatar Sports Club beat Al Rayyan Sports Club 80-69 FIFA World Cup winner with France replaces Diego Aguirre QSL: Blanc joins Al Rayyan as coach THE PENINSULA – DOHA Al Rayyan's new French coach Laurent Blanc receiving a team jersey from LAURENT BLANC Al Rayyan fans always want Sheikh Ali bin Saud Al Thani yesterday. FIFA World Cup winner with France victories and this is my goal Full name: Laurent Robert Blanc Laurent Blanc was yesterday unveiled Date of birth: November 19, 1965 (age as new coach of Al Rayyan. with the team - which is to get 55) in Alès, France The former France team coach the victories that the fans want Playing position: Defender finalised an 18-month contract to end to see: Laurent Blanc a four-year wait as a coach. Current team: Al Rayyan (Coach) Blanc was given a club jersey in the Youth career presence of Sheikh Ali bin Saud Al 1981–1983 Montpellier Thani, Chairman of the Club, and Ali them like Yacine Brahimi, whom he Senior career Salem Afifa, Vice President of the Club. wanted to sign during his time with the Years Team Apps (Gls) Sheikh Ali said in a Twitter post French giants. 1983–1991 Montpellier 243 (76) released by the club: “Laurent Blanc is “I will work with the players who 1991–1992 Napoli 31 (6) a great addition to Al Rayyan and are currently trying return the team to 1992–1993 Nîmes 29 (1) Qatari football. He is a worldclass top of the points table,” he was quoted 1993–1995 Saint-Étienne 70 (18) coach and a big name in world football. as saying in a tweet posted on the club’s 1995–1996 Auxerre 23 (2) 1996–1997 Barcelona 28 (1) We wish him success with the team Twitter handle. 1997–1999 Marseille 63 (14) during the next stage of our league.” The 55-year-old Frenchman 1999–2001 Inter Milan 67 (6) Blanc said during the unveiling replaced Diego Aguirre who 2001–2003 Man United 48 (1) press conference yesterday that he has announced last month he wanted to Total 602 (125) ‘big goals with Al Rayyan’ and is leave the club for personal reasons. National team looking forward to achieving the hopes The former coach of French giants 1989–2000 France 97 (16) and aspirations of the club’s fans in the PSG team will lead the side for their TEAMS MANAGED coming period. next QNB Stars League clash against 2007–2010 Bordeaux “Al Rayyan fans always want vic- Al Sadd, the new Amir Cup champions 2010–2012 France tories and this is my goal with the team on Wednesday. Al Sadd are coached 2013–2016 Paris Saint-Germain - which is to get victories that the fans by Xavi. moved to PSG (2013-2016) before Last week leaders Al Sadd widened 2020 Al Rayyan want to see,” Blanc said yesterday. The popular 1998 World Cup taking a break. their gap on top of the table to six HONOURS He pointed out that he has followed winner had been without a club for Under Blanc, France won 16 of 27 points following their 4-1 victory over Representing France (as player) the Qatari league since he was more than four years. His last matches. PSG played 173 Ligue 1 Al Gharafa in the week’s marquee FIFA World Cup: Winner - 1998 coaching PSG, due to the strong ties assignment was with PSG who beat matches under Blanc. clash. UEFA European Championship between France and Qatar. Marseille (4-2) in 2016. Al Rayyan are currently in sixth The Wolves now have 25 points Winner - 2000 He said he is familiar with Al Blanc launched his coaching career spot on the QNB Stars League points withy eight victories and a draw, and European U-21 Championship Rayyan players and knows some of with Bordeaux (2007-2010) and then table. are still the only unbeaten team. Winner 1988 Messi equals Junior powers Ulsan to ACL Pele’s record title win in Doha blockbuster of goals for a REUTERS – DOHA single club Junior Negrao scored twice as South AFP – MADRID Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai came from a goal behind to win the Asian Champions Lionel Messi scored his League final with a 2-1 victory over 643rd goal for Barcelona Persepolis of Iran in Doha yesterday. yesterday to equal Pele’s A pair of VAR-awarded penalties record of goals for a single swung the game in Ulsan’s favour either Ulsan’s midfielder Yun Bit-Garam receiving club as the Spanish giants side of halftime after Mehdi Abdi gave the Most Valuable Player trophy from Qatar were held 2-2 by Valencia. Persepolis the lead against the run of Football Association President Sheikh Messi headed in from play in the 45th minute. Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani. Jordi Alba’s cross after his Junior’s initial spot kick in first-half first-half penalty was saved added time was saved by Hamed Lak The Qatari official was back at the to equal the mark set by the before the Brazilian netted the rebound pitch-side monitor early in the second Brazilian great for Santos. and he made no mistake with his second half to again award Ulsan a penalty, this But Messi was left frus- effort 10 minutes after the break to give time when Mehdi Shiri had unneces- trated as a dogged Valencia Ulsan their first Asian title since 2012. sarily raised his hand to meet Lee forced a draw that leaves Ulsan dictated play for most of the Chung-yong’s swinging cross from the Barcelona eight points first period without creating much in the right. behind leaders Atletico way of clear-cut chances. Lak was unable to get a hand on the Madrid, who beat Elche 3-1 Junior twice headed over from ball this time as Junior sent him the earlier in the day. central positions while Ulsan’s Yoon Bit- wrong the way to put Ulsan in front with Barcelona started garam went closest to opening the a firm strike to the keeper’s left. slowly and went a goal scoring with a shot that clipped the FIFA President Gianni Infantino and AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa Persepolis threw everyone forward behind to Mouctar Dia- outside of Lak’s left post. presenting the winners’ trophy to Ulsan Hyundai after the South Koreans won the AFC in the dying minutes as they sought to khaby’s unchallenged As a result, Persepolis were left to try Champions League final against Iran’s Persepolis at Al Janoub Stadium, yesterday. erase memories of their defeat in the header from a corner after to catch the South Koreans on the break decider two years ago, but their efforts half an hour. and, after several lacklustre attempts, to his right, going in off the inside of the awarded to the 2012 winners. While Jun- were in vain. Antoine Griezmann they took the lead in the 45th minute post. The Persepolis lead, though, was ior’s initial effort was saved by Lak, the The final, played at Doha’s Al Janoub earned the penalty that led through Abdi. fleeting as Ulsan were awarded a penalty Brazilian coolly converted the rebound. Stadium in front of a crowd of socially to Messi’s record-equalling The youngster, drafted into the team following the intervention of VAR. distanced fans, was the conclusion of a goal when the Frenchman for banned striker Issa Alekasir, forced Referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim ini- tournament that has been largely played was nudged over by Jose the Ulsan defence to back pedal before tially missed Yoon being upended in a bio-secure bubble in Qatar due to Gaya. hitting a low shot that flew through Davy by Ahmad Nourollahi but a the impact of the COVID-19 Messi’s spot-kick was Bulthuis’ legs and beat keeper Jo Su-huk review saw a penalty pandemic. saved by Jaume Domenech but the ball rebounded and from Alba’s dinked cross, the Argentine headed the ball into the net to draw level with Pele. Barcelona went ahead thanks to a superb scissor kick from Uruguayan Ronald Araujo. But Valencia’s pressure was rewarded when Maxi Gomez got in front of Barca central defender Oscar Mingueza to turn in a cross and equalise. Philippe Coutinho drove a shot just wide with 12 minutes remaining and Messi curled a free- kick wide but Barcelona were forced to share the points. Sport SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2020 06 India crumble to record low as When it’s Tiger Woods, the son quicks fire Australia to victory becomes more REUTERS - ADELAIDE than their famous than dad Australia crushed India by eight wickets inside three days of the LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS AP - ORLANDO, FLA first Test at Adelaide Oval IN TEST CRICKET yesterday, skittling the tourists Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods turned pro about the for their lowest innings score in same time and have played in some 170 tournaments 88 years of Test cricket and 26_New Zealand vs. England around the world together.