Sport SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 2020 CoachC Misbah ul-Haq: Pakistan cconsidered abandoning NZ tour WeW did discuss (pulling out of the tour) but then finally decidedd to say no to this option because when you invest this muchm time on this, then you have got to give it a shot. Pakistan cricket coach Misbah ul-Haq Sport |06 QATAR SENIOR MEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE: Al Sadd Sports Club beat Al Shamal 79-75, Qatar Sports Club beat Al Khor 78-72 Unstoppable Al Attiyah clinches Hail Baja 1 THE PENINSULA – HAIL, SAUDI ARABIA Jubbah and headed west of Hail before Denis Krotov (Mini) and into eighth in issues thwarted Lorenço Rosa. looping through the desert to finish the overall standings, but the Saudi Czech driver Martop Prokop had Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah held his nerve close to the village of Q’na. There were driver had the superb consolation of been unable to start Hail Baja 1, but to set a second successive fastest time two passage controls after 147.29km a useful victory in the FIA T3 category the former WRC star was permitted and seal victory in Hail Baja 1, round and 261.46km. in his Can-Am. to take part in the second leg of the four of the FIA World Cup for Cross- The leading quartet were closely Dutchman Kees Koolen finished National Rally for testing purposes. Country Bajas, yesterday. matched through the opening check- in 13th place and first in the FIA T4 Yamaha’s Adrien van Beveren Despite opening the road on the points with Al Attiyah holding a slight section in his South Racing Can-Am delivered another polished per- 275.54lkm stage and having the extra advantage over Sainz, despite opening Maverick X3. He was second best on formance on his pre-Dakar test to burden of navigation, the Toyota Hilux the road and relying heavily on Mat- the day’s stage to a resurgent Aron crush his amateur rivals in the motor- driver and his French navigator Mat- thieu Baumel’s precise navigation. He Domzala, but the Pole’s first day woes cycle category. The Frenchman won thieu Baumel stayed ahead of closest gradually extended that advantage as had given Koolen a massive cushion the stage by 23min 16sec from Konrad rivals Carlos Sainz and Stéphane the stage progressed to seal the win. and he duly closed the gap on his rival Dabrowski to record a winning margin Peterhansel to win the stage by 3min Russian Vladimir Vasilyev moved for the FIA T4 title. over the Pole of 48min 25sec. Saudi 20sec and seal a winning margin of ahead of Dutchman Bernhard Ten Khalifa Al Attiyah, the brother of rider Mishal Al Ghuneim finished a 6min 10sec. Brinke in the battle for the FIA Bajaj overall event winner Nasser,, was third distant third. HAIL BAJA 1 – FIA (SS2): Al Attiyah said: “It was a good day Drivers’Drivers’s titie.titie. TheThe duo finishedfinished HailHail in the category butbut tech-tech- Riyadh Saud Al Shammeri won hishis 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel for us. We believed in our speed. We BajaBaB ja 1 inin fifthfifth andand sixth positionspositions and nical second successive stage to cconfirmono firmrm (FRA) Toyota Hilux: 6hr 14min 27sec opened the road but we only had one thethe outcomeoutcome of thethe titletitle race will now victory in thetheh quadquau d cat-caat- 2. Carlos Sainz (ESP)/Lucas Cruz (ESP) MINI JCW way and that was to push. We make be decideddece ided atat the finalfinal round egory onn hishiss Yamaha.Yammahaha.a. Buggy: 6hr 20min 37sec incredible stage without mistake, no ono DecemberDece emmbeb r 14-16.141 -116. 3. Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA)/Edouard Boulanger problems and no punctures. I am SalehSaSaleeh Al SaifSaif maymay havehave (FRA) MINI JCW Buggy: 6hr 23min 26sec happy to win Baja 1. Now we have two slippedslslipppped behindbeehihinnd Russia’sRussia’s 4. Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)/Ditk von Zitzewitz (DEU) days of rest. Baja 2 will be different Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 6hr 29min 15sec but we try to do our best. Third win in 14. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Hail and hopefully the fourth one is Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 7hr 48min 04sec coming very soon..” 15. Khalifa Al Attiyah (QAT)/Paulo Ceci (ITA) Sainz and Peterhansel were Can-Am Maverick X3: 7hr 49min 05sec closely matched throughout the chal- lenging stage in the two new Mini John HAIL BAJA 1 – BIKES (SS2): Cooper Works Buggies and reached 1. Adrien van Beveren (FRA) Yamaha 450 the finish in second and third overall. WRF: 5hr 38min 22sec Double Dakar and WRC series 2. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 winner Sainz said: “All is okay, no Rally Replica: 6hr 26min 47sec problem. We keep planning and we 3. Mishal Al Ghuneim (SAU) KTM 450 will try a couple more things a day Rally: 6hr 57min 33sec after tomorrow.” Five-time Hail Rally winner HAIL BAJA 1 – QUADS (SS2): Yazeed Al Rajhi had to settle for fourth 1. Riyadh Saud Al Shammeri (SAU) Yamaha place on the first of the Bajas, the YFZ 450: 7hr 08min 14sec Saudi driver finishing 14min 48sec 2. Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi (SAU) Yamaha 700: 7hr 12min 06sec behind his winning Toyota Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah driving his Toyota Hilux during the Hail Baja 1, round 3. Waliad Al Nahath (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700: team-mate. four of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, yesterday. The second stage began close to 7hr 52min 08sec ACL: Debutants Vissel Kobe seek semi-final joy against Ulsan Hyundai AFC/THE PENINSULA – DOHA confirmed, coach Miura rotated his squad in consec- Having plied their trade in the utive 2-0 defeats which did second tier of Japanese little to impact their final football as recently as 2013, standing at the summit of the Vissel Kobe have defied all group. odds to reach the 2020 AFC Having edged Guangzhou Champions League (East) Evergrande in the group stage, semi-final where they lock another Chinese powerhouse horns with Korea Republic’s awaited Vissel Kobe in the Ulsan Hyundai FC at Jassim Round of 16, and they proved Al Sadd's players in action during a pre-match training session yesterday. Bin Hamad Stadium today. A two-time AFC Asian Cup equal to the challenge as After winning their first- winner with Japan, Miura led Andres Iniesta and Daigo Nishi ever Emperor’s Cup title in the team to top Group G with scored either side of the half 2019 to earn their AFC Cham- two matches to spare. time break to propel them past Al Sadd look to extend winning pions League debut, Vissel Vissel Kobe had arrived in Shanghai SIPG. Kobe had a 2020 domestic Doha with three points to their The quarter-final draw season full of ups and downs. name from a 1-0 win over brought about a replay of their run as QSL Round 9 kicks off The port city club added Suwon Samsung Bluewings encounter with Suwon the Japanese Super Cup in back in February, and the Samsung Bluewings, and CHINTHANA WASALA Xavi’s opposite number, Al February, defeating withdrawal of Malaysia’s Johor despite going down to an early THE PENINSULA Gharafa coach Slavisa Jokanovic Yokohama F. Marinos on a Darul Ta’zim meant the Jap- goal, Furuhashi was again on is aware of the strength of the penalty shootout, but ended anese side needed just three scoring duty, sending an intel- Unbeaten Al Sadd are looking to former champions who possess a the J1 League season in a dis- more points to top the group. ligent free-kick underneath extend gap at the top of the QNB number of players who also rep- appointing 12th place. The points were duly the wall for the equaliser. Stars League Standings when they resent the country at international The league results con- secured with an emphatic All of 120 minutes were host Al Gharafa in their Round 9 TODAY'S FIXTURES level. tributed to the departure of display against Guangzhou not enough to separate the encounter today. Al Sadd VS Al Gharafa “This will be a difficult march German boss Thorsten Fink, Evergrande as Kyogo Furu- sides but Vissel Kobe players The match kicks off at 5.30pm. At Al Duhail Stadium (5:15pm) because we are playing a side that who was replaced by former hashi netted at both ends and kept their composure, scoring The eagerly-awaited clash Al Duhail VS Al Arabi has many national team players. sporting director Atsuhiro late goals from Douglas and all their efforts from the spot between Al Sadd and Al Gharafa, It is considered as the best team At Al Duhail Stadium (7:45pm) Miura just two months before Andres Iniesta sealed a 3-1 win to seal a 7-6 penalty shootout the top-two teams in the in the league with solid players for Al Sailiya VS Qatar SC the restart of the continental over Fabio Cannavaro’s men. win and book a date with standings, is the marquee every level they compete in. Their At Al Ahli Stadium (7:45pm) campaign in Doha. With qualification Ulsan Hyundai in the encounter of the week. Top- players have been appearing TOMORROW semi-final. placed Al Sadd (22) are four points together for a long time,” Al Khor VS Al Wakrah Vissel Kobe goalkeeper “Tomorrow we play clear of second-placed Al Gharafa Jokanovic said during a press con- Hiroki Iikura in action against an Ulsan Hyundai who have accumulated 18 points. At Al Ahli Stadium (5:30pm) ference yesterday.