Al-Haydos Strikes Twice As Al Sadd Down Sepahan Al Taawoun Upset Al Duhail 2-0 in Buraidah
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CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 Taylor has no Spurs holding retirement on for dear life plans ahead of aft er Son’s injury: 100th Test Mourinho Wednesday, February 19, 2020 AWARDS Jumada II 25, 1441 AH Hamilton, Messi GULF TIMES share ‘sportsman of the year’ honour SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL / AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Al-Haydos strikes twice as Al Sadd down Sepahan Al Taawoun upset Al Duhail 2-0 in Buraidah AFC Doha terrifi c second half dis- play helped Qatar’s Al Sadd SC climb to top spot of Group D with Aa 3-0 victory over Sepahan FC of Iran in the AFC Champions League at Jassim Bin Hamad Sta- Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez. dium yesterday. A brace from Hassan al-Hay- dos followed Akram Afi f’s 51st- minute opener, as Sepahan were brought back down to earth after last week’s stunning 4-0 success away to Al Ain. Al Sadd’s handsome win takes them top of table on goal diff er- ence from Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, while Sepahan slip to third with four group stage matches to play. It was a match full of action from the opening whistle, with both sides producing several clear-cut scoring opportunities in a fi rst half which, against all odds, fi nished without a goal. Boualem Khoukhi’s pass put Afi f through on goal in the open- ing 60 seconds, but goalkeeper Payam Niyazmand produced a Al Sadd’s Hassan al-Haydos (left) celebrates his goal with teammates during the AFC Champions League match against Sepahan at Jassim Bin terrifi c refl ex save to keep out the Hamad Stadium in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil fi rst of three Al Sadd attempts in the opening six minutes. Hosseini cross, only to send his Bounedjah assist six minutes af- fect square ball from Afi f. in the 34th minute. The early minutes were prom- fi rst-time eff ort narrowly wide of ter the break. Al Sadd will face Al Ain away The former Al Nassr striker ising ones for Xavi’s side, who the net. Al Sadd’s second was a thing on March 3 while Sepahan will showed his poacher instinct regularly tested the visiting de- The pendulum continued to of beauty, with another fl owing look to get back to winning ways to react quickest to Amine Le- fence without managing to fi nd swing, but Al Sadd took control move culminating in a wonder- against Al Nassr on the same day. comte’s spilled ball as the Qatari the back of the net, with Sepahan as the much went on, with the ful exchange between Bounedjah Duhail shocked goalkeeper attempted to save a captain Mehdi Kiani producing visitors fi nding increasingly dif- and al-Haydos; the former drill- Meanwhile, Al Taawoun FC long-range eff ort from Abdul- a terrifi c tackle to stop an Afi f fi cult to contain their pace and ing in an inch perfect low cross, stunned Qatari heavyweights Al majeed al-Swat. Sepahan coach Amir Ghalenoei (left) with Al Sadd’s Akram Afif during breakaway in the 18th minute, movement. and the latter fl icking the ball into Duhail 2-0 in Buraidah in a Group Al-Sahlawi returned the fa- the match yesterday. and Baghdad Bounedjah passing A pair of impressive refl ex the net with the back of his heel C match yesterday. vour for al-Swat in the second when he ought to have tried his saves from Niyazmand had de- Gianfranco Zola-style to double The Saudi side were looking to half providing the assist for Al Lecomte to put the hosts’ win Persepolis are third on one point, luck shortly after. nied Bounedjah just before the the lead in the 72nd minute. build on their opening day win Taawoun’s second of the night. beyond doubt in the 54th minute. ahead of Sharjah courtesy of Sepahan began to create en- interval, but there was little he Al-Haydos found the net again over Sharjah as they hosted 2018 Yaseen Barnawi applied the The result puts Al Taawoun away goals. couraging openings of their own, could do to prevent Al Sadd’s with a much simpler second six quarter-fi nalists Al Duhail who pressure on Ahmed Yassir, re- top of the group with six points, Al Taawoun are away to Perse- and they made the best chance opening goal, with Afi f cleverly minutes later, this time steering had yet to beat a Saudi team in trieved the ball and passed to al- while Sharjah’s 2-2 draw with polis next, while Al Duhail’s of the opening 45 minutes when lifting the ball over the tower- the ball into an open net after the AFC Champions League. Sahlawi, who in turn fed al-Swat Persepolis in the other fi xture Matchday Three fi xture sees Mohamed Mohebbi beat Saad ing shot-stopper after being re- more sparkling football from the Veteran Mohamed al-Sahlawi inside the box and the winger means Al Duhail stay in second them hosting Sharjah in Doha in al-Sheeb to a low Mohamedreza leased by a wonderfully weighted hosts culminated in an inch-per- opened the scoring for the hosts applied a composed fi nish past place with three points, while two weeks’ time. HORSE RACING Al Hazm to sponsor His Highness The Amir’s Sword feature By Sports Reporter in Qatar. For us as Qataris, every- good results. So we too want to rybody. A horse can speed up at Doha one wants to win the Sword from make sure that we are supporting the end, and has a chance. It does His Highness. I think this shows them.” change the nature of the race,” al- how much Mr al-Emadi wants to The three-day racing ex- Kaabi said. s some top quality sponsor because it is a precious travaganza at QREC’s Al Rayy- “We have good horses from horses from Qatar and prize. He sees there is big value an Park turf attracts some top abroad. This race is going to abroad get ready for in sponsoring the event,” QREC quality horses from across the be tough to win. Especially the the fl agship weekend in CEO Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi world. Amir’s Trophy and the Sword. I AQatar racing — His Highness The said yesterday. The fi nal day of the festival will think there is a big competition Amir’s Sword Festival — Al Hazm Al-Emadi said, “We are with see some of the biggest races, in- for (His Highness Sheikh Mo- and Qatar Racing and Equestrian the QREC for more than 10 years cluding the Al Biddah Mile (QA hamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s) Club (QREC) announced contin- now. It is our pleasure to be asso- Group 2), Dukhan Sprint (QA Ebraz also to win the (His High- uation of a fruitful partnership at ciated with the race that carries Group 3), Qatar International ness The Amir’s Sword) race third a press conference yesterday. His Highness’ name. We will be Cup (Group 1) for Purebred Ara- time. I think it will be diffi cult for Al Hazm will once again be where His Highness will be there. bians, and the two USD1 million all the horses. a sponsor of His Highness The That’s the main reason why we features — His Highness The “All the owners and trainers Amir’s Sword (Group 1 PA), the are there. For us, it’s not about Amir’s Trophy (QA Group 1) for are very tensed and excited about million-dollar Purebred Arabian the fi nancial benefi ts. Thoroughbreds and His High- what’s going to happen. May the feature on Saturday. “As part of the private sec- ness The Amir’s Sword (Group 1) best horse win.” “We would like to thank (Al tor our duty is more than just to for Purebred Arabians. Emadi Enterprises CEO) Mr make money. We have to be part What will add to the excite- Qatar Racing and Equestrian Mohamed al-Emadi for being a of any successful tournament in ment is a recently-installed far Club CEO Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi sponsor for His Highness The the country. That also means that bend on the track. and Al Emadi Enterprises CEO Amir’s Sword. He has been sup- the private sector believes in the “We have a new quarantine, Mohamed al-Emadi pose during porting horse racing at QREC for economy of the country. Most of and we have a new bend. It is an a press conference at Al Hazm long. His Highness The Amir’s the racing in Europe and other exciting addition, the far bend in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Sword is the most valuable race places, the club has had very gives more competition to eve- Juhaim Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, February 19, 2020 FOOTBALL EPL United win 2-0 at Chelsea amid VAR controversy Reuters Chelsea captain Cesar roud’s header in the 77th was London Azpilicueta added: “In two key cancelled out when VAR showed moments we lost the game. We the toe of his boot was off side. created clear chances and were “You want the right decisions eaded goals from An- looking good but we were pun- to be made and we’re happy they thony Martial and ished before halftime.” were made, because they weren’t captain Harry Maguire A fi ne glancing header from being made without that help,” earned Manchester Martial just before halftime from said United manager Ole Gunnar HUnited a hard-fought 2-0 win an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross put Solskjaer.