Sport THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021 EgosEgos bruised,b beaten Australia ponder next step My messagem to our players will be that we’ve got another oopportunitypp in a month or so’s time. We learn from our errors anandd our mistakes in this series and we look to get better in the nexnextt one. Australia captain Tim Paine Sport |09 QBF MEN'S LEAGUE: Al Gharafa (Abdulrahman Saad 27) 89-77 Al Sadd (B Dieng 31); Al Shamal (W Arkaji 26) 97-75 Al Arabi (K Murphy 24) 'Big step towards title' as YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Al Kharaitiyat 1-2 Al Gharafa Al Sailiya 0-0 Al Ahli Al Sadd thrash Al Khor 7-0 Al Sadd 7-0 Al Khor FAWAD HUSSAIN Spanish star Santiago Cazorla con- THE PENINSULA verted a penalty in 41st-minute penalty while Ali Asad netted in 71st Al Sadd are unstoppable this season. minute to put their name on the ‘The Wolves’ are not just defeating scoresheet. their opponents - they are thrashing Al Sadd consolidated their top spot them, and yesterday it was another with 41 points, 13 clear of second- ruthless display of attacking football. placed Al Duhail after their emphatic On their home turf, Xavi Hern- victory in front of home fans. andez-coached side crushed Al Khor In week 13, Al Sadd crushed Al 7-0 to continue their goal-fest that has Sailiya 8-0 and week 5, the Wolves seen them scoring 60 goals from 15 hammered Al Ahli 7-1. Three times this matches at an average of 4 goals per season Al Sadd beat their rivals 5-0: match. The closest side to reigning Al Kharaitiyat twice and Al Sailiya Amir Cup champions in terms of once. scoring are QSL champions Al Duhail, “We have taken a big step towards who have netted 37 times from 15 winning the title with a 13-point lead,” games. said Xavi yesterday while expressing Veteran Rodrigo Tabata his delight after big victory. emerged as star for Al Sadd “We produced magnif- yesterday, completing his icent performance and I first hat-trick of the am very happy. I am happy season with goals in 36th, with the performance of 49th and 57th minutes. players, who have not Feared Algerian striker played much before, Baghdad Bounedjah also including Suhail, Musab, scored a brace (7th and Salem and Tabata, who 33rd minutes) to go top in performed more than the list of leading scorers excellent and deserve to be with 17 goals this season. praised with the rest of the players,” Xavi added. “We are enjoying the best moments of the season and we must benefit a lot from them.” he added. Last night, Al Sadd were in total control against 11th placed Al Khor, who succumbed to their ninth defeat. The Al Sadd players congratulate team-mate Rodrigo Tabata after the latter completed his hat-trick against Al Khor yesterday. Wolves dominated their opponents rivals with 61 percent ball maintaining lead on the points table. Al Kharaitiyat remained on six were dominant in the second half as possession, unlike When we put pressure on Al Khor, we points. well but the advantage went to Al their first-leg game had a good time in the first half by Despite an aggressive display by Kharaitiyat after Al Gharafa’s Saeed against Al Khor when scoring four goals,” said Al Sadd’s Al Gharafa, Al Kharaitiyat did well to Alhaj was sent off in the 67th minute. both teams failed to Ahmed Suhail. stop their opponents from scoring Majed Aman set Evans for the game’s break the deadlock. “The great result was achieved by goals early in the match. opening goal. They were leading the fact that we respected the Al Khor Ivory Coast striker Jonathan Kodjia After getting a neat lob from Aman, 4-0 at half-time team and took nothing for granted. created the first chance when he fired Evans charged into the box and fired and added three We converted the opportunities into ball from the edge of the box, but Al a shot that caught a slight deflection goals to complete goals and team work is the secret of Kharaitiyat’s goalkeeper Shehab of a dive by Al Muhaza and went into the rout. Al Sadd’s strength in all matches in Ellethy dived to his left to block the the net giving the keeper no chance “We entered the league,” he added. move. to stop the ball. the match with Meanwhile, 10-man Al Gharafa Al Gharafa continued to attack in However, the lead didn’t last for the aim of retained their third spot after they the first session with Sofiane Hanni, long as Hassan curled a clinical kick winning and rallied to edge Al Kharaitiyat 2-1 at Al Ahmed Al Janehi, Yousef Muftah and to score an equaliser, two minutes Ahli Stadium, in yesterday first match. Kodjia making attacks at regular before scoring the winner off a Yousef Captain Moiad Hassan scored intervals. Muftah cross. goals in 77th and 79th minutes to Al Kharaitiyat’s Rachid Tiber- In other match yesterday, Al secure full points for Al Gharafa after kanine, however also gave Al Gharafa Sailiya and Al Ahli played out a Mensah Evans scored for Al scare when he sneaked into the box goalless draw at Al Ahli Stadium. Al Al Sadd's Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates after Kharaitiyat in the 70th minute. but his shot from close range was Ahli remained on 6th position with 23 scoring his second goal against Al Khor yesterday. With the win, Al Gharafa moved blocked by Tameem Al Muhaza. points while Al Sailiya also retained to 27 points while bottom-placed Former champions Al Gharafa their 8th spot with 19 points. Djokovic hits back at criticism over AO quarantine stance REUTERS – MELBOURNE “... at times when I see the aftermathath ofof needed.” DjokovicDjokovic also expressed grat-grat- things, I do tend to ask myself if I shouldd justjust itude towards ororganisersganisers TA, the AusAus-- I am very sorry that it has come to that World number one Novak Djokovic yesterday sit back and enjoy my benefits insteadad ofof traliantralian governmentgovernment and the citizens to because I do know how grateful many hit back at criticism of his letter to Australian paying attention to other people’s struggles.”ggles.” allowallow the playersplayers to compete amid the are. We all came to Australia to Open chief Craig Tiley in which he suggested Tennis coach Daniel Vallverdu told Reuterseuters pandemic.pandemic. compete. Not being able to train and easing of quarantine restrictions, saying his that players in hard quarantine shouldd getget “Things“Things in the media escalated andand good intentions were “misconstrued”. preferential treatment from organisers such therethere was a general impression that thethe prepare before the tournament starts As many as 72 players are confined to as prime practice times and matches scheduledduled players (including myself) are ungrateful, is really not easy. None of us ever their hotel rooms for 14 days and unable to in the cooler hours of the day. weakweak andand seselfishlfish because of questioned 14 days of quarantine train for the Feb. 8-21 Australian Open after Djokovic, who last year quit as thee ATP their unpleasant feelings despite what is being said by media passengers on three charter flights carrying Players Council chief to launch a breakawayaway inin quarantine,” he outlets: Novak them to Melbourne tested positive for the players body, won a record eighth Australianralian added. Djokovic novel coronavirus. Open title in Melbourne in 2020. “I am very sorry Djokovic reportedly asked for reduced Former Australian Davis Cup playerr Sam thatthat itit hashas comecome to isolation periods and having players in hard Groth accused Djokovic’s letter as a “selfishelfish thatthat becausebecause I dodo quarantine moved to “private houses with political move” while Nick Kyrgios calleded the know how grateful tennis courts”, drawing a backlash from Serbian a “tool”. manymany are. We allall Australians. Djokovic said he “genuinely” cared aboutabout camecame to AustraliaAustralia Tiley confirmed they were suggestions fellow players. to compete. NotNot and not demands. “I’ve earned my privileges the hard wwayay ... being able to train “My good intentions for my fellow com- it is very difficult for me to be a mere onlookerooker and prepareprepare beforebefore petitors in Melbourne have been miscon- knowing how much every help, gesture,e, and thethe tournamenttournament startsstarts strued as being selfish, difficult and good word mattered to me when I was ssmallmall isis really not easy. ungrateful,” the Serbian, who is isolating in and insignificant in the world pecking order,”rder,” “None of us ever ques-ques- Adelaide along with other top players, said he said. tioned 14 daysdays of quar-quar- in a lengthy statement. “Hence, I use my position of privilegeege to antine despite what is being “This couldn’t be farther from the truth. be of service as much as I can where and whenwhen saidsaid byby mediamedia outlets.”outlets.” THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021 SPORT 11 IHF World Championship: Qatar Britain’s Peaty wins ticket to face defending champs Denmark Tokyo Olympics REUTERS – LONDON THE PENINSULA – DOHA Qatar's Frankis Carol Marzo attempts to score against Croatia during their IHF Handball World Championship Britain’s world and Olympic 100 metres Asian Champions Qatar will Preliminary Round Group C match on Tuesday. breaststroke champion Adam Peaty said meet the reigning Olympic he was hopeful the delayed Tokyo Games and World Champions would go ahead after his place on the plane Denmark today when Al was confirmed by Team GB yesterday. Annabi kick off their The 26-year-old, who is also the 100m campaign in the main round world record holder, was the first British of the 27th IHF Men's World athlete to win gold at the 2016 Rio de Championship in Cairo, Janeiro Games, his Olympic debut.