www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 Sturridge puts Brazil great Carlos Liverpool through Alberto dies following in League Cup heart attack THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2016 • 26 MOHARRAM 1438 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in QSL announces action against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during Struggling Al Sailiya changes to the WTA Finals, Round Robin Singles at the Singapore Indoor fixtures Stadium in Singapore yesterday. look for full points The Peninsula DOHA: The Qatar Stars League Newly promoted (QSL) have announced fixture changes for its sixth, 11th and 13th Al Shahaniya aim rounds of the season. high; Al Ahli coach Round six of QSL action will be brought forward by one day, Bonacic confident with the round now being played of a good show on November 2-3 instead of November 3-4. The fixture between Umm Salal vs Al Kharaitiyat has been The Peninsula moved to Al Khor stadium and will be played on Thursday, Novem- ber 3. The dates have been changed DOHA: Struggling Al Sailiya will be based on the request of Qatar looking for full points against newly national team head coach Jorge promoted AL Shahaniya, when the Fossati. Qatar will to take on Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi (right) speaks during a press conference Kuznetsova edges fifth round of Qatar Stars League China away from home in Russia (QSL) kicks off at the Al Ahli Stadium ahead of their Qatar Stars League clash against Al Shahaniya which 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. this afternoon. will take place at Al Ahli Stadium today. Round eleven will see Pliskova in thriller to Following their dismal run this two games on December 11 season, Sami Trabelsi’s side has only as Muaither vs El Jaish and Al gained two points from four games Al Ahli SC player Gharafa vs Al Sailiya fixtures reach semis in Singapore they have played so far. Abdul Ghafoor will be moved from Al Gharafa Despite their performances in the Abdullah (top) heads Stadium. initial stage of the season, head coach the ball during a This means the El Jaish vs AFP Trabelsi believes his team is in bet- QSL clash against Muaither clash will now take inspired run when she recovered ter shape. place at Lekhwiya Stadium while from 4-1 down in the deciding third Al Wakrah at Al “This season we started bet- Al Gharafa vs Al Sailya fixture will set to lead 6-5. Ahli Stadium, in this ter than last season. Shahaniya is a be move to Al Ahli stadium. But the towering Czech squan- January 2016 file very good side they are giving strong The Kick off times will remain SINGAPORE: Russia’s Svetlana dered her chance to serve out the performances as a team. If we look photo. the same for both games. Kuznetsova produced another match, hitting a string of unforced at their previous performances they Finally for round-13, will fea- extraordinary comeback to win her errors as she tried to end the contest have some great matches. They don’t ture two fixture changes. The tie second straight match at the WTA quickly, as the relentless Kuznetsova have big names and we don’t have between Al Sadd and El Jaish, Finals yesterday, sealing a place in broke back and forced a tiebreaker. big names so it will be an interesting which was initially set for Fri- the semi-finals. The match was still in the bal- match,” he said. day December 23, will be moved Just two days after she saved a ance when Pliskova saved three Speaking about his side’s lack to Thursday December 22 at match point to defeat the defending successive match points to draw of goals Trabelsi added, “We were Lekhwiya Stadium with a 17:45 champion Agnieszka Radwanska, level at 6-6 in the tiebreaker when having a problem with defence last kick-off. The tie has been changed Kuznetsova again rallied back from the more experienced Kuznetsova season and we fixed this problem due to the stadium being used for the brink to beat US Open final- regained her composure and won but at the same time we now have the Italian super cup between ist Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 the next two points to seal victory. a problem in attack. We are finding Juventus and AC Milan. (8-6) in a heart-stopper at Singa- “I’m not surprised at all,” Plisk- it difficult to find the net as we need pore’s Indoor Stadium. ova said. “She’s won two Grand good finishing.” Kuznetsova still has another Slams, so it’s not someone who just “In football stat are about num- round-robin match to play tomor- came up. bers and numbers are about winning. row against Garbine Muguruza but “She is very strong woman and Although we are improving in per- Injured duo is already assured of finishing top she can really play tennis. She has formance but to be realistic we need of the White Group standings after a tough game.” better results,” added the Tunisian Muguruza was beaten 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 With Serena Williams and Maria tactician at the press conference return to by Radwanska in yesterday’s late Sharapova both absent from the yesterday. match. prestigious end-of-season cham- Shahaniya are having a good start Muguruza is out of the running pionship, Kuznetsova has emerged to the QSL season with the newcom- Al Rayyan for the semis after losing her first as the unlikely headline act of the ers picking up five points from four two matches, leaving Pliskova and $7 million tournament, restricted to games. Jose Fernando’s men will be Radwanska to battle it out tomor- the world’s top eight players. looking to continue this good form training row to see who else goes through She defied the odds just to qual- against Sailiya. with Kuznetsova from the group. ify for the tournament for the first Jose Fernando, the head coach With sweat pouring from her time since 2009, only sneaking of Shahaniya wants his players to be face and her muscles aching after into the elite field after winning the confident going into games. The Peninsula she had run herself ragged for Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Satur- “The result last week got us a more than two hours, the 31-year- day, then hopped straight on a plane point and that gives us confidence. old Kuznetsova triumphed through and made the long flight to South- Each game we are attacking more sheer willpower and nerves of steel. east Asia. and there is a good atmosphere continue working like usual. In for Al Khor. I believe in our players DOHA: The reigning Qatar Stars “I play with my heart. I always Jet-lagged when she arrived, in the club and I want to keep this Qatar every game is important, we and I’m satisfied with my players. League champions Al Rayyan do,” Kuznetsova said. “But maybe she seemed to be heading towards atmosphere. The next game against analysed that Al Khor and they have I look forward to see what I can have been handed a timely boost I’m starting to believe a little bit defeat in her first match with Rad- Sailiya is very tough but we will try good offence and we must find a way achieve with this group,” added the ahead of their fifth round encoun- more than before. I just hang in wanska when she asked the umpire our best.” through in order to win this match.” Croation head coach. ter against Al Kharaitiyat. there more. for a pair of scissors and began cut- “I feel there is quality in the team “For each team we have a differ- Bonacic is full of confidence in The Lions confirmed that “Some things get together and ting her own hair during a change and right now I want get everything ent strategy and this will be the case his team and believes that they will both goalkeeper Saud Al Hajiri you get confidence. I see oppo- of ends. from the players and I am very sat- get the three points today. and influential striker Sebastian nents fear me more than before She went on and won the match isfied with their performance. I tell QSL Fixtures “I believe that tomorrow we are Soria have returned to first team because I win matches, I fight, and as footage of the impromptu haircut them that if we train the right way Today going to beat Al Khor and I know training on Tuesday evening. I’ll be there. It doesn’t matter if I play went viral on social media, winning you can get results. I know players how to prepare my players for this The news will be a huge boost like crap and I’m sore, I will just be Kuznetsova a legion of new fans, but Al Sailiya vs Al Shahaniya at Hamad in the top four sides have good play- Bin Khalifa Stadium at 5.20pm. match and to motivate them. They for head coach Michael Laudrup, there.” upsetting her regular hairstylist. ers but I personally feel players in might think some teams are easier who initially claimed that Soria Pliskova, seven years younger “I took the headband off and I Al Ahli vs Al Khor at Hamad Bin Khalifa Shahaniya have the quality as well,” Stadium at 7.30pm. than others but it’s my job to keep could have been out for a month than Kuznetsova but with ice in her was like, it looks weird,” Kuznets- added the Portuguese tactician.