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SPORT Wednesday 20 December 2017 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 35 PAGE | 36 Root’s team facess Thomas tips Woodsds Gulf Cup: Qatar to post-mortem afterer to have strong bbegin title defence Ashes capitulationn 2018 Masters against Yemen Al Gharafa players and officials celebrate after receiving the QSL Cup Trophy at Qatar SC Stadium yesterday. Pictures: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Al Gharafa secure second QSL Cup title Rizwan Rehmat minute of the match. Al their second QSL Cup The Peninsula Rayyan’s high-scoring QSL CUP FINALS glory. striker Abderazzaq Former Al Gharafa oalkeeper Qassim Hamadallah produced 2009: Al Gharafa SC 5-0 Al Ahli SC star Saad Al Shammari Burhan yesterday the equaliser in the 12th 2010: Al Sadd SC 1-0 Umm Salal SC said: “We are thrilled stopped a second- minute with a neat clip with this win. It was a 2012: Al Wakrah SC 0-0 (10-9 pens) Al Kharitiyat SC half penalty kick from close range. great team effort. This by feared striker Amro Seraj, the 2013: El Jaish 2-0 Al Arabi win will boost the con- GRodrigo Tabata to guide Al Qatar U-23 star, gave Al 2014: Qatar SC 3-2 Al Sadd SC fidence of the players. Gharafa to a deserving QSL Gharafa the lead for the 2017: Al Gharafa SC 3-2 Al Rayyan SC The fans will be very Cup final victory over Al second time in the happy.” Rayyan. match in the 36th QSL CEO Hani Bal- In the tense title clash, minute. Burhan just when Al Rayyan lan handed over the medals experienced ‘keeper Burhan Ahmed Allaeldin (64) fans thought the match could to the players of the two sides. punched away Tabata’s weak helped Al Gharafa jump to a go into extra time. Al Gharafa QFA Vice President Saud Al penalty kick in the 82nd 3-1 cushion. However, Al players repeatedly quarrelled Mohannadi gave the winner’s minute to help Al Gharafa Rayyan hit back when with the referee over his deci- trophy to Al Gharafa captain retain his team’s 3-2 lead at Mohammed Kasola produced sion to award the penalty Jimenez. Suheim Bin Hamad a snap-header off a corner kick. The players go into a Stadium. kick in the 70th minute. Al Gharafa, coached by break as Qatar team eyes Earlier, Al Gharafa opened It was dramatic stuff Jean Fernandez, managed to their next assignment - the the scoring through captain when Tabata misfired with his defend doggedly for the 23rd Gulf Cup - to be held in Luiz Jimenez in the 3rd spot kick smartly punched by remainder of the time to bag Kuwait from Dec 22 to Jan. 5. Iran, Greece and Serbia federation Presidents visit Aspire Academy The Peninsula sneak peek of the Academy’s new country has a vision and well- by his association’s Sport Direc- Football Performance building. thought-out plans about sport tor, Goran Bunjevcevic, said: “We he Presidents of the Hellenic The FFIRI President was development. l firmly believe that can exchange notes on youth Football Federation (HFF), accompanied on the visit by his it will reach its objectives in the coaching and development meth- TFootball Federation of predecessor, Ali Kafashian. Speak- years to come. Aspire Academy is ods as we’ve both scored some Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), ing on the sidelines, Taj said: “I really impressive and has successes in this area, given that and the Football Association of have been very impressed by what embarked on a good sports devel- our U-20 national team were win- Serbia (FAS) visited Aspire Acad- is going on at this marvellous opment philosophy which is ners of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World emy recently. sports development institution. backed up by world class facili- Cup in New Zealand and Qatar’s President of HFF, Evangelos The possibilities that Aspire offers ties. Sport in Qatar, particularly won the 2014 AFC U-19 Grammenos, Mehdi Taj (FFIRI), to the current and future genera- football, has a bright future ahead Championships. and Slavisa Kokeza (FAS) were tion of Qatari athletes is excellent. and Aspire Academy has a major “I am sure even our coaching welcomed by Aspire Academy’s These world class facilities, com- role to play to help the country programmes can build on each Director General, Ivan Bravo, bined with the right vision for the achieve its sporting ambitions.” other’s experiences and strengths. Director of Football Performance education and nurturing of sports After his tour of Aspire Acad- Judging from the efforts that l see and Science, Valter Di Salvo, and talent in the country, will leave a emy, Grammenos proceeded to here at Aspire Academy, I am sure Director of Sport and Strategy, lasting legacy for Qatar. Qatar visit the Academy’s sister organi- that Qatar will put together a com- Markus Egger. should indeed be proud of Aspire sation, Aspetar specialised petitive team in 2022. One that will Aspire Academy’s Director General, Ivan Bravo (left) The visiting President were Academy.” orthopaedic and sports medicine represent the country well at the presents a memento to Football Federation of Islamic and accompanied them on guided HFF President Grammenos hospital. 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar,” he Republic of Iran (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj. tours of the premises, including a said: “It is quite evident that this FAS President Kokeza, joined added. 30 SPORT WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2017 Aussies look to Ashes rout over England Perth Reuters ictorious Australia will head to England will fight Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test against England brimming with confidence after reclaim- until the last in final ing the Ashes in Perth and on aV mission to subject the tourists to another 5-0 series whitewash. two Tests: Overton Captain Steve Smith was a member of the Michael Clarke side that swept the last series Down Under in 2013/14 and will feel London be fit to play a part is another good about his chances of emulating his Reuters matter entirely after he suffered former skipper by defeating Joe Root’s a hairline fracture of a rib while demoralised team in the final two matches. ll-rounder Craig Overton diving in the field at Perth. “It’d be fantastic to do that and we’ll said England have not “I am nursing a hairline talk about Melbourne when we get there,” Abeen good enough in the fracture to my rib but the doc- Smith said after their innings and 41-run Ashes series but insists the chas- tor warned me it could become win at the WACA saw Australia take back tened tourists will be throwing much worse if I landed the the urn. everything at the last two Tests wrong way -- a proper fracture, “Right now, I’m just really satisfied to avoid a whitewash. or even a punctured lung. No with what we’ve achieved in these first Australia regained the urn on one needs that,” Overton said. three Test matches. I’d love to do that Monday when they polished off “I’ve been brought up to fight again, but we will just take it one step at a Joe Root’s side to win the third through the pain, and I’m not time.” Test at the WACA by an innings the sort to leave the field for Australia were able to pick the same and 41 runs and take a 3-0 lead nothing.” team throughout the series sweep in in the five-match series. Somerset seamer Overton 2013/14 but Smith may not have that lux- All England have left to play enjoyed a dream start to his Test ury due to an injury doubt over Mitchell Australian bowlers Pat for is pride in Melbourne and career when he picked up the Starc. Cummins (left) and Sydney, but Overton says the wicket of Australian captain The pace spearhead carried a heel series is not over as they try to Steve Smith in the second Test Mitchell Starc (right) hug injury through the final day at the WACA halt an eight-match losing in Adelaide. coach Darren Lehmann and could be rested for Melbourne, which sequence in Tests in Australia. With six wickets to his name may open the door to a recall for squad after winning the third “We have not been good in his two Tests and an impres- seamer Jackson Bird. Test of the Ashes series enough for long enough in this sive 41 not out with the bat in With Josh Hazlewood in top form after against England in Perth series and have let chances slip, Adelaide, Overton was one of grabbing five wickets to rout England for on Monday. and because of that we have lost the few England players to 218 in their second innings at the WACA, the Ashes before Christmas,” he emerge with much credit. Australia are unlikely to be overly con- said in The Times yesterday. He said he is desperate to cerned about Starc’s possible absence. Since an acrimonious series defeat at an unbeaten 126 in the second Test in “We are gutted but don’t for play in the Melbourne Test Coach Darren Lehmann said he was home to South Africa a year ago, Australia Adelaide. Mitchell’s maiden ton in his 22nd a second think that there will which begins on Dec. 26. eager to see how the team would play with have won nine of their past 13 Tests, with Test came after years of failing to deliver be divisions in the camp or that “I won’t rule myself out of the pressure of winning the series on home their captain leading the way with over with the bat, so it was hugely encourag- we see the series as over.