FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 AATHLETICSTHLETICS | Page 7 Arteta hails Coleman’s young guns as ban cut but he Arsenal reach will still miss semis Olympics Saturday, April 17, 2021 CRICKET Ramadan 5, 1442 AH Pakistan seal series GULF TIMES with nervy victory over South Africa SPORT Page 4 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Al Sadd face Al Nassr today in search of fi rst victory ‘We played against them twice so we know. The target doesn’t change, we are still aiming for all three points’ AFC Riyadh Duhail’s Lamouchi satisfi ed with opening win AFC t will be a battle of familiar Jeddah opponents when Al Sadd face Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in Group D of the 2021 AFC ead coach Sabri Lam- IChampions League today. ouchi said it was hugely The two faced at the same Himportant for Al Duhail to stage last year, with the matches open their 2021 AFC Champions ending 1-1 and 2-2, as both ad- League Group C campaign with vanced to the Round of 16. a win. That, however, is not the case Goals from Michael Olunga this year with only the group and Edmilson Junior steered winners confi rmed of going the Qataris to a perfect start through, with the three best sec- against Iraq’s Al Shorta at King ond-placed teams from the fi ve Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Frenchman. “We tried to hold on our usual,” said Ilic. “We tried to West groups also advancing. Thursday, with Lamouchi’s only for the win in the second period create something diff erent in Al Nassr were denied an open- regret being the margin of vic- with the least possible eff ort and the second period but we failed ing day win by tournament deb- tory which he felt should have we managed to do so.” to score.” utants Al Wehdat on Wednesday, been higher. The win is an early boost for Al “We had to made some changes with the hosts frustrated despite “It is always important to have a Duhail in their bid to advance in the positions of the players controlling 67 percent of posses- winning start in a competition,” to the Round of 16, having been as some were injured and this sion. said Lamouchi. “We controlled eliminated at the group stage in aff ected us,” added the Serbian. Such domination may not be the match in an excellent way. the 2020 edition. “The result is not good of course possible against the Xavi-led Al “The players played well and we Al Shorta head coach Ale- but we expect to be better in the Sadd but with newly-appointed could have scored more goals. ksandar Ilic said his side’s next matches.” head coach Mano Menezes hav- I’m happy with the performance performance improved in the Al Shorta face another diff icult ing seen his team in action, the Al but we lacked the final touch second half, after a first period test as they take on Esteghlal Nassr will not be lacking in con- with several chances that we devoid of clearcut chances for tomorrow. The Iranian side fi dence when they play the Qatar had.” the Iraqis. impressed with a 5-2 win over Stars League champions. “In the first half we didn’t give Al “In the second half, we had good Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli Saudi FC “The fi rst round of matches Shorta the chance to threaten organisation unlike the first on Thursday. Al Ahli will face Al ended with draws, so naturally our goal,” said the 49-year-old half where we didn’t produce Duhail on the same day. all the teams will be more com- petitive to get the win now,” said Menezes. “We coaches know the expec- tations of fans are high, and we will need some time to fi ll in the Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez addresses a press conference on the eve of their AFC Champions League gaps. Group D match against Al Nassr yesterday. “There are three things that we will need to focus on. Firstly, last gasp goal salvaging a point teammates at the King Saud Uni- Xavi wasn’t worried about we need to close the distance for them against Iran’s Foolad versity Stadium. Menezes taking charge of Al between our defence and attack. Khouzestan on Wednesday. “We expect a really tough game Nassr, saying: “Not expecting Secondly, we need to be able to While Barcelona legend Xavi against one of the best clubs much changes to the way they regain possession quickly, and was not pleased with the result, in my opinion,” said Xavi. “We play. They are more or less the lastly, to be more organised in our he welcomed Al Sadd’s willing- played against them twice so we same team. attacks.” ness to fi ght till the end and will know. The target doesn’t change, “We trust in our own process Al Sadd also endured a tough expect a more potent outing we are still aiming for all three and players, and we have to keep Al Duhail players (in red) celebrate their win over Al Shorta on Thursday. opener, with Boualem Khoukhi’s from Baghdad Bounedjah and his points.” going.” HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Racing’s Calgary stays unbeaten Agencies Lyon-Parilly, France Sheikh Abdullah’s Qaiser opens his account Agencies l Shaqab Racing’s Cal- Lyon-Parilly, France gary yet again turned on the style. Consequent- ly, the gelding remains aiser made it third time Aunbeaten in the wake of his clear- lucky on Thursday. The cut victory in the Class 1 Prix Qrepresentative of His des Poulains, a race for three- Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin year-old colts and geldings over Khalifa al-Thani was com- 2,200m, scoring his third win in ing off a creditable fourth at as many starts. Toulouse, having first visited On this particular Thursday the racecourse in mid-January card at Lyon-Parilly, the Frederic following his debut third. Rossi-trained runner shadowed Making his first visit to Lyon- the leader Blackjac Du Houley – he Parilly, the three-year-old colt Olivier Peslier rides Qaiser to Prix Carrus victory at Lyon-Parilly in was never more than three-quar- trained by Antoine de Watrig- France on Thursday. (Studio Henri Durand) ters of a length behind the lat- ant, showed that he has made ter – before taking the lead in the big strides forward in the wake in his wake to finish second Holly Polly. The latter won three mid-stretch and easing his way to of his victory in Prix Carrus, a for trainer Miss J. Soudan and races in France and was second a comfortable two-length win in 2,200m race for three-year- jockey Alexis Pouchin. in the Langer Hamburger (LR) front of Francis-Henri Graff ard- Sylvain Ruis (right) rides Calgary to Prix des Poulains victory at Lyon-Parilly in France. (Studio Henri Durand) old maidens, after powering Where Chop was further length over 3,200m. He is a grand- trained and Christophe Soumil- his way to victory under and a quarter behind in third son of the Pretty Polly Stakes lon-ridden Prometeo. Blackjac Du taken another step forward and has Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Cal- joyed Gr2 status at the time), and Oliver Peslier. Smartly away for trainer R. Philippon and (Group 2) heroine Hanami. Houley was a further short head proved that he’s a really good horse. gary is a son of Olympic Glory, third in both the Prix Cléopatre and always prominent, Qaiser jockey Stephane Laurent. This is the family of the Prix de behind in third for trainer Y. Bar- He still has scope for improvement, the Haras de Bouquetot sire, and and the Prix Minerve (Group 3s). quickened into the lead half- Qaiser is a son of Charm Spirit, Royallieu (Group 2) winner and berot and jockey Gregory Benoist. as I didn’t have to get serious on Brezena. The latter is the sister of Brezena has a two-year-old, El way up the straight, and he left a stallion based at the Haras Prix Vermeille (Group 1) third Jockey Sylvain Ruis said, “He him in the straight. It’s a real pleas- La Conquérante, who ran third in Bnoud, currently in training with Inveterate toiling five lengths du Logis Saint Germain, and The Juliet Rose. really has a lot of quality. He has ure to ride horses like him.” the Prix de Royallieu (which en- Rossi and a foal by Ectot. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, April 17, 2021 FOOTBALL AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND-UP Roma defender Smalling robbed by Al Rayyan take on armed burglars S Roma defender Chris striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic Smalling was robbed suspended. at gunpoint by burglars who broke into his SPAIN MUST KEEP EURO Ahome in Rome in the early hours GAMES, SAYS FEDERATION Persepolis, aim yesterday, a source close to the PRESIDENT RUBIALES matter said. Smalling’s wife, The president of the Spanish son, mother and another family football federation Luis Rubiales member were also in the house said he will do “everything situated off the ancient Appian humanly possible” to ensure Way south of the city, accord- Spain hosts its four Euro 2021 ing to the source. Three men games this summer. Bilbao is entered the house at around 5am due to host three group games for fi rst victory and forced Smalling to open the and a match in the last 16 but safe and hand over three Rolex the possibility of supporters watches, jewels and around 300 attending is in doubt after the Blanc’s Rayyan have not tasted victory in their last five encounters in all competitions euros ($359.46) in cash, accord- regional government insisted on ing to news agency ANSA and a number of strict health condi- AFC Rome’s main sports daily Cor- tions.