Wade’s ton in vain as England win Oval Test; Aussies retain Ashes MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 PAGE 14 Qatar’s Adel Abdulla, MMP team fight back to finish AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 12th in gruelling 24H Tour Terrain de France PAGE 14 Al Sadd vs Al Nassr (6.54pm) Al Sadd all set for Al Nassr challenge Xavi says Wolves eager to make AFC Champions League semis AFC/TNN DOHA AL Sadd have an uphill task against Saudi Arabia cham- pions Al Nassr in the second leg of the 2019 AFC Champi- ons League quarter-finals on Monday. Al Nassr are eyeing a first semi-final appearance in Asia’s prestigious club football tournament having Al Sadd players won the first leg at home 2-1. had a strenous Al Sadd on the other hand training session were champions in 2011. at the Jassim Bin After failing to make it past Hamad Stadium the play-offs for two consecu- on Sunday. tive years, Al Sadd put on a solid performance in the 2018 AFC Champions League, going as far as the semi-finals before losing to eventual runners- up Persepolis. And captain- Concerning Al Nassr, Tae-hee now returning from a turned-coach Xavi will aim to however, is the fact that Al long injury layoff, Afif will have better last season’s result. Sadd have won each of their someone to share the playmak- “A large number of Al Sadd I have spoken to the players four home fixtures in the ing burden, perhaps allowing were involved with their na- about the importance of competition so far, defeating him more room to flourish. tional teams recently, but eve- winning and I am confident Persepolis, Pakhtakor and Al “There is pressure on eve- ryone has trained properly and of them. They are eager to Ahli in the group stage, be- ryone, not only on the team. we are ready for this match. play this match, and we fore brushing aside domestic We know Al Nassr have very “My goal is to win the AFC hope to succeed and qualify rivals Al Duhail 3-1 in the strong players like Abdul Champions League,” Xavi said. Round of 16. Razak Hamdallah and Ju- “I came to Qatar to win the for the semi-finals. Having retired over the liano, but we have players championships with Al Sadd – Al Sadd coach summer, Xavi still leads Al capable of of delivering the as a player and coach. I have Sadd’s scoring charts in the required performance. spoken to the players about Xavi Hernandez 2019 AFC Champions League We will press hard and we the importance of winning with three goals, but Qa- will work on possession and and I am confident of them. phy, back in 2011. Meanwhile, tar international Akram Afif to regain the second ball. We They are eager to play this the quarter-finals are un- matched his current boss’ tally will try to close all the spaces match, and we hope to suc- mapped territory for Al Nassr. with a Round-of-16 first leg and impose our character and ceed and qualify for the semi- If Al Sadd have history to goal against Al Duhail. Afif is achieve victory,” Xavi told re- finals,” Xavi added. count on, Al Nassr will be en- also the only Al Sadd player porters on Sunday. Al Sadd can take confi- couraged by their recent results. with more chances created On the participation of dence from their vastly supe- A fortnight ago in Riyadh, (21) than Xavi’s 14. Akram Afif, he said, “Akram rior history in the competition, Rui Vitoria’s men had over- Former player and now Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez and Al Sadd skipper Hassan al Haydos address the Typically operating on the Afif is ready for the game and compared to their visitors. turned an Ali Asad goal for Al media on Sunday, ahead of the AFC Champions League quater-final second leg against Al Nassr. left side of an attacking trio, will participate. Him not play- The Qataris have reached Sadd to walk away with a valu- creating havoc in opposition ing for the national team is the knock-out stages on five able victory, thanks to goals half-time break. games in the 2019 AFC Champi- home by UAE’s Al Wahda, but defences with his direct run- another thing – he is a profes- occasions and remain the last from Abdulrahman al Dossari The Riyadh-based team has ons League. In the Round of 16, were then able to come away ning inwards from the flank. sional player and has been ex- West Asian side to lift the tro- and Giuliano either side of the only lost one of their four away they were held to a 1-1 draw at with a 3-2 win from Abu Dhabi. With Korean midfielder Nam cellent with us.” Qatar Arc Trials huge success at ParisLongchamp TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA THE Qatar Arc Trials day took place at ParisLongchamp on Sunday with the hopefuls for the biggest races on the week- end of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe lining up three weeks before the main event for their final preparation. Her Excellency Nadia Ahmed al Sheebi, Chargée D’affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Paris, presented the trophies to the winners of the two main races of the day, namely, the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Gr 1 PA) and the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. One month on from his success in the Doha Cup (Gr1 PA), at Deauville, Akoya was victorious in the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Gr1 PA). HE Nadia Ahmed al Sheebi, Chargée D’affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Paris, presented the trophies to Akoya, ridden by Theo Bachelot, on way to winning the Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr1 PA) at the ParisLong- Trained by Karin Van the winners of the two main races, the Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr 1 PA), and G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. champ Racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, France. on Sunday. Den Bos, the 5-year-old horse went from pillar to post, never for 4-year-olds and up over the champ in three weeks’ time, in thony Oppenheimer. class to be a real threat over was coming here off a Listed rd. He jumped well and was threatened by second-place 2,400m of ParisLongchamp, which he finished a very hon- Star Catcher won the this distance with an excep- win in Deauville in August, is settled mid-division by jockey finisher Al Shamoos. was won for the second year orable fourth in 2018. Irish Oaks (Gr1) last time out tional turn of foot to win by a owned and bred by Bearstone Christophe Soumillon. Once Akoya was running for the running by Waldgeist, in the The Group 1 Qatar Prix in July. length and a quarter in front Stud and trained by Kevin in the straight, he eased up to first time at ParisLongchamp colours of Gestüt Ammerland Vermeille, for 3-year-old and The Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2), of Mutamakina, the only filly Ryan. She won by a short head join the leaders and was very three weeks prior to his main who own him in partnership older fillies only, also takes the final 2,400m trial for the in the race. in front of Shades of Blue, who impressive to win with plenty objective, the Qatar Arabian with Newsells Park Stud. place over the same course Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Tri- Racing in the colours of is also trained in England, by in hand by a length and a half World Cup, in which he will be This son of the great Gali- and distance as the Qatar Prix omphe of the day, was highly Peter Brant’s White Birch Clive Cox. from Grainges in second. facing a much tougher field. leo, who is trained by André de l’Arc de Triomphe. anticipated as the 3-year-old Farm, the colt confirmed that Final Group race of the Stephane Wattel, the train- Akoya was ridden by Theo Fabre, won by 2 lengths in An objective in its own Sottsass was making his first he is the leader of his genera- day, the Qatar Prix du Pin er commented, “It’s great to Bachelot, who commented: front of Way To Paris, with right, this highly competitive racecourse appearance since tion in France. (Gr3) was won by the starting see him back winning at this “The horse pleased even more Japanese raider Kiseki, a race was won by Star Catcher. winning the QIPCO Prix du A 5-furlong sprint down favourite, City Light. level. We brought him back to today than at Deauville. He is somewhat disappointing She was ridden by Frankie Jockey Club in June. the straight at ParisLong- This consistent 5-year-old 7 furlongs so that he wouldn’t stronger, and with the main third. Waldgeist will be run- Dettori, who was also taking Despite being blocked in champ, the Qatar Prix du Petit horse was winning his second have too hard a race. We will race of the Autumn approach- ning next for the second time his 16th Group 1 win of the on the rail until a furlong out Couvert (Gr3), was won by the Group race, having placed see the result in three weeks ing, it’s a perfect prep.” in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de year and is trained by John from the winning post, Sott- British-trained Glass Slippers.