Raja Casablanca Win African Super Cup
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SPORT Saturday 30 March 2019 PAGE | 17 PAGE | 18 Al Sulaiti, QTCC Magical champion Federer storms Al Khelaifi on into Miami pole again semi-finals Moroccans edge Tunisia’s Esperance in Doha to end 19-year wait Raja Casablanca players celebrate after winning the African Super Cup final against Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium, in Doha, yesterday. INSET: Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and Confederation of African Football President Ahmad Ahmad presenting the winner's trophy to the Raja Casablanca captain. PICTURES: MOHAMED FARAG Raja Casablanca win African Super Cup ARMSTRONG VAS Going into the match, the of the CAF Champions League consolation Raja’s French coach superb strike from 20 yards to level after 57 minutes, with THE PENINSULA Tunisians were looking to secure and second-tier CAF Confeder- Patrice Carteron. give the Moroccans the lead. Youcef firing Past Zniti. their second Super Cup after ation Cup against each other. He was the manager of the Five minutes later, Hafidi However, Raja restored their Raja Casablanca of Morocco winning their maiden title in 1995 Goals from Abdelilah Hafidi, Egyptian team, Al Ahly, who lost threatened once again as his lead in spectacular fashion edged Tunisia’s Esperance 2-1 to while Casablanca last tasted and captain Badr Benoun sealed to Esperance in the Champions through-ball sent Rahimi in the through Benoun, who sent a win the African Super Cup here Super Cup success in 2000. victory for Raja. League final last November, clear goal, but the latter was delightful flick past Esperance yesterday at the Thani bin Jassim Watched by a capacity crowd Esperance’s Mohamed Youcef which led to him being sacked. unable to fire home. goalkeeper Jrdi in the 65th Stadium. of 18,378, yesterday’s match was gave hopes with an equaliser in But there was little chance of Esperance managed to see a minute. The fighting win helped the the first time, the competition the 57th minute to give the Tuni- him losing again yesterday as bit more of the ball in the latter The Moroccans were forced Moroccan side to clinch the first held in 1993 and organized sians hopes of a fight back. they dominated for long stretches stages of the half although they to make a change with 10 trophy for the second time. There by the Confederation of African But Raja stood their ground of the final. were unable to find a way past minutes remaining after Hafidi were delirious scenes at the end Football (CAF), has been played to join Nigerian outfit Enyimba After a subdued opening, it Anas Zniti before the break. was forced off, but the mid- as Raja’s players and fans cele- outside Africa. and Étoile du Sahel as the sides was the visitors who broke the The Tunisians came out a dif- fielder’s departure had no real brated their first Super Cup The Super Cup is an annual to have won the trophy twice. deadlock after 22 minutes thanks ferent side in the second half and bearing on the result as Raja held trophy in 19 years. one-off match pitting the winner The victory was some to an impressive strike Hafidi, his they managed to pull themselves on for the win. Title-chasing Al Sadd calm aheadahead of big Al Duhail game: Ferreiraa FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA Al Coach Jesualdo Ferreira has said Sadd,”Sadd,” points leaders Al Sadd will take on saidsaid thethe Al Duhail without any pressure as Spaniard.Spaniard. the two QNB Stars League (QSL) “I“I love such gamesgames giants square off in their crucial andand it willwill bebe a privilegeprivilege forfor Round 20 clash, today. me and mymy team to win the title. Al Sadd, who with 50 points are We hadhad startestartedd our workwork at thethe leading defending champions Al beginningbeginning ofof thethe season andand we Duhail by 4 points, will clinch the deservedeserve to win thethe title.title. ItIt isis title if they manage to beat Al importantimportant forfor allall membersmembers ofof Duhail on their home turf, as they Al Sadd players take part in a training session ahead of their QNB Stars League Round 20 match againstgaingaaainiinnstst the team,”team,” he added. will take an assailable lead in the Al Duhail. RIGHT: Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira Gabi,Gabi, howeverhowever saidsaid it 22-round competition. willwill not bebe an easy tasktask to Al Duhail, on the other hand, beat Al DuhailDuhail onon theirtheir will keep their hopes of retaining two matches remaining. We played Al Duhail, who defeated Umm games. I have great confidencence in homehome ground.ground. the title alive if they manage a most of our games under pressure Salal 3-1 in Week 19, have four the players. I want them to build “We,“We, at Al Sadd,Sadd, deal victory or a draw. and we are ahead of Al Duhail by draws and one defeat against on that confidence, enjoyy thethe withwith thisthis game very The 13-time champions, Al four points. Even if we lose, we will their name. The Red Knights’ goal game and make the fans happy.”appy.” smartly,smartly, especiallyespecially since Sadd have not won a QSL title since continue to lead the table,” said the difference is +33 (47 goals for and Meanwhile, Al Sadd’s Gabi wewe are facingfacing a team the 2012-13 season, and despite the seasoned Portuguese coach. 14 against). Fernandez was itching to sealal thethe wwithith ddistinguishedistinguished high stakes in today’s battle ‘The Al Sadd have the most number Ferreira said his players were title today. players.players. MyMy messagemessage to Wolves’ will enter the field with ‘no of victories (16) to their credit in the better throughout the season and “I want to finish off the task,”task,” thethe fansfans is thatthat tthishis game pressure’. ongoing season. Al Duhail are deserve to lift the Falcon Shield. said Gabi, who was accompa-mpa- isis ofof thethe highesthighest level,level, “We are very satisfied. We have second on that front with 14 wins. “We have players at the nying his coach at the presspress rreachingeaching the European no pressure and we will work to Al Sadd, who beat Al Sailiya 2-0 highest level and I think it is time conference. llevel,evel, and we all ((playersplayers win,” Ferreira said at a pre-match in the last round, drew two matches we won the league and Al Sadd “I cannot wait for the lastst twotwo andand fans alike)alike) have to take press conference. and lost one to have a goal dif- deserve it this season,” he said. games. I have played a lotlot ofof responsibilityresponsibility to win thethe “I do not expect anyone to ference of +68 (85 goals for and 17 “We have three games left in important games and, for me,me, it league.”league.” hehe said.said. predict the result of this game, against). They also have the best the league and we have to focus is a great honour in my first TheThe matchmatch will kickkick offoff which could decide the title with goal difference among the 12 teams. on all small details in such big season to win the league titlee with at 7:15pm. SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2019 SPORT 17 Ma Long, Xu Xin on track as Chinese stars dominate THE PENINSULA DOHA Chinese Olympic and World champion Ma Long stunned German star Timo Boll with a 4-0 win (12-10, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8) to make it to the quarter-finals of the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum, Qatar Open yesterday. Ma Long, the no.11 seed, beat Tristan Flore of France in Thurs- The Medium Tour podium winners pose for a photograph day’s first round match (6-11, 11-5, with officials during the opening day of the 10th Round 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7) while Boll, of Hathab Series, yesterday. the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of compatriot Benedek Duda (11-4, 11-8, 11-4, 14-12). Today, at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Qadi wins Al Attiyah Arena in Doha, 30-year-old Grand Slam winner who is also a three-time singles Medium Tour on champion in Doha, will meet Jap- anese world number 10 Jun Mizutani who outplayed Czech Daydreamer EC Pavel Sirucek in a similar manner. Mizutani won 11-8, 11-10, 11-4, Chinese Olympic and World champion Ma Long in action against Germany’s Timo Boll during their round 11-5. of 16 match of the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum, Qatar Open at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah THE PENINSULA Meanwhile, Xu Xin, the top DOHA seed, also made it to the last-eight Arena in Doha, yesterday. after a thrilling comeback against Daydreamer EC and Saeed Nasser Al Qadi bagged Japan’s Yuya Oshima (9-11, 10-12, presence when he outplayed Yun-Ju Lin and I-Ching Cheng. women’s doubles semi-finals yes- major honours on the opening day of the 10th round 11-3, 11-8, 13-11, 11-4). Liang Jingkun, the no.15 seed, in Awaiting the Japanese duo in terday when two Chinese pairs of the Hathab Equestrian Tour yesterday. The world number two, Xin, four straight games (12-10, 11-8, the final are China’s Xu Xin and booked their places in the final. Al Qadi’s trusted 16-year-old gelding completed had made a successful start in 11-8, 11-8). Liu Shiwen who enjoyed a con- Ning Ding and Yidi Wang pre- an error-free ride in 61.11 secs as the duo bagged Thursday’s first round with In the mixed doubles, trasting win during yesterday’s vailed over Hina Hayata and yet another win in the 12-leg series.