12 Sunday, December 8, 2019 Sports

Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation Executive Committee Meeting held

Gulf Cup and its exciting history of finals

he Gulf Cup is in its fifth Iraq and Qatar, where the two decade, and it is proven teams equaled the number of Tday after day that it was points, which ended in a 1-1 born to survive. The prestig- draw, before Al Rafidain Li- ious tournament – a symbol of ons decided it with a penalty regional footballing suprema- shootout 4-3. cy – will be alive and kicking The tournament returned on Sunday, on the final event to its 17th edition of the two The Executive Committee meeting of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), chaired by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, President of the federation, and Dr. Jassim bin between Saudi Arabia and group system. Qatar achieved Muhammad al Shukaili, Vice-President, AGCFF, was held at the Al Bidda Tower in on Saturday. The meeting discussed arrangements for the 24th final and the Bahrain of the 24th Arabian its second title with a penalty hosting of the 25th edition of the tournament. Gulf Cup. shootout on the Omani Red, The final of the 24th edi- while the 18th title also saw tion will be the final num- the first title at the expense of ber nine in the history of the to return to the last and championship, compared to embraced history by achieving Liverpool cruise against Bournemouth 15 championships played in the first title in the 19th edition the one group system. at the expense of Saudi Arabia The first final of the Gulf in the final penalty shootout. Championship was in the 1974 In the 20th edition in Yem- ahead of Champions League test edition, when six teams partic- en, outperformed Saudi ipated for the first time. They Arabia by the extra time. The were divided into two groups. UAE returned and achieved its AFP The first and second qualified second title in Gulf 21 in Ma- Bournemouth for the Golden Box, and Ku- nama. Riyadh smiled to Al An- wait and Saudi Arabia reached nabi in the 22nd copy of the end Jurgen Klopp could hardly the final. Al Azraq achieved its of 2014 at the expense of Saudi have asked for more as his third title by Hamad Buhamad Arabia before the Omani team Liverpool side eased their way and Fathi Kamil. achieved its second title in the to a comfortable 3-0 win at The championship contin- previous version at the expense Bournemouth ahead of Tues- ued with the one-group sys- of the UAE on penalties. day’s decisive Champions tem despite the participation Saudi Arabia reached the League visit to RB Salzburg. of Iraq. The championship final match in the history of First-half goals from Alex witnessed two separate en- the championship four times Oxlade-Chamberlain and counters after two equal teams in 1974, 2009, 2010 and 2014 Naby Keita put the Reds in with the same points balance. without achieving the title control before Mohamed The beginning was with the through it. Their titles came in Salah wrapped up the win Qatar Championship in 1976. the 1994, 2002 and 2003 ver- early in the second half while Kuwait overtook Iraq in the sions of the one group system. a first clean sheet since Sep- 4-2 interval after a hat-trick However, for Bahrain it was tember ensured there was no from Abdulaziz al Anbari and their first arrival into the final chance of a late scare. the goal of the terrifying Jasim after they had achieved second Victory moved Klopp’s Pre- Yaqoub. The second interval place several times in the pre- mier League leaders 11 points was in 1984 between vious system. (AGCFF.com) clear of Leicester City, 24 hours before Brendan Rodgers’ team face Aston Villa, and added more pressure on Manchester City immediately before the Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah heads the ball during the English Premier League football match against Bournemouth at the Manchester derby. Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, on Saturday. Liverpool won 3-0. (AFP) It was the ideal prepara- tion for the visit to Austria, 5-2 on Wednesday and the con- the performance of Salah, who assist for Keita – impressive on That all changed 10 min- where Liverpool need a point trolled manner of this victory delivered the desired response his first Premier League start utes before the interval when to guarantee their progress meant his players were spared after being withdrawn in the of the season – and tormented the balance of the game shift- into the Champions League any unnecessary exertion be- previous weekend’s uncon- Bournemouth throughout. ed over the course of a minute, knockout stages. fore their European challenge. vincing defeat of Brighton and The only flaw from Klopp’s and ensured Liverpool could Klopp made seven changes And the manager could rested for the Everton clash. point of view was that his side sign off their domestic duties to the side that beat Everton also draw satisfaction from The forward provided an took time to get into their stride. in style.

Inside view of the Education City Stadium. When it officially opens, the stadium will accommodate 40,000 fans, and after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, 20,000 seats will be donated to develop sports infrastruc- United win Manchester bragging ture in some developing countries. Education City Stadium rights with thrilling 2-1 win to open in 2020 afp Premier League Tribune News Network now operational. However, the London Doha necessary certification process Everton 3 1 Chelsea took longer than expected and Manchester United deliv- Bournemouth 0 3 Liverpool Khalifa International Sta- therefore the stadium was un- ered a potentially fatal blow dium , the home of Qatar’s able to host the required test to Manchester City’s Premier Tottenham 5 0 Burnley national team, will host three events prior to the semi-final League title hopes on Saturday. Watford 0 0 C Palace additional matches during the and final of the FIFA Club City came into the match at Man City 1 2 Man Utd FIFA Club World Cup 2019 af- World Cup at full capacity. the Etihad knowing they had ter the official opening of Edu- The priority is to ensure an en- to win after Jurgen Klopp’s cation City Stadium was post- joyable experience for all fans men coasted to a 3-0 victory earlier in the season. poned until early 2020. so it was decided to open the on England’s south coast but “A perfect day,” Mourinho In addition to the double- stadium at a later date. succumbed to United’s light- told the BBC. “No injuries, a header of games on 17 Decem- In 2020, Education City ning-quick attacks, losing 2-1. clean sheet, goals, perfect foot- ber – the fifth-place play-off Stadium – which is scheduled Earlier, Jose Mourinho’s ball, kids coming on for first and the semi-final involving to host matches up to and in- Tottenham blitzed Burnley Premier League football.” CONMEBOL Libertadores cluding the quarter-finals of 5-0, with Son Heung-min Everton made it a miser- winners CR Flamengo – Khal- the FIFA World Cup – will scoring a sensational indi- able day for Frank Lampard’s ifa International Stadium will become the third tournament vidual goal, to close to within Chelsea thanks to an early also host the second semi-fi- ready venue ahead of 2022. six points of fourth-placed strike from Brazil forward nal, involving UEFA Champi- Fans who successfully Chelsea, who went down 3-1 to Richarlison and two goals from ons League winners Liverpool applied for tickets to Match Everton at Goodison Park. England under-21 internation- FC on 18 December, along 6 and the double-header of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s al Dominic Calvert-Lewin. with the final and the third- matches 7 and 8 will not be United side started the even- Former Everton player place play-off on 21 December. impacted – all their tickets ing match at the Etihad buoyed Duncan Ferguson, in charge Khalifa International Sta- will be automatically issued by their victory against Spurs for the first time of the Tof- dium has a capacity of 45,416 to Khalifa International Stadi- in midweek and were immedi- Manchester United’s English striker Marcus Rashford (centre) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the fees after the sacking of Marco and reopened in May 2017 fol- um, and their seats will be al- ately on the front foot, sprinting penalty spot during the English Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Silva, refused to talk up his lowing a successful redevelop- located within the same price forward at every opportunity. Manchester, England, on Saturday. (AFP) chances of getting the coach- ment to prepare it for the FIFA category. Marcus Rashford opened ing job full-time, telling BT World Cup Qatar 2022. The The date and time of those the scoring from the penalty ing a frantic wave of City at- December 25. Son stole the show just after Sport: “I’m sure they’re out stadium is fully operational matches will remain as previ- spot in the 23rd minute and tacks but they failed to find the half hour, running from there looking for other candi- at present and has hosted ously indicated in the match Anthony Martial doubled the an equaliser and are now Son’s stunning strike deep inside his own half past a dates, and rightly so. We want large crowds during the on- schedule. visitors’ lead six minutes later. 14 points behind Liverpool. Spurs flew out of the blocks host of Burnley defenders and the best guys in the world going Arabian Gulf Cup. It is In due course, all suc- City came back strongly, United are up to fifth. at the Tottenham Hotspur capped the astonishing burst managing our football club.” also just a short walk from the cessful ticket applicants will dominating possession, but Klopp’s team took advan- Stadium. with an ice-cool finish. Watford, who appointed nearest Doha Metro station, receive a dedicated email could not force a breakthrough tage of playing before their Harry Kane scored twice Spurs are still six points former Leicester boss Nigel making it easy for fans to get with further information, and the visitors continued to closest rivals to widen the gulf and there were also goals for behind fourth-placed Chelsea Pearson as their new man- to and from the venue. including details of how and look dangerous on the break. at the top of the table to 11 Lucas Moura and Moussa Sis- but will fancy their chances of ager on Friday, were unable Construction at Educa- when to download the tickets Eventually City’s pressure points, with Leicester not in soko but it was Son Heung- closing the gap on their Lon- to force their second win of tion City Stadium is complete from their account on FIFA. paid off, with Nicolas Ota- action until Sunday, meaning min’s goal that caught the eye. don rivals, who are stumbling the season, drawing 0-0 with (watch here ) and the venue is com/tickets. mendi’s late header spark- Liverpool cannot be caught by With Spurs already 2-0 up, after a six-game winning run Crystal Palace.