Ali Farag meets Simon Roser in Qatar Classic Squash final today PAGE 14 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018

Qatar’s ace driver Attiyah romps into Kuwait WORLD PAGE 14 Rally lead with opening stage win ASPIRE DOME Biles errs, but bounces back to make history at Aspire Dome

USA’s with Japan’s and compatriot at the medals presentation ceremony of the 48th FIG World Championships at the Aspire Dome on Thursday. US star wins 4th All-Around world title; Japan’s Murakami takes silver; Hurd claims bronze

VINAY NAYUDU and tried to focus on the other on, went up next and essayed three events.” another thrilling show to get a Biles, who returned to the score of 14.000 and be on the UNCHARACTERISTIC and international stage after a year- top position. laden with a series of mistakes, and-a-half break following her Morgan then came close yet Simone Biles had enough four golds at Rio Olympics, to Murakami, but could fetch in her performances to emerge termed the on-going Worlds as only 13.866 which meant she on top in the women’s All- one of her toughest. “This one was now placed second. Around event of the 48th FIG has probably been the hard- It was time for Biles to bat- Artistic Gymnastics World est to get out of all my World tle the odds and against her- Championships Doha 2018 Championships and Olympic self. But the champion lived and become the first woman in medals, and the scariest one. up to her brilliant execution history to win four individual It’s exciting to bring back a gold and difficulty superiority to All-Around world titles at the medal for the US, but for me be awarded a whopping score Aspire Dome on Thursday. it’s a bit disappointing because of 15.000 which brought the This was Biles’ 12th world that’s not the performance I winning overall total and the title putting her equal on re- would hope to give.” much-awaited gold. cord of 20 world champion- It was happiness and dis- ship medals set by ’s RESULTS appointment alike for the oth- . er competitors too. The 21-year-old American, WOMEN’S ALL-AROUND FINAL Belgian Nina, who by her despite a fall on the balance 1. Simone Biles (US) 57.491 pts own admission isn’t usually 2. Mai Murakami (JPN) 55.798 beam and a landing fall on 3. Morgan Hurd (US) 55.732 so good on the floor exercise, , ended with a winning 4. (BEL) 55.699 but on this day she seemed total of 57.491 which pushed 5. (RUS) 55.699 super. “Little bit of a mixed Japan’s Mai Murakami, who 6. de Jesus dos Sant (FRA) 55.599 feelings, but I'm happy about Simone Biles of the US in action during the exercise, the final apparatus of women’s All-Around competition of the 2018 FIG Artistic 7. (CHN) 54.632 finished 1.693 points behind 8. Saraiva Flavia (BRA) 54.366 my performance today. I did Gymnastics Championships at the Aspire Dome on Thursday. Biles totalled 57.491 to claim a record fourth World All-Around gold medal. (55.798), to silver. 9. Huan Luo (CHN) 54.332 come fourth and missed the The 2017 All-Around 10. (JPN) 54.299 podium, but I'm really happy champion and Biles’ compatri- for the opportunity to behind ot Morgan Hurd (55.732) fin- three great gymnasts,” said ished 0.066 behind Murakami It was error-ridden and she smiling all along. Dalaloyan, Melnikova named most elegant athletes (55.798) to pick the bronze. electrifying at the same time Looking back the crucial The margin of victory, even as Biles, who began with the flip, Morgan said, “I was try- accounting for Biles’ first falls vault and moved to uneven ing to be a little too perfect”, in more than 60 career rou- bars and the beam before ar- while Murakami said, “I just tines in the Olympics or world riving to the floor exercise. It wanted to do a four-four (four championships, marked the seemed somewhat destined clean routines) and I did and it largest of her four All-Around too as equations changed. brought the silver medal. And I world titles. On the third of the four wanted to finish with a smile.” Commenting on her rotations on the beam, the But just like many were left achievement and the pitfalls, 17-year-old Morgan was the wondering, even Murakami Biles said, “I think I gave eve- last to go but in trying to be was taken aback with Biles’ ryone out there a heart attack, perfect she flipped a little and fall and rise show. “Instead but it is what it is. Even the best a score of 12.933 meant that of thinking I could win, I was fall sometimes, but I’m excited Biles still stayed in the lead. thinking ‘Oh, Biles can fall!’” that I pulled it out at the end. The finale came on the The contest went so close I was definitely shocked. Vault floor exercise and Belgium’s that was there was just 0.001 was very uncharacteristic, but Nina Derwael produced a points between fourth and fifth I haven’t been as confident beautiful routine which was places. The gymnasts, along at these World Champion- quite pleasing to the eye and with the men will be back in ships on beam as I have been received a huge applause re- action on Friday for the indi- in past competitions. So it’s turning a score of 13.300. That vidual apparatus finals. Russia’s , who won the men’s All-Around gold on Wednesday, and Angelina Melnikova, who finished 5th in the women’s a little scary going out there. pushed her to the first place. Biles would be in action in All-Around final on Thursday, were adjudged as the most elegant gymnasts of the 48th FIG Artististic Gymnastics World Championships Doha Vault shook me up a little bit, Murakami of Japan, the all the four women’s apparatus, 2018 at the Aspire Dome. The two were awarded Longines time pieces as their prize. but I tried not to get off-track 2017 floor individual champi- while the men will contest in six.

DOHA WORLDS 2018: WOWING ’EM ALL Appropriate for gymnastics Worlds to have come to Qatar: Titov Qatar has big experience as hosts: Aljaz Pegan TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for deservedly so. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK “I agree that the target score DOHA 20 years, from 1977 to 1996, “What I’ve seen along with the DOHA should be one point higher. Yet, Titov stressed that specific world championships coming to in the end it was special,” THE men’s All-Around competi- rules had been laid for such an the Arab world for the first time THE Athletes’ Representative said Pegan. tion at the 48th FIG Artistic eventuality as it happened in is that there has been a progres- at the Doha Worlds 2018, Aljaz On Doha seeing such close Gymnastics World Champion- the case of Russia’s Artur Dala- sion of the sport especially in Pegan from Slovenia, who also contests in the very first edition ships Doha 2018 on Wednes- loyan and China’s Xiao Ruoteng men’s gymnastics. Athletes from awarded medals to the men’s of a world championships in the day was so closely fought that (both of whom were tied at Turkey, Philippines, Brazil… you All-around final podium finishers Arab region, Pegan said, “Qatar the tie-break rule had to be 87.598 points). name it… have come up by leaps too felt that the intense contest are not first time hosts as such. applied to decide the winner. “The tie-break is in the rules and bounds,” he said. towards the end made it nerve- They have hosted so many It threw up a debate and which has been voted by the Welcoming the world champion- wracking. world cups of gymnastics series prompted former FIG president, Former FIG president Yuri Titov FIG congress and it says in ships to Qatar, he said, “It’s been “It was very close. Cannot be earlier. Yes, the world champi- and a former gymnast of repute and gymnast Yuri Titov. case of a tie, you have go back a wonderful organisation and more close than today. But it’s onships are a first, but they do himself, Yuri Titov to say, “It to the previous apparatus and many people among us have good that we have the rules have big experience and their would’ve been better to give two with the Soviet team, besides remove the least score one,” he come here to an Arabian country which made it so easy to de- Athletes’ Representative at Doha organisation is perfect.” gold medals!” an individual silver medal in hori- explained. for the first time. Even me! cide,” said Pegan. Gymnastics World Champion- On Slovenia’s show at the Titov laughed as he said that zontal bar, and bronze medals Titov said the competition “It’s good and appropriate that He, however, agreed that the shipss 2018 Aljaz Pegan. competition here, Pegan said, soon after presenting the med- in all-around and vault. He later among the men has been in- the world c’ships have come to target score if achieved should “We had one gymnast and he als at the prize-presentation won silver and bronze medals tense and close. “Not so much the Arab region as sport should not lead to a tie. 14.233. In the end, he got wanted to be in the final of the ceremony at the Aspire Dome. at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, in the women’s section because go far and wide. It will now provide When Chinese gymnast Xiao that exact score of 14.233, yet pommel horse, but like many The 82-year-old Titov, who is still and two silver at the 1964 Sum- the American gymnasts are a great impetus to the youth of Ruoteng began the final routine the overall result was a tie on others he fell off during one of sprightly, had won gold at the mer Olympics in . currently dominating with their the Arab world as far as gymnas- on the high bar, the target score 87.598 points with eventual the routines and had to 1956 Olympics in Melbourne President of the International skills and performance and tics is concerned,” he added. flashed for him to achieve was gold winner Artur Dalaloyan. go home.” 14 Friday, November 2, 2018 Sports Attiyah romps into Kuwait Rally lead with opening stage win

MERC 2 lead for Al Thefiri; Impressive return for Nasser Khalifa

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK the same route. Local driver ship of Sheikh Athbi Nayef ARIFJAN (KUWAIT) Meshari al Thefiri headed the Jaber al Ahmad al Sabah and MERC 2 contingent with the in conjunction with the General NASSER Saleh al Attiyah cruised third quickest time of 2min Authority for Sport and the Ku- into a comfortable lead through 08.4sec to take a category lead wait International Automobile the opening 2.3km super special of four-tenths of a second over Club (KIAC). Zain Kuwait is the stage of the Kuwait Internation- Jordanian driver Khaled Juma main sponsor. al Rally at Kuwait Motor Town into the night halt. Earlier in the afternoon, on Thursday afternoon. Former QMMF President Sheikh Athbi Nayef Jaber al Ah- The Ford Fiesta R5 driver and FIA Vice-President Nasser mad al Sabah had been joined carded a time of exactly two Khalifa al Attiyah made an im- by Zain Kuwait’s Waleed al minutes with the backdrop of pressive return to the series Khachti and drivers Nasser al a setting sun to move into a 4.1 after a 20-year absence to post Attiyah, Vojtech Stajf, Meshari second lead over Czech driver the fifth-quickest time of 2min al Thefiri, Nasser Khalifa al At- Vojtech Stajf at the start of the 13.2sec. tiyah, Henry Kahy, Emad Juma fourth round of the FIA Mid- Jordanian driver Shadi and Abdullah al Ruwahi at a dle East Rally Championship Shaban was the first to tackle packed pre-event press confer- (MERC). the super special stage and ence at Kuwait Motor Town. 2018 KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL RALLY Skoda Fabia R5 driver Stajf posted the target time of 2min On Friday, two runs through said: “This is my first time in 19.3sec – his run also marked three gravel special stages are POSITIONS AFTER SS1 the Middle East Championship the first FIA competitive action on the agenda. Teams open 1. Nasser Saleh al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Ford Fiesta R5 2min 00.0sec and every event is new to me. to be staged at Kuwait Motor their account in the southern 2. Vojtech Štajf (CZE)/Ladislav Kucera (CZE) Škoda Fabia R5 2min 04.1sec I am here because of Nasser. Town race circuit since its inau- deserts with a run through the 3. Meshari al Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser al Kuwari (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2min 08.4sec We spoke in Shiraz last year at guration in March. Lebanon’s brand new KMT stage that 4. Khaled Juma (JOR)/Emad Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2min 08.8sec the Iran Rally and he suggested Henry Kahy and Jordanian spans 15.10km and gets the ac- that I come and do the Middle navigator Musa Djiyerian re- tion underway at 10am. 5. Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Nicola Arena (ITA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2min 13.2sec East series. I spoke to my spon- main on course for the MERC 3 The 18.22km of Nuwaiseeb 6. Rashed Al-Nuami (QAT)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Subaru Impreza 2min 13.4sec sors and we decided to give it a title after completing the stage (10.48hrs) and the 22.46km of 7. Ihab Al-Shorafa (JOR)/Yousef Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2min 18.7sec go. I still have a chance to win in ninth place in a time of 2min the Al Zour (11.41hrs) special 8. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Tarek Al-Taher (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2min 19.3sec the championship and I will not 20sec. Oman’s Abdulah al Ru- are split by a remote refuelling 9. Henry Kahy (LBN)/Musa Djiyerian (JOR) Škoda Fabia 2min 20.0sec stop until it is no longer possible. wahi slipped to 10th place with stop before the return to Kuwait 10. Abdullah al Rawahi (OMN)/Ata al Hmoud (JOR) Subaru Impreza 2min 25.8sec I will not let Nasser go to sleep!” a misfiring Subaru Impreza. Motor Town for servicing and a MERC 2: POSITIONS AFTER SS1 Ten drivers were permitted This year’s event is being regroup. The three desert stages Qatar’s Nasser al Attiyah in action in the to start the FIA event and an- organised by the Basil Salem are repeated in the afternoon opening stage of the Kuwait International 1. Jassim Al-Muqahwi (KWT)/Tamer al Mutairi (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 2min 29.9sec other three Kuwaiti crews took Al Sabah Motor Racing Club from 14.14hrs, 15.02hrs and Rally at Kuwait Motor Town on Thursday. 2. Mubarak Al-Thefiri (KWT)/Mohammed al Thefiri (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 2min 30.0sec part in a National Rally over (BMRC) under the chairman- 15.55hrs, respectively. 3. Salem al Thefiri (KWT)/Fares al Thefiri (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 2min 34.1sec

QATAR CLASSIC SQUASH AIPS members praise Qatar’s 2022 World Rosner sets up final clash with Farag Cup preparations TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK put in everything that I have. I DOHA will fight for every point and try QNA They also watched a film to make the most of the chance.” DOHA on the development stages GERMAN World No.5 Si- Farag meanwhile defeated of the stadiums that will host mon Rosner and Egyptian compatriot, and 2017 tourna- MEMBERS of the Executive the World Cup as well as the World No.2 Ali Farag will go ment runner-up, Momen in a Committee of the Internation- development of business and head-to-head in the final of four game battle that saw them al Sports Press Association absorptive capacity, in ad- the 2018 Qatar Classic after produce some sublime squash (AIPS) on Thursday praised dition to a review of the net- prevailing in their respective as they traded the opening Qatar’s great preparations works of roads and transport, semi-final encounters against games tat-for-tat whilst bat- for the 2022 FIFA World Cup bridges, the Doha Metro and Peruvian Diego Elias and tling for control of the court. as they visited a number of Tram Lusail, water taxi and Egypt’s Tarek Momen at the But, after losing the sec- World Cup facilities. logistics matters of interest to Khalifa Tennis and Squash ond, it was Farag who man- The members expressed fans as well as preparations Complex on Thursday. aged to wrestle control of the admiration for what they saw before the launch of the world Rosner, the 30-year-old court, and with it the match, and for Qatari ability that sporting event. based in Paderborn, enjoyed to force Momen onto the back made the Qatar a venue for The tour’s second leg was a career breakthrough here foot and accelerate away to football and various sports. Khalifa International Sta- last year when he reached the compete the win 11-9, 6-11, The tour was organised by dium, the first of the World semi-finals at a Platinum level 11-6, 11-4 to avenge his defeat the Qatar Sports Press Com- Cup 2022 venues, as the event for the first time to usher to Momen in the final of the mittee (QSPC) on the side- delegation toured the pitch in what was the most success- Channel Vas Championships lines of the meetings of the and were briefed by Khalifa ful season of his career to date. last week. AIPS Executive Committee, International Stadium Di- But he went one step better World No. 5 Simon Rosner of Germany (right) during his semi-final World No. 2 Ali Farag of Egypt “It definitely wasn’t easy at which will conclude on Friday rector Ali Hassan Mansouri this time around as he easily match of Qatar Classic Squash against Diego Elias of Peru at the after his win over compatriot any point tonight, Tarek has in Doha. on the expansion work that brushed aside a tired looking Khalifa tennis & Squash Complex on Thursday. Tarek Momen on Thursday. been playing some of his best The started at the head- took place after the renova- Elias, with the 21-year-old squash recently and he proved quarters of the Supreme Com- tion phase and the stadium’s struggling both mentally and Elias at every opportunity and because last year, I played my the best squash I can. that with the win last week mittee for Delivery & Legacy readiness to host the World physically to back up his victo- complete an 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 first semi-final here and I liter- “I feel like I’ve gotten better when he came from 2-1 down (SC) where the members of Cup matches. ry over World No.1 Mohamed win in just 31-minutes. ally got chopped so I feel for round-by-round this week and to beat me,” said Farag. the AIPS were briefed on SC’s The AIPS members had ElShorbagy on Wednesday. “Diego had a tough match him. hopefully I can lift it to another The final will be played at different sections and on the also visited Qatar Founda- Elias looked flat from the yesterday, and it’s very hard to “But for me, I’m playing level again tomorrow. Making 6pm on Friday. history of football, and were tion for Education, Science off and Rösner, who finished pick it up the next day,” said my second Platinum final in two finals in a row is very spe- Results (Semi-finals): 4-Si- given a special glimpse of the and Community Development runner-up at the last month’s Rösner. “He beat the World a row. If you had told me that cial for me but there is another mon Rosner (GER) bt 8-Diego past of Qatar football and the (QF) and the Aspire Zone be- U.S. Open – the first Platinum No.1 to reach his first ever two months ago, I would prob- match to go and obviously you Elias (PER) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, golden era of the most promi- fore attending a part of the event of season – was quick to Platinum event semi-final and ably have laughed, so I’m very want to win those matches, not 11-3 (31m); 2-Ali Farag (EGY) nent clubs and their inter- matches of the 2018 World grasp the opportunity and take it’s a lot to take in. happy. I will try and enjoy the just be there for the sake of it. bt 3-Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-1: national participations and Artistic Gymnastics Champi- control of the court to punish “I know what he is feeling moment tomorrow and play “Every final is special. I will 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4 (61m). achievements. onships at Aspire Dome.

SHARESA TRIUMPHS Jadeja spins India to series FALL OUT Cricket Australia chairman quits win as Windies collapse after ball-tampering outcry AFP SCOREBOARD SYDNEY: Cricket Australia chair- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM man David Peever quit on Thurs- WEST INDIES (Allen), 7-87 (Holder), 8-94 (Yadav), 9-103 (Roach), day after coming under intense RAVINDRA JADEJA starred K. Powell c Dhoni b Kumar 0 10-104 (Thomas). pressure over a ball-tampering R. Powell c Dhawan b Ahmed 16 Bowling: Kumar 4-1-11-1 (w1), Bumrah 6-1-11-2 scandal which has triggered an in India's nine-wicket series S. Hope b Bumrah 0 (w1), Ahmed 7-1-29-2 (w3), Jadeja 9.5-1-34-4 (w1), clinching win over West Indies M. Samuels c Kohli b Jadeja 24 Yadhav 5-1-18-1 (w1). exodus of senior figures and after the tourists were skittled S. Hetmyer lbw b Jadeja 9 INDIA (TARGET 105) long bans for three players. The out for just 104 in the fifth One- J. Holder c Jadhav b Ahmed 25 R. Sharma not out 63 former Rio Tinto mining execu- F. Allen c Jadhav b Bumrah 4 S. Dhawan b Thomas 6 tive was only voted in for a new Day International on Thursday. K. Paul c Rayudu b Yadav 5 V. Kohli not out 33 West Indies won the toss D. Bishoo not out 8 Extras: (lb1, nb1, w1) 3 three-year term last week, days The Abdurahman al Mansour-owned Sharesa (trained by Pierre Dey- and elected to bat in Thiru- K. Roach c Jadhav b Jadeja 5 TOTAL: (For 1 wicket, 14.5 overs) 105 before a scathing independent monaz) is guided by jockey Stephan Ladjadjon on way to winning The vananthapuram but collapsed, O. Thomas lbw b Jadeja 0 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Dhawan). review sparked by the cheating Late Rabiah Saad Al Kaabi Cup for Purebred Arabian Colts & Geld- Extras: (lb1, w7) 8 Bowling: Roach 5-2-13-0, Thomas 4-0-33-1 (w1, row slammed the governing Cricket Australia (CA) chairman surviving just 31.5 of their 50 TOTAL: (All out, 31.5 overs) 104 nb1), Paul 2-0-22-0, Holder 1-0-15-0, Bishoo 1.5-0- ings; Fillies & Mares carrying a total prize of QR100,000 at the Qatar overs under overcast skies to Fall of wickets: 1-1 (K. Powell), 2-2 (Hope), 3-36 16-0, Allen 1-0-5-0. Toss: West Indies; Result: India body. Calls have been mounting David Peever. Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) on Thursday. Sharesa left Almuheet register their lowest ODI total (Samuels), 4-53 (Hetmyer), 5-57 (R. Powell), 6-66 won by nine wickets; Series: India win series 3-1. for Peever to go after it emerged (Belgium) behind by 9.50 margin, while Carab () was third. against India. that the CA-commissioned ed as interim chairman. Jadeja claimed four wick- report was not provided to the The review by the Sydney- ets with his left-arm spin as after the win. bowled Shai Hope for zero. country’s state associations based Ethics Centre blasted India romped to their target “We wanted to bowl first Marlon Samuels tried to before he was re-elected. CA’s conduct leading up to the in 14.5 overs to take the five- anyway and we got lucky. We steady the innings with coun- He was also widely criticised tampering incident in March, match series 3-1. were surprised West Indies ter-attacking boundaries but after an interview with broad- when players were caught using The second game was a tie. batted,” he added. he fell to Jadeja's spin for 24. caster ABC this week in which sandpaper to alter the ball at a It is India’s sixth successive Fast bowler Oshane Tho- Jadeja also trapped big- he referred to the ball-tampering Test match in Cape Town. ODI series win on home soil. mas bowled opener Shikhar hitter Shimron Hetmyer lbw affair, which rattled the sport and It found that an “arrogant” and Opener Rohit Sharma, Dhawan for six but the wicket for nine to rattle the West In- caused an outcry among the Aus- “controlling” culture within the who smashed 63, and skipper proved just a hiccup in India's dies middle-order. tralian public, as a “hiccup”. governing body contributed to Virat Kohli, who made 33, put march towards an easy win. Skipper Jason Holder top- “Cricket Australia has today players, who existed in a “gilded on an unbeaten 99-run stand Jadeja set up the convinc- scored with 25 to raise hopes confirmed that Mr. David Peever bubble”, cheating in the pursuit as the hosts raced to their tar- ing victory after returning fig- of a West Indies fightback but has announced his resignation of victory. get before the sun had set in ures of 4-34 from his 9.5 overs. the rest of the batting folded. as chairman of the board of Peever had until now kept his the day-night game. Jasprit Bumrah com- Young paceman Khaleel Cricket Australia, effective im- job despite the exit of CA chief "It was a clinical perform- bined with pace spearhead Ahmed also made his pres- mediately,” the governing body executive James Sutherland, ance. Credit has to go to the Bhuvneshwar Kumar to get ence felt for India, with two said in a statement. His deputy coach Darren Lehmann and Abdurahman al Mansour receives the owner’s trophy on Sharesa’s win bowling unit, pitching the ball two West Indies batsmen in key strikes including the wick- Earl Eddings, a former Cricket team performance boss at the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) on Thursday. in the right place," Kohli said the first two overs. Bumrah et of Holder. Australia director, was appoint- Pat Howard. (AFP) Sports Friday, November 2, 2018 15 SPANISH COPA DEL REY South Korea overcome Qatar to book place in AFC U-19 final TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Tae-hyeon’s pinpoint delivery DOHA past Mamdouh to round off an excellent first 45 minutes SOUTH Korea booked their for the East Asians. place in the AFC U-19 Cham- To their credit, Qatar re- pionship Indonesia 2018 final fused to buckle after the break on Thursday with an impres- and they gave themselves a sive 3-1 win over Qatar at the lifeline on 52 minutes when Pakansari Stadium in Bogor. Lee Jae-ik turned substitute A superb display and two Abdulla Almurisi’s drilled goals from Jeon Se-jin laid cross into his own net. the foundations for the vic- tory, one which sees South Finalists Korea continue their quest to claim the 13th title at this emerge level. The Koreans will now face The Koreans will now face Saudi Arabia in Sunday’s ti- Saudi Arabia in Sunday’s title tle showdown, leaving Qatar showdown, leaving Qatar to to reflect on what could have reflect on what could have been at the end of a campaign been at the end of a which saw them - along with campaign which saw them - the other three semi-finalists along with the other three - qualify for next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland. semi-finalists - qualify for In damp conditions, next year’s FIFA U-20 World the game began brightly but Cup in Poland. Real Madrid’s forward Karim Benzema is congratulated by teammates after he scored a goal during the Spanish King’s Cup match at the Alvarez Claro Municipal Stadium in Melilla without a genuine threat on on Wednesday. (AFP) goal until Khaled Mohammed drove a shot from distance Um then flashed a shot into the welcoming arms of narrowly wide of the far post, Korea Republic goalkeeper before Jeon’s sublime cross Lee Gwang-Yeon on 16 min- was expertly headed to safe- utes. ty by Youssef Ayman as Um Madrid crush Melilla, South Korea’s response, threatened to pounce in the when it came, was decisive, an 67th minute. unmarked Jeon tapping home Despite their persistence Um Won-sang’s 23rd-minute and the best efforts of striker cross from close-range after Umaru, Qatar, minus the red- lax Qatari defending from a carded Nasser Abdulsalam, Barca scrape cup win throw-in. struggled to make any fur- With central defenders ther inroads, and it was to be Lee Jae-ik and Kim Hyun- South Korea who came clos- Team played with excitement and commitment, says Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari woo nullifying the threat of est to rounding off the scoring tournament leading goals- through Lee Kyu-Hyuk’s late REUTERS clashes. has struggled for form this the third, which was eventual- players are committed to the corer Abdulrasheed Umaru, free-kick which Mamdouh did MADRID In Madrid's first match season, broke the deadlock ly bundled in by Odriozola, an- shirt and to the fans who are Korea Republic duly doubled well to repel. since Julen Lopetegui was from close range after being other player who struggled to with them. I'm now a part of their lead shortly after the Saudi Arabia claimed a SANTIAGO Solari got off sacked after a dire run capped teed up by Alvaro Odriozola, get minutes under Lopetegui. this group." half-hour mark. Yet again, it place in a second successive to the perfect start as Real by a 5-1 loss to Barcelona on with Vinicius Junior setting up Substitute Cristo Gonzalez Record 30-times cup win- was the outstanding Jeon who AFC U-19 Championship fi- Madrid's interim coach when Sunday which left the Euro- added a fourth in stoppage ners Barcelona were on the starred, this time the mid- nal, delivering a near-flawless his side thrashed Melilla pean champions ninth in La Results time to give Solari a convinc- back foot against Cultural Leo- fielder bending a delightful performance to defeat de- 4-0 in the Copa del Rey on Liga, Solari's side flexed their ing debut win. nesa, with goalkeeper Jasper - albeit deflected - free-kick fending champions Japan 2-0 Wednesday. muscles against Melilla. Melilla 0 - 4 Real Madrid "The team played with Cillessen making some smart past Qatar custodian Shehab at the Pakansari Stadium on Holders Barcelona scraped Solari saved the likes of Córdoba 1 - 2 Getafe smiles on their faces, they saves to keep Ernesto Val- Mamdouh to notch his fifth Thursday. The West Asians a 1-0 win at third-tier Cultural Gareth Bale, Luka Modric Alavés 2 - 2 Girona were keen and committed. The verde's heavily rotated side goal of the competition. goals both came in the first- Leonesa thanks to Clement and Toni Kroos the trip to the Cultural Leonesa 0 - 1 Barca final score is a result of that," level. On the stroke of half-time, half, with Khalid Al Ghan- Lenglet's late header, while north coast of Africa and the Solari told reporters. Lenglet headed Ousmane two became three for the ram- nam’s stoppage-time effort Girona earned a 2-2 draw at Spanish enclave of Melilla, but Sporting Gijón 2 - 0 Eibar "It wasn't easy, but we Dembele's free kick home at pant Koreans as Um Won- following 29th minute opener Alaves. did start with captain Sergio worked hard and played with the near post in stoppage time Sang lashed captain Hwang from Turki al Ammar. Getafe won 2-1 at Cor- Ramos and striker Karim Ben- Marco Asensio for the second. those characteristics. The to earn the Catalans a narrow doba and Valladolid earned zema against the third division Brazilian striker Vinicius, pitch was heavy and they advantage heading into the a 2-1 away win over Mallorca minnows. largely ignored by Lopetegui, pressed very high. second leg, with matches tak- in other round of 32, first-leg Frenchman Benzema, who struck the crossbar in search of "We have to be happy. The ing place between Dec. 4-6. Boca Juniors, Riverplate to conest 2018 Copa Libertadores final

AFP nal with a 2-2 draw away to Reigning champions BUENOS AIRES Palmeiras on Wednesday to Gremio have appealed the re- complete a 4-2 aggregate vic- sult to Conmebol, the South FIERCE Buenos Aires rivals tory having won the first leg in American football confedera- Boca Juniors and River Plate Buenos Aires 2-0. tion, complaining they were will contest the Copa America The night before, though, the victims of two refereeing final later this month after see- there was a highly contentious errors -- one leading to the ing off Brazilian opposition in semi-final between Gremio game-winning penalty award, the semi-finals. and River in Porto Alegre. the other an alleged handball It will be the first time The Uruguayan referee when River scored their open- two Argentine sides face each needed a protective police ing goal. other in the final, pitting the cordon after awarding a late The Buenos Aires rivals two halves of the Buenos Aires penalty against the hosts that have faced each other in the 'clasico' encounter in a mouth- allowed River to overturn a 1-0 Libertadores before, the last Boca Juniors Ramon Abila celebrates his goal against Palmeiras during watering two-legged tie. first-leg deficit to progress on time in the quarter-finals in their 2018 Copa Libertadores semi-final match at Allianz Parque in Sao Carlos Tevez's Boca se- away goals by winning the re- 2015 when River triumphed to Qatar’s Mohammed al Bayati is challenged by Jeon Se-jin of South Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday. (AFP) cured their place in the fi- turn 2-1. lift their third trophy. Korea in their quarter-final match on Wednesday. Al Sadd look to regain form againt Umm Salal Iran’s Persepolis plot Japan ambush in Asian final was a bad month for us. We Al Gharafa will host Al Shahania in lost the chance to reach the AFP 11-time Iranian champions, Champions League final. We TOKYO squeezed into their first Asian Friday’s other Week 11 fixture have lost the top spot in the final after beating Qatar's Al league and hope to overcome WHEN they travel to Japan's Sadd 2-1 on aggregate last TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK the AFC Champions League the failure of October and get Kashima Antlers in the first leg month. DOHA semi-final. back on the road again, he said. of the Asian Champions League Kashima, who are comfort- After 10 rounds of "The Umm Salal clash will final this weekend. ably Japan's most successful AL Sadd will look to regain the matches, Al Sadd has the ad- be very difficult and I hope The Antlers start as favour- club domestically with eight lost ground when they take on vantage of having played two to see the Wolves once more, ites on Saturday as they look J-League titles, are targeting Umm Salal in Week 11 of the games less due to their AFC provide a good performance to keep the continental title in Asian glory as they struggle to QNB Stars League on Friday. Champions League engage- for the fans, win and return Japanese hands after Urawa keep pace with table-topping The kick-off is at 19:25 at the ments. to the right way towards re- Reds won it for a second time Kawasaki Frontale. Al Gharafa Stadium. The league’s top scorer gaining the league's title to last year. The Antlers completed an Al Sadd had suffered a 1-4 and Algerian striker Bagh- our teeming fans.” But Persepolis believe they astonishing comeback to edge defeat at the hands of Al Ahli dad Bounedjah leads Al In the other game on Fri- can spring an upset against a Suwon Bluewings 6-5 on aggre- last week and that dealt a se- Sadd’s charge. They also day, Al Gharafa take on Al team who famously reached gate to reach their first Asian rious blow to their hopes of boast of players like Has- Shahania. the 2016 Club World Cup final, Champions League final and regaining the league shield. san Al Haydous, Akram Afif, Al Gharafa coach Chris- where Real Madrid needed ex- will again bank on mercurial In the process, The Wolves Xavi Hernandez and Gabi Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira at the press conference in Doha on tian Gourcuff said: “We must tra time and a Cristiano Ron- Brazilian Serginho to provide had slipped from second to Fernandez. Thursday. maintain the momentum by aldo hat-trick to sink them. the spark against the visitors. third in the table. Umm Salal is placed fifth continuing our good perform- "Our players are physically Japan's national coach Al Sadd has 17 points with 15 points. They have we are going to play with full Now, we want to put up a ance. We are very satisfied and mentally prepared for the Hajime Moriyasu believes from eight games with five four wins, three draws and as concentration. It is not easy strong performance against with the outcome of our last challenge," Persepolis coach Kashima need to give them- wins, two draws and one de- many defeats against them. to play against a strong team Al Sadd.” match (6-0 win over Al Khor). Branko Ivankovic told the Te- selves a decent platform in or- feat. They have a goal differ- The Orange Fortress’ goal that lost their last game. Jesualdo Ferreira, Al “We look forward to be- hran Times. der to beat Persepolis, who will ence of +25, the most by any difference is -1 (15 goals for They have some wonderful Sadd coach said: “Umm coming better despite the ab- "We have the ambition and pose a real threat in the return team, having scored 33 goals and 16 against). players, but we know how to Salal's confrontation is a new sence of some players, most I trust my players," added the leg at the cavernous Azadi sta- and conceded eight. Umm Salal coach Lau- deal with them. challenge for the team; espe- notably Abdulaziz Hatem and Croatian, whose side are hop- dium in Tehran. Against Al Ahli, Al Sadd rent Banide said ahead of “Each match is different cially because Umm Salal is a Khalid Abdulrraouf, through ing to become Iran's first Asian "Persepolis are a very strong players were seemingly tired the match in a press confer- and we have come out with strong team with solid lines injuries. However, we are champions since PAS Tehran in side and have every chance of psychologically as they had ence on Thursday, “We have negative results against Qa- and strong elements. looking to push some young 1993."I am waiting for the best winning the title," he said, ac- yet to recover from their de- a tough task on our hand. tar SC and Al Shahania (both "We have had great dif- players and hope to beat Al moment of my life." cording to the Asian Football feat to Iran’s Persepolis in We are facing Al Sadd and games ended in 1-1 draws). ficulties in October and it Shahania.” Persepolis, the record Confederation website.