TENNIS | Page 4 Ruthless Nadal sees off Tiafoe to cruise into Aussie semis Wednesday, January 23, 2019 SPOTLIGHT Jumada I 17, 1440 AH Cardiff ’s Sala GULF TIMES missing aft er plane disappears SPORT Page 2 REPORT S Korea oust Bahrain to reach last 8 AFP Dubai on Heung-min’s South Korea needed an extra-time winner to beat world ranked 113th Bahrain S2-1 as they stumbled into the Asian Cup quarter-finals in unconvinc- ing fashion yesterday. Kim Jin-su’s diving header at the end of the first extra period proved the dif- ference as the two-time champions met unexpected resistance before winning in Dubai. But Paulo Bento’s side, runners- up in 2015 and one of the favourites for the title, survived to reach the last eight, where they will face Qatar. Tottenham star Son took a boot to the head as he weathered some robust chal- lenges in a first half which South Korea dominated with 73% of possession. Bahrain nearly stunned the Koreans with Mohamed Marhoon’s stinging early shot as South Korea took time to settle into their rhythm. Qatar players celebrate their win over Iraq in the Asian Cup yesterday. At right coach Felix Sanchez shows his joy. But from the half-hour Son started to make his presence felt with some typi- cally direct running which caused panic SPOTLIGHT in the Bahrain defence. South Korea broke the deadlock two minutes from half-time, when Son laid off to Lee Yong whose cross was parried by the goalkeeper to Hwang Hee-chan, who snaffled the easy chance. South Korea threatened to run riot after the break before Bahrain hit back and it took a magnificent flying stop from Kim Qatar show they are Seung-gyu to keep out Jamal Rashed’s thumping effort. And against all expectations, Bahrain were suddenly level with 13 minutes re- maining when Mohamed al-Romaihi smashed in the rebound from Mahdi al- Humaidan’s shot. The goal stunned South Korea, who made of steel as had only conceded twice at an Asian Cup game since 2011 — the 2015 final, which they lost 2-1 to Australia after extra time. Hwang Ui-jo nearly snatched the vic- tory in injury time, when a defensive mix-up put him one-on-one with Sayed Shubbar Alawi, but he spooned his shot last-4 spot beckons wide to set up the additional 30 minutes of play. QUARTER-FINAL South Korea’s first goal had been their LINE-UP only shot on target but they looked de- Coach Felix Sanchez: I just congratulate the players for their termined to put that right and substitute THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 Lee Seung-woo should have done better performance against one of the best teams in the competition At Dubai when he was set up in the box by Son’s Vietnam v Japan (4pm) strong run. Bahrain goalkeeper Alawi At Abu Dhabi withdrew with an apparent hamstring By Sports Reporter in the 23rd minute as the 2007 cham- China v Iran (7pm) injury but one of the first tasks for his Doha pions started to make some progress replacement, Abdulkarim Fardan, was with the ball over the top of the Qa- to pick the ball out of the net. Substi- FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 tari defence. The young striker raced tute Kim Jin-su found time and space to his Qatar team is surely made through on goal but Saad al-Sheeb At Abu Dhabi steady himself and drive home a header of steel. bravely dived at his feet, with the goal- South Korea v Qatar (4pm) from Lee Yong’s cross, a goal which the Imagine playing in a country keeper getting a boot to the face for his At Al Ain team celebrated by holding up the 16 so hostile that home specta- eff orts. UAE v Australia (7pm) shirt of injured Newcastle United mid- Ttors forget the basics of sportsmanship A defensive error put Qatar winger fielder Ki Sung-yueng. and subject you to unrelenting abuse. Akram Afi f through early in the second Imagine playing in front of a crowd half but his touch woefully betrayed among whom there are hardly any him, and the ball trickled harmlessly to FOCUS Qataris due to travel restrictions and Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan. other obstacles imposed by the hosts. It was a foul on the dangerous Afi f Imagine a tournament which jour- on the left-hand corner of the box that nalists from your country cannot cover led to the breakthrough just after the FIFA, UEFA, AFC blast from up close because they are banned hour mark, defender Bassam stepping in sheer disregard of international up and curling the ball over the wall norms. and into the bottom left-hand corner Saudi pirate channel But then this is sport, which has a of the net. habit of imitating life and dealing you The Qataris were charged with con- AFP clear and fl agrant breach of our in- a blow from which you can hardly re- fi dence by the goal and poured forward Geneva tellectual property rights”. cover. to pepper Hassan’s goal with shots “Collectively, we, as rights- Bahrain, one of the blockading in the next 10 minutes before Iraq re- holders in various football compe- countries were knocked out by South gained their grip on the midfi eld. IFA, UEFA and several of the titions, condemn the pirate entity Korea. Three-times Saudi Arabia suf- Bassam al-Rawi is congratulated by teammates after he scored the winner Iraq defender Ali Adnan went close world’s top football leagues beoutQ, which continues to abuse fered at the hands of Qatar in the group against Iraq yesterday. to matching Bassam’s eff ort from a yesterday condemned al- the operations of rights holders and phase and then were bundled out by free kick slightly further out in the leged piracy of television legitimate broadcasters through its Japan in the round of 16. wi, meanwhile, created his own piece best teams in the competition.” 78th minute and twice Iraqi forwards Frights by the “beoutQ” network, persistent and illegal screening of Only the UAE remains, but they of history, scoring the team’s only Qatar, who scored 10 goals and fl ashed headers wide as they laid siege which is backed by Saudi Arabia. events for which it has made no ef- must be wary of bad karma catching up goal against Iraq yesterday. His fa- conceded none in the group stage, to the Qatar goal in the last few min- Qatar, hosts of the 2022 World fort to secure the rights,” the pow- as they are lined up to face Australia. ther Hisham had played for Iraq in made the brighter start and left back utes. But the Qataris held them out to Cup, and the Doha-based beIN Me- erful football bodies said in a joint Amid the mayhem, it’s Qatar which the 1990s. Iraq, the 2007 champions, Abdelkarim Hassan hit the bar in the register a fourth clean sheet in four dia Group have described beoutQ statement. is standing tall. Its young players have gave their all but paid the price for fail- fourth minute. matches at the tournament, almost as a vast and sophisticated Saudi FIFA and the Premier League have caught the fancy of fans worldwide. ing to take their chances and departed That was pretty much the extent of outnumbering their small band of fans bootlegging network that has been previously said they were preparing Almoez Ali is already the top scorer, the continental tournament before the their threat on goal until he had a shot when they celebrated with them at the transmitting stolen programmes via to take legal action in Saudi Arabia with the Asian Cup record within his quarter-fi nal stage for the fi rst time defl ected onto the post just before the end. Riyadh-based satellite provider Ar- against the pirates. sights. Coach Felix Sanchez, who was since 1972.“I thought it was a great break, though, as the Qataris were “I think the game was equal,” said absat. FIFA, UEFA, the English Pre- In October, beIN launched a com- earlier in charge of the juniors, is now performance from both teams,” said muscled out of the game in midfi eld. Iraq coach Srecko Katanec. “We mier League, La Liga, the German pensation claim worth $1bn (880mn a much-admired man and possibly will Qatar coach Felix Sanchez. Iraq fared little better at the other pushed, we pushed but we didn’t Bundesliga and the Asian Football euros) against the Saudi piracy be fl ooded with lucrative off ers. “I just congratulate the players for end with Mohanad Ali having their score. The players gave everything. Confederation weighed in yesterday channel while Qatar fi led an action Qatar’s young star Bassam al-Ra- their performance against one of the best chance of breaking the deadlock That’s it.” by blasting beoutQ’s actions as “a at the World Trade Organization. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, January 23, 2019 FOOTBALL Unstoppable Qatar in Asian Cup quarters Qatar players pose for a group picture before their AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 match against Iraq at the Qatar players celebrate after the victory Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. (AFP) Qatar’s Abdelaziz Hatim shoots as Iraq’s Safaa Hadi attempts to defend. (Reuters) over Iraq. (Reuters) SPOTLIGHT Spurs’ Alli ruled out until March London: Tottenham have suf- fered a fresh injury blow after Cardiff ’s Sala missing England midfielder Dele Alli was ruled out until March with a hamstring strain.