12 Friday, February 21, 2020 Sports

PSG’s Ilyas Housni Charges attributed are baseless: Khelaifi celebrates one of his goals during their Tribune News Network without any substance what- of all my dealings, I have been relentless agenda to smear Al Kass International soever, in the same way as cleared of all suspicions of my reputation in the media Cup match against the primary case,” he said in bribery and the case has been – completely irrespective of Zenit St Petersburg Nasser al Khelaifi said on a statement. dismissed definitively and the facts and the notion of on Thursday. Thursday he expected to “After an exhaustive conclusively.” due process. For that reason, be cleared of all corruption three-year investigation, The Swiss attorney gen- I have requested the relevant charges brought by Swiss where I have fully and openly eral’s office (OAG) said in a Swiss authorities to open a prosecutors investigating the cooperated with the Public statement on Thursday that criminal enquiry into the con- attribution of football broad- Prosecutor in Switzerland, I Khelaifi and former FIFA for- duct of the investigation. I casting rights. am pleased that all charges mer secretary-general Jerome also reserve the right to take Khelaifi, who is the Chair- of bribery in connection with Valcke had been charged “in action against certain media man of beIN Media Group, the 2026 and 2030 World connection with the award of who for three years have re- said Swiss prosecutors had Cups have been dropped. As media rights to various World peatedly published factually- already dropped charges in I have said vehemently and Cup and FIFA Confederations unsupported and highly dam- connection with the 2026 and repeatedly for three years, Nasser al Khelaifi. Cup tournaments.” aging articles, often based on 2030 World Cups. the charges have not – and “While I have cooperated illegally-sourced and – quite “While a secondary tech- have never had – any basis negotiated at arms-lengths with all authorities during the remarkably in some cases – nical charge remains out- whatsoever, either in fact or and without any improper in- legal process, the three-year faked and fabricated materi- standing, I have every expec- law. It is now – finally – in- fluence in any form. After the investigation has been charac- als, to satisfy their narrative of tation that this will be proven disputable fact that the 2026 most forensic public, private, terised by constant leaks, mis- my supposed guilt,” the state- completely unfounded and and 2030 agreements were lawful and unlawful scrutiny information and a seemingly ment added. Real, PSG through to Al Kass semis

Tribune News Network Player of the match Ilyes Doha Housni took the plaudits with a fine hat-trick but it was a night Al Rayyan not thinking Real Madrid took their tally to when all of the PSG players im- 16 goals in just three matches as pressed, and Zenit has no an- they swept aside 2018 runners- swer. up Kashiwa Reysol to reach the The opener came on 13 min- semi-finals of the Al Kass Inter- utes courtesy of a superb curling national Cup. effort by Housni. Ismael Ghar- about title race: Aguirre Real made the break- bi, the two-goal hero in PSG’s through on 30 minutes when 3-0 victory over Kashiwa Rey- Abraham Nobrega who netted sol, began the move with a de- The Lions can his first goal of the tournament. lightful cross-field pass to find Real went 2-0 up on 39 Americo wide on the left, and overtake leaders minutes when Abraham’s cross he fed the ball inside to Housni was turned in by Kashiwa de- who curled a brilliant effort Al Duhail at fender Kai Adachi. beyond Zenit keeper Bogdan Just a minute later it was Moskvichev. summit; Al 3-0 as Lancha found Dave Housni picked up the ball Pecellin (Pece) who teed up on the left and jinked past Iuri Sailiya face QSC Abraham to send in a brilliant Koledin before crossing for long-range effort that Itoh just Odobert to head home from Tribune News Network got a hand to but was unable to close range in the second min- Doha keep out. ute of added on time. Real added a fourth in the Akim Belokhonov came on After a disastrous exit from first minute of added on time for Ilia Rodionov at half-time the AFC Champions League, when Abraham played the ball and within five minutes he had Al Rayyan have won three on into the feet of player of the missed two glorious opportu- the bounce and a win over Al match Lancha who turned Toru nities, but from then on it was Khor on Friday, will see them Nishimura and then had a sim- all PSG. climb to top of the QNB Stars ple finish. PSG extended their lead League ahead of current lead- Real brought on Eric Gomez on 58 minutes when Americo ers Al Duhail. for the start of the second half found the impressive Vimoj The Lions are in the Amir and he took just four minutes to Mungu on the left and he Cup quarter-final and also find the net. Exposito played the crossed for Gharbi to sidefoot beat Al Khor last weekend in ball to Gomez and he beat Itoh home. the Ooredoo Cup albeit penal- from a very tight angle. PSG were creating wave af- ties. Ito was beaten again just ter wave of attacks and Bitshia- Al Rayyan coach Diego three minutes later as Gomez bu fired over after Americo set Aguirre ahead of this we- Al Rayyan players attend a training session ahead of their QNB Stars League match against Al Khor. crossed for Abraham who laid up yet another opening, but the keend’s match, said the eight- the ball back to Pece who sent in French did grab a fourth when time league winners are not ‘let us win the next game and that we must be at the top of mitting some mistakes. We strengths and weaknesses,” a low shot past the keeper. Housni netted his second of the bothered by the results of oth- then we think about the other our level until we achieve the hope we will not make it easy said Omar. It took until the 87th minute match. Tade teed up the long- er teams surrounding them or opponents’,” the Uruguayan victory. I know that our play- for our opponents and that we Also on Friday, for Real to add a seventh, and it haired striker and he scored at talks of a title race. said. ers can be at their best.” put up a good performance by Sports Club take on Al Sailiya came in bizarre circumstances. the second time of asking after “I think our team is ready On playing Al Khor, who Al Knor on the other hand, achieving a positive result that with both teams needing a Pece turned the ball onto his left Moskivchev had saved his first for this match. Focusing on have lost two of their last need to start picking up points will help improve the team’s positive result after a run of foot and sent a shot crashing effort. There was still time for the title race is very stressful three, Aguirre said, “When I to put a gap between them and position in the table. poor results in the last few onto the bar with the ball hit- Housni to complete his hat- and distracts players’ minds. think about facing Al Khor, I the bottom tow teams. “We know the importance weeks. ting Jaime Amaro and going in, trick when firing home Tay- Presently, all our focus is on know this match will be very Coach Omar Naji said his of this game. We play against Al Sailiya have lost their without the midfielder knowing amoutou’s cross on 87 minutes. the next game against Al Khor difficult. The danger is not side has to do more to correct a strong team whose capabili- last three league matches, much about it. PSG will now face Inter Mi- and the three points. from the fact that Al Khor are their mistakes. ties need not be talked about. while QSC have drawn four Three-time champions Par- lan in the semi-finals, which is “I always tell the players in a difficult position, but from “We are doing a good job They have many outstanding of their last five but boast the is Saint Germain smashed five likely to be a tighter affair as the to avoid thinking about the the level they show against us. during our training sessions. players. We have studied our meanest defence in the league goals past FC Zenit St Peters- Italians have conceded just two results of other teams. I say, I believe what is required is But we pay the price for com- opponents and we know their apart from the top two teams. burg to reach the last four. goals in their three matches.

AFC suspend Bounedjah; Injured Haydos out for rest of season Ten-man Al Ahli hold Al Gharafa to 1-1 draw Tribune News Network Doha

Al Gharafa failed to capital- ise on their advantage as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10- man Al Ahli in their QNB Stars League match on Thursday. It was a disappointing re- sult for the Cheetahs whose recent run of form has seen them exit the Ooredoo Cup The AFC has suspended Al Sadd forward Baghdad Bounedjah for a period of two months due to his actions in last year’s semi-final against and the Amir Cup as pressure Al Hilal. The Algerian will miss the upcoming home and away games against Al Ain. The news comes at a bad time for Al Sadd who have mounts on Slavisa Jokanovic. lost Hassan al Haydos to a fracture which will keep the Qatari captain out for the rest of the season, the club said in a statement on its Ahmed Alaaeldin put Al twitter handle. The 29-year-old forward’s absence will also be a blow to the national team who are preparing for their next two matches in Gharafa ahead in the 66th Group E of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 next month. Felix Sanchez’s wards will minute, while Shane Lowry Al Ahli’s Nabil El Zhar dribbles between two Al Gharafa players during hope Haydos is ready for the Copa America later in June. helped Al Gharafa draw level their QNB Stars League match on Thursday. in the 71st minute. Al Ahli now have 18 points After a barren first half, and Al Gharafa 25. A Gharafa upped the ante in QSL Standings Al Ahli played with 10 men the second. Ahmed Alaaeldin Club MP W D L GF GA GD Pts from the 23rd minute after found the mark after being set 1. Al Duhail 14 10 3 1 27 12 15 33 Mourinho blames injuries on Spurs’ playing style Jasem Mohammed was red- up by follow- 2. Al Rayyan 14 9 4 1 31 12 18 31 carded by referee Meshari Ali ing a through pass. al Shammari for his foul on Lowry’s equaliser came off 3. Al Sadd 14 10 0 4 42 23 19 30 AFP right arm on Tuesday was a is an open result. The 1-0 you stormed off when he was re- Al Gharafa’s Ahmed Alaaeldin a cross from the right by Ab- 4. Al Gharafa 15 7 4 4 27 21 6 25 London body blow to Spurs’ chances of can perfectly go there and win placed 20 minutes from time who was clean through on goal. dulrasheed Umaru. 5. Al Arabi 15 5 5 5 25 23 2 20 progressing. the tie,” added Mourinho. and slammed his boots down in Al Gharafa had more of It was the second time in 6. Al Wakrah 14 5 4 5 22 22 0 19 Jose Mourinho had his excus- “It’s like going to a gun fight “What worries me is that the dugout. the ball in the first half, butA l successive weeks that Al Ahli 7. Al Ahli 15 5 3 7 20 26 -6 18 es ready made for a 1-0 home without bullets, so we did what these are our players for I don’t “I think he was angry with Ahli created more opportuni- and Al Gharafa were facing off 8. Al Sailiya 14 5 2 7 15 20 -5 17 defeat to RB Leipzig that leaves we could do,” concluded Mour- know how many matches. We his performance, not with me,” ties. as the former beat the latter Tottenham needing to recreate inho, who bristled at criticism of have to play in two days again. insisted Mourinho. “I think he Hector Moreno, Koo Ja- 1-0 in the Ooredoo Cup quar- 9. Qatar SC 14 4 3 7 14 17 -3 16 their escape acts of last season his set up. We could see Lucas (Moura) understood why I took him off Cheol and were terfinals. 10. Al Khor 14 2 4 8 16 25 -9 10 to progress to the Champions As the Portuguese com- absolutely dead, (Steven) Berg- and the team improved.” back in action, but they failed Earlier, Al Shahania held 11. Al Shahania 15 1 6 8 14 32 -18 9 League quarter-finals. plained about his lack of re- wijn absolutely dead, (Giovani) Mourinho needs to get to spark any creativity for the Al Arabi to a goalless draw to 12. Umm Salal 14 2 3 9 9 28 -19 9 Already without Harry sources, it was easy to forget Lo Celso dead.” Alli back onside and back to team. see them climb to 11th ahead Kane due to a long-term ham- that Leipzig were the novices at Given his paucity of op- the form of his early weeks in Koo headed wide narrowly of Umm Salal. string injury, the news that Son this stage of the competition. tions up front, Mourinho needs charge at Spurs if they are to and Homam Elamin sent a With only seven rounds of For Al Arabi, the result Heung-min could miss the rest “What I am worried with is to get the best from those he make it back into the competi- booming shot straight to goal- action remaining, Al Shahania was a setback in their bid to of the season with a fractured not with the 1-0 because the 1-0 does have. However, Dele Alli tion next season. keeper Ivanildo Rodriguez. need to start picking up wins. finish among the top four.