NNBABA | Page 3 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Atkinson would Serie A title be ‘an awesome race starting coach’ for to resemble a Knicks: Allen relegation battle Saturday, July 25, 2020 CRICKET Dhul-Hijjah 4, 1441 AH Pope leads hosts GULF TIMES revival in West Indies decider SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL / QNB STARS LEAGUE Boli strikes winner as Al Rayyan stay in title hunt In the first game after the long break, Jonathan Kodjia struck the all-important goal as Al Gharafa defeated Al Arabi By Sports Reporter having opened up a seven-point Doha lead over Arabi. Much was at stake for both teams, with passionate fans as l Rayyan stayed in title well as rich tradition and reputa- contention after a 2-1 tion in Qatar football, although Acomeback win over Qa- matches are now played without tar SC as the QNB Stars fans as per the protocol and pre- League resumed yesterday after a cautionary measures. four-month break. The game was evenly fought, At the Jassim bin Hamad Sta- with Gharafa, coached by Serb dium, Qatar SC looked like they Slavisa Jokanovic, enjoying 52 would deny full three points to per cent possession after the fi rst Rayyan before Yohan Boli struck half and Arabi having exactly the the winner in the 84th minute. same percentage of the ball at the After yesterday’s win, Rayyan end. moved on to 41 points, just one Gharafa had an upper hand behind leaders Al Duhail, who early on and they reaped the re- take on Umm Salal today. Qatar wards halfway through the open- SC remained in ninth position ing session, with Abdulghani with 17 points. Muneer providing Kodjia with a Kayke Rodriguez had put Qa- defence-splitting pass and the tar SC ahead in the 10th minute, latter fi nding the target dodging but Yacine Brahimi converted past a couple of Arabi players and a 40th-minute penalty as the beating goalkeeper Mahmoud teams went to half-time break Abunada. locked at 1-1. In the second half, Kodjia, the Gharafa spearhead, Qatar SC frustrated Rayyan for had a narrow miss in the 42nd large parts but Boli was able to minute as he hit wide of the left eke out a winner in a huge sigh of upright and then hit straight to relief for his team. the goalkeeper. Arabi’s attacks Qatar SC are not completely were feeble as Pierre-Michel safe from the relegation threat. Lasogga and Yousef Abdulrazaq However, they have put up bet- failed to breach the rival fort. ter displays ever since ex-Qatar The Dream Team, seeking a international midfi elder Wesam victory in their bid to break into Rizik took charge of the squad, the top four to give themselves a replacing Spanish coach Carlos chance to play in the Qatar Cup Alos Ferrer, under whom they and AFC Champions League, dropped many points. Al Gharafa’s Jonathan Kodjia (right) celebrates his goal against Al upped the ante in the second half. This time, it was a much- Arabi at Al Janoub Stadium yesterday. Lasogga headed wide soon improved performance by Qatar after the hour mark as the rivals SC, who had lost to Rayyan by grounder.Adding to Qatar SC’s the game, the opening fi xture of went slightly on the backfoot. a 0-5 margin in the fi rst leg. Al woes, Khaled Mahmoudi was the tournament which resumed The tall German forward again Rayyan dominated the exchanges Al Rayyan’s Yohan Boli celebrates after scoring the winner against Qatar SC during the QNB Stars League sent off in the 87th minute. after a long break forced by the sent his shot straight to Burhan with 68 per cent of the ball at the match at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. coronavirus pandemic. in the 77th minute. Icelander He- end. Brahimi, Boli & Co more KODJIA STARS IN GHARAFA’S Incidentally, the fi rst-leg imir Hallgrimsson’s men could than made up for the absence of from the right by Sardor Rash- when Hatem was chasing a pass parry a stunning long-ranger CRUCIAL WIN OVER ARABI match between the teams had not make any roads despite their The Lions’ infl uential midfi elder idov. And goalkeeper Fahd Younis given by Khaled Muftah on the from Abdulaziz Hatem. In the opening fi xture, Jonathan also ended in an identical result captain and Al Gharafa registered Rodrigo Tabata, whose contract could not do much either. Kayke left. Rayyan’s winner came off Boli, Kodjia struck the all-important in favour of Al Gharafa, who now a crucial victory. with the club ended. was soon at it, but this time, he Mercado compensated to- who volleyed home from close goal as Al Gharafa defeated Al have 31 points with their ninth Gharafa were without Algerian Kayke found the target as hit the side-netting. wards the end of fi rst half by ef- after Abdulaziz Hatem provided Arabi at the Al Janoub Stadium. victory. Arabi thus suff ered their midfi elders Adlene Guedioura he beat off the off side trap and Rayyan equalised as Brahimi fecting a goalline clearance off a him with a pass from the left. The Ivory Coast forward, who sixth defeat and stood on 24 through an injury and suspended challenge from Rayyan defender converted a penalty awarded af- chip shot by Rashidov. After the The ball had rebounded off the joined The Cheetahs in this year’s points. It was a crucial win for Sofi ane Hanni, while Arabi’s Tu- Gabriel Mercado after control- ter Abdulaziz Hatem was fouled second half started, Al Hail had left post and off the leg of Al Hail January transfer window, struck Gharafa, who have now strength- nisian forward Hamdi Harbaoui ling with his chest a long lob inside the box by Omar al-Emadi to produce an acrobatic save to after Brahimi fi rst unleashed a the winner in the 22nd minute of ened their grip on fourth place, sat out suspended. HORSE RACING Al Shaqab’s Al Rufaa continues run of form with handicap win Agencies Darain was the most expensive Arabian fi lly Alkedri opened her Newmarket, United Kingdom yearling bought in 2018. scorecard on third time of asking for Al Shaqab at Mont-de-Mar- SHE’S OUR QUEEN WINS IN san in France yesterday. resh off his win at Kemp- IRELAND Trained by Charles Gourdain, ton a fortnight ago, Al In the colours of her breeder the grey fi lly had fi nished third on FRufaa, who is trained Hassan al-Abdulmalik, She’s Our her debut in May and a runner- by John Gosden for Al Queen broke her maiden on third up at La Teste in late June. Shaqab Racing, continued his time of asking at Down Royal, Ridden by Jean-Bernard run of form when taking the Ireland, yesterday. Equeym, she sat in fourth posi- Newmarket Volunteer Handicap This three-year-old fi lly, who tion towards the outside. She was over seven furlongs yesterday. is by Al Shaqab sire Toronado, shuffl ed back into fi fth or sixth in The three-year-old colt was only started running in June this the back straight. taking on older horses for the year for trainer Johnny Murtagh. Coming into the middle of the fi rst time in his fi ve-career starts. Ridden by Ben Coen, who was track once in the home straight, In this race, which was reserved claiming 3 pounds, in this Irish she found plenty of running to for three-year-olds and older Stallion Farms EBF Median Auc- battle with His Highness Sheikh horses, he was partnered by his Robert Havlin (foreground) rides Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Rufaa to Oisin Murphy (left) rides Qatar Racing Limited’s Darain to Newmarket tion Fillies Maiden over 2,100m, Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s regular rider Robert Havlin. Newmarket Volunteer Handicap victory yesterday. (Racingfotos) Festival Charitable Novice Stakes win yesterday. (Racingfotos) she sat near the pace before tak- homebred Antar all the way to There was some contact be- ing the lead with 400m still left the line, winning by a nose. tween horses coming out of the furlong mark, Al Rufaa never QATAR RACING’S DARAIN IS race, the three-year-old colt Darain is beautifully bred by to run. Fictious Lady came to Antar was the runner-up under stalls and Al Rufaa took a keen looked back. He pulled away by UNBEATEN raced prominently throughout. world class sire Dubawi out of challenge her, briefl y taking the Alexandre Gavilan for trainer Di- hold from the off , as he had done an impressive three-length mar- Later in the day, Qatar Racing Coming to join the leader, Votto- the extraordinary mare Dar Re lead, but She’s Our Queen fought dier Guillemin. Teema was third on both his starts this year. gin from Swift Approval, who is Limited’s Darain followed up his ria Light, with 200m left to run, Mi. Qatar Racing own the colt in back eventually winning by half- under Ioritz Mendizabal for trainer Settled towards the rear by trained by Phil McEntee and was debut win in Newbury with a vic- Darain found plenty and shook partnership with his breeders, a-length. X. Thomas-Demeaulte. his jockey, the bay colt began ridden by Grace McEntee. Royal tory in the Newmarket Festival him off with disdain after 100m. Watership Down Stud. He was a Alkedri was bred by Al Shaqab making up ground in the fi nal Dynasty was further two and a Charitable Novice Stakes.