SPORT Thursday 26 April 2018

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 Salah emerges as big threat Coach Belmadi wants to end Ronaldo-Messi Al Duhail to avoid dominance tie-breaker in final

Advantage with Real after 2-1 win in Munich

REUTERS this season, had missed a hatful Real stay on course punished for their profligacy. from former Real player James The Spanish side, who have of chances. for three Champions They almost scored after 25 Rodriguez. had a disappointing domestic MUNICH: Holders Real Madrid A perfect break allowed League titles in a row. seconds when Real defender The Bavarians should have campaign, then caught the came from a goal down to Real substitute Marco Asensio Dani Carvajal failed to clear scored again even after another Germans napping after a snatch a precious 2-1 victory to beat Sven Ulreich with a fine properly in a furious and setback when Jerome Boateng defensive blunder as Asensio at wasteful Bayern Munich effort and grab the winner in Marcelo equalised physical start to the match. went off with a thigh muscle raced clear to score their yesterday and carry a consid- the 57th minute. before Asensio The hosts’ game plan injury, with chances falling to second goal. erable advantage into their The result was identical to grabbed the winner seemed to go out the window Franck Ribery, Mats Hummels Bayern struggled to recover Champions League semi-final last year’s quarter-final first leg for Real Madrid after after eight minutes with speedy and Thomas Mueller. from the blow and despite second leg in Spain. between the teams before Real winger Arjen Robben was But it was Real who struck having nearly 60 percent of Real, eyeing a third straight won the return game as well on Bayern blunder. forced off with an ankle injury. against the run of play with a low possession they could not find title, needed a 44th-minute the way to the first successful They were undeterred by drive from Marcelo a minute an equaliser. The defeat equaliser by Marcelo against Champions League title defence. Bayern, who had lost only Real’s early tight pressing before the break as the Brazilian snapped Bayern coach Jupp the run of play to cancel out Liverpool crushed AS Roma one of their last 22 home games game, however, taking the lead full back added to his goals Heynckes’s 12-game winning Joshua Kimmich’s opener after 5-2 in the other semi-final first in the competition, had only when Kimmich slotted home against Paris St Germain and streak in the competition Bayern, chasing three trophies leg on Tuesday. themselves to blame and were after a superb through ball Juventus in previous rounds. stretching back to 2013.

Real Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio (left) scores their first goal against Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg football match in Munich, southern Germany yesterday. Hathab: Top riders set for final challenge Dhoni masterclass seals

THE PENINSULA Chennai win in thriller AGENCIES DOHA: After six months of gruelling competition, contestants of Hathab Equestrian Tour will face-off in BENGALURU: MS Dhoni the final challenge at Al Shaqab’s state-of-the-art main (pictured) finished the indoor arena from today. game in style as Chennai A fierce competition is expected as country’s best Super Kings beat Royal riders will be looking to secure the top spots in the Challengers Bangalore in standings in the 12th and final round of the QR1m series. their Indian Premier The Big Tour sees race for supremacy among League (IPL) 2018 prominent riders Hamad Nasser Al Qadi and his closest encounter in Bangalore opponents Nasser Al Ghazali, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi yesterday. and Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi who will eye podium Dhoni slammed 70 spots. off 34 balls and he was In the Medium Tour, prominent rider Saeed Nasser given brilliant support by Al Qadi is leading the points sheets while several others Ambati Rayudu who including Mohamed Sultan Al Suwaidi are looking to made 82 off 53 balls. excel. Needing 30 runs in the There is a tough battle for the top spot in the Small last two overs, Dhoni pro- Tour with Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi, Mohamed Khalifa duced his usual magic to Al Baker and Abdulaziz Ghanim Al Nuaimi are involving finish the game with two in a race to reach top spot balls to spare. Activities for families and children have also been Earlier, South Riders takes part in practice runs specially organised for the last leg of the hugely popular Africans AB de Villiers ahead of the 12th and final round of series. and Quinton de Kock’s The organisers have also added plenty of food and the Hathab Equestrian Tour at the struck breezy half centuries to power the home team to a beverage options to tantalise the taste buds of dis- Al Shaqab Indoor Arena in Doha. mammoth 205 for 8 . cerning visitors. A fierce competition is expected Brief Scores: Hathab Series is an initiative of H E Sheikh Joaan as country’s best riders will be Royal Challengers Bangalore: 205 for 8 (AB de Villiers 68, bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic looking to secure the top spots in Quinton de Kock 53; Mandeep Singh 32; Imran Tahir 2 for 35) Committee. The championship is jointly organised by the standings in the final round of Chennai Super Kings: 207 for 5 in 19.4 Overs (Ambati Al Shaqab and Qatar Equestrian Federation the QR1m series which begins today. Rayudu 82, MS Dhoni 70; Yuzvendra Chahal 2 for 26) 26 SPORT THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2018

QATAR CUP - FINAL Belmadi wants Duhail to VS Venue: Al Sadd Stadium Kick off: 7.00pm avoid tie-breaker in final tomorrow FAWAD HUSSAIN goals and win matches,” Al Duhail tiebreaker (4-2) after the game was All set for THE PENINSULA coach told a pre-final press con- tied 2-2 in regulation time. ference yesterday. Belmadi hoped his team will not DOHA: Al Duhail coach However, the Algerian said he let the match to reach to that stage blockbuster has was expecting a thrilling action in and will try to seal win in real time. urged ‘The Red Knights’ to the final. “It is going to be a tight game. I final continue seeking goals and “When the two big teams clash wish it does not go into penalties,” avoid the tie-breaker as they it promises to be an exciting battle. he said. THE PENINSULA prepare to take on an in-form Al Sadd Al Sadd have world-class players Commenting on injured Youssef team in the final of . such as Xavi (Hernandez) and a very Msakni, Al Duhail coach said his The final to be played tomorrow good coach in Jesualdo Ferreira,” he team was missing the seasoned DOHA: The Qatar Stars at Al Sadd Stadium promises to be said. player. League Management a thrilling battle as the top two QNB “But I have no worries. I have no “Of course, we will miss (QSLM) announced the Stars League (QSL) sides come head- fear. I can talk about tactics only (Youssef) Msakni due to his knee organisational arrange- to-head for the coveted trophy. after the game. I study my opponents injury. He has had his best season in ments for tomorrow’s Al Duhail, the QSL champions, and gives instructions to my players. Qatar overall. He not only excelled Qatar Cup final. however, will enter the crunch game And we are just ready for the in scoring goals, but was also out- QSLM’s Marketing and with a psychological advantage as matches,” he added. standing in giving assists. But I trust Communications Acting they are the only Qatari club which Al Duhail were struggling to this squad. I cannot cry or complain Executive Director Hassan is yet to taste defeat this season. find the net in the first half that we do not have the services of Rabiah Al Kuwari and Mostly, the Belmadi’s men against Al Gharafa in the final, but Msakni. We have a lot of young Competitions Department tamed their oppositions in one- they returned as a different side players in the squad,” he said. Director Ahmed Al Adsani sided affairs after firing a flurry of in the second half hitting the ‘The Meanwhile, Al Duhail midfielder said: “We are expecting an goals. Cheetahs’ for six. Belmadi Luis Martin said yesterday: “We have exciting final and a thrilling In QSL only, they scored a credited a change in tactic for the big respect for Al Sadd. It goes finish. The preparations for whopping 86 goals from 22 games big win. without saying that this is a very the tournament had started and thrashed Al Gharafa 6-1 in the “We changed our strategy after important game for both teams.” right after the QNB Stars Qatar Cup semi-final, following a a goalless first half and got the He added: “Winning the trophy League. The preparations hat-trick by feared striker Nam rewards for it. We were successful will be a big boost for us in the AFC for the final are also in full Tae-hee last week. in stopping them from building Champions League’s knockout swing, in close co-oper- Belmadi said he would moves from behind. Then it was easy phase. Our success is because of our ation and co-ordination like to see the same per- for us to press hard. And we avoided hard work. We have players who are with our partners, sponsors formance from his players the mistakes we did in the opening together for many seasons. We are and all stakeholders. against Al Sadd in the session,” he said. professionals and we have learnt “Tickets are fast selling final. Unlike Al Duhail, Al Sadd had a from our mistakes. It is also about out and there are desig- “We are keen to win different route to the final as they our desire to win. When you have nated areas for families at this trophy. I like to see my battled hard again Michael Laudrup’s 18 strong players, you can be the stadium. We held co- team score more and more Al Rayyan and managed victory in unbeaten.” ordination meetings with representatives of the two clubs and stadium security. The gates will open at 4.00pm and spectators are urged to abide by the rules and instructions given by security personnel,” Hassan said. “This will be the third successive Qatar Cup final Live Snapchat Story, after two successful seasons. The number of viewers in 2016 was more than 1.5 million, while that exceeded 1.8 million in 2017. It is expected to be more this Al Duhail coach time around. I hope fans will enjoy the event in a big Djamel Belmadi Al Duhail’s players celebrate after scoring during a QNB Stars league match in this file photo. way,” he added.

SQUADS AL SADD Fahad Al Abdulrahman - Midfielder Pedro - Defender Al Sadd aim to retain crown Saad Al Hajri - Goalkeeper Yasser Abubakar - Defender ARMSTRONG VAS made out from Al Duhail’s results in many blunders like those happened in Xavi Hernandez - Midfielder THE PENINSULA Ibrahim Majed - Defender the AFC Champions League. That is the past,” said FFerreira.erreira. Abdulaziz Al Khalosi - Defender why we are preparing in the best pos- Al Sadd’s ace striker BaghdadBaghdad - Defender DOHA: Al Sadd are keen on focusing sible way,” he said. Bounedjah saidd the plaplayersyers are detedeter-r- Saad Al Dosari - Goalkeeper on the task at hand instead of looking Al Sadd, which picked up two mined to retainn the Cup. Ali Asad - Midfielder back at past records when they take domestic titles last season, is aiming to “This game is goinggoing to bebe differentdifferent Meshaal Al Shemari - Forward on QNB Stars League (QSL) winners Al add more titles having won the season- from the leaguee matches.matches. I hhopeope allall my Hassan Al Haydos - Forward Duhail in the Qatar Cup final tomorrow. opening Sheikh Jassim Cup. team-mates wwillill rise to tthehe bigbig Ayoub Mashoor - Midfielder Jesualdo Ferreira’s team, which fin- “We are also counting on the occasion. We willill ddoo everyteverythinghing we Jasser Yehia - Midfielder ished second in the QSL, will be looking support of our fans. They will support can to retain thehe cup. AlAl DuhailDuhail Ali Faiz - Defender to avenge their twin QSL losses to us like anything and that is an are strong and so are we. TTheyhey Ahmed Suhail - Defender Djamel Belmadi’s side in the title clash advantage for us. Last season was very keep scoring manyany gogoalsals in most Bagdad Bounjah - Forward and retain the Cup they won last year. good for us. We finished as runners- of the matchesese s soo wew wilwwilll Ghassen Ben Ghabia - Midfielder The Portuguese coach exhorted his up in the league andannd wonw tththee QatQaQatarar CCupupp defenddefefend w well,”ell, BoBounedjahounedunnededjahjah saidssaid.d. Mohammed Izeldin - Goalkeeper players to be ready for the tough task andand Emir Cup. ThisThiis sseasoneeasoson waswas alsoallso nnotot Hamroun Jugurtha - Forward which lies in wait for them tomorrow. badbad fforor us,” hhee sasaidiid whwwhilehih lee rreflectingeflefleectctinng on Abdulaziz Al Ansari - Forward “Against Al Duhail, it is going to be thethe clubclub achievementsachievemmeentts in thethhhe lastlasasttt twotwo Hatim Al Sayed - Defender Hamid Ismail - Defender very tough. They have won the league sseasons.easons. Abdulaziz Al Jalabi - Forward competition (QSL) with an unbeaten Ferreira’s tteameeamm bbeabeateaat AlA RaRayyRayyanayyann Mussab Kheder - Defender record and won all group matches in 6-46-4 in thethhe penaltypeennanalty shootoutshhoootoutt to Akram Afif the AFC Champions League. I do not think much about the future. I am AL DUHAIL focused on the assignment on hand,” Abdurahman Abubakar - Defender said Ferreira yesterday. Khaled Radhwan - Defender “We had beaten Al Duhail in the Ahmad Ali S Hatimi - Goalkeeper season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup Talal Al Qahthani - Midfielder even though we lost in both phases of makemake itit to Ismail Mohamad - Midfielder the QNB Stars League. But then, in the thethe titletitle clashclash aafterfter Khaled Muftah - Defender second-phase match, we almost won, both the teateamsms sharedshhararareed Almoez Ali - Forward but for the two last-gasp goals. Before two goalsgoals apiece att thethhee endenenndd ofof Nasser Khalfan - Midfielder that face-off, the difference between rregularegular periodperiod ofof play.pllaayy.y Noor Rahman - Defender the two teams was only two points. We On the otherother hhanhand,d, AAll DuDDuhailuhaihailhahailaaiill Yusef El Arabi - Forward had faced some difficulties in the first coasted to an easyeasyy6y 6-16-1 winwin overoverver AlAl Mohammed Al Kuwari - Forward Abdullah Abdulhamid Fazli - Defender phase, such as injuries to key players Gharafa,Gharafa, withwith allall thethe goalsgog als comingcomic ng inin Murad Naji - Defender and national-team duties,” he added. thethe secondsecond half.half. Khalifa Ndiaye - Goalkeeper Ferreira said they have focused all MMeanwhile,eanwhile, FFerreiraerreirra backbackedked tthehhee uusesee Mohamed Mussa - Defender their energy in preparing the right way ofof Video AssistantAssistant RefereeReferreee (VAR)(VAR)VARR) Sayyed Hassan - Forward for the important clash. system.system. Al Sadd’s Abdulrahman Fahmi - Midfielder “This is the sixth final Al Sadd are “As“As fafarr as ththehe VVideoidideoo AssAsAssistantsssistaists ant Baghdad Lucas Mendes - Defender playing under me and we hope this is RefereeReferee system,system, I am all forfoor tech-tteecch- Bounedjah Luiz Martin - Midfielder going to be in favour of us. We are nologynology thatthat assistsassists thethe gamegamamee andananndd and Akram Afif Nam Tae Hee - Midfielder facing a strong team not only in Qatar, impactsimpacts the end rresultesult iinn a bebbetteretttterr celebrate after - Forward perhaps the strongest in Asia as can be way. VAR shouldshouldd helplp us avoavoidvooid Al Sadd’s coach Jesualdo Ferreira scoring in this - Midfielder file photo. Ali Afif - Midfielder THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2018 SPORT 27 Superstar Taylor set to start season in Doha

THE PENINSULA and 2009 World Championship Champion Dawn Harper-Nelson, bronze medalist Alexis Copello and Doha Diamond League DOHA: Two-time Olympic gold of Azerbaijan. meeting record holder, Jasmin medalist, three-time World Two-time Olympic Team Qatar’s 2010 Asian Stowers. champion and six-time Diamond Games bronze medallist Rashid Fans can expect to be further League winner, Christian Taylor champion Taylor Al Mannai will also line up. amazed by Olympic and World will kick off the 2018 IAAF will start as the USA fans will have even medallists in the women’s discus Diamond League season on May overwhelming more to cheer for in the women’s event. 4 in Doha, in what promises to 100m hurdles as a stellar line-up Looking to add another be a phenomenal triple jump favourite this year of Americans will battle it out in victory to her impressive string showdown at Qatar Sports after dominating triple an enthralling competition on the of global titles is reigning World, Club. jump over recent field. Olympic, European and Diamond USA’s Taylor will go against years and will be Leading the field is world- League Champion, Cuba’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo record holder and recently Sandra Perkovic of Croatia. once again in a battle that pro- looking for his fourth crowned 2018 World Indoor With a season’s best of 69.13, she vided the greatest triple jump crown in Qatar. Champion, Kendra Harrison, is also in great shape to further competition in history in the very who took her first global crown her own Doha Diamond League same stadium at the 2015 Doha in Birmingham in March and will record from 2013 of 68.23. Diamond League. of this year’s Doha Diamond be looking to get her 2018 Perkovic will be up against Never before had two men League. Taylor will start as the Diamond League campaign off stiff competition from 2009 jumped beyond 18 metres in the overwhelming favourite this year to a winning start. World Champion Dani Stevens same competition but Doha 2015 after dominating triple jump over However, her task will not of Australia, who recently won saw Pichardo, the 2012 World recent years and will be looking be easy as reigning Olympic her second Commonwealth Junior Champion and the 2013 for his fourth Doha crown. Champion and 2013 World Games title and finished in silver World Championship silver However, further challenges Champion, Brianna McNeal (nee position behind Perkovic at last Christian Taylor medalist, break the stadium will come from 2008 Olympic Rollins), returns to action. year’s World Championships, leaps to victory record to jump 18:06, just 2cm Champion and 2007 World Also lining up are silver med- and Cuba’s Denia Caballero who in 2017 Doha beyond Taylor’s best jump of Champion Nelson Evora of Por- allist in the 2018 World Indoor beat Perkovic to win the 2015 Diamond League 18:04. tugal, 2016 Olympic bronze med- Championships and 2018 World World Championships and in this file photo. The re-match will provide allist and 2016 World Indoor Indoor Tour winner, Christina claimed bronze at the Rio 2016 one of the thrilling competitions Champion Bin Dong of China, Manning, 2008 Olympic Olympic Games.

JORDAN RALLY Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al F1 goes back to Attiyah will be seeking record-equalling 12th win in Jordan. Baku, hoping for another thriller

REUTERS without a win in three races for the first time since the V6 turbo BAKU: The Azerbaijan Grand hybrid era started in 2014, will Prix has a lot to live up to this need to get their tyres working weekend and Formula One properly and can take nothing world champion Lewis for granted. Hamilton (pictured) has plenty “We know that we have a to think about as well. massive challenge on our Baku dished up a crazy hands,” said team boss Toto thriller of a race last season, Wolff. with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo “Last year, we were in a Over the course of the last 36 years two men winning after Ferrari’s tough fight with Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel famously suc- However, it was nothing com- have dominated the top step of the podium cumbed to ‘road rage’ and pared to the intensity of this in Jordan. Dubai’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem clashed with Mercedes’ year’s battle. claimed 12 wins between 1984 and 2002 Hamilton. “Last year’s race threw up and Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah has won The Force India pair col- a podium that nobody could lided, Canadian Lance Stroll have predicted and, as is the the event on 11 occasions since 2003. made it to the podium for Wil- way with street courses, we can liams but was pipped at the line once again expect the for second by Mercedes’ Valtteri unexpected.” Bottas, who also had a coming Ricciardo, winner in China together with Ferrari’s Kimi after a safety car period fell into Raikkonen. Red Bull’s lap, is on a high and Al Attiyah eyes to equal The most exciting race of Baku rewards the brave over- last year, with the safety car taking moves he is known for. driver kept busy, had been the “Baku is different to other most boring on its debut a street circuits, because there season earlier. are places where you can pass. Ben Sulayem’s record Fans, Formula One’s Actually, lots of places where owners, struggling Williams you can pass,” said the and the ever-smiling Ricciardo Australian. THE PENINSULA Lancer Evo X. He faces com- in particular will be hoping that “With a street circuit you petition from the Jordanian the 2017 sort of lightning strikes have to love it -- but you also DOHA: A new season of FIA Mitsubishi trio of Ihab Al- twice, even if Ferrari and Mer- have to respect it and under- special stage rallying in the Shorafa, Khaled Juma and cedes would rather it didn’t. stand it. I understand that, to be Middle East gets under way Ahmed Shaban and the young Hamilton, on pole position fast, you have to be on the limit with this weekend’s 36th Omani Abdullah Al-Rawahi last year when the race was -- but put yourself there and it Jordan Rally. (Subaru). held in the much hotter month can bite you.” The Hashemite Kingdom’s Jordan’s Ameer Nassif was of June, is still chasing his first Force India were heading premier motor sporting event forced to withdraw after logis- win of a campaign that is well for the podium last year when is the opening round of the six- tical issues delayed the transfer on the way to becoming a Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon event series for the first time of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo classic. collided, and the two now have and roars into life with a two- VIII from neighbouring Saudi Nine points adrift of cham- a very clear understanding of kilometre super special stage Arabia. pionship leader Vettel, he com- what is expected. on the rocky shores of the Al Thefiri and Al Shorafa plained in China two weekends Williams, whose podium Dead Sea from 16.24hrs today. finished third and fourth in the ago ofof beingbeing iinn ‘‘nono man’sman’s was thethe onlyonly one bbyy a teamteam Steeped in history and tra- overall standings last season, land’.land’. outsideoutside the top three, dition since it joined the FIA while Al-Rawahi is making his TheThe ultra-longultra-long meanwhilemeanwhile return to Middle East Rally Champi- first appearance in the MERC BakuBaku straightstraight Baku as the onlyonly onship in 1984, the Jordan podium in Jordan. Dubai’s Stajf and Marketa Skacelová after tackling select smaller coulcouldd favourfavour onesones yet toto score Rally was a round of the FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem in a Skoda Fabia R5. events in the Sultanate of FFerrari,errari, withwith a point in 2018. World Rally Championship in claimed 12 wins between 1984 The two rivals competed Oman through his father’s VetteVettell “For“For LanceLance 2008, 2010 and 2011 and con- and 2002 and Qatar’s Nasser against each other in Iran last links with the Oman Auto- aimingaiming it wouldwould be tinues to set the benchmark for Saleh Al Attiyah (pictured) has year and Štajf has a good rep- mobile Association. to bboldold to expectexpect event organisation in the won the event on 11 occasions utation as a solid driver in Local driver Asem Aref mmakeake upup anotheranother popodiumdium region. since 2003. European stage rallies. This wheels out his Renault Clio and forfor the ddis-is- but he should This year, Jordan Motor- Al Attiyah is the top seed will be his first experience of Lebanon’s Henry Kahy teams appointmentappointment perform well sport have laid on 14 gravel again this weekend with the twisty and demanding Jor- up with Jordanian navigator ofof finishingfinishing given hishis signif-signif- special stages in the Jordan French co-driver Matthieu danian stages, however, and Musa Djiyerian in a Group A eieighthghth in icanticant achieve-achieve- Valley and Dead Sea areas Baumel and will be hoping to erring on the side of caution Škoda Fabia in their respective ShanShanghaig hai mmentsents in BaBakuku llastast tomorrow and Saturday, many equal Ben Sulayem’s dusty early on may well be a wise RC3 and RC4 categories. afterafter winning year,” saisaidd tectechnicalhnical sections of which were used dozen victories at the lowest move for the Czech. The 36th edition of the thethe firstfirst ttwowo head PaddyPaddy LoweLowe.. when Finland’s Mikko Hir- place on earth. He drives a Behind the R5 duel, teams Jordan Rally is running with rracesaces in AuAus-s- vonen and the French duo of Ford Fiesta R5 run by the from Jordan, Kuwait and the support of Kroon Oil, traliatralia andand Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien British Autotek Motorsport Oman will compete in the VESTEL, Hilton Dead Sea Ogier claimed their one-off team. MERC 2 or Group N category. Resort and Spa, the King WRC victories. Aiming to prevent the Kuwait’s Meshari Al Thefiri Hussein Bin Talal Convention Over the course of the last defending regional champion teams up with Qatar’s Nasser Centre managed by Hilton, 36 years two men have dom- from claiming that 12th victory Al Kuwari in his bid to win the Guarantee travel group, Hala inated the top step of the are the Czech duo of Vojtech category title in a Mitsubishi and Bliss FM. Bahrain.Bahrrain.a Mercedes,Mercerr edes, THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2018 SPORT 25 I will continue to work, that is for sure. At the moment, I’m CRICKET TENNIS not ready to commit to Arsene Wenger Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Barcelona Open anything else than to give my on timing of his Kings XI Punjab at Hyderabad, Day 4 - at Real Club de Tenis

best for Arsenal football club. departure from Arsenal ACTION 5.30pm (Qatar time) Barcelona TODAY’S

Durant steers Salah emerges as big threat to Warriors past Spurs in NBA end Ronaldo-Messi dominance AFP OAKLAND: Kevin Durant AFP Liverpool credited with bringing out scored 25 points as the midfielder Salah’s previously untapped Golden State Warriors LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah Mohamed Salah potential. powered into the Western could be the man to finally break (right) celebrates “To be the best in the world Conference play-off semi- the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly at scoring their first you need to do that over a longer finals with a 4-1 series victory the top of world football after the goal during the period I think, and there are a over the San Antonio Spurs Liverpool forward burnished his UEFA Champions few others that are not so bad.” on Tuesday. soaring reputation with a League first leg Heavily left-footed, small, The reigning NBA cham- mesmerising Champions League semi-final match speedy and with a low centre of pions, jolted by the Spurs in performance against Roma. at Anfield Stadium gravity, Salah’s characteristics game four on Sunday, booked Real Madrid’s Cristiano in Liverpool, north- are far more like those of Messi their place in the next round Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel west England on than the muscular goal-machine with a nervy 99-91 win in Messi have locked down the Tuesday. Ronaldo. front of the home fans at the Ballon d’Or award for a decade, “In a certain light, at certain Oracle Arena. winning five gongs apiece -- for points, it is possible to glimpse The Warriors will now the past seven years they have in Salah a little of Messi’s face the New Orleans Pelicans occupied the top two slots. afterglow,” wrote Rory Smith in for a place in the conference But Salah is now second the New York Times. finals. favourite with many book- And he demonstrated However Golden State makers behind Ronaldo for this another Messi-like quality in were given a scare after a late year’s award after scoring his showing no mercy to Roma. fourth quarter rally from San 42nd and 43rd goals of the Chasing his first hat-trick in Antonio that threatened to season in a thrilling 5-2 victory the Champions League, Salah take the best-of-seven series for Liverpool in the Champions would have been forgiven for to a game six. League semi-final first leg. going for goal as he bore down The Spurs chipped away After his first strike against on Alisson once more after at a double-digit Golden State his former club on Tuesday, the half-time. lead to close to 93-91 with 57 man dubbed by fans as the dink over advancing Roma goal- It also came just a few weeks Now, though, it is Salah who But he showed why he is seconds left on the clock. “Egyptian King” stood keeper Alisson for his 43rd goal before Neymar’s move from Bar- has emerged as the pretender to considered one of the game’s But Durant delivered motionless, hands raised in in 47 games for Liverpool. celona to Paris Saint-Germain end the Messi-Ronaldo domi- more unselfish superstars by when it mattered with a apology, as bedlam broke out on When Salah, 25, made the for a world record 222m euros nation by not only scoring the instead creating another two superb fadeaway jump shot a night for the ages at Anfield. move from the Italian capital revolutionised the transfer quantity of goals that have goals for strike partners Sadio and two free throws to take Salah’s curling effort back to the Premier League just market. become the pair’s trademark but Mane and Roberto Firmino. Golden State clear again as arrowed into the top corner with 10 months ago for 42m euros, The Brazilian’s desire to doing it when it really matters, When Salah left the field to the clock ticked down. such accuracy his manager there were plenty who felt Roma leave the Catalan giants was in the latter stages of the Cham- a standing ovation 15 minutes Warriors coach Steve Jurgen Klopp labelled it “a genius had got the better deal. Salah tied to his ambition to beat pions League. from time, Liverpool led 5-0. Kerr said the Spurs’ battling strike”. after all was a talented player, Messi and Ronaldo to the Ballon “If you think he is the best in “Unstoppable (when Salah’s performance bore the Soon after came the for- but who often lacked an end d’Or by stepping out of Messi’s the world, write it or say it,” on the pitch),” said the back page hallmark of counterpart ward’s signature finish, a cute product. shadow. urged Klopp, who has been of The Times. Gregg Popovich. Djokovic slips to ‘Tsunami’ of match-fixing in surprise defeat lower-level tennis: Review panel AFP AFP of the problem now faced”. BARCELONA: Novak Phil Suddick, information Djokovic suffered a LONDON: Lower-level tennis manager at the TIU, said in Sep- surprise defeat in his has a “tsunami”-like problem tember last year the unit sees a latest comeback from with match-fixing, according to focus on education as crucial to injury after the Serb was a review panel set up to look into combatting corruption within beaten by Martin Klizan allegations of corruption in the the sport. in his first match at the sport which published its Suddick, a police officer for Barcelona Open findings yesterday. 30 years investigating global yesterday. The Independent Review organised crime, also put the Djokovic had been Panel (IRP) says there is a “very issue of betting-related cor- on course to meet Rafael significant” corruption problem ruption into context. Nadal in the quarter- at “lower and middle levels of His unit received 292 match finals in Spain but a dis- Slovakia’s Martin Klizan celebrates after the sport”, and especially in the alerts in 2016 - from 120,000 jointed display gave beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during men’s game. professional matches covering Klizan, ranked 140th in their Barcelona Open on Tuesday. The panel was set up in competitions and governing investigations”. The panel the whole game from the futures the world, a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 January 2016 following allega- bodies did not escape claimed tennis faces a “serious tour to the Grand Slams - where victory. tions made by the BBC and Buz- criticism. integrity problem”, particularly betting operators believed the While Klizan goes through to meet Spanish clay-court spe- zfeed that leading players, Investigation at Grand Slam at the lower levels of the sport betting patterns were suspicious. cialist Feliciano Lopez in the last 16, Djokovic will now have to including Grand Slam winners, events was deemed “insuffi- where players often struggle to Suddick said to nip such prac- reset, with the French Open next month fast approaching. were involved in suspected cient” by the report, while other break even, and especially on tises in the bud it is necessary to His latest setback is not the shock it once might have been. match-fixing and that evidence enquiries were “inappropriate the men’s circuits. The panel address the junior players and After losing in the Australian Open fourth round in had been suppressed. or ineffective, resulting in missed made several recommendations their parents. January, Djokovic underwent surgery to correct an injury to The panel -- which spoke to opportunities”. to tackle corruption because it “It is the parents who tend his right elbow, which had been troubling him for almost over 100 players and according The ATP, the governing believes the current system to be coaches and the people two years. to the BBC cost £20m to fund -- body of men’s professional used by the TIU (Tennis Integrity who travel with them and it is The problem has coincided with a prolonged slump in form found no evidence to support tennis, were also found to be Unit) and international gov- they who will notice a spon- for the 12-time major champion, who has reached only one grand those allegations. guilty of “failing to exhaust erning bodies is “inadequate to sorship deal that isn’t really slam final since winning the French Open in 2016. However, the highest level potential leads before ending deal with the nature and extent one,” said Suddick.

Qatar Cricket Association ISC-GULF LIGHTS INTER ORGANISATION CRICKET TOURNAMENT 2018 to hold U-19 selection trials THE PENINSULA The International Cricket conditions, said the players, Council (ICC) has invited who are born on and after DOHA: The Qatar Cricket Qatar to take part in the September 1, 2000, will only Association (QCA) will hold Asian qualifier to be held in be eligible for the trials. Also trials to select players for the Bangkok in December. they should be either born national camp and prepare He also said in a press in Qatar or resident of Qatar. them for the ICC Under-19 release that the QCA is com- The players who must The players and officials of teams taking part in the ISC-Gulf Lights Inter Organisation Cricket Tournament CWC Division 2 Asia Qual- mitted to send a strong have residence of 3 years 2018 pose for a picture during the inaugural ceremony along with chief guest Sanaullah Abdulrehman, MD of ifier. national team to the quali- (2015, 2016, 2017) and in According to QCA Oper- fying event and will organise each year they have not Gulf Lights and officials of Indian Sports Centre, an apex body of Indian Embassy, at Old Ideal Indian School ations Manager Manzoor an intensive training camp travelled out of Doha more Floodlit Ground. 12 organizations teams, Engineer Forum, Tulukoota, Traq, QDC, SKMWA, QTS, Utkalika, KMCA, Ahmad, the trials will be held to prepare the bunch of tal- than 60 days, can qualify to MedGulf, PAI, MMQ and ICAI are taking part in the tournament. The final will be played tomorrow and on at the Asian Town Cricket ented players. Ahmad, while take part in the Asian the same day the yearly Festival Match Ambassador cup will be also played between Ambassador XI and Stadium today at 3.30 pm. laying down the selection qualifier. community XI on the same ground from 7:30 pm.