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FA to probe Tottenham Ladies saved by goalie howler player’s ‘monkey noise’ claims AFP | London, • BETTER overcome battling ngland’s governing Philippines to get EFootball Association is Asian Cup challenge KNOW to investigate allegations of off to a winning start “monkey noises” made to- wards Tottenham Hotspur Ladies defender Renee Hec- • Yu Dabao the hero as South Korea will be tor by an unnamed Sheffield China fightback to beat boosted by the arrival United player. Kyrgyzstan at Asian Cup of Tottenham star Hector said the incident Son Heung-min after took place during Spurs’ 2-1 win away to the Blades on AFP | Al-Ain their first two games Sunday in the FA Women’s Championship, the division avourites South Korea below the elite Women’s Su- scraped past the Philip- per League. Fpines and China needed soaked up considerable pressure “Such a shame that racism a spectacular goalkeeping gaffe in their opening Group C fixture seems to be rising up again to spark their comeback against before Hwang broke the dead- in football -- I received lowly Kyrgyzstan as lesser teams lock after 67 minutes. some monkey noises today continued to trouble bigger Kyrgyzstan’s goalkeeper Pavel Matiash punches a cross onto his own crossbar, with the ball rebounding off him, to give The Japan-based striker swiv- from an opposition play- sides at the Asian Cup yesterday. China their equaliser elled and smashed home from er,” the 23-year-old Hector A day after defending champi- close range to settle his side’s tweeted after the match. ons Australia were rocked 1-0 by marching orders following Sun- Asian Cup nerves after Newcastle mid - Jordan, South Korea, still await- day’s 4-1 defeat to India. fielder Ki Sung-yueng limped ing the arrival of star forward “Like all Thai football fans China 2 1 Kyrgyzstan off with a suspected hamstring Son Heung-min, left it late be- across the country, I am also South Korea 1 0 Philippines injury. Title-chasing fore beating the Philippines by disappointed with the result,” Iran 4 0 Yemen South Korea, who will be Rangers sign Defoe the same scoreline. Thailand’s FA president Somyot boosted by the arrival of Totten- Fellow debutants Kyrgyzstan Poompanmoung said, explain- ham star Son after their first two on loan led China 1-0 at half-time but ing the rapid dismissal. A Chinese winner looked in- going to lose the match,” said games, joined China on three AFP | Glasgow, UK they were left to rue a costly “But as president of the foot- evitable and it was Yu who com- the 2006 World Cup-winning points at the top of the group. error by goalkeeper Pavel Ma- ball association, I cannot stand pleted the turnaround, rounding coach. The Koreans, runners-up to angers looked to tiash, whose embarrassing own still with this problem.” Matiash and scoring from a tight “After the reaction from my hosts Australia four years ago, Rstrengthen their bid to goal put the Chinese on course Kyrgyzstan looked capable angle 12 minutes from time. players in the second half, I’m were indebted to goalkeeper win the Scottish Premier- for a 2-1 win. of pulling off an almighty upset happy that we won the three Kim Seung-Gyu, who plunged ship title by announcing After hosts UAE were held by against China when Akhlidin Is- Piece of magic points.” to his right to deny Javier Patino Sunday they had signed Bahrain, and Syria were kept to railov smashed home the open- Lippi, who is expected to leave Later in Dubai, prolific goal in the 54th minute. ex-England striker Jermain a goalless draw by Palestine, it ing goal just before half-time in his post at the end of the Asian poacher Hwang Ui-jo snatched a But Hwang, whose tourna- Defoe in a loan move. provided more evidence that Al Ain. Cup, said he was “enormously second-half winner as South Ko- ment-high nine goals helped The 36-year-old Defoe, the gap has narrowed between But China profited from the unhappy” at China’s first half rea beat Sven-Goran Eriksson’s South Korea win last year’s who has scored 162 goals Asian teams. howler of the tournament so performance, but proud of their Philippines, who impressed on Asian Games title, came to the in England’s top flight, has Separately, Thailand’s Serbi- far when Matiash, attempting revival. their tournament debut. rescue with a piece of magic in joined Rangers from Pre- an coach Milovan Rajevac paid to claw a defensive header over “During the first half we wer- The Koreans, looking to the box and was unlucky not to mier League club Bourne- the price for yet another shock the bar, batted it over the line en’t playing well, and I thought end 59 years of hurt after fail- add further goals as the favour- mouth in an 18-month result when he was given his instead. if we keep playing like that we’re ing to win the title since 1960, ites finished strongly. deal.

Coach tells India to stay ISB Mega Fair Football Champions Cup kicks off grounded after Thai high Reuters | Al Ain

ndia made a storming start Ito their Asian Cup campaign with a 4-1 thumping of Thai- land in on Sunday, but coach Stephen Constan- tine has urged him team to temper celebrations and focus on qualifying for the knockout stages. Constantine’s men marked Teams pose for a group photo during the event their return to the continental showpiece event after an eight- TDT | Manama lah. Marina FC in a thrilling inau- ed FC won against KMCC FC year hiatus with a brilliant sec- Mega Fair Patron Mohamed gural match on the first day. In 3-1. In the sixth match Zal - ond half display to secure a SB Mega Fair Football Cham- Hussain Malim performed the the second match, FC Kerala laq FC defeated Super Heroes surprise triumph against the Ipions Cup held in connection ceremonial first kick at the celebrated their 2-0 win against FC 3-2. more-fancied War Elephants with the Indian School Mega Champions Cup. Showstoppers FC. Next league matches of the to move top of Group A. Fair 2018 got underway at the Six matches were complet- Al Kerlawi FC defeated Mat- Champions Cup will be held “We try to win every match India’s forward Sunil Chhetri, left, Etihad Football Ground in ed out of 18 league matches, in tool FC 1-0 in the third match. on January 10 and 11. Quar - that we play in,” the English and India’s midfielder Anirudh Adhari on Friday. the league round of the 7A side In the fourth match Midland ter finals will take place on coach told reporters after In- Thaparight, celebrate their side’s The tournament was officially tournament in which 12 teams FC scored 2-0 win against Sagar 17 and the semi-finals and third goal dia, who were fortunate to go inaugurated by ISB Mega Fair are participating. ISF FC. final will be held on January into the break locked at 1-1, cede a goal in those minutes General Convener S Inayadul- Yuva Kerala FC drew 1-1 with In another match KH Unit- 18. registered a first victory at the and that is what we did,” the tournament in 55 years. 56-year-old, currently in his “We don’t go into a match second stint with India, added. expecting to win 4-1 or 5-1. “The main thing was to However, we are not trying make the most of our chances Thailand axe coach Rajevac after Asian Cup horror show to get carried away with the and that we did. I am happy emotion. that we are converting from AFP | Abu Dhabi the morning after. “We still have two games the chances that we are mak- “The result is not what is left and we still need another ing.” hailand have fired coach expected of the Thai national two points to qualify from the Talismanic striker Sunil TMilovan Rajevac following team and that our supporters group stages. After we have Chhetri, who scored twice, a humiliating 4-1 thrashing by deserve,” Thailand’s FA presi- qualified, we can get a little bit was already looking ahead India in their opening Asian dent Somyot Poompanmoung excited, but our primary job is to Thursday’s match against Cup game at the weekend. said. still to qualify out of the group hosts . The 65-year-old Serb, who “Like all Thai football fans stages.” “I can think about my goals took charge of Thailand in across the country, I am also Constantine attributed his some 10 years later,” said the 2017, paid the price after the disappointed with the result. team’s slow start to “nervous- lone surviving member of the War Elephants conceded three But as president of the football ness” and took heart from their 2011 team who lost all three second-half goals to slump to a association, I cannot stand still Thailand’s coach Milovan Rajevac (R) looks on second half display when they group games in Qatar. shock defeat in Abu Dhabi on with this problem.” scored three times without “At the moment, we need to Sunday. Former assistant coach officials added. to the quarter-finals of the reply to add to a contentious focus. The goals need to come Thai football chiefs took a dim Sirisak Yodyardthai will assume Rajevac, who has had spells 2010 World Cup where they first-half penalty. and it just doesn’t matter who view of their Group A flop and control of the team when they in charge of Algeria and Qa - were beaten on penalties by “It was important to not con- scores.” acted swiftly to remove Rajevac face Bahrain on Thursday, Thai tar, famously steered Ghana Uruguay.