BASBEALL | Page 9 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 5 Los Angeles Warner Dodgers fall to sizzles with Colorado bat as Sunrisers Rockies 7-5 win again Sunday, April 24, 2016 FOOTBALL Rajab 17, 1437 AH It’s Martial law as GULF TIMES Manchester United make FA Cup fi nal SPORT Page 3 QATAR CUP SEMI-FINAL FOCUS QSL champions Lekhwiya captain Rayyan face stiff Boudaif confi dent By Sports Reporter the semifi nals; it is straight knockout Lekhwiya exam Doha so we cannot make any mistakes.” Commenting on their game to- day, the 25year old said: “We respect Lekhwiya also have a score to settle after being dethroned by Al Rayyan ekhwiya captain Karim Boudaif Al Rayyan, they have a strong squad. is confi dent his team can pull it However, we don’t fear them, we will as the Qatar Stars League champions and their match-up today provides off against Qatar Stars League try hard to get the result we need to champions Al Rayyan when reach the fi nal. an exciting opportunity for them to put that disappointment behind them Lthey clash today in the semi-fi nals of “The Qatar Cup is totally diff erent the Qatar Cup. competition which consists only of “With Al Rayyan winning the league, three games, while the QSL campaign we have to focus on the Qatar Cup. We is a long one with the possibility of will fi ght to defend our title, especially compensation in case of losing.” after losing the QSL title,” Boudaif said. Boudiaf also stressed on the fact that The Qatari international midfi elder Lekhwiya have been training hard for was also clear about the quality of the the Qatar Cup. upcoming Qatar Cup competition. “Our ambition is to regain the Qatar “The Qatar Cup has the four best teams Cup, the squad is working hard for this. in Qatar; it will always be a challenge to I believe we have a great chance to lift it win. I expect plenty of excitement in come April 24.” SPOTLIGHT Qatar Cup fanzone Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi (C) and captain Karim Boudaif address the media at their Qatar Cup press conferernce yesterday. At bottom, Al Rayyan coach Jorge Fossati makes a point. By Sports Reporter god for this game, now we can decide which players will play in the next launched Doha match. For this match we have our full team.” l Rayyan face their day of The Lions top striker Tabata has reckoning in their bid for a attracted a lot of interest from other domestic treble when they teams in the region. take on a resurgent Lekhwiya “It is no surprise to me that a player Ain the fi rst semi-fi nal of the Qatar Cup like Tabata with his quality has an of- today at the Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad fer from another team. I am very hap- Stadium. The match begins at 7.15pm. py that he has this interest and now After romping to the Qatar Stars most of the people in Qatar and the League title with fi ve matches to region are recognising his talent. But spare, Al Rayyan have simply gone off he is completely focused on the next the boil. They haven’t won a single game and even if he has the best off er match after lifting the Falcon Shield in the world he will focus only on the and could struggle when they meet game. He is our captain and his head is Lekhwiya, who have been involved in the game,” added the sixty-three- in the gruelling Asian Champions year-old. League where they have qualifi ed for Djamel Belmadi, the head coach of the last 16. Lekhwiya is hoping his side repeat Lekhwiya also have a score to settle what they did last season and go on after being dethroned by Al Rayyan as to win the Qatar Cup, “Tomorrow is the Qatar Stars League champions and a very big game against the champi- their match-up today provides an ex- ons Qatar, in a competition we al- citing opportunity for them to put that ready won last year. And if we want disappointment behind them. to get to the final we have to get past In fairness to Al Rayyan, head coach this difficult and strong game,” said Jorge Fossati has fully utilised his fi nishing fourth – their lowest ever po- “We are training to play a very tough Belmadi. squad in recent weeks and given fringe sition in the QSL. Since being promoted team. We know in the cup you have to “At this time we have many diff er- Al Rayyan star Rodrigo Tabata at the launch of the Qatar Cup fanzone players an opportunity to impress. to the top division of Qatari football in win or there is no future. We are opti- ent circumstances and I don’t want He did, however, play a full-strength 2010, Lekhwiya had never fi nished out- mistic about ourselves because we are to talk about the league as this is a By Sports Reporter til April 26. Fans will also have the side against improving Al Sadd – and side the top two until this season. training well. I feel our team is really diff erent competition and we are fac- Doha chance to win prizes by sharing their that match ended 2-2 after the Wolves Despite some glimpses of their best strong again. I have great respect for ing the champions. And of course we pictures on social media. scored two late goals to grab a point. form, including an eight-game win- the other team but we will go into this had a very big game in Uzebekistan (in Speaking at the launch, Al Sadd Al Rayyan’s main man this season ning run, Lekhwiya have endured match with the same winning men- the Asian Champions League against he Qatar Stars League offi - winger Hassan Haydoos said he is has been Rodrigo Tabata. The talis- something of a transitional year. And tality,” he said at the pre-match press Bunyodkor) and now we have a very cially launched its fanzone at looking forward to the competition, manic number ten has been pivotal in it’s one which could end with them conference yesterday. big game against Rayyan,” added the Katara ahead of today’s kick- which kicks off today. the fi nal third and currently tops the failing to claim silverware for the fi rst “We beat them (Lekhwiya) in the Algerian. off of the Qatar Cup. “The Qatar Cup is an important scoring and assist charts. If Tabata can time in their short history. fi rst and second leg of the QSL. In Speaking about his team’s fi tness TAl Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata competition not only for the fans but regain his best form, there’s no reason If Lekhwiya are to lift the Qatar Cup, football history plays no part, the wins ahead of the semifi nal, Belmadi said: was joined by Al Sadd players Saad the players too, and the fanzone is a why Al Rayyan can’t go on to lift the they’ll need midfi elder Youssef Msak- are in the past and tomorrow is the “Sometimes they believe that if some al-Sheeb and Hassan Haydoos during great way to fi nd out about the com- Qatar Cup for the fi rst time since 2012. ni to be on top form. The Tunisian in- present and in the next match we will players rest and then they are ready the ceremony. petition and enjoy the activities on Another key player for Rayyan is ternational has been the driving force write a new page in history,” added the and other times if they play a lot then The interactive fan zone off ers fans off er,” he said. Victor Caceres. The Paraguayan mid- behind Lekhwiya’s best moments this Uruguayan tactician. they are tired. But sometimes being of football a chance to take part in The fi rst semi-fi nal of the Qatar fi elder has been an unsung hero for season. Another vital player for Le- Speaking about the Al Rayyan’s de- in competition keeps you ready and it a host of fun family friendly activi- Cup Kicks will be held today when Al the Lions this season and will be relied khwiya is Nam Tae Hee. The South feat to Al Ahli in the last game of the could be the opposite but I don’t want ties with a distinctive emphasis on Rayan take on Lekhiwya at Al Sadd upon to pull the strings in the centre of Korean is a creative force for Djamel QSL Fossati added, “We didn’t have to concern myself with this. We will healthy living. stadium at 7.15pm. The second semi- the park. Belmadi’s men and has adapted well good performance against Al Ahli. We put our best team forward and hope The players also took part in the fi nal will be played tomorrow with El Lekhwiya are the Qatar Cup holders since the departure of Vladimir Weiss. could have won the game and in this for the win.” activities and had an opportunity to Jaish taking on Al Sadd at the same and go into this year’s competition aim- Jorge Fossati, the head coach of Al game we made many mistakes. I did “Al Rayyan has a lot fans and this have a photo with the famous Qatar venue. ing to lift the trophy for a second time. Rayyan is optimistic about his team’s something I didn’t like as I changed is good for football in Qatar and I hope Cup trophy.