Al Sadd Hold Esteghlal 2-2 to Book AFC CL Semis Spot IKOLI VICTOR DOHA
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Shah stars with the bat as Afghanistan shock Sri Lanka in Asia Cup PAGE 19 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 Liverpool brace up to host PSG in titatnic Champions League clash at Anfield PAGE 18 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVERPOOL VS PSG (11PM) Al Sadd hold Esteghlal 2-2 to book AFC CL semis spot IKOLI VICTOR DOHA BAGHDAD Bounedjah was the star player for Al Sadd as they booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 2018 AFC Champions League after a 2-2 draw in the second leg of their quarter-final clash with Es- teghlal gave them a 5-3 aggre- gate win at home on Monday. There were no clear-cut chances in the opening min- utes as both sides sized up each other for control of the midfield. It was the Iranians who secured a first corner kick in the eighth minute but yield- ed no dividend. Al Sadd player Hassan al Haydos (top) celebrates with goalscorer Akram Afif. Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira at the Jassim Bin Ha- mad Stadium on Monday. the bottom right corner. Esteghlal were gaining in Al Sadd continued to press confidence but suffered a major Results with Afif combining with Xavi blow when Rouzbeh Cheshmi Hernandez, whose shot from was sent off with his second QUARTER-FINALS outside the box parried away bookable offence in the 50th Persepolis (0) 3 Al Duhail (1) 1 in the bottom right corner. minute. Bounedjah was close Aggregate: 3-2 Persepolis win Two minutes before the with a header from the centre of Al Sadd (3) 2 Esteghlal (1) 2 break, Afif right footed shot the box that went high and wide from outside the box is close, to the left from Xavi’s cross fol- Aggregate: 5-3 Al Sadd win but misses to the right. lowing a set piece situation. The visitors went on the at- Afif then saw his shot hit The first real chance at goal tack in the second half and took the bar in the 55th minute, was from Mehdi Ghayedi’s left lead for the first time in the 49th and the striker was close again footed shot from outside the box minute when Morteza Tabrizi in the 66th minute when his but was saved in the centre of rose above the defence to head right footed shot from outside the goal by Meshaal Barsham. in a Farshid Esmaeili pass. the box misses to the right. Algerian Bouendjah, the Needing just a goal to level Playing with 10-men Es- top-scorer in the tournament (Above) Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates scoring from the spot. (Bottom) Bounedjah heads the ball during the AFC Champions League the aggregate score, Esteghlal teghlal struggled at the back with 12 goals so far, released a quarter-final second leg match against Esteghlal FC at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday. (PICS: HANSON K JOSEPH) were rising in confidence but and conceded a penalty in add- pass from the right and Akram they were struck with a blow in ed time. Rehmat fouled Afif, Afif lashed home from close Esteghlal's replied in some good fortune. Rouhollah the net, leveling the score on side the lead in the 36th minute the 50th minute when Rouz- and Bounedjah blasted home range past goalkeeper Mehdi the 32nd minute when they Bagheri's strike was fumbled the night. when his right footed shot from beh Cheshmi was sent off for a to help Al Sadd earn a draw Rehmati in the 27th minute. equalised with the help of by Aissa and the ball fell into Bounedjah almost gave his the centre of the box is saved in second bookable offence. and progress on aggregate. Persepolis break Al Duhail hearts, win 3-2 on aggregate Al Duhail players celebrate after scoring their only goal against Persepolis FC during their AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg match at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, on Monday. (AFP) tive victories, overtaking Ul- In the 56th minute, Bashar Brake to attempt a last-ditch san Hyundai’s nine set during Resan’s effort from the edge of clearance from the line which the 2012 season when the Ko- the box was tipped away by Al unfortunately sent the ball rean side won the title. Duhail goalkeeper Amine Le- into the net. Al Duhail went ahead, comte although the resulting By this time the crowd Al Duhail’s Murad Naji (centre) in action against Persepolis players Ali Alipour (left) and Omid Alishah during their AFC Champions League somewhat luckily, through Ka- corner produced the equaliser. were on their feet and Perse- quarter-final second leg match at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, on Monday.(EPA-EFE) rim Boudiaf after Persepolis The cross saw the ball polis didn’t have to wait long defender Shojae Khalilzadeh’s bounce off the heads of God- for the crucial third goal. AFP aggregate win on Monday. Earlier, Persepolis had pions Al Duhail had been re- attempted clearance from win Mensha and Ali Alipour Nigerian Mensha, one of TEHRAN They will now clash with staged a remarkable second lentless in their campaign, a free-kick bounced off the and fall perfectly for captain their stalwarts in their current another Qatar club, Al Sadd, half recovery in Tehran. winning all their previous nine former’s back and into the net. Seyed Jalal Hossein to volley campaign, latched on to a long IRANIAN giants Persepolis in the semis next month after Trailing 1-0 after the first matches right from the group Both teams failed to come home from close, much to the clearance from Alireza Beiran- broke Al Duhail’s sequence of the 2011 champions edged out leg and then conceding a 33rd stage before suffering their up with a goal-worthy move for joy of the near capacity crowd. vand and left two defenders nine straight victories to storm Iran’s Esteghlal 5-3 on aggre- minute goal they scored three only defeat. the remaining part of the first Persepolis went ahead in chasing shadows before drib- into the semi-finals of the AFC gate following their second-leg goals after the break to take Had they won, they would half, but the pace picked up in the 76th minute when Alipour bling past goalkeeper Lecomte Champions League with a stir- 2-2 draw in Doha. Al Sadd had the second leg 3-1. have set an AFC Champions the second ring which the hosts shook off the defence and shot and nudging the ball in with a ring come-from-behind 3-2 won the first leg 3-1. Qatar Stars League cham- League record of 10 consecu- were clearly the better side. goalward, forcing Sultan al- simple finish. Sports Tuesday, September 18, 2018 17 ‘Complete machine’ Hamilton offers no comfort for Ferrari REUTERS before wrapping up his fourth clear. Ferrari are hurting and the end of the season.” LONDON title in Mexico with two races to they are running out of time If Hamilton is fast ap- spare. to do anything about it, even if proaching the point at which he FORMULA One champion While Vettel was favour- many suspect them of having can secure a fifth championship Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes ite to reduce the points gap on the faster car. without having to add to his tal- won big in Singapore on Sun- Sunday at a circuit that should ly of seven wins for the season, day and the signs are looking have suited Ferrari, Hamilton ‘Special moment’' he was quick to recognise the ominous for title rival Sebastian sowed the seeds of victory with Sunday, as Hamilton said credit is not his alone. Vettel and Ferrari. a stunning qualifying lap for in his post-race news confer- Singapore was once a track The Briton’s fourth victory pole position. ence, might have left “a couple where Mercedes struggled, with in five races suggests that once Mercedes team boss Toto of people snoring” but it was overtaking difficult and grid again the 33-year-old is hitting Wolff hailed that as “the best lap also “a special moment” for him position all important, but they a purple phase just as the sea- I've ever seen in a Formula One and Mercedes, who were taking have worked hard to address son enters its critical stages. car” while Hamilton himself de- nothing for granted. their weaknesses in slow-speed “He just turns into a com- scribed it as 'surreal'. They know one retirement corners. plete machine at this time of The race was no thriller, can throw everything up in the “We’ve been just chip- year,” marvelled Mercedes with Vettel third and the top air, but the champions are cer- ping away at it over the last 12 technical head James Allison af- six finishing in starting order, tainly breathing easier than months, but with a massive ter Hamilton stretched his lead but the outcome still delivered a might have been the case. amount of effort because it's to 40 points with six rounds re- hammer blow for Ferrari, whose “It feels significant, not for quite a big thing you have to maining. immediate public response had the championship but it feels change in order to do it,” Allison “His focus and his enjoy- a distinct whiff of sour grapes. significant because we have un- told Sky Sports television. ment, and just everything about “Boredom the winner in derstood the car in Singapore,” “It’s just a real delight to him, lifts to a level that is bril- Singapore,” the team website said Wolff.