Muntari Strike Opens Qatar's Campaign with a Victory
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 OOLYMPICSLYMPICS | Page 4 Southgate Once in a spoiled for lifetime: Torch choice as Euro bearers look 2020 awaits forward to relay Thursday, March 25, 2021 FORMULA 1 Sha’aban 12, 1442 AH Verstappen seeks GULF TIMES early win, Hamilton starts record bid SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS Muntari strike opens Qatar’s campaign with a victory ‘They (Almoez and Muntari) did well in all the facets... the team as a group were very compact and worked well together’ By Sports Reporter though, tried to hit back imme- Doha diately even as Qatar’s defence looked shaky. Yilmaz hat-trick leads Turkey to Qatar’s winger Pedro Miguel atar made a winning on the right fl ank had an out- start to their European standing game as the 30-year- impressive win over Netherlands Zone FIFA World Cup old was unlucky not to score, Reuters 2022 qualifying cam- having hit the woodwork twice in Istanbul, Turkey Qpaign with a 1-0 win over Lux- the second half. embourg yesterday. Mohamed Luxembourg had more of the Muntari’s 12th minute strike ball in the second half but failed eteran captain Burak from close range earned Felix to fi nd the net as the Qatar play- Yilmaz netted a hat- Sanchez’s men a much-deserved ers were more organised. The trick as Turkey saw victory at the Nagyerdei Stadium 87th minute sending off of Aldin off a late rally from in Debrecen, Hungary. Skenderovic did not help Luxem- Vthe Netherlands to secure a 4-2 The Asian champions could bourg as Qatar held on to make a home victory yesterday at the have scored much more but winning start. start of their World Cup quali- lacked sharpness in front of goal. Sanchez praised his players fying campaign. Qatar – who were invited by after the match but admitted Yilmaz opened the scoring in UEFA as a guest nation to take there was room for improve- the 14th minute of the Group G part in the European qualifi ers as ment. “I think the players did match with a defl ected shot fol- they fi ne tune their preparations well today. We played at a good lowed by a penalty 20 minutes for the next year’s World Cup at rhythm, the game was much later at Istanbul’s Ataturk Ol- home – will face Azerbaijan on faster than what our players are ympic Stadium to put the Turks Turkey’s Burak Yilmaz (left) celebrates his goal with teammate Saturday before fi nishing their used to back in the Qatar Stars 2-0 up at halftime. Umut Meras during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 European European sojourn against the League. But we adapted well. The game looked to be ef- qualification Group G match against the Netherlands at the Ataturk Republic of Ireland on March 30. We created chances and were fectively over when Hakan Cal- Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. (AFP) Qatar will return in September able to win even though Luxem- hanoglu added the third a few to take on European champions bourg had good offensive play- seconds into the second half fi rst choice Jasper Cillessen was Klaassen’s goal was a touch Portugal and Serbia – the two ers,” the Spaniard said. but two goals in as many min- injured in the warm-up. of individual brilliance as he other teams in Group A. Sanchez was also impressed utes gave the Dutch hope of a Donyell Malen then gave brought down a cross from It wasn’t exactly baptism by Luxembourg’s Mica Pinto and Qatar’s Mohamed Muntari (right) vie for with Almoez and Muntari’s per- late comeback. away a penalty with a clumsy Memphis Depay with a subtle fi re against 98th ranked Luxem- the ball during a friendly in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 European formance upfront. “Today we Their momentum was ended, challenge on Okay Yokuslu that touch, simultaneously turn- bourg, with Qatar, who are 40 qualifying tournament in Debrecen, Hungary, yesterday. (AFP) started with Almoez and Muntari however, by a stunning free kick Yilmaz converted with an em- ing two defenders to slam rungs above their opponents. Al in the front. They did well in all from Yilmaz that completed phatic strike. home from close range. De Jong Annabi started on the front foot the facets of the game both de- his hat-trick and secured the Calhanoglu added the third swooped onto a dipping cross to but Luxembourg gifted them an fensively and forward. But more points for Turkey. 30 seconds into the second half get a touch for the second. opening after a defensive error in than just two players, the team as “We were not paying at- with a speculative eff ort from Yet the 35-year-old Yilmaz the 12th minute. a group were very compact and tention and were not 100% outside the penalty area that put a swift end to Dutch come- Lars Gerson took too long to worked well together. We were focused,” said Netherlands deceived Krul. back hopes with a scorching clear the ball with Almoez Ali able to combine and create good captain Georginio Wijnaldum. Yet the Ataturk Stadium, free kick nine minutes from swooping in to steal the ball. The chances,” he added. “Also Turkey made it diffi cult where Liverpool fought back fulltime that restored Turkey’s Qatari forward then passed it The Qatar coach indicated he for us to defend.” from 3-0 down against AC Mi- two-goal advantage. onto Muntari, who fi red in from would rotate players for the next The opening goal came at the lan to win the 2005 Champions The Dutch were awarded the box. Qatar should have dou- two games. “Now it’s time to re- end of a counter-attack with League fi nal, looked like it may a penalty three minutes into bled their advantage in the 15th cover and analyse, and then try Yilmaz’s shot from the edge of be the venue of another famous stoppage time after tugging by minute but Almoez’s point blank to fi nd the best option against the area taking a defl ection off comeback as Davy Klaassen Ozan Kabak on De Ligt but De- shot was saved by Luxembourg Azerbaijan. We have three days Matthijs de Ligt to beat goal- scored in the 75th minute and pay’s eff ort was saved by Ugur- goalkeeper Anthony Moris, of rest. But will surely give some keeper Tim Krul, who had been Luuk de Jong got another 60 can Cakir to complete a miser- though the forward should Qatar coach Felix Sanchez (right) shakes hands with Ahmed Alaaeldin players opportunities,” Sanchez pressed into service after Dutch seconds later. able night for the visitors. have done better. Luxembourg, during the match against Luxembourg yesterday. (Reuters) said. MOTORCYCLING Losail International Circuit takes centre stage as MotoGP returns AFP his track performance. “It is not the Suzuki rider from Mallorca Paris MARQUEZ MISSING an easy decision. I will decide can be expected to put up a resil- The six-time MotoGP world during the summer break, in the ient title defence against a slew of champion is the notable absentee middle of the season,” he told serious challengers. Among them he 2021 MotoGP season from Qatar’s double header. His motogp.com. France’s Fabio Quartararo who sparks into life in Qatar season-ending crash in the fi rst “My decision will be based on takes Rossi’s place in the Yamaha this weekend. Here is a race last year led to three bouts results. If I am strong, can fi ght factory team. look at fi ve talking points of surgery on his fractured right for podiums and victories, I will He marked himself down as Tahead of the curtain-raiser at the arm, the last in December, and continue another year.” Rossi’s a future champion with wins in Losail International circuit: left the way clear for his fellow teammate is Franco Morbidelli, the fi rst two races before bike is- Spaniard Joan Mir to claim his a graduate from Rossi’s VR46 sues put a spanner in his bid to LIGHTS ON crown. academy. become France’s fi rst MotoGP One year on after the Covid-19 The 28-year-old pulled out of The 2020 runner-up describes champion. He said from his home pandemic forced the cancel- this weekend’s curtain-raiser on his mentor as “like a big brother”. in Andorra in February: “I’m lation of the fi rst round of the Monday, saying that although Rossi is counting on their close ready to win the championship. MotoGP championship in Qatar his recovery was going well he friendship to withstand the In 2019, I made the podium, last the gulf state’s Losail Interna- required more time before re- natural rivalry that develops be- year some wins, all that’s missing tional Circuit takes centre stage turning to the day job. With his tween riders on the same team. is the fi nal step, to be champion with back-to-back night races next medical check-up on April “To fi ght and still be friends we of the world.” on Sunday and again on April 4 12 that suggests Portugal’s third will need to have a real friend- to get the 2021 campaign off to leg on April 18 as a target for his ship. It won’t be easy, but I think TESTING TIMES an atmospheric and theatrical overdue return. we can do it.” Australian Jack Miller will have fl oodlit start.