Sport MONDAY 19 APRIL 2021 VerstappenV wins chaotic Imola race but HHamilton retains Championship lead ItI was very challenging out there, especially in the beginning tot stay on track to be honest, it was very slippery. I think we managedm everything well. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Sport | 10 FA CUP: SEMI-FINALLeicester City 1-0 Southampton PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal 1-1 Fulham, Manchester United 3-1 Burnley ACL: Al Duhail, Al Ahli play out 1-1 draw AFC.COM – JEDDAH Al Duhail's Michael Olunga heads the Al Ahli Saudi FC's Omar Al Soma ball during his team's We lost scored in added time to cancel out second Group C Michael Olunga's opener for Al Duhail match against Al Ahli because of SC as the two sides played out a 1-1 Saudi FC in Jeddah, draw at the King Abdullah Sport City yesterday. Stadium in their AFC Champions our mistakes, League (ACL) Group C match yesterday. The home side had lost their says Xavi opening match against Esteghlal by a huge scoreline while their Qatari THE PENINSULA – DOHA opponents took all three points against Iraqi side Al Shorta. The two Al Sadd head coach Xavi Hernandez sides had to settle for a draw this time expressed his disappointment after around. his side’s 3-1 defeat to Al Nassr in A lively start to the match took the AFC Champions League Group hold when inside the first minute of D match, which was played in play, captain Almoez Ali latched onto Riyadh on Saturday. Edmilson’s pinpoint cross and nar- “I think the result is unfair. We rowly missed Mohammad Al Owais’ deserve more than this result and far post, as the Qatari side looked to at least a draw, considering the per- set the tone for the match early on formance shown by the players and with Olunga narrowly heading wide the many opportunities we missed, a few minutes later as well. and I will not comment on the ref- Al Owais was forced into a save eree’s decision and the incorrect when Olunga received a pass from penalty kick,” Xavi said during a Abdallah Al Ahrak and carefully post-match interview. placed a right footed shot that the “We were good in the first 25 Saudi keeper was more than equal minutes in the second half, and we to. scored the equaliser and we were Ali once again tested the keeper with the home side finally caving approaching, goalscorer Olunga failed to clear a corner that fell to close to scoring the second, but 10 minutes before the break when he under pressure when Edmilson ran missed a golden chance to double his Motaz Hawsawi, who played it to the there were some mistakes in dribbled through the Saudi side’s down the right flank and crossed the tally and the scoreline when some Syrian, the latter volleying it into the defense because of which we con- ranks and fired a shot that was dealt ball into the area - initially looking smart interplay between his team- net against the run of play. ceded the second goal,” Xavi said. with by Al Owais, after a period of like it was aimed for Ali - but a mates culminated in a penalty-shot The result leaves Al Duhail sitting “We have 4 upcoming games play where the intensity had slightly deflection put into Olunga’s path and like situation for the Kenyan, yet he atop Group C on four points, pending and we must prepare for them well dropped. the Kenyan made no mistake in front somehow skied it. the late game between Esteghlal FC in order to return to competing. Al The deadlock was broken less of goal this time. Al Soma equalised for the hosts at and Al Shorta while Al Ahli sit in third Nassr is one of the best teams in the than 10 minutes into the second half, With the final whistle the death when Al Duhail’s defence place with a loss and a draw. tournament and I am still sure that we deserve more than today’s result,” the Spaniard said. “Football is about mistakes, and Blanc finds silver lining in defeat to Persepolis in a strong match like this, we must not make these mistakes, which cost AFC.COM/THE PENINSULA – GOA “Although we scored first, the “I don’t know what happened to mohammadi praised his players for us the match.match. We manner in which we conceded was a Al Rayyan in the second half. It’s tough not giving up against Al Rayyan. mustmust focusfocus Despite their 3-1 loss against Iraniannian bigbig blowblow to my players.players. to lose a match like ttheh way we “We entered the second half with onon thethe heaveyweights Persepolis in theirheir “The“The firstfirst 4545 minutesminutes werewere diddid d today.today. We werewer playing the drive and motivation that we upcomingupcoming second AFC Champions League Groupoup veryvery positive forfor AlAl Rayyan butbut wellwew ll but lost ourour concen- could win the match,” said Golmo- matches,”matches,” E match on Saturday, Al Rayyan headead PersepolisPersepolis playedplayed veryvery well,well, trationtration in justjust fivefive minutes,"m hammadi. “We never once lost that XaviXavi said.said. coach Laurent Blanc (pictured) triedried werewere physically better and BlancBlanc said.said. self confidence and therefore we to look at the positives. appliedapplied pressure in thethe secondsecond “I’m“I’m ververyy proud of won.” The result left the Qatari footballball halfhalf andand theythey went on to score notnot my team forfor playing “The whole team is built this way. giants Al Rayyan with one point afterfter oneone butbut tthreehree goals.goals. veryvery well.well. ObviouslyO We achieved this victory with two matches, having drawn 0-0 withwith “We“We had a playerplayer substituted we hadhad some teamwork and never once surrendered hosts FC Goa in their opener. duedue to a knockknock in thethe firstfirst halfhalf andand defensivedefe or admitted defeat. “We were good in the first half bbutut thenthen I decideddecided to protect tthreehree pressurepressur but we “In fact, we wanted to score a after that we lost the game in six of mymy playersplayers becausebecause we needneed toto perform fourth goal but that didn’t happen. I’m minutes,” Blanc said after the match.tch. havehave anotheranother game in threethree forfof r 9090 minutes proud of my players for what they Last year's runners-up Persepolisolis ddays.ays. andand not 45 accomplished today. We owe it all to came from a goal down on Saturdayday mminutesin like our fans because without them we will to continue their perfect start to thehe whatwha we did not have that desire to succeed,” Gol- 2021 campaign. Shahriar Moghanlouu today.”tod mohammadi said. scored twice after Kamal Kamyabiniainia Perse- Up next for Al Rayyan are Al had cancelled out Naif Al Hadhrami'smi's polispo coach Wahda of the UAE on Tuesday while opener as they picked up their secondond YahyaYa Gol- Persepolis will look to make it three win in a row. wins against FC Goa. Tsitsipas wins maiden Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo Greece’s Stefanos AP – MONACO the Open 13 indoor tournament in years after his Russian mother Tsitsipas Marseille - just weeks before did so. Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Monte France went into lockdown for the Julia Salnikova - a former celebrates after Federer Carlo Masters without dropping a first time because of the corona- Fed Cup player for the winning the ATP set, beating Andrey Rublev 6-3, virus pandemic. Soviet Union - won a Masters 1000 set to play 6-3 yesterday for his first title this The 23-year-old Rublev was junior title at the same - Monte Carlo year and sixth overall. aiming for his second title of the venue in 1981. Masters title in Fourth-seeded Tsitsipas was year, his first at Masters level and “I can’t describe Roquebrune-Cap- French Open in dominant form as he edged 4-3 ninth overall. He had produced an my feelings right now,” Martin, France, ahead of the sixth-seeded Russian audacious display to defeat record Tsitsipas said. “I am yesterday. in their career meetings, having 11-time champion Rafael Nadal on overwhelmed by so APAP – PARISPA also beaten him on clay last year Friday, and further confirm why many different emo- in the French Open he is one of the rising stars of tions and nostalgia.” RogerRog Federer announced quarterfinals. tennis. yeyesterdays he will play at the “I had an unbelievable week. After winning the ATP Cup FrenchFre Open, and the Swiss star It is incredible that I am able to be with Russia, Rublev reached the isis preparing for it on home clay in the position that I am ... I would quarterfinals at the Australian at a tournament in Geneva next consider it as the best week of my Open and then won the month.mo The 20-time Grand Slam life so far,” Tsitsipas said. ABN AMRO World championcha revealed his plans on “There were a lot of nerves Tennis Tournament in hishis officialof Twitter page. “Happy to coming into that match. Playing Rotterdam last letlet youyou knowkn that I will play Geneva and Andrey was a very difficult thing month for his Paris.PPaariiss. UntilUntn il thenthen I will useu the time to train. Can’t wait to do today, also considering that fourth title in too playpllay inin Switzerland again,”a Federer wrote. it was a final. I am definitely proud seven months. FedererFFeedeerer will aimaim forfo his 104th career title at the of the way I managed to behave Since Rot- GenevaGGennevva Open, which takesta place May 16-22 - shortly on the court.” terdam, he’s beforebbefforee RolandRoland Garros beginsb in Paris on May 30.