SPORT Tuesday 28 March 2017 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Semenya and Qatar's Sheikh Fahad Vinales corners Qatar Niyonsaba set for prepares for glory as MotoGP world Doha face-off Madrid bout hails rising star Qatar ready for key Uzbekistan test Armstrong Vas Qatar players training udner the watchful eyes of he added. A win against Syria The Peninsula coach Jorge Fossati on the eve of the FIFA 2018 would have lifted the Central World Cup qualifying match against Uzbekistan Asians into second place in atar will be looking for a in Tashkent. Group A but Omar Khrbin’s positive result when they injury-time penalty now leaves Qtake on Uzbekistan in the Uzbekistan, who will be without 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying the suspended Islom Tukhtakhu- game at Bunyodkor Stadium in jaev, with a major fight to secure Tashkent today. a top-three position as Syria lurk Coach Jorge Fossati says a just a point behind in fourth. tough task awaits his boys. Asked if he was surprised by "The game, as has been the Uzbekistan's recent loss to Syria, case in this group, will be diffi- Fossati said on Monday: "I was cult because the participating not surprised as I said earlier in teams are equal in terms of capa- this group all levels are close and bility," Fossati said during a press any result achieved by one team conference yesterday. on another is not a surprise. Iran lead the six-team group "The surprise would have with 14 points from six matches, been if there was a big difference followed by Korea with 10 points in the goals between the teams while Uzbekistan are in third and that can be confirmed by spot with nine points followed looking at the results of the teams by Syria (8) and China (5). so far," he added. Qatar are with four points "The Iranian team is strong and the Uruguayan tactician says in terms of defense and this qual- there are no easy matches for the ity has allowed them to lead the taking in the group. group. So it was Iran's defensive "In this group, no team can strength that gave him the top say that the other side is an easy place (in Group A of Asian Zone opponent. The match will be not be read about the previous be reverse the result in the away of Uzbekistan. The visitors will "Uzbekistan is a tough oppo- qualifying campaign)," Fossati tough. We have a lot of respect results. "I do not think the pre- match. "The Uzbekistan team is miss Boualem Khoukhi and nent and Qatar should play with said. for Uzbekistan but that does not vious matches will have an characterized by being organ- Abdelkarim Hassan on account caution. The Uzbeks are very dan- stop us from doing everything we impact on tomorrow's game. ized at the highest level and in of suspension, while defender gerous in the air, but they will be GROUP A STANDING can to win," Fossati said. Every football match has a dif- every game it follows a clear Ahmed Yasser and forward wary of the strength of the Qatari P W D L G/F G/A PTS Both the teams go in to the ferent story, and we will write a strategy. Its players follow the Meshaal Abdulla are available for national team," the Uruguayan said. Iran 6 4 2 0 5 0 14 match having suffered loss in positive new page in the Qatari coach's instructions. This disci- selection after serving their bans. "Every coach in the world Korea Republic 6 3 1 2 8 1 10 their last matches. The visitors football book through our efforts pline is what distinguishes them," The Qatar coach said he has has the information he needs Uzbekistan 6 3 0 3 5 1 9 lost 1-0 to group leaders Iran tomorrow," Fossati said. Fossati said. advised his boys to be on the about the team he will face," Fos- Syria 6 2 2 2 2 0 8 China 6 1 2 3 3 6 5 while Uzbekistan went down to Qatar had lost the home tie A win in Tashkent would guard against the opponents in sati said. Qatar 6 1 1 4 3 7 4 Syria. Fossati said much should to Uzbekistan 1-0 and thus will move Qatar to within two points today’s match. "We are ready for this game," FIFA to cover Crucial Al Sadd-Al Rayyan clash on Sunday Coleman's The Peninsula QATAR STARS Al Sadd captain wages during he Qatar Stars League Xavi Hernandez LEAGUE FIXTURES (QSL) action returns after (left) fights for the recovery Ta three-week hiatus with ball possession a match of the week when Al during a Qatar Stars April 1 Paris Sadd take on their local rivals Al League match, Al Ahli vs Al Kharaitiyat at Al Ahli Club Reuters Rayyan in a highly anticipated against Al Rayyan (Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium), 6.20pm Qatar Clasico match-up. in this April 2016 Al Arabi vs Al Shahania at Al Arabi Club verton defender Seamus The tie will hold extra signif- file picture. (Grand Hamad Stadium),6.20pm Coleman's wages will be icance for Al Sadd who are very Al Wakrah vs Al Khor at Al Wakrah Club Epaid by FIFA while he much in the title hunt; only a vic- (Saoud Bin Abdel Rahman Stadium), recovers from a double leg tory will do for Jesaldo Ferriera’s 6.20pm fracture suffered during side, whilst the former champi- international duty with Muaither SC vs Al Sailiya at Al Gharafa ons Al Rayyan can still maintain Ireland. Club (Thani Bin Jassim Stadium), 6.20pm their faint hopes of retaining the Coleman underwent a suc- QSL title with a victory over April 2 cessful leg operation on Sadd. Al Gharafa vs Umm Salal, Al Gharafa Saturday following a wild chal- The pressure will be very Club (Thani Bin Jassim Stadium), lenge by Wales defender Neil much on Al Sadd as they look to 6.20pm Taylor, who was immediately overhaul league leaders Lekhwiya vs El Jaishm at Lekhwiya Club dismissed during a goalless Lekhwiya to pick up their first (Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium), 8.30pm World Cup qualifier between QSL falcon shield since the Al Sadd vs Al Rayyan, at Al Sadd Club the two sides last week. 2012/2013 season. (Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium), 8.30pm The 28-year-old fullback The Wolves will be aiming is expected to miss the rest of to put behind their frustrating the Premier League season 0-0 draw against Umm Salal lout and head coach Ferriera will be As for Al Rayyan, they will second deadliest attack in the out ties of round 24 of the QSL and his wages will be covered of their mind, which gave their hoping that none of them suffer come into the Qatar Clasico in QSL in the clasico, and will be season. by FIFA Club Protection Pro- title rivals the chance to over- any nasty injuries which could good spirits following compre- looking to stop Bagdad Bounjah Head coach Djamel Bel- gramme during that period. take them in the QSL put them in doubt for the hensive victories in the QSL and who is in the running for the madi, the man who guided Ireland manager Martin standings. Clasico. AFC Champions League. Last Mansor Muftah award for the Lekhwiya to back-to-back title O'Neill said no time scale had A host of key players in the The likes of Ibrahim Majid, time out in the league, Rayyan league’s top goal scorer. Centre wins a few years ago, will be been put on Coleman's Al Sadd set-up have been called Ali Asad and Hassan Haydoos eased past bottom of the table Al back Nathan will be charged plotting carefully to dismantle recovery. up for the Qatar National team, have made the long away trip to Wakrah with a 4-0 win. Talis- with looking after the Algerian El Jaish and put them a step "I'm not sure, I would only Uzbekistan and will need to be manic captain Rodrigo Tabata attacker at set-pieces and if close to the QSL title. be guessing," O'Neill said. QSL STANDINGS fresh for the Sunday evening delivered the goods again for the Bounjah is silenced then Al The Red Knights have been "Sometimes there are P W D L G/F G/A PTS match. Lions, scoring a hat-trick for his Rayyan have a great chance of in scintillating form in the league complications afterwards and Lekhwiya 23 17 5 1 70 29 56 Last time in the league, Al side. beating their rivals. this season, having only fallen to injuries can be more pro- Al Sadd 23 16 6 1 69 19 54 Sadd ran riot against their rivals During the international Sunday evening’s match defeat on one occasion to Umm longed, other times it can be Al Rayyan 23 14 5 4 47 21 47 picking up a 5-0 win. Striker break, Rayyan moved to secure could have a significant say in Salal. Since then Lekhwiya have clean and clear sailing. El Jaish 23 13 6 4 42 31 45 Al Gharafa 23 11 4 8 40 38 37 Bagdad Bounjah was the hero the long term futures of two key the destination of the QSL falcon picked up back to back wins "It will take some time but Umm Salal 23 7 9 7 26 32 30 notching a hat-trick in the tie, attackers with both Sebastian shield, and will certainly serve against Al Sailya and Al Khariti- Seamus has great determina- Al Ahli 23 7 6 10 32 37 27 and the Algerian international Soria and Tabata signing con- up some of the best football the yat to keep their title push on tion and sometimes those Al Arabi 23 8 3 12 36 49 27 will have to be at his best again tract extensions with the club.