SPORT Sunday 15 October 2017 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 31 Sharapova reacheses Perez widens Zaha inspires first final since lead at CIMB Classic Palace to drugs ban in Kuala Lumpur Chelsea win Weiss strikes twice as dominant Al Gharafa rout Al Khor ArmstrongArmstron Vas The PenPeninsulai brace from former Rangers winger Valdimir Weiss fired Al Gharafa to a resounding 3-0 winwiAn overover ten-men Al Khor in the Fourth-RoundFourth match of the QNB StarsStar League (QSL) at Al GharafaGharafa StadiumS yesterday. TheThe 27-year-old27 struck two goalsgoals withinwit a span of seven minutesminutes toto take the game away from theth visitors to give the CheetahsChee their first win of the QQSL season. AlA Gharafa now have a tallytal of five points from four mmatches with one win andand two draws, while Al Khor remain onon four points with one winwin and a draw. BothBoth thet teams started with a flourish,flourish, aiming to control the Al Gharafa’s midfieldmidfield playp and had an equal shareshare of ballb possession in the Slovakian ffirstirst qquarteruart of the match. midfielder TheThe picturepi changed in the Vladimír Weiss nextnext quarterquar with Al Gharafa Al Khor’s goalkeeper Lecoumet Kloud Amin (right) is shown a red card during their QNB celebrates after dictatingdictating terms. Stars League match against Al Gharafa at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday. scoring his Al GharafaGh broke open second goal through theth rival defense in the against Al Khor 22nd22nd minute.min the top of the box forcing Amin not add more goals in the first time in the match after been put yesterday. PortuguesePortu striker Diogo to leave his charge to clear the half their game plan of using through and finished the move Carlos AmadoAm positioned him- ball but in the process the goal- the aerial balls to break the by getting past the advancing QSL: YESTERDAY’S RESULTS selfself for theth damage and timed keeper was penalized as having defense worked to a plan and rival keeper and slotting the hhisis jump tto perfection to meet brought down the rival striker. it bore results again in the sec- ball into an unguarded goal. Al Gharafa beat Al Khor 3-0 a cross frfromo Yousuf Muftah to Amin saw the red from the ond half. Thereafter, Al Gharafa tried Umm Salal beat Al Arabi 4-1 give Al GGharafah the lead. referee and an indirect free kick Al Gharafa stuck 11 minutes hard to increase their tally but Al Sailiya beat Al Kharaitiyat 2-1 FiveFive minutes from the was awarded, but nothing came into the second half, with Weiss could not trouble the scorers goal,goal, Al KhorK suffered a body out of it. heading home a cross to beat and had to content with the 3-0 blow whenwhe goalkeeper Lecou- Thereafter, Al Gharafa the Al Khor keeper and yet verdict. TODAY’S FIXTURES met KloudKlou Amin got the red raised the tempo of the pro- again penalised the Al Khor Later yesterday, brilliant cardcard fromfrom referee Khamis Al ceedings and came up with defense for their sloppy piece double by Yannick Sagbo pow- 5:30pm: Al Rayyan vs Marri.Marri. varied combinations to trouble of aerial defending, 2-0. ered Umm Salal to a formidable Al Markhiya at Al Sadd Stadium Al Khor defender the rival defense. Using both the Seven minutes later, the 4-1 win against Al Arabi at Al 7:40pm: Al Sadd vs Qatar SC at Al Sadd Stadium Mohamed Sayyar challenged flanks, Al Gharafa playmakers Slovakian striker was in the Gharafa Stadium. Al Gharafa striker Youssef Has- kept Al Khor guessing. thick of action again. Al Sailiyah beat Al Kharaiti- 7:40pm: Al Duhail vs Al Ahli at Al Duhail Stadium san and the ball ran loose on Although Al Gharafa could Weiss struck for the second yat 2-1 at Al Ahli Stadium. Qatar SC seek return to winning ways but wary of Al Sadd threat Rizwan Rehmat first three league games, the win this match,” said Laudrup The Peninsula Argentinian coach said that they yesterday. must mainly tighten their “Of course, we start as the truggling Qatar SC visit Al defence. favourites. But favourites can lose, Sadd today, knowing their “Even in the QSL Cup, we I am expecting a so you’ve to show your strength Sdefenders must deliver a scored eight goals, but conceded on the pitch. We’ve prepared well promising performance as the five. Our defenders need to pull tough game as for this game. Al Markhiya are the two teams lock horns at Jassim up their socks,” Calderon said. Qatar SC can promoted side, but they’ve played Bin Hamad Stadium. Calderon said: “So far, we’ve some tight matches and have good Qatar SC, coached by Gabriel only scored one victory to show throw up a game plans,” the Dane added. Calderon, have won one game in for our efforts in our comeback surprise: Al Sadd “They’ll defend stoutly and the QNB Stars League this sea- campaign so we definitely need resort to counter-attacks with the son but lost the other two in the more of them and points. We coach Jesualdo help of a few fast players. They three rounds of the 10-team seek at least a point from this Ferreira also showed their strength league. high-profile fixture. I’m very through a couple of good games Al Sadd, coached by Jesualdo happy to announce that my in the QSL Cup during the break Ferreira, will be looking to pick wards are getting better after (Al Markhiya defeated Al Sadd up points against the visitors in every match.” again and drew with Al Arabi),” a game set to kick off at 7.40pm. He added: “We know that Laudrup said. “They’re a side which can lift even though Al Sadd took time The Danish coach underlined its performance to any level any to settle down (in the opening injured and is away for a long “In fact, I wish I had all my promoted side Al Markhiya at Al the fact that Al Rayyan have many time. They’ve the players to do games), but they came back time, he’ll need some time to players, including youngsters, at Sadd Stadium. options in the attack with the likes that and Xavi & Co can tear off strongly. Our players are an regain his form and physical fit- the team training sessions, so we Lions’ coach Michael Laudrup of veteran forward Sebastian any defence,” Calderon said at a inspired lot.” ness,” said Ferreira. could’ve our drills comprehen- said his team won’t take new- Soria and Abderrazzak pre-match press conference. Al Sadd coach Ferreira said When asked about his oppo- sively,” Ferreira said. comers Al Markhiya lightly. Hamdellah. “As far as I’m concerned, he was thrilled to welcome back nents, Ferreira quickly said: “I am Ferreira, however, said “We’re taking the game Teams officials said key every match is like a final and key Algerian striker Baghdad expecting a tough game as Qatar releasing players for national duty against Al Markhiya very seri- striker Rodrigo Tabata, who I’m preparing my boys that way,” Bounedjah. SC can throw up a surprise.” should not affect the team’s prep- ously as they had beaten Al Sadd underwent a surgery after their the Argentine added. “Baghdad had missed the first The Portuguese pointed out arations for league fixtures. in the very first round, no matter last league match, is expected to To a question on the lessons three league matches with an that Al Sadd took great advantage Meanwhile, former champi- the overturned result for fielding take the field in the second half picked by his players from their injury. When a player is severely from the league’s stoppage. ons Al Rayyan will take on an ineligible player. We want to against Al Markhiya. 26 SPORT SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER 2017 Shanghai set for big showdown Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Marin Cilic of Croatia during their semi-final at the Shanghai Masters in Shanghai yesterday. LEFT: Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during their semi-final yesterday. Shanghai Slam champion, triumphed at Nadal, Federer final there were suggestions he may winning the game. Federer sent for the victories, for sure you’re AFP the US Open and then last week not even make Saturday’s the match into a deciding third going to have tough matches, at the China Open for his sixth match. But he showed no ill set and he got the break early and today was one of them.” afael Nadal and title of another remarkable effects in stunning the pro-Fed- to tee up another Nadal Nadal put Cilic under Roger Federer will campaign. 37 erer crowd to break for 4-2 in meeting. immediate pressure in the meet in today’s final But he was forced to sur- the first set. Federer, the older man, Croat’s first two service games. of the Shanghai vive a rollercoaster with fourth The celebrated duo has And Del Potro grasped set could be at a slight disadvan- But the 29-year-old Cilic, Masters, just the lat- seed Marin Cilic in their semi- faced one another 37 point following a thrilling rally tage because he has a shorter the 2014 US Open champion, Rest chapter in their storied final, saving three set points in times, with the that had the spectators whoop- time to rest having played the eventually settled, only to rivalry.