Ronaldo scores his first goal for Juventus in Italian League PAGE 18 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 Huge response for Artistic Gymnastics World C’ships’ volunteers registration PAGE 19 BASKETBALL QATAR VS THE PHILIPPINES Al Sadd all set for Esteghlal FC; Duhail take on Persepolis in Iran tournament’s leading scorer Qatar clubs a step Baghdad for some goals, the Algerian international has net- away from ACL ted 11 goals so far. Akram Afif semis berths; who has been inspirational form is the support man for Duhail eye record Bounedjah. Barcelona legend Xavi ninth win Hernandez will steer the mid- field area with another Span- IKOLI VICTOR ish star, Gabi, a former Atleti- DOHA co Madrid captain. Today’s game against Iran’s Singapore’s Muhammad QATAR’S two representative Esteghlal is very important Taqi Jafari is the main ref- clubs in this season’s AFC eree and he will be assisted by Champions League are just for us, we will start the linesmen Tzu Liang and Rony a step away from making the game with a 0-0 score and Koh Min. Litchman Krishnan semi-finals of the top Asia we will not think about the will be the fourth official. competition with the Wolves first leg completely as we Almoez Ali's header was holding a 3-1 advantage from will play with everything the difference when Duhail the first leg and Al Duhail a hosted Persepolis two weeks slender lead. at stake. ago, a ninth win on the trot Al Sadd host Esteghlal at Al Sadd coach meant the QNB Stars League the Jassam bin Hamad Sta- champions equalled the dium at home on Monday Jesualdo Ferreira record for most consecutive in the second leg of the 2018 wins in a single AFC Champi- AFC Champions League quar- ons League campaign. ter-finals, while Al Duhail are Addressing the media, Al aiming to hold on to a slen- Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul der lead when play last year’s said, We face a difficult match semi-finalists Persepolis in but it will not be difficult only the second leg of the quarter- for us, but also for Persepolis finals in Iran. as we achieved victory in the Al Sadd were inspired to home match which will put a famous victory by Bagh- pressure on their players. dad Bounedjah, who scored a Al Sadd skipper Xavi Hernandez (right) during the first leg Champions League quarter-final match against Esteghlal FC which theolves W had won 3-1. “We are playing in this spectacular brace in the first round for the first time and leg against Esteghlal. the players are ready, and the The 2011 AFC Champions most focused team will achieve League winners scored three victory especially that the lev- times in 15 minutes in the els of both teams are close. We second half of the first leg at know that the Iranian team the Azadi Stadium, to come will rely on its fans and their back from a 1-0 deficit that support,” Malloul said. had held until the hour mark. “The players have the ex- “Today’s game against perience that will enable them Iran’s Esteghlal is very im- achieve victory in this match. portant for us, we will start Our preparations were divided the game with a 0-0 score and into two sections: physical & we will not think about the technical and mental & mo- first leg completely as we will We face a crunch match, it rale. We will work on achiev- play with everything at stake," will not be difficult only for ing the victory that will satisfy Jesualdo Ferreira said at the us, but also for Persepolis Qatari football fans.” pre-match media conference. as we achieved victory in Youssef El Arabi will hope “We will not play for the the home match which will to add to his tally of nine draw and we will fight for goals so far in the competi- control and win, which is ir- put pressure on them. tion. Almoez Ali expectedly replaceable. Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul will form a twin strike force “This is the third time in with El Arabi. history that we have done that. The return of Karim We know the strength of the ers to concentrate at all times Boudiaf is a big relief for the opponent and we know what and warned that an early goal team said Malooul. “Duhail awaits us and most important- for the visitors will give them have an additional card with ly not to make mistakes and a great motivation to come After a narrow home victory, Al Duhail are aiming to hold on to a slender advantage when they visit last year’s semi-finalists ersepolisP in the the return of Boudiaf and he trust me," Ferreira stressed. back," he added. second leg of the quarter-finals on Monday. Almoez Ali’s header was the difference as Al Duhail hosted Persepolis two weeks ago, a ninth win is one of the important names “I have asked the play- Al Sadd will rely on the on the trot meant the Qatari side equalled the record for most consecutive wins in a single AFC Champions League campaign. in the team list.” Qatar hope for much-needed win against the Philippines Al Annabi take on 2019 FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS the favourites in don’t know what happened but we have to review the game, Manila today watch the tapes and break it down to these players,” Lewis AYENI OLUSEGUN had said last Thursday. DOHA “The only way we compete in a game where we are limited AFTER a disappointing 43- by injuries and experience is 95 blowout loss to Australia by moving the ball, and guys at home, Qatar will look to are not buying into that,” he secure a much-needed win bemoaned. against the Philippines in Ma- The Filipinos will likely nila, on Monday. have a different roster ready Al Annabi have lost five of to face Qatar at the Smart their seven games in the first Araneta Coliseum, especial- two rounds of the 2019 FIBA ly with both Japeth Aguilar Basketball World Cup qualifiers. and Matthew Wright already Injuries to six major players having served their 1-game had limited Tim Lewis’ team suspensions. against the Asian giants Aus- In the Second Round of tralia, who boast the best de- the Qualifiers, the three best fensive unit and among the top placed teams from each group offensive team in qualifying. and the best 4th-placed team The young Qatari squad (total of seven teams) shall were not favoured in their qualify for the FIBA Basketball failed attempt to derail Aus- Qatar coach Tim Lewis. A win in Manila on Monday could become the World Cup Finals in China. tralia and they will remain as turning point for his boys in Group F of the qualifiers. To determine the final the underdogs against a Phil- standings of the Asian Quali- ippine team, hungry for vic- in Manila could become the to Australia, blaming injuries fiers, the host shall not be in- tory after their loss to Iran. turning point for Lewis’ men, and a lack of fight and spirit cluded. However all results Philippines are currently who are currently on the brink for his team’s loss. related to the previous games Qatar have lost five of their seven games in the first two rounds of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup third in Group F with four wins of elimination. “We cannot come out to of China in the relevant group qualifiers. Injuries to six major players had limited Tim Lewis’ team against the Asian giants Australia, from seven, Qatar remains Lewis cut a frustrated fig- play like this and expect to get shall be taken into account for who boast the best defensive unit and among the top offensive team in qualifying. bottom of the group, but a win ure after the loss on Thursday anything good from the game. I the final standings. Sports Monday, September 17, 2018 17 Hamilton supreme in Singapore, increases title lead Mercedes man leads from pole to chequered flag; Verstappen more than eight seconds behind AFP Results runners, Daniel Ricciardo, SINGAPORE 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes-AMG) took on ultrasofts on lap 27, 309 km in 1hr 51min 11.611sec it left the top six back in grid LEWIS Hamilton won the (avg speed 167kph/103mph) order: Hamilton leading, Ver- Singapore Grand Prix on Sun- 2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at 8.961 sec stappen second and Vettel day in dominant fashion to in- 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at ....39.945 third. “I think the team had a crease his Formula One cham- 4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes-AMG) at 51.930 great strategy so we could get pionship lead over Sebastian 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) at ......53.001 back into second place,” said Vettel to 40 points with just 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) at 53.982 Verstappen. six races remaining. 7. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Renault) Hamilton remained in con- 1min 43.011sec The Mercedes driver led 8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) at ........1 lap trol but was getting twitchy up from pole to chequered flag, 9. Charles Leclerc (MON/Sauber) at ......1 lap front. “I feel we have stopped with Red Bull's Max Verstap- 10. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) at ...1 lap too early,” he said, as a few pen more than eight seconds 11. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) at ...1 lap spots of rain began to tumble behind and Ferrari's Vettel a 12.