Marquez seals Juanfran own goal historic MotoGP keeps Atletico away world18 title from Liga summit MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2013 19 Dubuisson upstages stars to win Turkish Open Page 16 CAIRO: Egyptian Al Ahly club team players celebrate after beating South Africa’s Orlando Pirates at the Arab Contractors stadium yesterday to retain the African Champions League title. — AP Ahly crowned African champions CAIRO: Egypt’s Al Ahly won an eighth African two legs. “Their experienced showed in the off inside a packed Arab Contractors Stadium in Meyiwa to turn it away for a corner. The Pirates backdrop of political upheaval in the north Champions League trophy when they beat game. We knew it was going to be difficult. We Cairo. The South African champions created sev- goalkeeper then made a brave save inside his African country, which has had a major impact Orlando Pirates of South Africa 2-0 in the second lost the tie when the first leg ended 1-1. eral chances, but could not take them. The best goal area nicking the ball off the feet of goal- on Ahly who have not played outside the leg of the final in Cairo yesterday. Ahly, who Nevertheless, we played well and created some chance of the first half fell to The Buccaneers in bound Zaher a minute before the interval. Champions League since the domestic league have previously won Africa’s foremost club com- chances,” he said. “I’m very disappointed the 35th minute when somehow Tlou Segolela Aboutrika, playing his last home game before was cancelled in June. It was only a special con- petition in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, because I believed we could have achieved it failed to convert from inside the six-yard box, retiring at the end of the year, has featured in five cession by the country’s military authorities that 2012, won 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 stale- but I’m very happy though with the way we car- after a superb pull back by Klate from the right, of Al Ahly’s Champions League-winning sides in allowed the final to be played in Cairo, where all mate in the first leg. ‘The Red Devils’ of Cairo ried ourselves.” with the Ahly goalkeeper well beaten. the last eight years, consistently delivering talis- major football had been stopped since the over- pocketed the cash prize of $1.5 million and will Mohamed Aboutrika opened the scoring in Pirates failed again in front of goal in the 63rd manic performances. He swept home a loose ball throw of president Mohamed Mursi’s govern- also represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup the 54th minute when he stabbed home from minute when Lennox Bacela dribbled past goal- from close range after a shot from Ahmed Fathi ment in July. in Morocco next month. “I’m very happy we just outside the six-yard box. Ahmed Abdul keeper Sherif Ekramy, but his final ball screamed was blocked by the Pirates defence but fell fortu- Some 30,000 spectators were allowed into won. It was a difficult game and a good test for Zaher doubled the Ahly lead in the 78th minute across the face of goal after the Ahly shot stop- itously into his path, underlining Aboutrika’s the Arab Contractors Stadium, with clashes us,” said Al Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef. when unmarked inside the box he shot past the per forced him wide. There were no clear-cut uncanny ability to pop up in the right place at reported outside between police and ticketless “Orlando Pirates are a strong side having elimi- Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa. The Egyptian chances in front of goal in the first 15 minutes the right time. The goal came at a crucial time for supporters seeking entry. Aboutrika, who has nated Esperance and TP Mazembe on their jour- champions were reduced to 10 men six minutes until Mohamed Nagieb’s header flashed across Ahly, who had spent most of the game on the also won three African Nations Cup titles with ney to the final. We were focused on creating from time when defender Sherif Abdel Fadil was the Pirates goal. On 20 minutes, Ahly goalkeeper back foot before breaking the spirit of the South Egypt, was substituted to an emotional send off chances and capitalizing on the mistakes of our sent off for a foul on Daine Klate. Ekramy had to come out to block Segolela inside Africans and allowing the Cairo club to assume in stoppage time, swamped by the collective opponents.” Pirates coach Roger De Sa admitted Pirates, champions in 1995, put up a spirited the penalty area. Two minutes later, Abdul command. embrace of his bench, policemen and photogra- the Egyptians had been the better side over the fight but Ahly’s second goal seemed to kill them Zaher’s dipping shot forced Pirates goalkeeper The Egyptian side’s success came against a phers as he left the field in triumph. — Agencies United sink Arsenal to kick-start season Nadal downs old rival Federer to reach final Man United 1 LONDON: Rafael Nadal won the latest instal- dinitis, winning 10 titles including the French ment of his epic rivalry with Roger Federer as and US Opens. But, while Nadal has thrived the Spaniard swept into the final of the ATP over the last 11 months, Federer has endured World Tour Finals with a 7-5, 6-3 victory yes- arguably the worst season of his career, drop- Arsenal 0 terday. Nadal was in commanding form in the ping to seventh in the world, winning just last four showdown at London’s O2 Arena one title and failing to reach a Grand Slam and his 22nd win in 32 meetings with Federer final for the first time since 2002. After a tight booked the world number one’s place in opening to the first set, Federer had Nadal MANCHESTER: Manchester United reinvigorated Monday’s final against either Novak Djokovic under pressure in the sixth game, but his fail- their Premier League title defence by winning 1-0 at or Stanislas Wawrinka. But there was nothing ure to push home his advantage proved the home to leaders Arsenal yesterday to close to within routine about Nadal’s latest show of force decisive moment of the match. five points of the early-season pace-setters. Robin against Federer as it marked the first time he Federer had a break point on three occa- van Persie claimed the game’s only goal in the first had ever beaten the Swiss great indoors after sions and twice Nadal was able to hit his way half, scoring against his former club for the third four defeats, including a loss in the 2010 final out of trouble before the Swiss star missed match running, to condemn Arsene Wenger’s side to of the Tour Finals. with a wild and wayward forehand. It was the a first league loss since their defeat by Aston Villa on That was the 27-year-old’s only previous kind of mistake, caused by a desperate desire the opening day. Victory allowed United to climb to appearance in the final of this prestigious sea- to create a winner from nothing, that Nadal fifth in the table, with defeats for Tottenham Hotspur son-ending event, but he looks in the mood so often provokes in Federer. Nadal quickly and local rivals Manchester City earlier in the day to finally end his long wait to lift the trophy doubled the frustration for Federer, breaking enabling them to move above both of their fellow after halting Federer’s remarkable run of suc- for a 5-4 lead when yet another top-spin bul- cess in the tournament in just 79 minutes. let from the baseline flashed past the Swiss title contenders. Federer, a six-time winner of the event, had star’s defences. Having seen his side pick up just a point from ear- reached the last three finals, winning twice Both players were mixing some breathtak- lier games against Chelsea, Liverpool and City, before losing to Djokovic last year. But this ing play with occasional sloppy play and the United manager David Moyes will hope yesterday’s has been Nadal’s year and the 13-time Grand result was a rollercoaster end to the set. When victory marks the end of an awkward bedding-in MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Dutch forward Robin van Persie (center) vies with Arsenal’s French defender Laurent Koscielny (left) at Old Trafford Stadium yesterday. — AFP Slam winner, who has also won Olympic gold Nadal tried to close out the set, Federer period at Old Trafford. He will also have drawn strong and the Davis Cup, is now just one more vic- pushed the Spaniard out of his comfort zone encouragement from the performance of Phil Jones, start. Chances were scarce in the game’s early stages, Mesut Ozil hitting the side-netting, before Ramsey tory away from finishing a glorious campaign and broke back. But, not for the first time in who began the game in midfield but deputised save for a deflected Wayne Rooney effort that was struck a low effort straight at David de Gea. They by adding the last major prize missing from his troubled season, Federer lost his compo- magnificently at centre-back after Nemanja Vidic had comfortably saved by Wojciech Szczesny, but in the were unable to get in behind United’s defence his glittering CV. sure at the crucial moment and Nadal broke to go off through injury. Arsenal remain top going 27th minute, United struck.