Serena and Russia and Venus braced Germany win for US Open wrestling 18blockbuster 19championships WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 FIFA to discuss Mourinho’s battle with Chelsea doctor Page 19 SHAH ALAM: Saudi Arabia’s players walk off the field after flares are thrown onto the pitch during their Group A FIFA World Cup18 20 qualifying soccer match against Malaysia. — AP Flare-throwing fans halt Saudi qualifier SHAH ALAM: Flare-throwing fans halted Malaysia’s World Cup reports said two Saudi supporters were attacked. Police said year’s mass protests and previous outbreaks of booing at Afghanistan 6-0, and Australia’s record goal-scorer Tim Cahill qualifier with Saudi Arabia yesterday as anger boiled over fol- 11 people had been arrested on charges of rioting. World Cup qualifiers earlier this year. also hit a brace in a 3-0 away victory over Tajikistan. lowing last week’s record 10-0 defeat to UAE, which has left The ugly scenes heap further woe on soccer in Malaysia, But the game ended in disappointment for Hong Kong Thailand scored two late goals to force a 2-2 draw with Iraq the team in crisis. which despite hosting the Asian Football Confederation head- when 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar won 3-2 despite a late in Bangkok, and 2002 World Cup semi-finalists South Korea Militant “Ultras Malaya” fans who had earlier threatened to quarters, has been plagued by fan violence and match-fixing. fight-back when the hosts scored in the 87th and 88th min- beat Lebanon 3-0 in Beirut. disrupt the game hurled flares billowing orange smoke They overshadowed a busy round of fixtures in which utes. Group C rivals China also pulled off the neat trick of win- Earlier in the day, Guam bounced back from last week’s 6-0 towards the pitch in the final minutes, as the hosts trailed 2-1. Japan and Australia both coasted to victories and the Pacific ning an away fixture on home soil, after their tie with Maldives defeat to Iran in Tehran when they held Oman 0-0 at home to Players and officials were escorted to the dressing rooms island of Guam doggedly maintained their unbeaten home was relocated to Shenyang a move which angered Hong remain in the mix at the halfway stage of qualifying. and Saudi supporters were also seen leaving Shah Alam record. Kong. Guam, with a population of about 165,000, have now won Stadium before the match was finally abandoned. Hong Kong fans courted controversy when they again A Yu Dabao double and a header from Chelsea-linked two and drawn one of their home games to remain, against all “The game is suspended. The game isn’t going to contin- booed their own national anthem, which the semi- defender Zhang Linpeng gave China a routine 3-0 win. FIFA expectations, firmly in the mix at the halfway stage. ue,” Malaysia’s interim coach Ong Kim Swee told AFP. About a autonomous territory shares with China, despite a sharp warn- had agreed to move the game because of poor pitch condi- Asia’s second round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers doubles dozen flares trailing orange smoke-as well as loud fireworks ing from FIFA. tions in Male. as a route to the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, were let off by home fans in the 88th minute. Unconfirmed The latest show of defiance towards Beijing follows last Elsewhere Shinji Kagawa netted twice as Japan outclassed which is expanding from 16 to 24 teams. — AFP Germany, Portugal Qataris invest in English soccer close in on Euro 2016 through oldest team BERLIN: Germany and Portugal closed in on Scotland, which plays Poland at home then MANCHESTER: Qatari money is coming to English European Championship qualification on Gibraltar away. football for the first time - at the unlikeliest of clubs. Monday, while Northern Ireland missed the The recipient is not a globally-recognized power but chance to book its place at next year’s tour- GROUP F a tiny team playing seven divisions below the nament in France. Northern Ireland needed an injury-time Premier League. What Sheffield FC lacks in glamor it Thomas Mueller scored twice and set up goal from Kyle Lafferty to draw 1-1 at home makes up for in status. From the powerhouses of the other for Germany to defeat Scotland 3- against Hungary after going down to 10 Barcelona and Manchester United to amateur outfits 2 in Glasgow and move within touching dis- men. A win would have ensured automatic worldwide, every football team emanates from this tance of automatic qualification. qualification, but the draw leaves the team club in northern England’s steel city. When Sheffield The world champions are assured of at still top of the group. FC started playing 1857, there was no other team in least a playoff place but one point from Hungary looked like closing to within a the world. Now, eager to be associated with the pio- their remaining two games - Ireland away or point of the leaders when Richard Guzmics neers of football, 100,000 pounds ($153,000) is head- Georgia at home - will secure their place in volleyed in from close range in the 74th ed to Sheffield FC from the country hosting the France. minute after goalkeeper Michael McGovern Middle East’s first World Cup, The Associated Press Portugal also needs just one more point spilled a free kick. Chris Baird was then sent has learned. The enduring controversy surrounding after Miguel Veloso scored in injury time to off for Northern Ireland, but Hungary could- the awarding of the 2022 tournament means the snatch a 1-0 win at Albania. The top two fin- n’t hold out and stayed four points back in investment from the World Cup organizers could be ishers from the nine groups qualify auto- third. “It wasn’t vintage,” Northern Ireland interpreted as Sheffield FC being used by a country matically for Euro 2016. The best third-place manager Michael O’Neill said, “but it was in need of a positive promotional platform. team also qualifies automatically, and the pure theater.” Romania drew 0-0 at home to But Sheffield FC said it only turned to Qatar after feeling snubbed after making direct approaches to eight remaining third-place teams go to a last-place Greece and remained second, a the English Football Association and Premier League playoff to contest the last four qualifying point behind Northern Ireland. Also, Finland in the search for cash to fund a return to the site of its places. beat Faeroe Islands 1-0 original home. Applications for grants have to go Here is a look at Monday’s Euro 2016 through the Football Foundation. qualifying matches: GROUP I “This is not about Qatar muscling in,” Sheffield FC Both Portugal and Albania hit the wood- chairman Richard Tims told the AP. “This is about hav- GROUP D work before Veloso headed in substitute ing a catalyst that makes everyone sit up and take Mueller scored twice in the first half Ricardo Quaresma’s pass for the visitors’ note ... a partnership between the new kids on the either side of Mats Hummels’ own goal, and 92nd-minute winner. block and the world’s first football club protecting then set up Ilkay Gundogan for the winner It ensured that Portugal made it six wins the heritage of football.” after James McArthur had pulled Scotland from six road games in qualifying and Qatar lacks the deep football heritage of England level again. brought a measure of revenge for the side’s and it is trying to rapidly develop players for the Mueller now has five goals in three shock defeat to Albania in Aveiro in the World Cup and raise interest in the game among its Bundesliga games for Bayern Munich and opening round. tiny population. Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general three goals in two qualifiers for Germany Elsewhere, Denmark was stymied at of Qatar’s World Cup supreme committee, has links since the season began. “I feel good,” Armenia for a second 0-0 draw in four days, to Sheffield after studying law at the city’s main uni- Mueller said. complicating the Danes’ chances to secure a versity in the 1990s. “Over the past few years since Also, Poland routed Gibraltar 8-1 to stay berth for the 2016 tournament with a top- the (Sheffield FC) chairman first contacted us we on course for a top-two finish, while John two finish. Portugal increased its group lead have been working together to look for suitable ways Walters’ 69th-minute goal was enough for to 15 points. Denmark has 12 while Albania in which we could lend our support,” Al Thawadi said. Ireland to boost its hopes of a playoff with a has 11, but both Portugal and Albania have “Our modest contribution is part of a first step on an 1-0 win over Georgia in Dublin. Ireland, a game in hand. Armenia moved onto two important journey for the club of gaining wider sup- which next plays Germany at home then points with the draw with Denmark. Serbia ALBANIA: Portugal’s Joao Mario (center) fights for the ball with Albania’s Ermir Lenjani (left) port for the (stadium) project.”—AP Poland away, has a five-point lead over is in last place with one point. — AP and Berat Gjimshiti during the Euro 2016 qualifying match. — AP.