Armand Duplantis eclipses Bubka’s outdoor pole vault world record FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 in Rome PAGE 12 Al Sadd keen on win against Al Ain in reverse clash today Al Nassr had won the opening clash against Sepahan 2-0. Opening clash Al Nassr, between these two Sepahan to sides had ended in a thrilling chase win 3-3 draw AFC DOHA TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA AL Nassr coach Portuguese Rui Vitoria believes his side A thrilling 3-3 draw during and Iran’s Sepahan FC will the opening encounter in settle for nothing less than a the return of the 2020 AFC win in their second encounter Champions League for Al in Group D of the 2020 AFC Sadd against UAE’s Al Ain Champions League on Friday. hasn’t dented the home side’s Striker Abderrazak Ham- resolve and aspirations. dallah settled matters with a The draw meant inaugu- brace at the Jassem bin Ham- ral AFC Champions League ad stadium on Tuesday, scor- winners Al Ain took their first ing either side of the half time point of the current edition but break while teammate Brad remained in fourth place, while Al Sadd midelder Guillerme Torres (left) and coach Xavi Hernandez address the media on Thursday, the Jones pulled off a number of Al Sadd conceded the Group D eve of their second 2020 AFC Champions League Group D clash with UAE’s Al Ain. saves to stave off a late rally by top spot to Al Nassr, dropping the Iran Pro League side. to second with six points. Meanwhile, Al Ain FC head to how things are coming The result helped the The Xavi Hernandez- Al Sadd players during a training session on Thursday. Standings coach Pedro Emanuel is hold- along and that is what hap- 2018/19 Saudi Pro League guided Al Sadd are sternly GROUP D ing on to hopes of qualifica- pened in the first game. We champions leapfrog Al Sadd focused on the reverse clash possible in this tournament. do our best to get the win.” Club M W D L GF GA GD Pts tion to the Round of 16. “The managed to get the draw at the SC to first place in the group to be played at the Jassim Bin The points of the next match Xavi said his players will Al Nassr 3 2 1 0 6 3 3 7 first game was superb, and we end and pressed hard to get on seven points, while it left Hamad Stadium on Friday. will be very important to us. revel under pressure. Al Sadd 3 1 2 0 8 5 3 5 played extremely well espe- the winner. Sepahan in third place with Al Sadd midfielder Guill- Winning will take us closer “We need three points to Sepahan 3 1 0 2 4 5 -1 3 cially for a side that had not “Expectations are much three points and needing a erme Torres emphasised on to qualification for the next go to the next stage. We are played a competitive match in higher after the first game, Al Ain 3 0 1 2 4 9 -5 1 win in Friday’s rematch to the team’s target ahead of the stage. With all respect to the in a crucial phase now. We six months,” he said. but we have to be realistic avoid falling out of contention crucial clash saying, “Our goal opponent, we will go into the played well in the last game “We know Al Sadd play and acknowledge the fact that for a Round of 16 spot. is to win and control the game game looking for victory. but we need to finish off the three goals as well, so we must an attacking game and have our chances of progression “We will face the same team from the start.” He added: “I want to thank chances in front of goal, and improve defensively to be suc- the ability to score and finish are slim. Nonetheless, we will at the same stadium again. Both The Brazilian elaborated: the Qatari people for the good not make mistakes that lead to cessful in attack,” he said. games off, but we knew how to keep fighting till the end.” teams play a different game, “As the coach said, the match reception. Everyone treats me conceding goals. “Everyone expects good deal with the game in order to Al Sadd remain in a bet- but both teams want to get the will be difficult against a well, and Al Sadd has the best “We have a huge desire to results from the team. I don’t get the result we wanted to get ter position to advance, and a win at all costs,”said Vitoria. tough team. We know the AFC players at the moment. win. I enjoy this sort of pres- feel pressure while playing at the end. We respect Al Sadd, win on Friday could put them “This match takes place Champions League is a differ- “The advantage of playing sure that’s on the team, and football. We were better than but we know we have every- within a point of the Round of under different circumstances ent tournament. We played a at our stadium is not great, and the players like it as well.” Al Ain in the last game and we thing we need to get the win. 16 with two games still to play, than those before. We deal good game last time, but un- the absence of the fans will not On his team’s style of play, must enjoy the game and cre- “We have two or three should Al Nassr repeat their with this competition in a fortunately we could not win.” prevent us from achieving vic- he said, “In the last game, we ate more chances in order to plans for every game, as a win over Sepahan in the late game-by-game manner. After “Our goal is to go as far as tory. We must work hard and scored three but we conceded win,” he added. match goes by, we try to adapt Friday evening fixture. winning our first game, we need to do more to win the next. We will not think of what happens in the future, we will see how that goes as the tour- nament progresses. Standings “I do not like to single out Coach Regragui sounds note GROUP C players to talk about, I prefer Club M W D L GF GA GD Pts talking about the teamwork Al Taawoun 3 2 0 1 3 1 2 6 we displayed, especially with Al Duhail 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6 three players having not taken Persepolis 3 1 1 1 3 4 -1 4 part as much yet got the sup- of caution as Al Duhail seek Sharjah 3 0 1 2 3 5 -2 1 port of their teammates and looked like they have adapted well to the team.” With back-to-back defeats encore against Sharjah following their impressive 4-0 victory over Al Ain in the open- ing matchday, Sepahan now find themselves in dire need of points to keep pace with Al Nassr and Al Sadd as Mojtaba Toutouni’s side chase a first AFC Champions League knockout stage appearance since 2012. “We have a big game and it will have a huge bearing on our chances of qualifying, but we hope we can get a good result,” said the assistant coach. A win would place Al Nassr in pole position to seal qualifi- Al Duhail’s France-born Moroccan cation in the following round, coach Walid Regragui speaks to while Sepahan could take con- the media on Thursday. trol of their own fate if they win and Al Ain defeat Al Sadd in Sharjah midfielder Khalid the other game. Bawazir believes there are a The opening clash between the two sides on Tuesday had seen Al Duhail beat Sharjah 2-1. lot of positives for his side to take from their 2-1 defeat to Al Today’s Matches TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK however, wants his team to be make it easy for us.” Duhail two days ago. Group D DOHA cautious. “Sharjah need a re- Al Duhail had beaten Bawazir, a UAE inter- sult against us to still be in the Persepolis 2-0 in Doha in their national playmaker, joined (at Jassim Bin Hamad WECLOMING the return race for qualification, so it will AFC Champions League open- Sharjah from fellow UAE Pro Stadium) of their striker Mohammad be very difficult for us,” said er on February 11, but lost 0-2 League side Al Dhafra in July Muntari, Qatar Stars League the former Morocco interna- to Al Taawoun in Jeddah on and came off the bench in the 6pm: Al Sadd vs Al Ain champions Al Duhail would tional defender. February 18 before the tour- second half for his competitive (UAE) seek an encore against UAE’s “In the AFC Champions nament was halted due to the debut for the club. Sharjah in the reverse Group League there are no easy COVID-19 pandemic. Suspensions for Uzbek in- 9pm: Al Nassr (KSA) vs C fixture in Round 4 of the games whatsoever. Even Al Duhail will be keen to ternational Otabek Shukurov Al Duhail players during a training session on Thursday. Sepahan (IRN) 2020 AFC Champions League though Sharjah have not take advantage of their own and Mohammad Abdulbasit, at the Education City Stadi- played competitively in the strengths and exploit Shar- both of whom received their “The players were very qualify to the next round.