Sport TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2021 CoachC Lamouchi proud of Al Duhail’s CClub World Cup adventure I am very proud of the performance of the team in this match, anda the performance in the previous match (against Al Ahly), especiallye in the second half. Sabri Lamouchi Sport | 11 PAKISTAN VS SOUTH AFRICA: 1ST TEST Pakistan (272 and 298) beat South Africa (201 and 274 - Shaheen 4/51, Hasan 5/60) by 95 runs German giants defeat Al Ahly 2-0 to set up CWC title clash against Tigres Lewandowski brace takes Bayern into final FAWAD HUSSAIN Bayern THE PENINSULA Munich's Robert Robert Lewandowski yesterday fired a Lewandowski brace as German giants Bayern Munich celebrates cruised into the final of FIFA Club World after scoring Cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory over his team's first Al Ahly at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. goal against Seeking a staggering sixth title of the Egypt's Al season in Qatar, Bayern dominated the Ahly during nine-time African champions to book the second Thursday’s final against Mexican giants semi-final of Tigres UANL, who stunned Brazil’s Pal- the FIFA Club meiras 1-0 in the first semi-final on World Cup Sunday. Qatar 2020 The title clash will kick off at 9:00pm at the Ahmad at Education City Stadium. Bin Ali Stadium Best FIFA Men’s Player Lewand- yesterday. owski took the European champions Seeking a ahead in 17th minute and sealed victory staggering late into the second half, defying a good sixth title of crowd support from Al Ahly fans, with the season in FIFA President Gianni Infantino also Qatar, Bayern present among the spectators. will take on Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly, who edged Mexican giants Qatari champions Al Duhail to quality Tigres UANL in for the semi-final, looked off colour in Thursday's final the first half and came back as an at Education improved side in the second half but City Stadium. they were not good enough to challenge in-form Bavarians, who clinched their making his first substitute in the 27th sixth consecutive victory yesterday. minute, sending in Yasser Ibrahim to As the two teams met for the first replace injured Ali Maaloul. time since 2012 when the Bavarians won Eight minutes into the first half, 2-1 in friendly, coach Hansi Flick missing Lewandowski after a move with Joshua Leon Goretzka and Javi Martinez - left Kimmich came close to scoring his behind in Munich after contracting coro- second goal, chipping the ball over El navirus – started with midfielder Marc Shennawi, while also missing the target Roca. He changed his formation to as Al Ahly avoided double deficit in the 4-2-3-1 from Friday’s Bundesliga win first half. against Hertha. Though the Al Ahly coach Bavarians dominated the Mosimane went opening session, they with his routine were still not at their best 4-2-3-1 formation It was a bit strange to play being sloppy in their final but fielded his elec- in front of fans again. But passing that deprived trifying forward them of more goals. Mahmoud we achieved our aim of In the second half, Al “Kahraba” Abdel- reaching the final. It was a Ahly returned to the pitch Moneim instead of nice game, Al Ahly are like as a better side and Walter Bwalya in created an immediate the starting XI. the Bayern of North Africa. chance with Hussein El Living up to We should have got the Shahat leading the attack their favourites tag, second goal earlier: by beating two Bayern Munich defenders, but his shot started strongly Bayern Munich's got deflected. Al Ahly keeping most of the Thomas Müller made more attacks but ball possession and their poor final passes making formidable kept them away from attacks to keep scoring. opponents under constant pressure, Sensing danger, Bayern regained with sights on winning their second Club their dominance in the match after being World Cup trophy after their 2013 pushed back to their net. Just before an triumph. hour-mark, El Shennawi denied With Al Ahly lacking composure to Lewandowski his second goal again retain ball possession, the Bavarians with some slick defense after a flick made their first attempt in eighth minute from Muller, before the German star was when Serge Gnabry’s header from replaced by Eric Choupo-Moting. Benjami Pavard cross flew over the bar. Gnabry was also called back with Leroy Bayern continued to push for a goal with Sane coming off the bench. Thomas Muller and Gnabry making Ahly also called in three subs with more efforts keeping Al Ahly goalkeeper Aliou Dieng, Salah Mohsen and Walter Mohamed El Shennawi on his toes. Bwalya coming in 69th minute to Bayern finally got the opener, pun- replace Mohamed Afsha, El Shahat and ishing poor Al Ahly defense as an Kahraba while Flick put Corentin Tolisso unmarked Lewandowski – who missed in for Roca. a penalty against Hertha – fired the ball Bayern earned a free kick on the past El Shennawi from a close range edge of the box after Kimmich was after getting a short pass from Gnabry. fouled in 76th minute but they failed to It was the Polish striker’s 187th goal for double their lead, with Flick sending in Bayern. two more subs Jamala Musiala and Al Ahly, who were mostly busy in Niklas Süle to replace Coman and defending, made their first attempt in Jérôme Boateng. 22nd minute when Mohamed Hani With five minutes left, Lewand- crossed in the box but Best FIFA Men’s owski, finally, completed his brace Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer comfortably from a brilliant cross from Sane, saved Mohamed Taher’s header. heading the ball past keeper from a A one-goal lead didn’t look enough close range after evading his marker, for Bayern, who continued with their as Bayern walked into the final. The aggressive display. They almost doubled Germans are now 3-0 up in head-to- the lead but Roca’s shot inside the head against the Egyptians as they also 6-yard sailed just a foot wide. defeated the African champions 2-1 Such was their dominance in the in 1977. game, that the Germans kept around 75 Al Ahly will now face Palmeiras in per cent of the ball possession making the third position play-off to be played 4 shots on target from 11 attempts at on Thursday at Education City Stadium, hour-hour mark, with Mosimane with kick off set for 6:00pm. TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11 Lamouchi proud of Al Duhail’s CWC adventure AFC.COM – DOHA Al Duhail's Almoez Ali heads the ball as he attempts to score. Head coach Sabri Lamouchi was full I am satisfied with the performance of praise for his Al Duhail SC side after of the players in this match they defeated Ulsan Hyundai FC 3-1 to and thee victorvictoryy finish fifth in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 on Sunday. achieved,ved, as well as In a highly-anticipated match the positionsition the against the 2020 AFC Champions team finishedfinished in League winners, Qatar Stars League the team’sam’s firstfirst champions Al Duhail were on the front foot from the start and their French participation:ipation: boss was pleased with their overall Al Duhailhail coachcoach performance in their debut Sabri appearance. Lamouchiuchi “I am very proud of the per- formance of the team in this match, and the performance in the previous match (against Al Ahly), especially in the second half,” said Lamouchi. “I am very happy, and I was hoping “We ended the previous match to participate in another match, but in with great regret, because we started the end, I am happy to leave this tour- playing well in the second half, and nament this way and with this victory. in this match, we started from the first minute to the last minute. We suc- ceeded in scoring against the Asian champions, and I am pleased with the performance of the players. “I am sat- isfied with the performance of the players in this match and Edmilson Junior was caught offside, ticipated in the tournament as repre- but the determination of my team- the victory only for the Belgian midfielder to slot sentatives of Qatar.” mates was behind this great victory. achieved, as well one home from outside the box in the Assim Madibo, meanwhile, “We must continue to improve after as the position 21st minute. attributed the win to the team’s deter- this victory and good performance, as the team fin- Junior was satisfied with his own mination, and is hoping that Al Duhail it can be a new starting point for the ished in the performance and glad that Al Duhail will continue their fine performance team ahead of our domestic and Con- team’s first gave a win to their fans. in the Qatar Stars League and the 2021 tinental matches, which we must be at Al Duhail's Mohammed Muntari celebrates with participation.” “I am very happy with this win, AFC Champions League. our highest physical and technical team-mates after scoring their second goal against Al Duhail and the team presented itself well, and “We succeeded in achieving victory levels.” Al Duhail are in Group C of the could have taken I believe I also managed to perform over the Asian champions after a good 2021 AFC Champions League, where Ulsan Hyundai during their FIFA Club World Cup the lead as early well, and I’m glad for that. match,” said Madibo.