SPORT SPORT | 14 SPORT | 15 Djokovic through Captain Morgan as top seed says Root in Pliskova crashes England’s out of US Open T20 plans FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 QFA, SC and Concacaf announce new partnership DOHA THE PENINSULA– As a result of the between the SC’s Generation Cup, the collaboration will also Amazing Programme and Con- provide multiple knowledge With just over two years to go partnership, the reigning cacaf’s NextPlay Programme. sharing opportunities between until the FIFA World Cup Qatar AFC Asian Cup champions “Generation Amazing uses the organizing bodies of Qatar 2022, the Qatar Football Asso- will make their appearance the power of football to create 2022 and the FIFA World Cup ciation (QFA) and the Supreme in the Concacaf Gold Cup sustainable social development 2026, which will take place in Committee for Delivery & as a guest nation in 2021 in communities around the the Concacaf region. Legacy (SC) have formed a new world. Since it was launched as Concacaf President and FIFA strategic partnership with and 2023. part of Qatar’s bid to host the Vice-President, Victor Montag- Concacaf, the governing body World Cup, it has positively liani, commented on the Qatar for football in North America, impacted the lives of more than national team’s invitation to play Central America and the 500,000 people around the in the 2021 and 2023 Concacaf Caribbean. world. Looking to the future and Gold Cup completions. The partnership will see the the further expansion of this “In 2017 we entered into a QFA the SC play an important important legacy project, we are Memorandum of Understanding role in all levels of football and excited to announce this stra- with the Asian Football Confed- sport across the Concacaf region tegic partnership with the Con- eration which has been mutually and help deliver long-term cacaf’s own football for devel- beneficial for both regions, and football for development pro- opment programme, to ensure paved the way for this important grammes across the region. the growth of both initiatives and agreement between Concacaf, The partnership includes deliver a greater impact on the the Qatar Football Association Qatar’s participation as a guest lives of even more people, in and the Supreme Committee. nation in the region’s top football even more countries. Most “The Qatar National Team competition, the Concacaf Gold importantly, this partnership will will be a guest participant in the Cup, in both 2021 and 2023. The nation on November 21, 2022. help ensure a lasting human prepare the national team ahead help ensure a sustainable, lasting Concacaf Gold Cup, the flagship reigning AFC Asian Cup cham- The partnership also legacy for the 2022 World Cup. of their opening World Cup tournament legacy in North men’s international competition pions will make their Gold Cup includes long-term “The Concacaf Gold Cup is a match on 21 November 2022. America, Central America and in our region. We look forward debut in July of next year after involvement in the region’s prestigious tournament and “Winning the 2019 AFC the Caribbean, well after the last to welcoming them and we their second appearance as a football for development initi- we’re thrilled Qatar has been Asian Cup marked an important ball is kicked in 2022.” know that as reigning AFC Asian guest nation at the Copa atives through the SC’s flagship invited to compete in the 2021 milestone in our development Al Thawadi added, “From a Cup Champions they will America, South America’s top human and social legacy pro- and 2023 editions,” said QFA plan, and so we head into the footballing perspective, it will be provide stern opposition for our football competition, next year. gramme, Generation Amazing, President, Sheikh Hamad bin Gold Cup confident that we can great to see Qatar’s national national teams. This innovative The national team’s and the Concacaf NextPlay Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani. compete with Concacaf’s best team take on some of the world’s partnership with the QFA and appearance marks another programme. In particular, the “Qatar’s participation in the teams. We look forward to the best when they meet in the 2021 the SC includes a significant important football devel- partnership will have a signif- tournament next year takes competition.” edition of the Gold Cup, ahead football development and social opment milestone on the road icant focus on community place just 17 months before the SC Secretary-General, of their historic participation on responsibility component, to Qatar 2022 and will help coach development, which will FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Hassan Al Thawadi, commented home turf at the FIFA World Cup offering huge benefits to the further prepare the team ahead benefit thousands of young kicks off, so it will be a great on the long-term football for 2022.” game across the Concacaf of their first match as host people across the region, and opportunity to help further development partnership As hosts of the next World region,” added Montagliani. Five-star Al Sadd off to a flying start at brand new Education City Stadium WEEK 1 FIXTURES THE PENINSULA – DOHA Player of the Year and Joint-Top Scorer Akram Afif and his team-mate, Tareq Salman, the Best U-23 Player, YESTERDAY'S are honoured by the Al Sadd and Al Kharaitiyat players before the kick off of the 1st match of the season RESULTS Spanish star Santi Carzola spearheaded Al at the Education City Stadium, yesterday. Sadd's dominant show with a brace as the Al Sadd 5 - 1 Wolves defeated newly promoted Al Al Kharaitiyat Kharaitiyat 5-1 at the brand new Education Al Sailiya 1 - 1 City Stadium in the opening day of the new Al Rayyan QNB Stars League (QSL), yesterday. Al Gharafa 2 - 0 New recruit, Cazorla scored in the 27th Qatar SC and 60th minutes while Baghdad Bounedjah (54) before Mohammed Salam TODAY'S FIXTURES scored an own goal in the 71st minute. The Al Duhail vs Umm QFA Player of the Year, Akram Afif scored Salal Al Sadd's fifth in the 84th minute. (18:15, Education City Rashid Tiber Kanin scored Al Kharaiti- Stadium) yat’s goal. Al Ahli vs Al Wakrah The majestic 40,000-seat Education (18:15, Al Ahli City Stadium dubbed the ‘Diamond in the Stadium) Desert’, had only few spectators present Al Khor vs Al Arabi at the stands yesterday, but the presence (20:30, Al Ahli of plenty of top class action was there. Stadium) Following a digital launch announcing the completion of Education City Stadium in June this year, specially programmed as a tribute to frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the venue saw it's first match after the presentation of the QFA Awards to Player of the Year would rue the two dropped points in their and Joint-Top Scorer Afif and his team- bid to regain the league shield. The Lions mate, Tareq Salman who was named the had finished runners-up in the 2019-20 Best U-23 Player. QNB Stars League. Cazorla continued his good form in Al Rayyan, coached by Uruguayan Qatar, having scored on his debut for Al Diego Aguirre, lagged behind champions Sadd in their Ooredoo Cup 2-0 semi-final Al Duhail (52 points) only by one point in victory over Al Ahli few days ago. the final standings. Al Sadd, who had finished third in the Al Rayyan’s best chance in the first half recently-concluded 2019-20 season, dom- went to Abdulaziz Hazza in the 16th minute, inated the proceedings with Brazilian but his shot was saved by Al Sailiya’s much- Guilermo Torres making his debut in Qatar. experienced goalkeeper Amine Lecomte. Torres, along with South Korean star Nam Mohanad, who has previously plied his Tae-Hee, 2018 Asian Player of the Year trade in Al Duhail, took Al Sailiya ahead by Abdelkarim Hassan and Hassan Al slotting home a pass from Tiago Bezerra, Haydous unleashed shots against Al who switched to The Peregrines this season Kharaitiyat, who are back in the top flight from Al Khor. after a gap of one season. Al Rayyan were not to be denied as they The Thunders had finished at the found the equaliser not long after the bottom in the 2018-19 season and were resumption. relegated to the Second Division. Traore was on target with a bicycle kick Elsewhere, at A lGharafa Stadium, Al when the ball rebounded off the horizontal Sailiya held Al Rayyan to a 1-1 draw. following a corner kick by Yacine Brahimi, Mohanad Ali (28th minute) scored for the joint top-scorer in the previous QSL Al Sailiya, while Dame Traore (52nd season. Al Rayyan's Yacine Brahimi, winner of the Mansour Muftah Award for Joint-Top Scorer, and Best Coach, Diego Aguirre minute) was Al Rayyan’s scorer. In the third match of the day, hosts Al receiving their awards before the kick off of their first match of the season, yesterday. Possession was even and Al Rayyan Gharafa defeated Al Khor 2-0. 14 SPORT FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 Returning US Open: Djokovic through Pironkova stuns as Pliskova crashes out Muguruza AGENCIES – NEW YORK AFP – NEW YORK 6-1 win. The world number seven traded 24 aces with 10 Spanish 10th seed Garbine Muguruza was Novak Djokovic overcame an double faults against a player bundled out of the US Open second round early scare to move into the ranked 223 inside an empty yesterday, losing in straight sets to the third round of the US Open but and humid Louis Arm- returning Tsvetana Pironkova.