Ruthless Nadal routs rising star Tsitsipas to reach Australian Open final FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 PAGE 13 Qatar lose ACC Western Region T20 final in Muscat PAGE 13 ASIAN CUP 2019 QATAR VS SOUTH KOREA Qatar can handle South Korean pressure in quarters: Sanchez Qatar coach says team has sufficient depth to deal with the absence of suspended Abdelkarim Hassan and Assim Madibo AFC ABU DHABI HEAD coach Felix Sanchez be- lieves pressure will not play a part when his Qatar side face Korea Republic in Friday’s ea- gerly anticipated AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-final encounter. Qatar head into the game against one of the tournament favourites having won Group E and then beating Iraq 1-0 in the Round of 16 – a run of vic- tories that has seen them score Familiar 11 times and keep four succes- sive clean sheets. situation When Qatar last played Korea, Uruguayan coach Jorge O “All of them are Fossati guided Al Anabi to a professional players and pulsating 3-2 win at Jassim they are used to playing in Bin Hamad Stadium in June competitions such as their 2017. Hassan Haydos scored a domestic leagues and the brace and Akram Afif the other AFC Champions League, so goal in a 2018 FIFA World Cup they are used to having this qualifying match. Despite Qatar never hav- kind of pressure.” ing progressed beyond this stage in any of their previ- ous nine appearances at the “I want them to feel the competition, Sanchez be- pressure in the right way be- lieves his squad is adequately cause it is a very important equipped to cope with the un- game, but they are absolutely doubtedly intense nature of used to these kinds of situa- an AFC Asian Cup quarter- tions.” final tie. Qatar will be without the “Up until this point the suspended Abdelkarim Has- team has performed well and san and Assim Madibo after has achieved some very good the key duo picked up their results,” explained the Span- second yellow cards of the ish tactician. campaign during the win over (From left) Almoez Ali, Karim Boadiaf, Bassam Hisham, Abdulkarim Salem, Akram Afif and Tameem Al Muhaza at a practice session in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. “Of course, all of them are Iraq. professional players and they Whilst acknowledging “Once you reach this far in United Arab Emirates even if formances. are used to playing in compe- their loss was a blow, Sanchez the competition, it is normal FIXTURES TODAY the Tottenham Hotspur for- “I’m not concerned about titions such as their domestic remained adamant that his to have injuries or players SOUTH KOREA VS QATAR (4PM) ward has a gruelling run of that, it’s not mandatory that leagues and the AFC Champi- squad has sufficient depth to suspended. We are a group of football behind him. Son scores with the national ons League, so they are used deal with their enforced ab- 23 players, and we have every UAE VS AUSTRALIA (7PM) Son played at the World team,” said Bento. “What is to having this kind of pres- sence; something which he confidence in all the players Cup last year, won the 2018 the most important for us is sure.” believes is par for the course who are here. public.” “We need to try to find Asian Games with South Ko- that we scored in every game “The pressure of being in in tournament football. “Of course, it would be Meanwhile South Korea the best solutions and not the rea in September and has in this competition. a quarter-final is more than “We know we are going better to have everyone coach Paulo Bento is inter- best excuses,” the Portuguese been key as Spurs challenged “I think we should have welcome and I think they have to face a very tough game available, but we are sure ested only in finding a way to Bento told reporters in Abu on multiple fronts. scored more goals because to enjoy it, and work very hard against what many people be- that we will maintain our progress rather than looking Dhabi on Thursday. He arrived late in the UAE we created a lot of situations to have the chance to have at lieve are one of the favourites [current level] and be ready to explain why things may go In Son Heung Min they and has yet to score in two in almost all the games we least one more game. for the tournament,” he said. to compete against Korea Re- wrong. boast the best player in the games, turning in mixed per- played.” Al Annabi confident Qatar will be taking the VAR-assisted Japan reach Asian Cup Asian Cup back to semi-finals as Iran beat China 3-0 AFP Doha, says Ali Afif ABU DHABI REUTERS IRAN fired an Asian Cup warn- ABU DHABI ing by dispatching China 3-0 in ruthless fashion to reach the QATAR’S Ali Afif eschewed the usual pre-match conventions ahead semi-finals on Thursday while of a quarter-final clash against South Korea on Thursday, boldly a landmark VAR-assisted pen- declaring his side would be taking the Asian Cup back to Doha to alty sent Japan through. celebrate with their fans. Ritsu Doan scored from the Qatar have shown impressive form in reaching the quarter- spot in Japan’s 1-0 win over finals, winning four matches without conceding a goal and knocking Vietnam as the video assistant out 2007 champions referee system marked its tour- Iraq in the last 16. nament debut with a bang, the Afif said getting Blue Samurai marching on to past pre-tournament face top-ranked Iran in the last favourites South Korea four. Iran continued on their and into the semi-finals quest to end a barren run at the Japan’s Ritsu Doan (centre) shoots to score a penalty against Vietnam of the continental Asian Cup dating back 43 years in Dubai on Thursday. (AFP) championship for the with Mehdi Taremi, Sardar first time on Friday Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard Results should not be the ex- all on target in Abu Dhabi. tent of their ambition. Carlos Queiroz’s side drew Iran 3 (Taremi 18, Azmoun 31, Ansarifard 90+1) China 0 “We know they are first blood after 18 minutes of supporting us even an embarrassingly one-sided Iran’s forward Sardar Azmoun (left) celebrates his goal with midfielder Vietnam 0 Japan 1 (Doan 57-pen) they are not here,” the quarter-final when Azmoun Mehdi Taremi during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final match in experienced midfielder squared for Taremi to sweep Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (AFP) said of the absent home after some calamitous whimper. long-range effort from Phong fans. Chinese defending. to slide in with a superb goal- also equalled South Korea’s re- Japan won the last of their Hong Duy but the southeast “We got messages Iran’s second was almost line clearance to deny Wu Lei a cord of keeping clean sheets in record four Asian Cups in 2011 Asian champions lacked the from Doha that they a carbon copy -- much to the tap-in. their first five games at a single and have hardly set the world creativity to break down Japan. are supporting us and will try to repay them with our unstinting chagrin of China coach Mar- Iran could have been out of Asian Cup. alight at this tournament. “It doesn’t matter how you efforts. The whole squad will do so and we will celebrate together cello Lippi, who stood staring sight by half-time as Azmoun Asia’s highest-ranking side, But they had too much qual- win -- the important thing is to and go back to Doha with the Cup for them.” Afif has only played 10 in horror. This time Liu Yim- -- known by Team Melli fans seeking to capture the title for ity for Vietnam in Dubai, Doan get through,” said Japan coach minutes as a substitute at the tournament so far with Felix Sanchez ing misjudged a hopeful punt as the “Iranian Messi” -- twice the first time since completing converting the spot kick on 57 Hajime Moriyasu. preferring younger players he has brought through from his days as down-field, allowing Azmoun went close and Taremi missed a hat-tricks of wins in 1976, are minutes after a penalty awarded “We knew Vietnam would coach of Qatar’s age group teams. to nip in and round goalkeeper an open goal. co-favourites with South Korea by VAR technology. be obdurate opponents but the The Spaniard was a little more respectful of the usual pre- Yan Junling to score his fourth Ehsan Hajsafi forced a sharp to go all the way. Japan captain Maya Yoshi- players kept their focus and we match protocols, paying tribute to South Korea as a “tough” team of the tournament. save from Yan on the hour mark China finished runners- da also had a headed goal move on.” On Friday, holders who play football “in the right way”. China’s best chance came before Ansarifard raced clear to up in 1984 and 2004 but the chalked off for hand-ball on re- Australia face hosts UAE, while “The players are very confident,” he added. “But at the same after just six minutes when Hao add a third in stoppage time. sleeping giants of Asian football view as VAR made an eventful South Korea -- runners-up to time we know it’s going to be very tough and have to be ready to Junmin wriggled free, only for It was another dominant failed to seriously trouble Iran Asian Cup debut.