GGOLFOLF | Page 5 MMOTOGPOTOGP | Page 6 Italy’s Quartararo Paratore claims pole, wins British Marquez Masters title quits Sunday, July 26, 2020 CRICKET Dhul-Hijjah 5, 1441 AH Broad sparks West GULF TIMES Indies collapse in Test decider SPORT Page 2 QNB STARS LEAGUE Duhail’s title hopes take blow aft er draw with Umm Salal Duhail are now just two points ahead of their title rivals Al Rayyan with four games left to play Al Sadd’s Akram Afif celebrates after scoring against Al Khor yesterday. Sadd enjoyed 59 per cent possession brought in Hassan al-Haydos and Ab- Al Duhail’s Almoez Ali (right) and Umm Salal’s Ayyoub Azzi vie for the ball during the QNB Stars League match at the Al Janoub Stadium yesterday. after both halves. The Wolves surged delkarim Hassan as the match wore on. ahead as a result of the culmination Sadd had al-Dossari to thank for as By Sports Reporter lifeline in their bid to stay in the top ter Umm Salal goalkeeper Baba Malick AFIF SHINES IN AL SADD’S of a move that originated from Bagh- he saved a penalty kick taken by Tiago in Doha fl ight. They are in 10th spot with 15 failed to get his hand on to the swerving WIN OVER AL KHOR dad Bounedjah. Akram was then fed the dying moments of the game (90+3), points, two ahead of Al Khor. After a ball. Han then sent his shot over and Meanwhile, Al Sadd defeated Al Khor through a backheeled pass by Abdulaziz referee Hamad al-Subaie awarding it barren fi rst half, Al Duhail opened the Yousef Msakni had his shot defl ected 2-1 at home. Qatar international for- al-Ansari and the former made no mis- when al-Dossari brought down Tiago l Duhail’s title aspirations suf- scoring when Almoez Ali converted a wide by the rival defence. ward Akram Afi f scored both goals for take in beating Al Khor goalkeeper Baba in the area. fered a jolt as the leaders were penalty in the 49th minute, a lead that At the other end, Umm Salal’s Walid the reigning champions, who moved Djibril. Afi f brace helped him rise to the Bounedjah expressed his delight af- held to a 1-1 draw by Umm was neutralised by Umm Salal through Mesloub failed to fi nd the target with on to 35 points with their 11th victory. top of the scoring charts with 14 goals ter the win. The Algerian international Salal in the QNB Stars League Ayyoub Azzi in the 52nd minute. his free-kick from the left. Almoez took Yet, Al Sadd’s chances of retaining the for the season, with Bounedjah follow- said: “I’m happy with the win, which Aat the Al Janoub Stadium yesterday. Duhail had beaten Umm Salal 1-0 in Al Duhail ahead not long after the re- title are remote as they are eight points ing him in second place with 12. came with some diffi culty, especially as With Al Rayyan beating Qatar Sports the fi rst leg, so it was an improved per- sumption of play by converting a pen- adrift of leaders Al Duhail. Al Khor struck back in no time as many Al Sadd players are coming back Club on Friday, Duhail are now just two formance by the latter who have im- alty, which was awarded when Abdul- Meanwhile, Al Khor still stare at rel- Tiago capitalised on a momentary lapse from injuries in this recent period, in- points ahead of their rivals with four proved under Moroccan coach Aziz Ben rahman Mohamed’s shot was handled egation as only Al Shahania are behind by the Al Sadd defenders in judging the cluding myself, Pedro, Tarek Salman games left to play. Askar, himself their former defender. by Umm Salal’s Omar Yahya. them in the rankings. Al Khor, whose fl ight of an oncoming through pass and and Hassan al-Haydos. We thank God Duhail had started with a four-point Duhail, coached by Ben Askar’s Umm Salal soon drew parity as Ay- only goal was scored by Tiago Bezerra the Brazilian found the target past goal- for this win and the three points.” cushion when the league resumed after countryman Walid Regragui, domi- oub Azzi headed in Mesloub’s corner in the 27th minute, have 14 points fol- keeper Saad al-Dossari. Bounedjah added: “The biggest posi- a four-month long break due to Coro- nated with 60 per cent possession, but from the left, beating the challenge of lowing their 10th defeat. The match failed to produce any oth- tive of the break has been the return of navirus pandemic. With Duhail set to Umm Salal put up a spirited fi ght right Sultan al-Breik. Al Duhail’s Almoez Sadd had beaten Al Khor by an iden- er goal despite the eff orts by Al Sadd’s the injured players. We will now try face reigning champions Al Sadd in throughout. The closest Duhail came to headed over and Umm Salal’s Mah- tical margin in their fi rst-leg match, Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Nam to gradually return to the level we are the 20th round, yesterday’s draw could scoring in the fi rst half was in the 21st moud al-Mawas’ placing shot was which was deferred and was played on Tae-hee and Bounedjah, and Al Khor’s known for, as the break has aff ected the prove to be a costly aff air. minute when Han Kwang-Song’s ris- saved by goalkeeper Mohamed al-Bakri 21st January this year due to the latter’s Ahmed Hammoudan and Lucca Borges. players. We will work hard in the up- Umm Salal, meanwhile, earned a ing shot hit against the left upright af- as both sides settled for a draw. AFC Champions League commitment. Sadd, pushing to increase their margin, coming period to give our best.” PREVIEW AL SADD COACH XAVI TESTS We must be mentally prepared: Sailiya’s Trabelsi POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 Doha: Al Sadd coach Xavi By Sports Reporter period. There is a great discipline in fol- men had bowed out of both Amir Cup and Hernandez has tested positive Doha lowing the instructions from the Minis- Ooredoo Cup in the quarter-fi nal stage, for coronavirus, his club said try of Public Health,” added. so they are all focused on earning a bet- yesterday. Former Barcelona Wakrah are just behind Sailiya in sev- ter position in the league, where they are and Spain midfielder Xavi, 40, l Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi enth, with a victory today can cut down featuring after a gap of two seasons. recently quashed rumours that believes mental strength will the gap to just one point. Wakrah had In another match today, Al Shahania he was preparing to move back be put to test when his side suff ered three successive defeats before face Al Ahli at the Al Sadd Stadium. Sha- to Barcelona and signed on for resumes its’ QNB Stars League the tournament was stopped. It is against hania, coached by Nabil Anwar who re- another season at the helm of Acampaign today against Al Wakrah. Qa- this backdrop that they take on Al Sailiya, cently replaced Spaniard Jose Murcia, are the Qatari top-flight side. tar’s top-fl ight had restarted yesterday who had beaten Wakrah 3-1 in the fi rst the basement side in the 12-team table “A few days ago, follow- after a long break forced by the coronavi- leg. with 10 points. They have only one vic- ing the Qatar Stars League rus (Covid-19) pandemic. Wakrah’s Spanish coach Marquez tory to their credit, while they lost nine protocol, I tested positive in the Sailiya are sixth in the table with 23 Lopez said the Sailiya game will be diffi - matches and drew seven. They also have last Covid-19 test,” Xavi said in detection, reducing the spread points. The Peregrines have had mixed cult one for his team and they must stay the worst goal diff erence of -20 (17 goals a post on Al Sadd’s twitter ac- of infection and that guarantees campaign so far, with seven wins, two focused. “There is no doubt that the re- for and 37 against). count. “Fortunately, I’m feeling the normal development of the draws and eight defeats. Trabelsi’s men turn is diffi cult for everyone, but we are Shahania need to pull up their socks ok, but I will be isolated until I competition. Take care and see still have chances of ending up in the top- going step by step. Al Sailiya game is diffi - sooner rather than later if they are to stay am given the all clear. When the you soon on the football pitch,!” four bracket and thereby playing in the cult for both teams. One good thing is the in the First Division, as nearest teams in health services allow it, I will be he wrote. Qatar Cup and AFC Champions League, improvement in our level,” said Marquez. the table, Al Khor and Umm Salal, both very eager to return to my daily It is Al Sadd’s first outing just like they did last season when they “Al Wakrah will resume the league well, have 14 points. routine and to work.” since the Qatari league was secured a third-place fi nish, their best- but it will not be easy. Of course, it is dif- Al Ahli, under Montenegrin coach “Today I won’t be able to join suspended in March to stem the ever performance in the league.