Samson stars with skipper Smith in Royals’ win over CSK in IPL paGE 14 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 Al Duhail must stay focused despite win over Persepolis, Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez. says forward Almoez Ali AFC Too early to DOHA talk about ALMOEZ Ali has called on Al Duhail SC to remain focused competing after the Qatar champions de- feated Persepolis FC to jump to the top of Group C of the for title, says 2020 AFC Champions League on Tuesday. Xavi as It was a result Al Duhail badly needed after suffer- Al Sadd make ing a 4-2 defeat to Sharjah on Matchday Four and they Round of 16 bounced back in style against Iran’s Persepolis, who had TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK gone into the tie at the DOHA Education City Stadium as group leaders. AL Sadd have made it to the Ali scored the only goal knock-out stage (Round of of the match from the pen- 16) of the 2020 of the Asian alty spot in the 56th minute Champions League after their for his third goal of the com- Group D rivals Sepahan and Al petition as Al Duhail moved Ain could only manage a goal- to nine points, two ahead of less draw on Tuesday. Persepolis and UAE’s Sharjah, A 1-1 draw for Xavi Her- who defeated Saudi Arabia’s nandez’s side against Al Nassr Al Taawoun 6-0 in the group’s made no difference to their other tie on Monday. qualification and the coach Ali, while pleased with expressed satisfaction with his the win, said Al Duhail have team’s shpow against Al Nassr to remain grounded as they on Matchday 5. still have to play Al Taawoun Speaking at the post- where a draw will seal them a s match press conference, Xavi knock-out stage spot and a win said: “It was a tough game. We will see them emerging group were not good enough in the winners . first half, and in the second “We played well today, half we were better. which was great after our “We had to play in the first performance against Shar- Al Duhail striker Almoez Ali (right) termed his team’s Group C 2020 AFC Champions League win over Iran’s Persepolis on Tuesday as a good performance but wants the side to be half, like we did in the second. jah. We managed to recover ready for the Al Taawoun challenge. Al Duhail top Group C with 9 points while Al Taawoun have 6. Persepolis and Sharjah, both have 7 points. All teams have one game remaining. Today, we showed two faces of some of our level but we still the team in the two halves. I’m have some work to do in or- “We must forget this win and League debut with a clean feat against Sharjah propelled es but we still have a match to angry with the first half, and der to get to 100 percent,” prepare for Al Taawoun who sheet. them to victory. play and hopefully we can win happy with the second.” said the 24-year-old Al Du- are a good side. “The players gave their “It was a difficult match for in order to advance from the He added: “We have to hail captain soon after the “They defeated us previ- best today and we got three us because Al Duhail were ea- group. The next match will be change and improve our perfor- match on Tuesday. ously (2-0 on Matchday Two) important points,” said Al ger to make a comeback after With Persepolis and Shar- harder and we must avoid mance, but we are satisfied with “We could have achieved a in Saudi Arabia and we must Bakri. “However, it isn’t over losing the previous match,” jah tied on points, Article 10.5 being overconfident, as was the point. We played against a better result but at the end of ve fully focused in order to yet as we still have a match said the Iraqi midfielder. of the 2020 AFC Champions the case against Sharjah. strong team, which is one of the the day, the three points are have a positive result and and we will go into it to get an- “The experience of their League competition regula- We must forget this win and best in the competition.” really important for us.” bring joy to our fans.” other victory.” players made the differ- tions will be in place should Asked about what he told “The next match will be Al Duhail SC goalkeeper Persepolis midfielder ence because they knew how the match end in a draw, with prepare for Al Taawoun who the players at half time, the harder and we must avoid be- Mohammed Al Bakri was Bashar Resan said Al Du- to deal with the situations in the corresponding fixture hav- are a good side. coach said: “I have to be hon- ing overconfident, as was the ecstatic with the win, as he hail’s experience and desire the match. ing finished 2-2 at the Sharjah Almoez Ali est, I told the players that we case against Sharjah,” said Ali. marked his AFC Champions to bounce back from their de- “We missed several chanc- Stadium in February. had to change our values: the rhythm, and the mental- ity, and this happened in the second half. We scored the goal and we got a good point against a strong team.” Esteghlal coach Motlagh calls for calm With regards to the team’s defensive performance, Xavi said: “I don’t think that we have a problem with the defense. We as they face Al Ahli in must-win tie just conceded one goal in two games. We have other prob- lems. In the first half, we had AFC problems with our attitude, in- DOHA tensity and rhythm.” As for his team’s chances IRAn’S Esteghlal FC face of competing for the title, an all-or-nothing encounter Xavi said: “It’s too early to against confirmed Group A talk about competing for the winners Al Ahli Saudi FC at title. First, we have to qualify the Al Janoub Stadium on (for the next stage). We still Wednesday, needing three haven’t qualified. It needs points to secure passage to the one more game, and it also 2020 AFC Champions League depends on the result of the Round of 16. other game (Sepahan Al Ain). Six points were enough “We have to go step by to secure the top spot in the step; otherwise, we will make three-team group for Al Ahli a mistake. It’s very difficult to after Esteghlal and Al Shorta win the competition, and there played out a 1-1 draw on are many good clubs. Our first Matchday Five. objective is to reach the round The Sunday fixture was Esteghlal head coach Majid Namjoo-Motlagh. of 16, and then we will see.” Al Shorta’s last, meaning they ended the group stage with five ers fare against a strong team points. Esteghlal, who are bot- STANDINGS like Esteghlal. Today’s Matches tom with two points, can eclipse Iran’s Esteghlal FC will lock horns with Al Ahli Saudi FC in a crucial Group A clash of the 2020 AFC GROUP A “They are an opposite who At Al Janoub Stadium the Iraqis should they beat Al Champions League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Wednesday. Club M W D L GF GA GD Pts will come in and fight hard, Group A Ahli by a two-goal margin. Al Ahli SFC 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6 but I only care about my play- 6pm: Esteghlal (IRN) A 1-0 win for the Tehran- did not do well in set-piec- determined to win and go to one of Al Hilal, Pakhtakor or Al Shorta 4 1 2 1 4 4 0 5 ers and I want them to work based side would mean disci- es and we did not take our the Round of 16 as representa- Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the Esteghlal 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1 2 hard and perform well to get vs Al Ahli (KSA) plinary record will be the tie chances, but of course those tives of Iran. Round of 16, will make some the win.” Group B breaker between them and Al are lessons we learned from “We will not look at our changes to their starting XI, The two teams had met on 9pm: Shahr Khodro (IRN) Shorta. that game and will look to opponents and their position and head coach Vladan Miloje- “I always say to my play- Matchday Two, with Al Ahli “I have to say this is a very show more focus in those two in the group being already vic has challenged his younger ers that you must always play walking away with the three vs Pakhtakor (UZB) important game for us and areas in the next game to get qualified, we only focus on players to prove themselves for the win. Of course, we have points in Jeddah. At Khalifa Stadium we have to only think about the win.” our situation that we need the against top quality opponents. players who have yellow cards Salman Al Moasher netted Group B winning to qualify to the next “We need to be calm and three points to qualify to the “I like to win even in train- and are in risk of being sus- both Al Ahli’s goals either side round,” said Esteghlal head only focus on getting the three next round.