Sport TUESDAY 11 MAY 2021 ShaheenS Afridi's five-for seals Pakistan sseries sweep over hosts Zimbabwe The partnership between Abid and Azhar Ali was crucial. The confidencec of our batsmen will be high and we have an importanti series in the West Indies coming up. Pakistan captain Babar Azam Sport | 15 PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: Manchester United vs Leicester City at Old Trafford; Southampton vs Crystal Palace at St. Mary's Stadium Amir Cup: Al Rayyan set up Al Sadd final after beating Al Duhail in thriller FAWAD HUSSAIN a good position after Edmilson’s cross Soon after the match resumed, Al Rayyan captain Yacine THE PENINSULA was off target. Almoez’s strike from Yohan Boli taking advantage of an Brahimi celebrates with edge of the box also flew high as Al error by Bassam Alrawi, set up Awad Al Rayyan set up a mouth-watering Duhail begun to put pressure on Al team-mate Dame Traoré but Zakaria thwarted the attack by Amir Cup final with arch-rivals Al Rayyan. after scoring their second blocking his hit showing good reflexes. Sadd after beating Al Duhail 2-1 in a However, ‘The Lions’ took the goal against Al Duhail Olunga’s header from Edmilson’s cross high-intensity semi-final at Jassim Bin lead from a diving header by Ter- yesterday. again flew over the crossbar as Al Hamad Stadium. awari, who evaded his marker to Duhail continued seeking the elusive A victory last night handed ‘The connect a corner kick, taken by goal. Lions’ a golden chance to win their Abdelaziz Hatim. Traoré’s strike took However, it was Al Rayyan, who first Amir Cup title since 2013, also Sultan Al Brake’s deflection but it still managed to score their second goal a giving an opportunity to French coach landed in goal to open account for Al minute before one-hour mark with Laurent Blanc to clinch his first trophy Rayyan. captain Brahimi netting the ball com- in Qatar. Al Duhail thought they found an fortably from spot kick. Dame Traoré grabbed lead for Al equaliser the next minute but Medhi Al Brake, who was trying to stop Rayyan with a goal in 13th minute Benatia’s goal was disallowed for Awad from coming close to the goal, before captain Yacine Brahimi con- offside. The Red Knights piled up was penalised by referee Khamis Al verted a penalty in 59th minute to pressure on Al Rayyan with repeated Marri immediately for a reckless double the lead. Michael Olunga attacks but they were missing proper tackle. pulled one back for Al Duhail in 81st execution. ‘The Lions’ further solidified their minute. In a counter attack after the half- defense after their second goal giving Sabri Lamouchi-coached Al Duhail hour mark, Moufak Awad got a chance no space to Al Duhail. were a better side in terms of to double lead for Al Rayyan but his Al Rayyan goalkeeper Fahad launching attacks but Al Rayyan were last touch from a difficult angle took Younis received treatment after a col- paid for holding nerves in a tense Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria’s lision with Mohammed Muntari, who semi-final, which witnessed a scuffle deflection. came off the bench in 66th minute. in stoppage time resulting in red card However, Al Duhail were still Al Duhail finally broke Al Rayyan’s to Al Duhail captain Almoez Ali and dominating the proceedings owing to defense, nine minutes before time yellow cards to Paulo Edmilson and some good show by Almoez and when Olunga’s low header from sub- Al Rayyan’s Mohammed Juma. Olunga. stitute Khaled Mohammed’s cross The second semi-final, as Just before the break, Mohamed reduced their deficit. expected, got off to a fast start as both Musa got a good chance to score for The goal revived hopes for Al the top Qatari sides exchanged attacks Al Duhail after receiving a ball from Duhail, who made numerous attacks in the first five minutes, with Al Ali Nozar inside the box but his strike late in the match but Al Rayyan Rayyan winning a couple of corners missed the target by a few inches as showed nerves of steel to hold ‘The soon after the kick off. Al Rayyan returned to the tunnel with ball possession in the first half, Out of three Al Rayyan’s shots, two Red Knights’ and enter their first Amir Al Duhail striker Olunga got the an advantage. attempted 13 shots but they were on were well aimed on goal including Cup final since 2018 when they were first real chance but his header from Al Duhail, who held 67 percent of target on only a couple of occasions. Traoré’s blow. beaten by the same opposition. Juventus Al Sadd set sights on prestigious face Serie A title after 3-0 rout of Al Arabi expulsion if FAWAD HUSSAIN still in Super Al Sadd players take of the best THE PENINSULA part in a practice session matches we have League yesterday. played, thanks to Al Sadd head a good per- UEFA has coach Xavi Hern- formance, organi- REUTERS – MILAN andez has praised sation and focus,” his side after a said Xavi. Juventus will be excluded from issues with clinical “Our goal is to next season’s Serie A should the performance win the Amir Cup Italian soccer club decide to CL switch against Al Arabi in title again and I persist with the proposed the Amir Cup am confident that European Super League semi-final, hoping my team can project, the head of the Italian to London for a repeat show achieve the glory. soccer federation (FIGC) said from his ranks in We are the best yesterday. AP – LYON the final. team in Qatar in Nine of the clubs who tried Goals from presence of top to breakaway, including six UEFA has given the British Nam Tae-hee, players,” he English Premier League teams, government until today to Baghdad added. backed out of the Super League offer the travel waivers it Bounedjah and Al Sadd lifted idea, but Juventus, Barcelona requires to move the Cham- Santiago Cazorla the last year’s and Real Madrid are still pions League final to helped ‘The Amir Cup trophy involved in the project. Wembley or the all-English Wolves’ in a 3-0 after defeating Al “If Juventus does not game could be played in rout of Al Arabi in Arabi 2-1 in the respect the rules they will be Portugal instead. the first semi-final final at the brand out,” Gabriele Gravina told a The May 29 showpiece on Sunday, new Ahmed Bin Ali news conference on Monday. is set to be moved from keeping them on track for a with a 3-0 margin is a great from Bounedjah and Cazorla Stadium – a FIFA World Cup “At the time of registration Istanbul after Turkey was record-extending 18th Amir achievement,” Xavi said in the second half, but Xavi said Qatar 2022 venue – in for the next Serie A champi- added to England’s “red list” Cup title. yesterday. Al Sadd’s phenomenal start in December. onship the club will be of countries with severe Xavi expressed his delight “But we have a final to play, the match was key to victory Al Sadd star Abdelkarim excluded if they decide not to coronavirus outbreaks. on team’s performance in the which will be very tough no against Al Arabi. Hassan said: “We are happy to withdraw from the Super Porto is one of the match that saw the defending matter which team will “We displayed a brilliant win the semi-final after League.” backup options after UEFA Amir Cup champions domi- qualify,” Xavi said referring to show in the first half hour of showing a good performance Juve, Real and Barcelona hit snags with its preferred nating ‘The Dream Team’ in the second semi-final between the match, which helped us to and now we are looking said they were ready to recon- location of London. both the sessions. former champions Al Duhail win the tough match. After forward to a good performance sider the proposed approach UEFA held talks with the “It was an outstanding per- and Al Rayyan. scoring the second goal we in the final, which will be to the breakaway plan fol- British government yes- formance from the team and Tae-hee’s goal came in the controlled the match well. I another tough challenge for lowing the angry backlash terday but was unable to winning a tough semi-final first half followed by strikes would rate this match as one us.” across the continent. secure exemptions from quarantine for everyone they want to be able to attend a final in London - Premier League targets full stadiums next season including sponsors of the Champions League, their REUTERS – LONDON 4,000 people, whichever is lower. A same without them. Their presence will cases. The Premier League said last week guests and media - people special provision willll be made for largelarge ensureensure a ffantasticantastic finfinaleale to the end of attendance for the penultimate round of familiar with the talks told The Premier League has welcomed the outdoor, seated venues,nues, so that ourour season,”season,” Masters said.s matches to be played on May 18-19 and The Associated Press. They British government’s announcement on they can open theirr doors to up Matches in England’sEnglan top-flight the final day May 23 would be restricted spoke on condition of ano- the easing of lockdown restrictions amid to 10,000 people orr 25% of the havehav e takentaken placepla behind to home fans.