Mourinho keen for his men to beat Valencia, top group in Champions League WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018 PAGE 19 LeBron James, LA Lakers win historic CHAMPIONS LEAGUE finale against Dwyane Wade PAGE 18 VALENCIA VS MAN UNITED Al Sadd end Al Duhail’s winning run, top table IKOLI VICTOR DOHA IT came after two long years, but it was as sweet as Al Sadd would have expected. The Wolves, playing at home in a ‘breathless’ re- scheduled fixture of the QNB Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Stars League on Tuesday, Ahmed al Thani during the QFA Gen Assembly on Monday. scored a thrilling 3-1 triumph over Al Duhail. Al Sadd extended their Big challenges led winning run to 13 victories in 16 matches as a Lucas Mendes own goal (9th min- by World Cup 2022 ute) and late strikes from Baghdad Bounedjah (89th) and Salem Ali (90+4) saw preparations ahead: Jesualdo Ferreira’s men overcome the Red Knights. The win has now put Al QFA President Sadd on 38 points at the top, two clear of second-placed Al QNA ident said it was improving Duhail, who had been unbeat- DOHA significantly. He highlighted en since February 2017 – their that VAR will also be imple- winning streak lasting over 22 PRESIDENT of the Qatar mented in the next round of months and 41 matches. Football Association (QFA) the QNB Stars League. After the visitors wasted Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin He revealed that the tech- their chances, the result saw Ahmed al Thani has stressed nology was not used sooner for the defending champions’ that the association will em- technical reasons. 14-game unbeaten run in the bark on a new journey filled He stressed that the only league come to and end. with significant challenges problem facing football is the Algerian striker Bouned- awaiting the new Executive lack of fans, which he said jah scored his 29th goal of Board, most notably the World must be addressed swiftly. He the season with aplomb while Cup 2022 in Qatar, the Asian said that the technical level is substitute Salem Ali al Hajri Cup 2019 in the UAE, and the somewhat high, but the lack of gave Wolves the lead in the participation in Copa America attendance makes the match- closing minutes. The Al Sadd football team celebrates in the dressing room following their triumph over Al Duhail in the QNB Stars League match played at the 2019 in Brazil. es resemble friendly games, Earlier, Al Sadd survived Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. Sheikh Hamad was speak- stressing that the next phase a duel of first-half pressure ing during QFA’s General As- requires the cooperation of all which saw Edmilson shot Scoreline sembly at the Sheraton Hotel to solve this problem. inches away from the goal and with representatives of the 17 He also praised the pres- Almoez Ali blazing wide. Al Sadd 3 (Lucas football clubs and Qatar Stars ence of representatives of all Despite Duhail’s domi- League attending on Monday. clubs and their role in enrich- nance in the game, it was an Mendes OG-9’, The assembly led to the ing the activities of the Gen- even match and Al Sadd, who Salem al Hajri 89’, election of Sheikh Hamad as eral Assembly meeting with had not won against Duhail for Bounedjah 90’+4) president of the association their important questions and the last two years in the league, beat Al Duhail 1 for another term of four years. discussions aimed at develop- had two good chances in quick (Y El-Arabi 6’PG) It also led to the election of ing the football in Qatar. succession during the first half. Ibrahim Khalil al Mohannadi, After the president’s The game began on a fast Sheikh Ahmed bin Ahmed speech concluded, Qatar SC, note as Duhail tried to take an al Thani, Ahmed al Buain- Al Shahaniya and Al Ahli clubs early lead and it paid off when ball inside the box by Italian ain, Saoud al Mohannadi, were appointed to review min- Boualem Khouki was ad- referee Sergio Ranghetti, who Abdulrahman al Qahtani and utes of the meeting. Al Arabi, judged of having handled the pointed to the spot. Hani Talib Ballan. Al Khor and Al Mesaimeer The President of the asso- were appointed as auditors of ciation thanked the members the votes. of the General Assembly and The minutes of the previ- welcomed everyone to the ous general assembly meeting meeting, which elects a new held on December 13, 2017 board for the next stage that were also ratified. gains great significance due This was followed by the to World Cup 2022, and Asia ratification of the chairman’s Cup 2019. report. Later, a presentation He said it was significant on the consolidated budget, Al Sadd fans cheer their team at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. that the youth team also quali- audited and consolidated fied for the World Cup, while statement of profit and loss Youssef El Arabi sent off the target. the most likely to score as the Qatar clubs performed well in was made. The meeting also goalkeeper Saad al Dosari the Al Sadd should have taken game dragged on. the AFC Champions League. ratified the financial state- wrong way to give the league the lead into the break, but Al Sadd penned Duhail He expressed hope that they ments and budget. leaders the lead within six Bounedjah’s shot agonisingly back for the last few min- can go even further next year, Head of the electoral minutes. It was also his 18th went wide across the face of utes and substitute Salem and praised Asia’s best player committee Abdullah Hamad goal of the campaign. goal from Xavi Hernandez’s Ali made it 2-1 after dazzling Abdulkarim Hassan. He also al Mulla thanked members Al Duhail’s lead, however, pass in the 38th minute. past two markers before clip- said that he hopes the coming of the general assembly for could only last three minutes as The Wolves looked more ping the ball into the top left period will carry even more their cooperation. He also ex- the pressure from Akram Afif’s purposeful in the second half of Khalifa’s post. achievements as the national tended his thanks to the asso- strike was bizarrely directed by and the first attacking move There was still time for team gets set to participate in ciation for making the election Lucas Mendes into his net. was from Bounedjah’s back the league’s top-scorer to in- Copa America. process easy. It was the second own- heel pass for Afif, and saw crease his goals tally with a The president explained At the end of the General goal conceded by Al Duhail in the youngster direct the shot perfect strike in added time. that the team is currently is Assembly, Sheikh Hamad consecutive matches after Mo- straight at Khalifa Ndiaye to He sprinted past the rest of the preparing well, highlighting thanked the clubs and the hammed Musa’s against Qa- make a save. field and needed the assistance that that Copa America will support of the board. He also tar SC denied the champions Portuguese coach Jesualdo of Afif to blast the ball home. be an important criterion for congratulated the two new maximum points. Ferreira wanted fresh legs and It was deserving for the measuring the level of the members, Sheikh Ahmed bin Both teams were guilty of pace in his side, substitut- Wolves, who have the title to team before the World Cup. Hamad al Thani (Al Ahli Club) chances but it was Edmilson’s ing South Korean Wooyung lose with seven matches to He also confirmed that new and Abdulrahman al Qahtani miss from inside the box that Jung for Salem Ali in the 64th conclude the season. ideas will be unveiled that will (Messaimer Club) and wished was glaring before the break. minute. Also, Xavi gave way For Duhail, tactics, defen- be discussed through meet- success to former members of An Al Duhail player battles for the ball with Al Sadd’s Baghdad He was set on goal by El Arabi for Yasser Abubabakar in the sive lapses and lack of quality ings with club presidents. the Committee Khalifa Khamis Bounedjah (centre) at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. and the Brazilian shot inches 79th minute as Al Sadd looked bench cost them the game. As for refereeing, the pres- al Sulaiti and Ali al Thawadi. Hallgrimsson keen to help Qatar develop players for World Cup IKOLI VICTOR a parallel between Qatar and a team – organisation, disci- to do that. In next few years, tional team coach and my feel- DOHA Iceland on the issue of compet- pline, focus and hard work. the league will be stronger and ing was that I was at a stand- ing in their maiden World Cup “I know how national will have more attention.” still,” he said. ICELAND’S football coach at ((Iceland in 2018 World Cup, I know how national team team coaches think and hope- Hallgrimsson resigned as “I wanted a new chal- the Russia 2018 World Cup and Qatar in 2022), he said coaches think and hopefully fully we can help him (Felix Iceland manager in July after lenge, so I decided to rest and – Heimir Hallgrimsson, the both teams are underdogs. we can help him (Felix Sanchez) train players for the they were knocked out at the do some courses, visit some new Al Arabi manager, says “Both are fairly small Sanchez) make players for national team of Qatar ahead first stage of the World Cup, coaches.