Al Thumama Racing’s X Force bags Muraikh Cup PAGE 15 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020 First-half strikes see Shanghai Shenhua make a winning start AFP DOHA SHANGHAI Shenhua ban- ished their pre-tournament fears with an enterprising 2-1 win over Perth Glory in their opening Group F clash in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday. Peng Xinli put the Chinese giants ahead in the seventh minute and Yu Hanchao con- solidated in the 38th before Jonathan Aspropotamitis pulled one back for the Aus- tralians nine minutes from time at the air-conditioned Education City Stadium. Shenhua’s South Korean coach Choi Kang-hee had voiced pessimism over his team’s chances at his press conference on Tuesday, saying a spate of injuries had left his Shanghai Shenhua’s midfielder Peng Xinli (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Australia’s Shenhua’s midfielder Yu Hanchao (#11) is mobbed by teammates after he scored the second goal against side facing a crisis of sorts in the Perth Glory during their AFC Champions League Group F match at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday. Australia’s Perth Glory at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday. (AFP) coronavirus-hit tournament. “We just finished our Chi- nese Super League season and Standings Group F we have some problems with CLUB P W D L GF GA GD PTS injuries,” said Choi, who guid- ed South Korean side Jeonbuk FC Tokyo (JPN) 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 4 Hyundai Motors to the title in Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3 2006 and 2016. Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 “For us, our team selec- Perth Glory (AUS) 2 0 0 2 1 3 -2 0 tion is incomplete. It’s a pity. For this team it is quite diffi- cult because we have so many injuries, especially for the first three matches. It’s going to be a big problem for this team.” But going by their perfor- They took charge of the break with renewed vigour but mance on Wednesday much match early, Zhu Jianrong the Chinese defence managed of his fears seemed exagger- making his way up on the left to keep them at arm’s length for ated as Shenhua dominated flank before passing to Peng a considerable period of time. the exchanges in Doha, where who took advantage of some But they eventually did the matches in AFC’s eastern weak defending by the Aus- find their first ever Champi- zone are also being played in a tralians to fire home past goal- ons League goal with Aspro- bio-secure bubble. keeper Tando Velaphi. potamitis firing home from The west zone matches Perth Glory though got their close after Shenhua goalkeeper concluded in October in Doha act together soon enough and Shuai Li had spilled an earlier with Iran’s Persepolis reach- kept possession most of the time effort from Carlo Armiento. ing the final, which will also be but that didn’t prevent Shenhua For Perth Glory, this was played in the Qatari capital on from finding the net again. their second straight defeat, December 19. Peng this time was the pro- having lost their opening Shenhua were playing vider as the veteran Chinese match to FC Tokyo 1-0 back their first match of the tourna- international Yu latched on to in February and would need ment and the three points they his pass after a quick one-two to reverse the tide if they are to gained saw them jump to the outside the box and cut in from qualify for the knockout phase second spot in their group be- the left before drilling his shot of the tournament. hind FC Tokyo who had already under Velaphi’s arms from Scoreline: Shanghai Shenhua played two matches before the a difficult angle much to the 2 (Peng Xinli 7’, Yu Hanchao pandemic forced a stop to pro- goalkeeper’s embarrassment. 38’) bt Perth Glory 1 (Jonathan Perth Glory players (right) and Shanghai Shenhua (left) sit on the bench during the AFC Champions League Group F match at the Education ceedings in February. Perth returned from the Aspropotamitis 81’). City Stadium in Al Rayyan on Wednesday. (AFP) Corica relishing quality test for Sydney against Shanghai SIPG TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA SYDNEY FC head coach Steve The weather is fantastic, the Corica is looking forward to hotel is nice and we had a testing his young players as couple of great training they resume their 2020 AFC sessions. The players are Champions League campaign looking forward to playing. with a third encounter in 18 months against star-studded Sydney FC head coach Shanghai SIPG at the at Khal- Steve Corica ifa International Stadium at 1pm on Thursday. The reigning A-League said Shanghai SIPG boss Vitor champions picked up just Sydney FC head coach Steve Corica speaks to the media on Wednesday. Perreira. one point from their first two “We face the champions games of the competition back of Australia, Sydney FC, as in February, having kicked-off our next opponents. Then we with a 4-0 defeat at the hands have the champions of Korea of Yokohama F. Marinos be- Republic, Jeonbuk Hyundai fore squandering the lead to Motors and previous cham- draw 2-2 at home to Jeonbuk pions of Japan, Yokohama F. Hyundai Motors. Standings Group H Marinos. That makes it a very “The weather is fantastic, the CLUB P W D L GF GA GD PTS strong group. hotel is nice and we had a couple Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2 2 0 0 6 1 5 6 “The schedule for us is very of great training sessions,” said Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1 1 tight because we did not play Corica who has been at Sydney Sydney FC (AUS) 2 0 1 1 2 6 -4 1 yet. We must play every three FC since 2005 as a player then Shanghai SIPG FC (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 days, but we will try to be at progressing through the ranks our best level and try to get the as a youth coach before taking Sydney FC players at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha during a practice session. three points; that is the most over the first team as head coach Shanghai SIPG coach Vitor Perreira addresses the media at the important thing for tomorrow. in 2018. Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. “We played them last for my team.” been able to play in February “I know Sydney FC and “The players are looking for- year and had two draws and Shanghai SIPG, just like due to the earlier outbreak of they play 4-4-2 and have ward to playing; it will be a dif- are still not here and we have us ahead of the new season. were unlucky not to win both fellow Chinese sides Shanghai COVID-19 in China PR. good movements. We played ficult match against Shanghai a few injuries, but it gives an The AFC Champions League games, they have big players Shenhua and Guangzhou Ev- “It is a pleasure to be here against them last season so SIPG but it is a good challenge.” opportunity for younger play- is very difficult because you and it is a good opportunity ergrande, will finally be able and play in the AFC Champi- both teams know each other. “One player is arriving ers to show what they can do come up against quality teams for us to play against quality to contest their first match of ons League. This is the first Tough game but we will try to tomorrow, a couple of them and it is good preparation for and foreign players. players and a good challenge the competition having not game for us in a strong group,” play to get three points.” 14 Thursday, November 19, 2020 Sports FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 QUALifiERS Playing Australian Open straight after quarantine dangerous, warn tennis stars AFP “If we have to quarantine LONDON for 14 days inside a room and then go play a Grand Slam, I PLAYING the Australian Open mean, I will do it because it’s with no preparation time my job and I have to find a would be “very dangerous”, way, but I think it’s quite dan- Brazilian doubles special- gerous for the players with no ist Bruno Soares warned on preparation I think to go there Wednesday, after lead-up and compete right away. events to the Grand Slam were “I think it’s physically very thrown into further doubt. dangerous.” The stark message came after Australian tennis chiefs flagged “new challenges” around The stark message came the arrival of players during the after Australian tennis coronavirus pandemic. chiefs flagged “new In correspondence with challenges” around the players the ATP, the men’s arrival of players during tennis tour, said arrivals origi- the coronavirus pandemic. nally planned for December were now uncertain, poten- tially disrupting the packed Alexander Zverev, bidding January schedule. to win a second ATP Finals ti- With players facing a 14- tle, said: “If we can’t even prac- day quarantine, any delay could tise for 14 days and we have to make it difficult to hold the high- go out to play the Australian profile ATP Cup and other tour- Open, it’s a lottery,” he said. “I naments before the scheduled mean, you can basically flip a start of the Australian Open in coin who wins.” Melbourne on January 18.