FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 Real Madrid England renew making it Australia ‘diffi cult’ to rivalry with leave: Bale T20 series Friday, September 4, 2020 TOUR DE FRANCE Muharram 16, 1442 AH Yates keeps lead as GULF TIMES Lutsenko wins impressive stage SPORT Page 6 FOOTBALL Education City Stadium hosts fi rst match as Sadd win Cazorla sparkles with two goals and an assist as Al Sadd rout Al Kharaitiyat; Al Rayyan held by Al Sailiya By Sports Reporter Doha he newly-built Education City Stadium hosted its fi rst match as Al Sadd sailed past Al Kharaitiyat 5-1 as the new Tseason of QNB Stars League kicked-off yesterday. The Education City Stadium – one of the eight venues for the FIFA Qatar 2022 World Cup, was digitally launched in June this year with a spe- cial programme as a tribute to frontline healthcare workers during the Cov- id-19 pandemic. Dubbed the ‘Diamond in the Desert’, Education City Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 and is set to host matches up to and including the quarter-fi nals stage during the FIFA World Cup 2022. The stadium is located in the heart of Qatar Foundation for Education, Sci- ence and Community Development, and surrounded by leading universities, educational institutions and recrea- Al Sadd players Akram Afif (right) and Tarek Salman were handed over their QFA tional facilities. Before the kick-off , Al Award trophies. Afif was named the Best Player and top scorer, while Salman Sadd players Akram Afi f and Tarek Sal- received the player of the year award in the under-23 category. man were handed over their QFA Award trophies. Afi f was named the Best a bicycle kick when the ball rebounded series of positive results in the tourna- Player and top scorer, while Salman off the horizontal following a Yacine ment’s latter session. The Kings, under received the player of the year award in Brahimi corner kick. the tutelage of former Al Ahli and Qatar the under-23 category. Later, Al Gharafa defeated Qatar SC international midfi elder Younis Ali who Sadd, meanwhile were dominant on 2-0 at the Al Gharafa Stadium. Alge- replaced Wesam Rizik, could not get a the pitch, with new recruit Santi Ca- rian attacking midfi elder Sofi ane Hanni positive start to the new season. zorla scoring two goals. The former Ar- had a hand in Al Gharafa’s both goals. Both teams had the same amount of senal midfi elder found the net in 27th Al Sadd’s Santi Cazorla (right) celebrates after scoring against Al Kharaitiyat at the Education City Stadium yesterday. He fi rst became the maker of the goal ball possession though Gharafa created and 60th minutes, while he also made scored by Ahmed Alaaeldin in the sev- more opportunities. Alaaeldin took Al an assist. Baghdad Bounedjah (54th Torres, making his debut in Qatar, and to regain the league shield. The Lions standing Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi enth minute and then turned the taker Gharafa ahead by heading in Sofi ane’s minute) and Akram Afi f (84th minute) Abdelkarim Hassan all unleashed shots had fi nished runners-up and even out- had said ahead of the start of the sea- in the 52nd minute as The Cheetahs, a cross, beating Qatar SC goalkeeper Jas- were the other scorers for The Wolves, against Al Kharaitiyat, who are back in played Al Sadd who could end up third son that they were competing for top traditional powerhouse in Qatar foot- sim al-Hail. Gharafa’s Jonathan Kod- who were also helped by an own goal by the top fl ight after a gap of one season. in the 2019-20 QNB Stars League. positions, if not for the title, this sea- ball with many titles and honours to jia made a couple of unsuccessful at- Al Kharaitiyat’s Mohamed Salam in the The Thunders had fi nished at the bot- Al Rayyan, coached by Uruguayan son. Rayyan’s best chance in the fi rst their credit, embarked on the new sea- tempts at the goal while, at the other 71st minute. tom in the 2018-19 season and were Diego Aguirre, lagged behind champi- half went to Abdulaziz Hazza in the son on a winning note. end, Uzbek Sardor Rashidov led Qatar Spaniard Cazorla continued his good relegated to the Second Division. How- ons Al Duhail (52 points) only by one 16th minute, but his shot was saved by Al Gharafa had fi nished a creditable SC’s charge. Changing ends, Sofi ane form in Qatar, having scored on his de- ever, they stormed back into the First point in the fi nal standings. As far as Sailiya’s much-experienced goalkeeper fourth in the 2019-20 season, behind doubled the lead by converting from but for Al Sadd in their Ooredoo Cup Division by emerging as winners in last Al Sailiya are concerned, they are a de- Amine Lecomte. champions Al Duhail, Al Rayyan and a penalty after it was awarded when 2-0 semi-fi nal victory over Al Ahli on season’s Second Division. termined lot this time around, as they Mohanad, who has previously plied Al Sadd in that order. The Cheetahs, Qatar SC’s Kayke Rodriguez ‘handled’ 29th August. Rachid Tiberkanine gave Meanwhile, Al Sailiya held Al Rayyan could fi nish only in the fi fth position his trade in Al Duhail, took Sailiya coached by Serb Slavisa Jokanovic, the ball off a corner kick taken by Muad Al Kharaitiyat’s sole reply in the 64th to a 1-1 draw at the Al Gharafa Stadium. last season, a below-par performance ahead by slotting home a pass from thus ensured a berth in the next edition Hassan. Kodjia was off -target a couple minute. Sadd, who had fi nished third Mohanad Ali (28th minute) scored for compared to their third-place fi nish in Tiago Bezerra, who switched to The of elite Qatar Cup and a possible place of times in the second session as well, in the recently-concluded 2019-20 Al Sailiya, while Dame Traore (52nd the 2018-19 season, which was their Peregrines this season from Al Khor. in next year’s AFC Champions League whereas Kayke sent a free-kick over the season, dominated the proceedings minute) was Al Rayyan’s scorer. Pos- best-ever in history. Rayyan were not to be denied as they play-off . Qatar SC had dropped many bar, and Rashidov and Elmehdi Bar- and their players Nam-Tae-Hee, Has- session was even and Al Rayyan would As a result, there are many new faces found the equaliser not long after the points in the fi rst leg of last season, but rahma too could not fi nd the mark with san al-Haydous and Brazilian Guilermo rue the two dropped points in their bid in their squad and the team’s long- resumption. Traore was on target with they more than made up for it with a their attempts. SPOTLIGHT QFA and SC announce new strategic partnership with Concacaf ith just over two years to 21 November 2022. people, in even more countries. Most go until the FIFA World The partnership also includes long- importantly, this partnership will help Cup Qatar 2022, the Qa- term involvement in the region’s ensure a sustainable, lasting tourna- tar Football Association football for development initiatives ment legacy in North America, Central W(QFA) and the Supreme Committee for through the SC’s fl agship human and America and the Caribbean, well after Delivery & Legacy (SC) have formed a social legacy programme, Generation the last ball is kicked in 2022.” new strategic partnership with Con- Amazing, and the Concacaf NextPlay Al-Thawadi added, “From a foot- cacaf, the governing body for football programme. In particular, the partner- balling perspective, it will be great to in North America, Central America and ship will have a signifi cant focus on see Qatar’s national team take on some the Caribbean. community coach development, which of the world’s best when they meet in The partnership will see the QFA the will benefi t thousands of young peo- the 2021 edition of the Gold Cup, ahead SC play an important role in all levels ple across the region, and help ensure of their historic participation on home of football and sport across the Con- a lasting human legacy for the FIFA turf at the FIFA World Cup 2022.” cacaf region and help deliver long-term World Cup 2022. Since 2009, Generation Amaz- football for development programmes “The Concacaf Gold Cup is a pres- ing has used football for development across the region. tigious tournament and we’re thrilled initiatives to address social issues in Firstly, the partnership includes Qa- Qatar has been invited to compete in countries with an identifi ed need, in tar’s participation as a guest nation in the 2021 and 2023 editions,” said QFA line with the United Nations Sustain- the region’s top football competition, President, Sheikh Hamad bin Kha- able Development Goals. Through the the Concacaf Gold Cup, in both 2021 lifa bin Ahmed al-Thani. “Qatar’s par- construction of community football and 2023. The reigning AFC Asian Cup ticipation in the tournament next year pitches, the delivery of comprehensive champions will make their Gold Cup takes place just 17 months before the football for development training and debut in July of next year after their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicks off , Asian Cup champions Qatar have been invited to the Concacaf Gold Cup, becoming the first side from the Middle East to the involvement of young people, the second appearance as a guest nation so it will be a great opportunity to help take part in the tournament.