SPORT Wednesday 16 November 2016 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 31 ClippersC crush Qatar shooters nenetst for seventh bag two medals att victory CISM event LA Galaxy confirm Al Sheeb to the rescue as Gerrard's departure Los Angeles Qatar hold China in Kunming AFP ormer England mid- A goalless draw fielder Steven Gerrard Fhas left Major League Qatar's goalkeeper Soccer side LA Galaxy, the Saad Al Sheeb club confirmed yesterday, but produced a well-timed he indicated that he is not yet save in the second half ready to retire from playing. "The LA Galaxy as 'Al Anabi' share announced today that mid- points fielder Steven Gerrard will not return to the club for the It was Marcello Lippi's 2017 MLS season," read a first game in charge of statement issued by the the Chinese team who Galaxy. were playing at home "Gerrard departs from LA following the conclusion of his contract in Major League Soccer at the end of the year." Kunming The 36-year-old had Reuters joined the Galaxy in July 2015 following his departure from arcello Lippi's first game as Liverpool, where he starred China coach ended in a 0-0 for 17 years. draw with Qatar in a World Having previously been Cup qualifier in Kunming tipped to see out his playing yesterday, seriously dam- Cao Yunding of China (right) competes for the ball with days in the United States, he Maging both team's hopes of reaching the Mohamed Musa of Qatar during their 2018 FIFA World Cup suggested that he will now finals in Russia. qualifying match in Kunming, in China's Yunnan province, move on to another club China prop up Group A midway yesterday. The match ended goalless. BELOW: Qatar's before hanging up his boots. through qualification with two points from Sebastian Soria chases China's Mei Fang. "When I left Liverpool, I five games while Qatar, the 2022 World came to Los Angeles with the Cup hosts, are second-bottom of the goal of helping the Galaxy lift standings on four points. another MLS Cup," said Ger- The top two sides in Group A and B rard, who was eliminated in qualify automatically for the 2018 World the Western Conference Cup finals and the third-placed teams impact when he dribbled past several semi-finals with Galaxy by meet to decide who goes into a CON- Qatari defenders before shooting into the Colorado Rapids earlier this CACAF-Asian Zone playoff for a place at side netting to leave China still looking month. the finals. for their first win in the group. "I am of course disap- Italian Lippi, a World Cup winner who Qatar coach Jorge Fossati, who took pointed to have not achieved replaced Gao Hongbo last month, saw his charge in September, said he was satis- that objective, but I can look side dominate possession but they failed fied with a hard-fought away point and back at my time at the club to find a way past a determined Qatari backed Lippi to turn China's fortunes with pride at what we accom- defence. around before the teams meet again in plished, including two straight "We played better than Qatar but just their final qualifying game in September playoff appearances and lacked a bit luck," Lippi told a news con- next year. countless memorable ference. "We deserved to win. We still "We had a very tough first half and moments on the pitch." have the chance and we'll fight to the end." China gave us much pressure. We He added: "I am now Goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb came to improved on possession and attacking in looking forward to spending Qatar's rescue in the second half when he the second but one point is acceptable," time with my family as I con- pulled off a brilliant reflex save to tip Wu the Uruguayan added. sider the next stage of my Xi's goalbound diving header on to the "If China continue to play like this, career." crossbar. they can even qualify directly. But China Gerrard scored five goals The woodwork again denied China will play at Qatar for the final match, so in 34 appearances for the 10 minutes from the final whistle when sorry, they won't have chance." Galaxy. captain Zheng Zhi's shot deflected of a China host second-placed South While he will continue to Qatar defender before striking the post. Korea in the next round of fixtures in work as a television pundit Substitute Cao Yunding, on his debut March, while Qatar play group leaders for BT Sport in the United for China, almost made an immediate Iran. Kingdom, his comments will be of interest to numerous potential suitors, including Scottish champions Celtic. Managed by Gerrard's former boss at Anfield Brendan Rodgers, they have Lippi reality check, Aussies held been installed as the favour- ites with bookmakers at odds of 2/1 to be his next port of Kunming Arabia, while South Korea said Aston Villa's Jedinak. "We side improved to 10 points from call. AFP needed Koo Ja-Cheol's late win- have to move forward, we need five games, with five Speaking to Galaxy TV, he ner to overcome Uzbekistan 2-1. to assess what's gone wrong here remaining. added: "Although I'm going arcello Lippi's (pictured) Lippi arrived in China with and try to rectify it quickly." "We have had to stay strong back to England to live, it's dreams of taking China great fanfare -- and reportedly, Goals from Hiroshi Kiyotake to come back from some diffi- certainly not the end of me in Mto the next World Cup a huge pay cheque -- but he was and Genki Haraguchi put Japan cult situations and no doubt football terms. I've got a lot of received a reality check yester- unable to start with a win which back on track as they beat Saudi there will be more to overcome things to consider over the day, while Asian champions would have lifted them off the Arabia 2-1 in Saitama to go level before we get to Russia." coming weeks and months, Australia were made to sweat in bottom of Group A. on points with the visitors at the South Korea gave their coach and I'm sure I'll be back a near-nightmare in Bangkok. The Italian admits ambitious top of Group B. Uli Stielike a 62nd birthday to involved in the game. China's 0-0 draw with Qatar China need a "miracle" to reach Kiyotake's penalty on the remember but there were some "I've got options on the did nothing to boost their dwin- Russia, which would be only stroke of half-time was hotly dis- nervy moments after pitch, off the pitch. dling hopes of reaching Russia their second World Cup after puted by the Saudis and scuffles Uzbekistan's Marat Bikmaev "I've got a lot of thinking 2018, even after World Cup-win- their sole appearance ended broke out between the players opened the scoring on 25 to do over the next two or ning coach Lippi was appointed pointless and goalless in 2002. scored his second penalty of the as they disappeared down the minutes. three weeks. last month. China enjoyed more chances night on 65 minutes. tunnel. Nam Tae-Hee equalised after "I'm not ready to make a Mile Jedinak scored twice but they were unable to find the The draw demoted Australia "Credit to the players for half-time before Koo rifled the decision or finalise anything from the spot as Australia came breakthrough against 2022 from second to provisional third beating a good Saudi team," said winner on 85 minutes, ensuring that I'm going to be doing from behind to draw 2-2 with World Cup hosts Qatar, who in their group, a point behind Halilhodzic, whose future has Stielike's men leapfrog the moving forward. Thailand, dropping out of Group remain second from bottom and Saudi Arabia and Japan, with been plunged into doubt after a Uzbeks into second place in "What I will say is that I'm B's automatic qualifying places also unlikely to qualify for 2018. only the top two winning auto- poor run of form during the Group A. going home to spend some as a result. In Bangkok, Teerasil Dang- matic qualification for Russia. "I qualifying campaign. Iran were held 0-0 by Syria time with my family and basi- Elsewhere Japan eased the da's double left Australia on the think to come away with less "This is a big victory for us in Malaysia but they remain top cally go over my options and pressure on coach Vahid Halil- brink of a shock defeat, before than three points here is a real but it was a deserved one," added of the group, one point ahead of decide which is the best next hodzic with a 2-1 win over Saudi Socceroos captain Jedinak shame, a big disappointment," the Franco-Bosnian, after his South Korea. challenge for me." SPORT 16 NOVEMBER 2016 WEDNESDAY 27 Leonard pushes Spurs to win over struggling Heat Clippers crush Nets Los Angeles NBA AFP The Spurs have for seventh victory awhi Leonard finished struggled at the with 24 points and 12 AT&T Center this Krebounds as the San year, losing their first Los Angeles NBA Antonio Spurs won their sec- three home games in AFP MONDAY RESULTS ond straight game at home with November. a 94-90 victory over the Miami he Los Angeles Clip- Indiana 88 - 69 Orlando Heat on Monday.