NBA | Page 5 RUGBY | Page 7 Harden’s 44 Coach Jones points power wants to turn Rockets past England into Indiana Pacers ‘powerhouse’ Sunday, November 17, 2019 CRICKET Rabia I 20, 1441 AH Shami dazzles as GULF TIMES India romp past Bangladesh SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL/OOREDOO CUP SPOTLIGHT Five-star Brahimi Kosovo ready leads Khor rout of to embrace England giants Al Duhail players It was Al Khor’s first win after they had drawn 1-1 with Al Arabi in the opening round Reuters Pristina osovo may have missed an opportu- nity to qualify for Euro 2020 but the country Khopes to win hearts by off ering a warm welcome to England and their visiting fans today The Three Lions, who lead Group A with 18 points and have already sealed qualifi cation, play Kosovo who are third and competing for the fi rst time on Europe’s big stage. England’s Raheem Sterling England will be the most high during training yesterday. profi le national team to visit the landlocked country who only hosts only 12,600 fans but Ko- joined UEFA and FIFA in 2016. sovo’s Football Federation said “English players deserve a there were more than 200,000 magnifi cent welcoming,” said requests to buy tickets which Lulzim Berisha, the head of made the online site crash many Kosovo national team fan club times. Some who were lucky to It was a repeat clash between consolation for Al Khor, who are in the fi rst half and completed Dardanet. “Having the team buy a ticket are now selling on Al Duhail and Al Khor at the struggling in 10th place in the his hat-trick in style as the game where football was born in our the black market for up to 250 same venue in successive weeks, league. was drawing to a close. country is an honour and we are euros ($275.50) for a seat that with the former winning in Week Meanwhile, Kayke Rodriguez Qatar SC goalkeeper Motasem proud.” Following the collapse only cost 10 euros. 10 of the QNB Stars League, struck a brilliant hat-trick as Majed was in outstanding form, of Yugoslavia and Kosovo’s lim- Since 2018, the team under which has taken a long break. Qatar SC blanked Al Gharafa eff ecting at least two smart bo status after the 1998-99 war, Swiss coach Bernard Chal- Al Khor were rewarded for 3-0. saves, as Al Gharafa, who missed young players were not allowed landes have only suff ered two Said Brahimi (front) is congratulated by a teammate after he scored their eff orts with three goals in Kayke scored in the sixth, 38th many players due to national to play in international compe- defeats in 18 internationals, against Al Duhail yesterday. Picture at right shows Qatar Sports the fi rst half and four in the sec- and 90+4 minutes. duty, struggled to fi nd a break- titions until three years ago. one of which was a 2-1 loss to Club’s Kayke Rodriguez (C) celebrating his hat-trick against ond. They got the penalty for Qatar SC moved on to six through. The current squad are mainly Czech Republic last Thursday Al Gharafa. a foul on Ahmed Hassan by Al points with their second victory, Kayke fi rst found the target off the children of migrants who which ended Kosovo’s chances Duhail’s Ahmed al- Khuwalid having defeated Al Sailiya 4-0 in a cross from Hamad Mansour. left their homes in the 1990s to of qualifying from Group A. and the former converted from the fi rst round. His second came after he was set escape poverty and confl ict. They still have a chance to By Sports Reporter 50th, 54th, 61st and 84th min- the spot. Al Gharafa now have two up by Elmehdi Barrahma. “I felt bad when I saw how make it to Euro 2020 through Doha utes while a double from Ahmed On the other hand, Al Duhail, points as they had drawn 2-2 Kayke rounded off his and the (Raheem) Sterling was shouted the Nations League playoff s. Hassan al-Mohannadi (14th, who are leading the 2019-20 with Al Duhail earlier. team’s tally off a counter-attack. in Bulgaria and it reminded me Facing objections from Ser- 32nd, penalty) completed the QNB Stars League table with an Qatar SC were the only team In another match, Al Arabi got how we were not allowed to play bia and Russia, Kosovo has no aid Mohamed Brahimi tally. unbeaten record, could not fi nd to have registered a victory in their fi rst victory in the 2019-20 for almost 30 years,” said Afrim seat at the United Nations but scored fi ve goals as Al It was Al Khor’s fi rst victory in their footing as they were the Group B in the fi rst round, as Al edition of Ooredoo Cup, thanks Islami, 40, who put a big ban- with the backing of the United Khor thrashed giants Al this season’s tournament as they more aff ected side due to the ab- Khor drew 1-1 with Al Arabi. to a 2-1 defeat of Al Sailiya . ner at his shop with a photo of States, Britain, Germany and Duhail 7-0 in the second had drawn 1-1 with Al Arabi in sence of senior players. Yesterday, Qatar SC domi- Both goals for Al Arabi were English forward Sterling saying others it has managed to be a Sround of the Ooredoo Cup at the Round 1. The Knights have four Even the three substitutions nated two-time reigning cham- scored by Hamdi Harbaoui in the “Welcome Bro”. member of all sport federations Al Khor Stadium yesterday. points, while Al Duhail, who had they made in the second half did pions Al Gharafa throughout. 23rd and 41st minutes. Al Sailiya Last month, Bulgaria’s home and events. Britain remains In front of home fans, Brah- drawn 2-2 with Al Gharafa ear- not help their cause either. Brazilian forward Rodriguez was had equalised through Hassan match against England was one of the biggest supporters mi found the target in the 11th, lier, have two points. The result was defi nitely a in fi ne form. He scored two goals Sadiq in the 25th minute. temporarily halted by the ref- of Kosovo’s 2008 independ- eree in the fi rst half following ence. British troops were the racist abuse from the crowd. fi rst to enter war-torn Kosovo in Other banners across the 1999 following a Nato bombing FANS FLOCK TO SEE CLUB WORLD CUP TROPHY AT SOUQ WAQIF capital said “Welcome Broth- campaign against Belgrade po- ers” and “Bros Before Scores”. lice and army forces accused of The Fadil Vokrri stadium committing atrocities. Kuwait to Host 3rd GCC Games in April 2020 Kuwait will host the Third GCC He explained that the tourna- Games in April 2020, President ment will be held from April of Kuwait Olympic Committee 4-14 with the participation of Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Saudi Arabia, the United Arab al-Ahmad al-Sabah announced Emirates, Qatar, Oman and yesterday. Bahrain, in addition to the host The Games will include 12 Kuwait. sports namely football, vol- He also stressed that the leyball, basketball, handball, Kuwait Olympic Committee, swimming and athletics, in in co-operation with Kuwait’s addition to six other games to General Authority for Sports be determined later, Kuwait will do its utmost to deliver Olympic Committee President a tournament of exceptional said in a press statement. standards. (QNA) Al Arabi qualify for Super Globe handball Samchok, South Korea: Al process qualified for the Arabi entered the final of the World Club Championship 22nd Asian Club Handball (Super Globe 2020). Championship, which is cur- Al Arabi will now face Saudi rently being played in South Arabia’s Al Wahda in the final Korea. The Qatari club beat today. Al Wahda entered the Football enthusiasts in their hundreds flocked to Souq Waqif to catch a glimpse of the FIFA Club World Cup trophy displayed there. Fans took pictures of the trophy and soaked in their domestic counterparts final after beating Sharjah the festive atmosphere at the venue. The Club World Cup will be played in Doha in December with the participation of the world’s leading club sides. Al Wakrah 22-19, and in the 30-29. (QNA) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, November 17, 2019 FOOTBALL EURO QUALIFIERS SPOTLIGHT Southgate to bring Sterling back from Italy win 10th England exile match in a row with Bosnia rout SPAIN CLINCH GROUP F IN STYLE BY THRASHING MALTA 7-0 Reuters England manager Gareth Southgate and assistant manager Steve Zenica Holland during training yesterday at St. Albans, Britain. AFP “We will make some changes, taly won 10 internationals Pristina for sure, but the seeding in the in a row for the fi rst time group could be critical and we in their 109-year history know it’s a big night for the Ko- when goals from Francesco areth Southgate is set sovans,” Southgate said. IAcerbi, Lorenzo Insigne and An- to bring Raheem Ster- “It’s a shame for them that drea Belotti gave them a 3-0 vic- ling back from his brief they’re now out of this part tory at Bosnia & Herzegovina in GEngland exile in to- of the qualifi cation, although a lop-sided Euro 2020 qualifi er day’s Euro 2020 qualifi er against they’ve still got the play-off s in on Friday.