Battling Murray bows out of Australian Open PAGE 18 TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019 Paceman Olivier sparks collapse as SA make ASIAN CUP 2019 PAGE 19 a clean sweep against Pakistan AUSTRALIA VS SYRIA Palestine coach eyeing ‘historic’ Upbeat AFC Player progress of the Year Abdelkarim Qatar ready Hassan during DPA Qatar’s Asian ABU DHABI Cup 2019 preliminary PALESTINE coach Noured- match against for tougher dine Ould Ali aims to make North Korea history in the United Arab in Al Ain. Emirates on Tuesday by lead- ing his side into the last 16 of the Asian Cup with victory over Jordan. tests We will take it game by game: Abdelkarim Hassan AFC Finals, but with Saudi Arabia shown glimpses of their po- recovered and regaining the AL AIN up next and then the Round tential so far at the AFC Asian form that saw him named AFC of 16, Hassan knows the chal- Cup, with an impressive final Player of the Year for 2018. REIGNING AFC Player of lenges ahead will be signifi- 30 minutes against Lebanon Having impressed last the Year Abdelkarim Has- cantly greater. followed by a confident per- year in the AFC Champions san is not expecting another “The good thing was that formance against DPR Korea. League with Al Sadd, he is Focused on win easy ride at the AFC Asian we finished the game early,” Hassan, though, is quick now setting his sights on a Our objective is (simply) Cup 2019 after helping Qatar said Hassan. to dispel any suggestions that move to Europe and hop- to win the game, qualify brush aside DPR Korea in Al “We were comfortable in the Qataris are now among ing his performances at UAE Ain on Sunday to move into the second half and scored the favourites to win the title. 2019 will help him as he seeks for the knock-out phase Palestine supporters cheer ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group B pole position in Group E. some more and we are “We’re building a new to chase his dreams. and make the Palestinian match between Palestine and Australia in Dubai last Friday. (AFP) Hassan started the game through to the second round. team and there are a lot of “It’s a good thing for me, people happy. We will be after only featuring for the “DPR Korea gave up to- younger players,” he said. just to help me work and keep playing against Jordan confirmed as group winners. which would be very historic. final 30 minutes of Qatar’s day and it was easy for us, “We cannot say we are pushing,” he said of winning as if it is a final. “Our objective is (simply) Palestine were humbled 3-0 opening win against Lebanon but the second round won’t coming here to be champions, the award. “It’s good to have to win the game, qualify for by reigning champions Austral- and was among the scorers as be easy. There are no weak we have to go game by game. an individual trophy, but I Palestine coach the knock-out phase and make ia but a previous goalless draw Felix Sanchez’s side notched teams there, all will be strong That’s what we’re doing and have to forget it and push and Noureddine Ould Ali the Palestinian people happy,” with Syria, their first-ever point up a comfortable 6-0 victory and tough games. We’re con- in the next game against Sau- keep going forward. Ould Ali told reporters. in the competition, keeps them over the east Asians. fident, we have qualified. di it will be the same. We will “I’m looking to achieve “We will be playing against in contention. Almoez Ali netted a re- If we had drawn today we go game by game.” more, to go further than I Though bottom of Group Jordan as if it is a final. Jordan are without sus- cord equalling four times would face problems but be- Hassan was left out of the am now. I’m looking to be in B on goal difference, Palestine “We spoke to the players pended forward Mousa Sulei- while Boualem Khoukhi was cause we won our confidence starting line-up for Qatar’s an European team, that’s a are guaranteed to reach the after the game against Austral- man and Palestine midfielder also on the scoresheet as Qa- has gone up and there’s less game against Lebanon due to dream for me and I have to knock-out phase – finishing ia, and they are now ready and Jonathan Zorrilla is also out tar recorded their biggest-ev- pressure on us.” a lingering knee injury, but push at this tournament. We either second or third – if they willing to sacrifice everything though defender Mohammed er win at the AFC Asian Cup Sanchez’s team have the 25-year-old is now fully will see, I have to work hard.” defeat Jordan, who are already in order to qualify - something Saleh can return from a ban. Syria blame axed Stange for woes Despair for India as late penalty dumps them out AFP ex-Syria international Ibrahim AFP After the Constantine as the game wore on and sur- AL AIN on an interim basis. SHARJAH defeat, India’s prowled the vived a scare when substitute “I know the players and English coach touchline in Mohamed Jasim Marhoon’s SYRIA’S Ahmad al Saleh they have known me for a long INDIA suffered late heart- Stephen Con- dark suit and header rattled the post after 71 blamed axed coach Bernd time,” said Ibrahim. “We know break on Monday after an stantine an- sunglasses minutes. Stange “100 percent” on Mon- each other very well. It was no injury-time penalty saw the nounced he barking in- India were clinging on for day for their problems at the more than shaking hands and cricket-mad nation lose 1-0 would step Heartbreak structions to dear life by the end, at one Asian Cup as the war-torn na- starting the training session.” to Bahrain and be denied a down after India were moments away his players. point packing all 11 players on tion plot a great escape against When the two teams last historic spot in the Asian Cup completing his from reaching the knockout India were their own goal line to defend holders Australia. met in the World Cup playoffs knockout stages. second spell in phase for the first time before indebted to an indirect free kick. Saleh pointed the fin- in 2017, Syria gave Australia Meanwhile hosts and In- charge. Jamal Rashed scored a centre-back Veteran striker Sunil ger squarely at the German, an almighty fright when they dia’s Group A rivals United India Sandesh Jh- Chhetri, who overtook Lionel who was unceremoniously needed an extra-time winner Arab Emirates cemented stunned Thai- dramatic penalty to cruelly ingan, who Messi in international goals sacked after a draw and a loss Syria coach Bernd Stange. from Tim Cahill to edge it 3-2 their place as group winners land 4-1 in shattered their dreams and was being during the win over Thailand, in Group B left the Syrians over two legs. after a 1-1 draw with Thailand their opening sneak Bahrain through. compared flew out to get the crucial in the position of win or bust coach Fajr Ibrahim) arrived at With thousands of Syrian in Al Ain that also saw the game for their on Twitter to block. on Tuesday. the pitch, we knew his tactics fans expected, Ibrahim said he Thais progress. first Asian Cup win in more Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk by Just as it looked like India “I would blame the pre- and his plans. We all like him was sniffing an upset, pointing India were moments away than 50 years but a 2-0 defeat their legions of fans watching would hold on for a famous vious coach 100 percent. He and we all wanted him as head out Brazil’s seismic 7-1 defeat from reaching the knockout by UAE made for a nervous on TV back home. point, Pronay Halder com- didn’t have the right plans for coach.” to Germany in the 2014 World phase for the first time before encounter in Sharjah. The giant, bushy-bearded mitted a rash foul and Rashed us, and you can see the result,” The much-travelled Cup semi-finals on home soil. Jamal Rashed scored a dra- Television showed cut- defender was immense, put- stepped up to smash the ball the bearded centre back told Stange, 70, was dumped after “We respect Australia, they matic penalty to cruelly shat- aways of India’s substi- ting out fires all game to keep down the middle to knock India reporters in Al Ain. Syria’s derby defeat to neigh- are one of the favourites to win tered their dreams and sneak tutes biting their fingernails India’s clean sheet intact. But down to the bottom of the group “As soon as Fajr (interim bours Jordan and replaced by the title,” Saleh said. Bahrain through. throughout the match, while the Blue Tigers began to creak and out of the tournament. Qatar suffer Hungary reversal at handbdall Worlds TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK margin (14-21) to come within Egypt against Angola. Both DOHA three goals of the 1996 sil- are bottom-placed teams and ver medallists. Rafael Capote have lost both their matches QATAR’S charge at the 26th fuelled their drive with three so far. IHF Men’s World Handball of his four goals with over 18 For Hungary, player of Championship ran into a mintues to go.