SPORT Tuesday 15 May 2018 PAGES | 26 PAGE | 27 Neymar wins Ligue 1 ACL: Unbeaten Player-of-the-Year Al Duhail eye Award Al Ain scalp French giants PSG hire Tuchel as new coach AP I am joining this big club,” of the 2016-17 season. The Thomas is one of the best and most Tuchel said. “I can’t wait to 44-year-old Tuchel led competitive European coaches to have PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain start working with all these Dortmund to the German Cup emerged over the last few seasons: hired former Borussia great players who are all title in 2017 before getting PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi Dortmund coach Thomas among the best in the world.” fired three days later after Tuchel (pictured) yesterday, A strong disciplinarian, he falling out with club officials a day after the outgoing Unai could end up being an over the course of an incon- league’s history, and the and clinical football that has Emery was voted coach of the excellent choice for PSG, a sistent season. German Cup final. always been the foundation year in the French league. club where star players have Tuchel, a former Mainz “Thomas is one of the best of German football, especially Tuchel signed a two-year often enjoyed too many priv- coach who followed in and most competitive on the international scene.” contract with the French ileges in the past. Juergen Klopp’s footsteps by European coaches to have Emery, who was named champion, starting in July. Praised for his attractive taking over in Dortmund in emerged over the last few coach of the year after Financial terms were not style of attacking play and 2015, led the side to second seasons,” PSG President guiding PSG to a domestic disclosed. fine tactics, Tuchel was place in the Bundesliga in his Nasser Al Khelaifi said. “He treble, will be in charge of his “It is with much joy, without a club since he was first season, when Dortmund abides by very strong prin- final French league game this pride and ambition that sacked by Borussia at the end was the best runner-up in the ciples of playing spectacular weekend at Caen. Bounedjah on target as Al Sadd reach AFC Champions League quarter-finals CHINTHANA WASALA Al Ahli received the first yellow card of THE PENINSULA the match following a reckless tackle. Boualem Khoukhi took his chance from DOHA: A superb brace by goal-machine the free kick from 35 yards away, but could Bhagdad Bounedjah (2 and 70) guided missed the target. former champions Al Sadd to a place in Seconds later, Morteza Pouraliganji, the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions assisted by Khoukhi, shot from the right following a fighting 2-2 draw against Saudi side of the box, but the ball slipped past giants Al Ahli in Jeddah yesterday. the goal post. Bounedja’s double sealed a 4-3 In the 39th minute, the home team lev- aggregate win for the Qatari football giants elled on aggregate when Mohannad Aseri who handed Al Ahli their first loss on home shot from the centre of the box to the soil in the AFC Champions League history. bottom right corner. Bounedjah gave them the perfect start In the 56th minute, Afif almost scored at a packed King Abdullah Sports City Al Sadd’s second goal when he shot from Stadium, striking within just two minutes close range but goalkeeper Al Owais was after the kick off. quick to block the shot. Bounedjah received a cross from Seconds later, Xavi shot attempted to Yasser Abou Baker and the Algerian made score from the right side of the box after sure he beat the Al Ahli goalkeeper receiving a through pass from Yasser Abou Mohammed Al Owais to score his eighth Baker, but unfortunately for the Barca goal of the AFC Champions League this legend, Al Ahli’s Aqeel Balghaith managed season, the most by any player so far. to intercept to spoil his effort. Al Ahli did not wait long to find the In the 69th minute, Al Sadd finally got equaliser as Claudemir’s header from the an opportunity to stay ahead in the centre of the box following a set-piece sit- aggregate when a penalty was declared uation sent the ball into the bottom right following a rough tackle on Hamid Ismaeil corner of the net. in the penalty area. Al Sadd had three opportunities within Bounedjah took the kick but ‘keeper a matter of four minutes but neither was Al Owais managed to stop the ball. successful. However, Al Sadd’s Algerian forward was In the 32nd minute, rising star Akram quick to grab the opportunity to flick the Al Sadd’s Xavi Hernandez vies for the ball with Afif fired from the centre of the box after ball into the second on his second attempt. Al Ahli’s Claudemir during their AFC Champions receiving a cross from Barca legend Xavi That also sealed Al Sadd’s 4-3 League Round Of 16 second leg match in Jeddah Hernandez but the shot was saved in the aggregate win and a place in the quarter- yesterday. centre of the goal by Al Owais. finals of Asia’s premier club Two minutes later, Motaz Hawsawi of tournament. Bangalore Ton-up O’Brien saves the day for Ireland crush Punjab by 10 wickets as pacer Amir joins 100-wicket club AP player to score a test century for innings on 64 without loss after SCOREBOARD AP Ireland and he was there at the being asked to follow on and PAKISTAN, 1st Innings 310 for 9 DUBLIN: Ireland has an outside close on 118 not out, with his still needing 116 more runs to IRELAND, 1st Innings 130 INDORE: Royal Challengers chance of winning its inaugural 114-run partnership with Stuart make Pakistan bat again, IRELAND, 2nd Innings Bangalore crushed Kings XI Punjab Cricket test after Kevin O’Brien Thompson (53) for the seventh Ireland slumped to 123-4 by William Porterfield c Ahmed b Amir ................32 by 10 wickets in a must-win Indian led a second-innings recovery wicket proving decisive. Tyrone lunch. When Amir removed Andy Balbirnie lbw b Abbas .................................0 Premier League match yesterday and with an unbeaten century to Kane was with O’Brien on 8 not Gary Wilson (12), caught by Niall O’Brien b Amir ..............................................18 kept its hopes alive for a place in the lead Pakistan by 139 runs on out. Haris Sohail in the slips, and Paul Stirling lbw b Abbas .....................................11 Kevin O’Brien not out ..........................................118 playoffs. Monday heading into the final Mohammed Amir shrugged Paul Stirling (11) was trapped Gary Wilson c Sohail .............................................12 Umesh Yadav's short-pitched day. off a nagging knee problem to lbw by Mohammad Abbas, Stuart Thompson b Khan .....................................53 deliveries got the big wickets of Hours earlier on day four, be the pick of the bowlers, fin- Pakistan was close to clinching Tyrone Kane not out ................................................8 Lokesh Rahul (21) and Chris Gayle (14) the Irish were facing the ishing the day with figures of victory. Extras: (1b, 18lb, 1nb, 4w) ..........................24 TOTAL: (for 7 wickets) .....................319 as Punjab was bowled out for 88 in Ireland’s prospect of an innings defeat 3-57 as he reached 100 test O’Brien’s circumspect Overs: ................................................122 15.1 overs after Bangalore won the Kevin but they lost only three wickets wickets. The left-arm pace- batting - his 118 has come from toss and opted to field. in the final two sessions to reach man’s turbulent test career was 216 balls and contained 12 fours Still to bat: Boyd Rankin, Tim Murtagh O’Brien Captain Virat Kohli (48 not out) stumps on 319-7 following on. interrupted by a jail sentence - has ensured Ireland stay alive Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-69, 3-94, 4-95, 5-127, celebrates 6-157, 7-271 and Parthiv Patel (40 not out) then Even a draw would be a by an English court and a five- at Malahide. after Bowling: Mohammad Amir 25.2-8-57-3, Mo- piloted Bangalore to 92 without loss marvelous achievement for a year ban by the ICC for his Pakistan declared its first reaching hammad Abbas 25-9-54-2, Rahat Ali 23-3-75- in just 8.1 overs. country which was awarded involvement in a spot-fixing innings on 310-9 early on day his century 0, Faheem Ashraf 18-3-51-0, Shadab Khan Kings XI Punjab: 88 test status only last June. scandal in 2010. three. The first day was washed yesterday. 30.4-7-63-1. Royal Challengers Bangalore: 92/0 O’Brien became the first Resuming its second out. 26 SPORT TUESDAY 15 MAY 2018 ‘Mansoor’s services would be remembered forever’ FAWAD HUSSAIN the video message posted on social THE PENINSULA media. “Especially Mansoor’s last penalty DOHA: Former Pakistan captain save against (Dutchman) Jeroen Delmee Shahbaz Ahmed has termed Mansoor in the final was something we cannot Ahmed’s untimely death as a huge loss forget. Mansoor always served Pakistan for field hockey as condolences with his full energy and his services for continued to pour in for the man who the country would be remembered helped Pakistan clinch the 1994 World forever,” he added. Cup in Sydney. “I am heartbroken on his demise The retired goalkeeper, 49, passed like the rest of Pakistan and I pray Allah away in Karachi on Saturday after suf- may his soul rest in peace and his fering for weeks from complications family get the patience to bear this stemming from a pacemaker and stents irreparable loss.” implanted in his heart.