SPORT Friday 7 December 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 President’s Cup: Yasir breaks Preparation record as vital for success, Williamson says Woods century lifts Kiwis Stage set for football festival as teams head to Doha for training, friendlies CHINTHANA WASALA A bird’s-eye view of the 20 and the match will be followed THE PENINSULA Aspire Academy, the Torch by the Yemen – Palestine clash. Doha and the iconic Khalifa Pakistan will take on Iraqi Doha will be playing host to at International Stadium in Doha. Olympic team on December 22. least 15 football teams in the Two days later, Iraq’s first team lead-up to the AFC Asian Cup - will meet their Chinese coun- the region’s premier national terpart. On the same day, Iran team event. and Palestine will also play in a With less than a month to go friendly match. before the start of Asia’s show- On December 25, Pakistan piece football event, Doha will will meet neighbours Afghan- also be abuzz with football istan. Iraq will clash with Pal- activity when Qatar completes estine on December 28 and its international friendly series China will take on Jordan on the against four teams. same day. Yemen meets Afghan- In the coming days, Yemen, istan on the next day. Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Palestine, and Palestine will meet on Iraq, Iran, China, the Philippines December 31, followed by the and Vietnam will use the state- Philippines - Vietnam clash of-the-art facilities at Doha’s which will conclude the inter- Aspire zone and play friendly national friendlies. matches as they prepare for the The presence of all interna- January 5 – February 9 tional teams is due to the bilateral tournament. Finland will also take part in Nations Cup, will also conduct a setting up winter sports camps. opportunity to witness Asian stars agreements between the QFA and Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghan- a training camp here in Doha training camp in Doha. They will The ideal weather, world- in action at Qatari stadiums. regional or Asian football bodies istan and the Iraqi Olympic team making the use of Qatar’s meet the hosts Qatar in a friendly class ports facilities, highest On Sunday, Yemen will take and it has played a huge role in will also use Qatar’s globally favourable weather conditions match as coach Felix Sanchez and standards of hospitality and the on Tajikistan in a friendly lifting Doha’s image as the ‘Sports renowned facilities during the in December and January when his men rev-up their preparations capability to host international encounter at the Qatar Sports Capital’ of the world. same period. they play a friendly match against ahead of the 2019 Asian Cup events make Qatar the perfect Club Stadium. The match will In addition to national teams, In addition to the Asian the Swedish men. campaign. stopover around this time of the kick off at 6.00pm. Doha, which hosts more than 80 giants, the Swedish national Finland have announced that The presence of such a big year. On December 15, Yemen will championships each year, has team, ranked 14th in the FIFA they will use the facilities at the number of international teams is The Qatar Football Associ- meet Pakistan in another friendly. also been a regular stop for some computer, will also be based in Aspire Zone during their prepar- a sign that Doha has already ation (QFA) will host the prepa- The Pakistani national team will of the biggest European clubs Doha from January as they atory camp. become the most favoured des- ration camps and friendly also take on Qatar Military XI on such as Paris Saint-Germain and prepare well for the upcoming Meanwhile, Algeria who are tination for international clubs matches for the visiting teams December 19. Kyrgyzstan and Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga matches. gearing up for the African Cup of and teams for the purpose of while the football fans get the Jordan will meet on December champions. QSL: Al Rayyan hammer Al Kharaitiyat 6-0 THE PENINSULA DOHA Al Ahli win as Al Gharafa woes continue Former champions Al Rayyan yesterday eased past Al Kharaitiyat 6-0 in their QNB Stars League clash THE PENINSULA Muntari found team mate Abdelrehman Just two minutes before the end of at Al Khor Stadium. DOHA Mustafa with a bicycle cross. Mustafa the first half, Al Ahli’s Mohammad Reza An own goal by Al Kharaitiyat’s Ali Fayez charged ahead with the ball but misfired was booked with a yellow for a reckless started the goal processing in the first minute of Al Ahli yesterday delivered a with his left-footed shot that sailed above tackle in his own box. A few seconds the match. Sebastian Soria (24), Lucca Borges (69 commanding performance by crushing the Al Gharafa box with only keeper later, Dutch star Wesley Sneijder found and 84), Rodrigo Tabata (71) and Jonathan Diego former champions Al Gharafa 3-1. Yusuf Ali to beat from close range. Alaeldin with a slick short cross on the Menendez (84) produced classy goals to complete Mohammed Muntari (1), Abdel- Five minutes later, Muntari jumped edge of the Al Ahli box. Alaedlin charged Al Rayyan’s commanding show against a side, now rehman Mustafa (58) and Nigel De Jong high in the air on long cross from the ahead before unleashing a powerful left- coached by Wisam Rizq. (83) scored the goals for Al Ahli who flank but his deflection from inside the footed drive that was palmed away by In a shocking start to proceedings, Al looked the better side throughout the Al Gharafa box sailed above the crossbar Al Ahli keeper Santos. Kharaitiyat conceded an own goal in the very first match. without causing any damage. Mustafa, in the 58th minute, helped minute. Al Rayyan’s Tabata, who picked up a loose For Al Gharafa - who were ham- At the half-hour make, Qatar U-23 Al Ahli take the lead with a left-footed ball inside the Al Kharaitiyat box, shot a cross to mered 8-1 by Al Sadd last week - the player Seraj headed a deflection from drive from inside the Al Gharafa box with fellow striker Soria but the home team’s Fayez goal was scored by Abdul Fateh Seraj inside the Al Ahli box on a long cross but only keeper Ali to beat. It was Mustafa’s deflected the ball into his own net with keeper (37) in the first half at Jassim Bin Thani the ball sailed above the crossbar in what third goal of the season. Ahmed Sofyan in no position to stop the ball. Stadium. Al Gharafa’s first serious attempt at goal. In the 62nd minute, Al Ahli’s Omaid In the 24th minute, Al Rayyan doubled their In just the first minute of the Round A minute later, Saeed Eesa of Al Gharafa Ebrahimi was booked with a yellow card lead through a combined effort of seasoned duo 14 clash, following a loopy Mohsine was booked for nearly taking out Al Ahli’s by referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim who of Tabata and Soria. The Al Rayyan skipper curled Moutaouali cross that landed at his feet, Meshal Abdullah with a rough tackle. also booked the visiting skipper Abdullah in a beautifully taken corner kick. Soria, stationed Muntari outpaced his marker and shot In the 37th minute, Seraj made the a minute later. just a few meters away from Al Kharaitiyat goal- the ball into the net for Al Ahli’s first goal. most of a fumble by keeper Ivan Santos. In the 73rd minute, Al Gharafa’s mouth, back-headed the ball into the net with a The early strike brought a huge smile Stationed just a few feet away from Abdulaziz Hatem was shown the yellow short jump. Al Rayyan skipper Rodrigo Tabata (right) to coach Milan Macala as Qatar national Santos, who failed to pouch a low cross for a rough tackle. team coach Felix Sanchez watched from from the flank, Seraj quickly sent the ball In the 83rd minute, De Jong scored Both teams walked off the Al Khor Stadium celebrates after scoring their fourth goal the stands at Al Gharafa Stadium. into the net with a low right-foot drive. a spectacular long-range goal that com- pitch with Al Rayan leading 2-0 and ahead in ball against Al Kharaitiyat yesterday. possession also (59 percent). Al Rayyan, champions In the 14th minute, goal-scorer It was Seraj’s third goal of the season. pleted an impressive outing for Al Ahli. three seasons ago, were also ahead in corner stats with a 3-1 card in their favour. In the 67th minute, Soria unleashed a powerful drive from long range but Al Kharatiyat keeper Qatar Football Association conducts AFC Pro-Diploma Coaching Course Sofyan dived to his right to palm the ball away. The participants of the Three minutes later, Al Rayyan went 3-0. Lucca AFC Pro-Diploma headed home from an acute angle on a loopy cross Coaching Course, that came his way. The Al Rayyan celebrations had conducted by Qatar barely died down in the stands when the boys in Football Association red jumped to a 4-0 cushion after a powerful drive (QFA), pose for a home by Tabata on a cross from Soria in the 71st photograph with QFA minute. It was Tabata’s fifth goal of the season. and AFC officials at Two minutes later Soria was benched and replaced the conclusion of the by Jonathan Menendez. programme in Doha. In the 84th minute, Lucca drilled a low The Pro-Diploma deflection from close range on a cross from Menendez who also netted a goal just a minute Course is conducted later following a cross from Khalfan Ibrahim.