Bayern Munich set up super-club showdown with PSG pagE 12 FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 Al Duhail, Rayyan to battle for Falcon Shield in thrilling finale AYENI OLUSEGUN DOHA ‘Our destiny is in our hands’ THE battle for the Falcon Shield will be decided on Fri- day as the 2019-20 QNB Stars League comes to an end de- spite a forced shut down for four months due to the ongo- ing coronavirus pandemic. Leaders Al Duhail on 49 points faces Al Ahli at the Al Janoub Stadium while second- placed Al Rayyan, one point behind take on Al Wakrah at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadi- “Our destiny is in our hands, win over Al Ahli will give us the title,” stressed um. Both matches will kick off Al Duhail coach Walid Regragui at the pre-match conference on Thursday. at 7:30 pm, respectively. Al Duhail could have sealed the title last weekend ‘We’ll do our best to win title’ but a defeat at rivals Al Sadd two weeks ago gave Al Rayyan a chance to close the gap to one point much to the displeasure of Walid Regragui. The Red Knights have en- dured a below-par season after losing the Qatar Cup final to Al Sadd, which marked the end of Rui Faria’s reign at the club. However, with Regragui Al Duhail players warm up for training on eve of their final QNB Stars League clash against Al Ahli on Thursday. at the helm, Duhail have been solid defensively but have struggled in most matches to find the attacking spark, which was a vital part of their We need to focus on our game and not on Al Duhail because if we do success under former man- not win, we don’t have a chance.” said Al Rayyan coach Diego ager Djamel Belmadi. Aguirre of his team at the media conference on Thursday. “We are ready to face Al Ahli, win the match and fin- QNB Stars League Standings ish the league. We knew that we had five decisive matches Pos Club M W L D GF GA GD Pts when the league restarted, and 1 Al Duhail 21 15 2 4 37 16 21 49 we would have liked to win 2 Al Rayyan 21 14 1 6 38 15 23 48 the title early. Now, we have 3 Al Sadd 22 14 5 3 51 29 22 45 a match to win, and we know 4 Al Gharafa 22 10 6 6 34 29 5 36 that Al Rayyan would be chas- 5 Al Sailiya 22 8 9 5 22 25 -3 29 ing us, but we will win and cel- 6 Al Wakrah 21 7 8 6 28 29 -1 27 ebrate the title,” Regragui said ahead of the match. 7 Al Arabi 21 6 8 7 28 28 0 25 Blighted by injuries all 8 Al Ahli 21 5 11 5 24 35 -11 20 year, the six-time QSL cham- 9 Qatar SC 21 4 10 7 18 26 -8 19 pions will hope to have Yousef 10 Umm Salal 22 3 10 9 18 37 -19 18 Msekni, Assim Madibo and 11 Al Khor 22 3 11 8 25 35 -10 17 Bassam al Rawi for the AFC 12 Al Shahania 22 2 10 10 24 43 -19 16 Champions as the trio will miss Friday’s match. But Regragui any excuse not to win. We need three games, which is normal insists their destiny is in their to play our game. Leave every- because we needed to under- hands, especially against an Al Al Rayyan players ahead of their crucial QNB Stars League final round clash against Al Wakrah on Thursday. thing in the field and do every- stand the players and them the Ahli team who have not won in thing to win. It’s football we can tactics. The season was good, the league since January. and we have to win this match for me is the recovery of in- Rayyan will not be bothered by “We are ready to play and still win the league; you never and we can also improve, but “We did not feel pressure and clinch the title. jured players because we need Al Duhail’s match and will be will do our best to win our know until the referee ends the I’m happy with the season.” in previous matches, mainly “We will miss Msakni, them to prepare for the AFC strictly focused on getting the game. We can do what we have game,” the Uruguayan said. In the early kick-off on Fri- because our destiny is still in Madibo, and Bassam, but Champions League. Fortu- job done against an excellent to do. We need to focus on our On the club’s season so day, seventh-placed Al Arabi our hands, and victory will win Ahmed Yasser has returned nately, Al Duhail have many Al Wakrah side. A win for the game and not on Al Duhail be- far, Aguirre added, “I think will hope to end the season on a us the league. If there is pres- to training. options,” the Moroccan added. Lions will see them crowned cause if we don’t win, we don’t we have had a good season so high and snap a four-game win- sure, it will be positive. We “The season was long and Meanwhile, Diego Aguirre champions if Al Duhail fail to have a chance. We have pre- far. We had a lot of new play- less streak when they battle Qa- have confidence in ourselves, difficult. The important thing says eight-time champions Al win against Al Ahli. pared well, and we don’t have ers. When we started, we drew tar SC at the Al Janoub Stadium. Al Shahania relegated as Al Khor book playoff spot after 2-2 draw of the season as Al Sadd and Al the 78th minute, while coach Umm Salal hold Al Sailiya to goalless draw Gharafa played out a 1-1 draw Slavisa Jokanovic was also to keep QSL status; Afif salvages point at the Al Janoub Stadium. shown a red card. Al Sadd went out of the Three minutes later, Al for Al Sadd against Al Gharafa reckoning for the title after Sadd appealed for a penalty Week 21, as strong contend- when Othman Al Yahri seemed TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK their promotion to the top ers Al Duhail and Al Rayyan to have fouled Akram inside DOHA flight in the 2018-19 season. both did not drop points. The the box, but it was ruled out. Nabil’s wards raised vi- Wolves could not catch up Salah Zakaria, who had a AL Shahaniya club have been sions of a much-needed vic- with the top two and had to be good outing, thwarted Bagh- officially relegated to the sec- tory when they took the lead content with the third position dad Bounedjah and Hassan Al ond division league. Al Khor as early as the fourth minute. this season. Haydous in the 84th minute. will play the relegation play- Al Khor’s Mohammed Juma In a barren first half, Al Soon, Al Sadd earned a off match with the second- fouled Rezaein and the latter Sadd’s Yousef Abdulrazak penalty, with the script getting division runners-up after both himself converted from the and Akram each were twice repeated. The offender was teams played out a thrilling penalty spot. thwarted by Al Gharafa goal- Othman and defender Akram, 2-2 draw at the Al Janoub Sta- Al Shahania’s Kesse keeper Salah Zakaria. but the latter sent his shot dium on Thursday. Amanguoa had a goal ruled At the other end, Sofiane against the left upright. Umm Salal also secured offside after 30 minutes and Hanni was the livewire for Al Sadd were not to be de- their place in the QSL after Al Khor drew level in first-half Al Gharafa as he combined nied as they were rewarded holding Al Sailiya to a goal- injury time as Tiago headed in well with Jonathan Kodjia, with another penalty, this less draw. a Lucca free-kick from the left. whose long shot was blocked time Sofiane ‘handling’ a Jung Al Shahaniya finished with In the second half, Dary- Al Sailiya and Umm Salal were locked in a goalless draw in the final round (Week 22) of 2019-20 season by Al Sadd goalkeeper Me- Woo-Young chip shot. Akram 16 points while Al Khor ended oush thwarted Ahmed Ham- of QNB Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium on Thursday. shaal Barsham. converted from the spot to with 17 points. moudan after Lucca made it Al Gharafa surged ahead help his team draw level. Al Shahania, who were 2-1 with a powerful long-range gainers as they ensured a 10th- ing shot hit goalkeeper Baba his header going over the bar. after the hour mark when unbeaten in the first three shot. Rezaein found the target place finish, ahead of Al Khor Malick’s hand and crossbar For Al Sailiya, substitute Ahmed Alaaeldin found the Results: Al Sadd 1 (Akram Afif games since the tourna- for a second time with a plac- and Al Shahania. Chances before sailing over, while Mashaal Al Shammari’s head- target, with Sofiane doing 90+1’) Al Gharafa 1 (Ahmed ment resumed after a long ing shot past the goalkeeper, were more or less equal for goalkeeper Amine Lecomte er off a corner kick crashed the spadework and Saeed Alaaeldin 65’); Al Khor 2 (Tiago break, have been doing well as the teams shared the spoils.