Sport SUNDAY 21 MARCH 2021 DjokovicD pulls out of Miami Open, citingc virus restrictions I decided to use this precious time at home to stay with my family.f With all restrictions, I need to find balance in my time ono tour and at home. World Number 1 Novak Djokovic Sport | 15 MOTO2 - OFFICIAL PRE-SEASON TEST Top 3 riders: 1 - Xavi Vierge 1:58.832, 2 - Aron Canet 1:58.858 + 0.026, 3 - Jorge Navarro + 0.056 European qualifiers: Team Qatar begins training in Hungary Qatar national team players taking part in their first practice session in Hungary ahead of their opening match of the European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 yesterday. The Felix Sanchez-coached Asian champions arrived at the Debrecen International Airport in Debrecen, Hungary on Friday night. Qatar, the hosts of the global football spectacle next year, have already qualified for the tournament, but Al Annabi are taking part in the European stage with the hope of getting match practice in the lead up to the event. At the European qualifiers, Qatar will play in Group A – alongside UEFA Euro 2016 winners Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, and Azerbaijan. Qatar take on Luxembourg in their first match on Wednesday. Lewandowski hits Dominant Al Wakrah storm into treble as 10-man final with 3-0 rout of Al Sailiya Bayern run riot REUTERS – MUNICH THE PENINSULA – DOHA German champions and leaders Bayern Munich retained their four-point cushion at the top of Al Wakrah stormed to the the Bundesliga with a 4-0 home rout of VfB final of the 2020-21 Ooredoo Stuttgart yesterday with Robert Lewandowski Cup with a 3-0 win over Al netting a hat-trick after they had Alphonso Sailiya at Al Sadd Stadium Davies sent off early on. yesterday. Canadian left back Davies was shown a Omar Ali (26th minute) straight red card in the 12th minute for a studs- gave Al Wakrah lead, with up challenge on Wataru Endo but his dismissal Mohamed Benyettou (41st only galvanised Bayern with Lewandowski minute) doubling the firing them ahead five minutes later. advantage with a spot kick Serge Gnabry made it 2-0 in the 22nd after in the first half. Omar Ali a sweeping move involving Thomas Mueller (82nd minute) scored again and Leroy Sane. Lewandowski added the third in the second half to com- less than 60 seconds later when he rose to head plete a dominant victory. home a Mueller cross from the right. Al Wakrah will play the The Poland striker added some gloss in the final against the winners of 39th with a clinical left-footed finish from inside second semifinal, which will the penalty area as he pounced on sloppy be played between Al defending by Stuttgart after Sane’s jinking run Gharafa and Al Rayyan at the Al Wakrah players celebrate after Mohamed Benyettou scored their second goal against Al Sailiya yesterday. down the right flank. Bayern took their feet off the same venue today. The kick- pedal in the second half but despite their numerical off is at 17:00. disadvantage, they still dominated as Lewand- The first semi-final got off Al Wakrah finally took penalty kick, putting the ball owski and Gnabry missed chances to give them to a fast pace as Al Wakrah the lead following an attack in with a right-footed kick in an even bigger win against the hapless visitors. looked for gaps to launch from the right flank. Murad the left corner, leaving no attacks, putting pressure on Naji produced a brilliant chance for a diving Amine as Al Sailiya right from the kick- display, crossing the ball Al Wakrah went into the Benzema brace powers off. The Peregrines, on the towards Omar Ali, who just break with a 2-0 lead. other hand, were giving away had to chip the ball in from a Al Sailiya, who took just Real to 3-1 win at Celta the ball cheaply with miscued close range in an open goal. two shots on target as com- passes. But VAR confirmed the pared to Al Wakrah’s five in AP – BARCELONA Omar Ali took first shot player was onside. the first half, returned as a on target in the 13th minute After Al Khater made a better side as they looked to Karim Benzema netted twice to extend his deflecting a hit from captain diving save from Mohanad bounce back in the match. scoring streak as Real Madrid moved second in Isaias Sanchez, but Al Sailiya Ali’s strike 10 minutes before Tiago Bezerra led a few the Spanish league with a 3-1 win over Celta keeper Claude Amine was in half-time, Al Wakrah attacks by the Peregrines Vigo yesterday. the right place to block the doubled their lead, with soon after the start of final Toni Kroos set up Benzema for both his early attempt. Mustafa winning a session, but Al Wakrah were goals at Balaídos Stadium. Kroos slipped a short Mohanad Ali got an spot-kick. doing well with counter- pass through two defenders to leave Benzema opportunity to open account Moustafa made a fab- attacks to maintain their lead. alone to beat goalkeeper Iván Villar in the 20th. Al Wakrah's Brazilian for Al Sailiya, but his hit from ulous run towards the area In an Al Sailiya attack in The Germany midfielder gave his French striker defender Lucas Mendes the edge of the box was too and successfully dodged the the 57th minute, Ramin a second opportunity on the half-hour mark weak for keeper Saoud Al goalkeeper and when he was Rezaein’s hit went wide and controls the ball. when he stole the ball from Renato Tapia near Khater, who caught the ball about to unleash a shot on soon after that Al Khater Celta’s goal. comfortably. goal, Serigne Mbodji denied made a diving save from In the 69th minute, Rami slowed down the pace of the Celta improved after its shaky start. Striker The Blue Wave looked a him the opportunity by com- Tiago’s attempt. Fayez received a yellow card match and Al Wakrah took Santi Mina pulled one back with a header five better side and Abdulrahman mitting a foul. Referee After the hour-mark, Al for a dangerous tackle the scoreline beyond Al minutes before halftime. Iago Aspas drew a save Mustafa’s superb attempt Mohammed Ahmed Al Sherif Sailiya increased their attacks, against Abdulghani Muneer. Sailiya’s reach, with Beny- from Thibaut Courtois in the 62nd and the from an acute angle was had no hesitation in pointing but they were off target each Omar Ali was also cautioned ettou setting up Omar Ali for striker’s free kick hit the post with eight minutes punched away well by to the spot. time they took aim towards for a foul near the box, four his second goal, which was to play. Benzema crossed for Marco Asensio to Amine. Benyettou took the the goal. minutes later. The stoppages similar to his first one. complete the win on the last kick of the match. No international spectators to be allowed for Tokyo Olympics REUTERS – TOKYO pandemic. While the outbreak has He said costs for wave of the pandemic. will decide next month on caps for chilled public opinion toward the hotel cancellations A stripped-down spectators in venues. International spectators will not be event, both organisers and Prime Min- would not be covered. Games means the gov- “It’s very unfortunate,” Tokyo Gov- allowed to enter Japan for this ister Yoshihide Suga have vowed to Organisers may also ernment will not get the ernor Yuriko Koike said of the decision summer’s Olympic Games amid public press ahead with the Games. consider cutting the tourism boom it had on international spectators, speaking concerns over coronavirus, organisers The decision on international spec- number of stafff long counted on. Japan to reporters after the meeting. said yesterday, setting the stage for a tators will “ensure safe and secure members who will par- has grown increasingly But she added that the conclusion drastically scaled-back event. Games for all participants and the Jap- ticipate in the Games. reliant on foreign was “unavoidable” given that the main Some 600,000 Olympic tickets anese public,” Tokyo 2020 organisers The Games are tourists, particularly priority for holding a successful Games purchased by overseas residents will said in a statement following five-way scheduled for July 23 to from Asia, to bolster its would be the health of the athletes and be refunded, as will another 300,000 talks that included the head of the Aug. 8, and the Paral- weak domestic the Japanese public. Paralympic tickets, Toshiro Muto, the International Olympic Committee, ympics from Aug. 24 to economy. Kyodo news service earlier chief executive of the Tokyo 2020 Thomas Bach, and the Tokyo Sept. 5. Like other countries, reported that organisers were leaning organising committee told a news governor. Media polls have it has seen tourism towards barring overseas volunteers conference. “People who are involved in the shown that a majority off unravel with the pan- from helping at the Games. He declined to say how much the Olympics in some way may be allowed the Japanese public are wary about demic and its hotels and restaurants Sources told Reuters earlier this refunds would cost. to enter the country, whereas regular letting in international spectators to have been hit hard. month that the Japanese government The Olympic Games were post- visitors will not be able to,” Tokyo watch the Games as the country Saturday’s decision did not cover had concluded it will not be able to poned last year due to the COVID-19 2020’s Muto said.