SPORT Wednesday 12 December 2018 PAGE | 09 PAGE | 10 Stars Wade, James Doha ready for new embrace final chance season’s first ATP to compete on court World Tour event Champions League: Schalke snatch victory over Lokomotiv Moscow Porto stay unbeaten with Galatasaray win AP Schalke’s ISTANBUL Alessandro Schoepf FC Porto finished the Champions celebrates League group phase with an after scoring Galatasaray still unbeaten record after earning a a goal against secured a third-place 3-2 victory at Galatasaray Lokomotiv finish and a Europa yesterday. Moscow League berth after Porto entered the match in during their Istanbul having already clinched Group D last-place Lokomotiv first place in Group D, and will match in Moscow lost 1-0 at advance to the round-of-16 on a Gelsenkirchen, Schalke. run of five consecutive Germany, victories. yesterday. The Portuguese leaders got Schalke was already assured Galatasaray’s goals from Felipe and Moussa of second place in the group and Sofiane Feghouli Marega before halftime, with was hoping to restore some lost Sergio Oliveira adding another (left) in action pride after its Ruhr derby loss to goal in the second half. with FC Porto’s Borussia Dortmund in the Bun- Even so, they needed Hector Herrera desliga on Saturday. Galatasaray forward Sofiane during their Moscow came closest to Feghouli to miss a penalty to Champions League scoring at the end of a lackluster secure the win. Galatasaray still match in Istanbul, first half, with captain Igor secured a third-place finish and yesterday. Denisov shooting over after a Europa League berth after last- Dmitri Barinov cut the ball back. place Lokomotiv Moscow lost 1-0 advantage in the 42nd after time when Felipe fouled Garry a pass by Feghouli. Instead, Porto Lokomotiv Moscow, yesterday, Schoepf’s goal came after a at Schalke, which had already Galatasaray defender Mariano Rodrigues as he made a move on got its third goal in the 57th. denying the Russian side a place period of pressure for the home locked up second place and a spot tripped Hernani as he dribbled the left side of the box. That Danilo recovered the ball inside in the Europa League. side. in the knockout rounds. past him inside the area. allowed Feghouli, the only other Galatasaray’s half, and sent it Moscow needed a win to Schalke finished on 11 points, After fending off the hosts’ Marega drilled the spot kick Galatasaray player to offer any- forward for Hernani to reach the finish third in Group D for a place five behind Porto. initial push, Porto went ahead in in as goalkeeper Fernando thing in attack, to step up and slot end line before finding Sergio in Europe’s second competition, Former Schalke captain Ben- the 17th minute when center back Muslera dove the wrong way for the penalty kick into the corner Oliveira to score from close but it finished last with three edikt Hoewedes and winger Jef- Felipe got away from his marker the striker’s sixth goal in the of Iker Casillas’ net. range. points, one behind Galatasaray, ferson Farfan, who now play for and jumped to powerfully head Champions League this season. Seconds after halftime, sub- Meanwhile, Alessandro which secured third despite Moscow, were honoured on their home a curling free kick by Alex The hosts were able to pull stitute Henry Onyekuru missed Schoepf scored in injury time to losing 3-2 at home to group return to Gelsenkirchen ahead of Telles. Porto doubled the one back in first-half stoppage a clear chance to equalize from give Schalke a 1-0 win over winner Porto. the game. QSL: Al Sadd down Al Duhail to grab top spot THE PENINSULA DOHA Infantino opens FIFA Al Sadd displayed a clinical show on their home turf to leapfrog to the top of the Executive Football QNB Stars League (QSL) table, thrashing defending Al Sadd's Summit in Doha champions Al Duhail 3-1 in players a crucial game, yesterday. celebrate The result increased Al their win THE PENINSULA DOHA Sadd’s points tally to 38, over Al taking them above Al Duhail, Duhail, with a lead of two yesterday. The three-day FIFA Executive Football Summit opened points. in the Qatari capital yesterday with the participation Youssef El Arabi opened of a number of international football personalities the scoring for Al Duhail in including FIFA President Gianni Infantino. the sixth minute, only for Al QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Sadd to level through an Al Thani and Ahmed Ahmed, President of the Confed- own goal from Lucas eration of African Football (CAF), joined FIFA chief on Mendes a few minutes later. the stage yesterday. Salem A Hajri then Football representatives from Iraq, Oman, Jordan, struck in the 89th minute to Syria, China, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turk- put the Wolves in front, menistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and before Baghdad Bounedjah Iran were also in attendance at Sheraton Hotel Doha. secured the result with a A number of important seminars and workshops third goal in the third were held to discuss the future of football around the minute of stoppage time. world. Al Duhail started the The most important of these were the workshops game with more intensity related to the future of competitions and champion- and were given the oppor- ships. One of the key discussions centered around tunity to take the lead in the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. sixth minute, after the Youssef El Arabi opened the scoring for Al In the second half, would prove to be an A separate workshop on the use of video assistant referee awarded them a Duhail in the sixth minute, only for Al Sadd to Al-Sadd fashioned a inspired substitution. referee (VAR) was also held. The VAR was successfully penalty for Khoukhi number of chances to score After more missed launched at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. It will Boualem’s handball in the level through an own goal from Lucas Mendes a but were unable to make chances, Al Hajri found be again used at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup box. El Arabi stepped up to few minutes later. them count. In the 50th himself with the ball at his in France. convert the spot kick, giving minute, Afif had only the feet, just outside the box in During the day’s proceedings at the Summit, FIFA his side a 1-0 advantage. Salem A Hajri then struck in the 89th goalie to beat after being set the 89th minute. The young also discussed the positive impact of the European Just three minutes later, Al minute to put the Wolves in front, before up by Bounedjah’s back- midfielder got past Karim Championship on the world in general, especially as Sadd equalised. Akram Afif Baghdad Bounedjah secured the result with a heel but he saw his effort Boudiaf with a touch and it was a tournament launched by the UEFA for the first dribbled past two defenders kept out for a corner. then cut in to his left foot, time this season. and got into the box before third goal in the third minute of stoppage time. Hassan Al Haydos then before lashing in an unstop- Apart from FIFA and Asian football workshops, the sending in a cross that was sent in a good cross in the pable shot past Abubakar to presence of 18 Asian nations at the event, nearly one deflected in by Al Duhail The result increased Al Sadd’s points tally 63rd minute, but Khoukhi put Al Sadd in the lead. third of the members of the General Assembly, was an defender Mendes. to 38, taking them above Al Duhail, with a lead Boualem’s header went Four minutes later, opportunity to exchange views and talk about the AFC The teams then went on over the crossbar. Bounedjah put the cherry on Presidential elections in Malaysia on April 6 and the to battle it out in midfield, of two points. Al Sadd head coach the cake with a third goal, chances of the candidates. with each side looking to Jesualdo Ferreira made his finishing off Afif’s squared QFA Vice President and AFC Vice President Saud gain control of the ball. In with a through ball but Al gather. The referee then first change of the game in pass to give Ferreira’s side a Al Mohannadi is one of the candidates for the top Asian the 34th minute, Jung Woo- Duhail keeper Khalifa Abu- blew for halftime, with the the 65th minute, bringing on 3-1 win and the prized top football post. young released Bounedjah bakar was on hand to sides still locked at 1-1. Al Hajri in place of Jung. It spot before the QSL break. 08 SPORT WEDNESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2018 No quick fix for Australia’s problems ahead of Perth REUTERS to have no quick fix. ADELAIDE The skipper’s fitness is also a concern as he nurses a sore right Having gone down swinging in index finger after being struck on an enthralling Adelaide Test, Aus- the glove by a short Mohammed tralia barely have time to pick Shami ball on the final day of themselves up off the canvas play. before another potentially The wicketkeeper-captain, They (the pacemen) have had a couple days bruising contest against a con- who was treated on the field, off. India are in exactly the same situation. fident India in Perth. later said he would be fine to play Tim Paine’s team delivered in Perth but former Australia It’s probably the one area where we just felt a gallant performance in a 31-run skipper Ricky Ponting noted it we were not wearing down the India bowlers loss at Adelaide Oval but the was the same finger that has scoreline flattered a side that required seven separate surgeries enough in the first Test match.