FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 Klopp focused We didn’t bowl on winning and fi eld well than hype in the fi rst ODI: around Reds Chahar Wednesday, December 18, 2019 Rabia II 21, 1441 AH GULF TIMES SPORT REPORT Flamengo rally against Hilal to reach Club WC fi nal Al-Dawsari puts Saudi club ahead before De Arrascaeta, Henrique and Albulayhi own goal win it for Brazilians 3-1 Flamengo’s Giorgian De Arrascaeta celebrates his goal during the Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique (centre) in action with Al Hilal’s Mohamed al-Burayk (left) during the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha 2019 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal at yesterday. (Reuters) the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. (AFP) By Sahan Bidappa Doha lamengo sprung to life in the second half to beat Al Hilal 3-1 and book their place in the fi nal of the FFIFA Club World Cup Qatar yes- terday. The red-hot South Amer- ican champions had gone into the contest as favourites, but Salem al-Dawsari’s 18th minute strike had stunned their travelling supporters, who had packed the Khalifa International Stadium. While an upset looked like very much on cards – with Flamengo looking uncharacteristically dull in the fi rst half – the Brazilians came into their own in the sec- ond. Giorgian de Arrascaeta stroked home from close range four min- utes after the restart to draw lev- el, before Bruno Henrique had a hand in the next two goals. Hen- rique headed home in the 78th minute for Flamengo’s lead and Flamengo’s Rafinha celebrates in front of fans after the win in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Al the advantage doubled four min- Hilal at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. (Reuters) Al Hilal’s Abdullah al-Muaiouf and teammates are dejected after the loss to Flamengo yesterday. (Reuters) utes later with the striker’s cross turned into own goal by Al Hilal have hoped for as their players Flamengo survived but not for suggested their team was capable home into the open goal. defender Ali Albulayhi. looked off -colour in the opening long as Hilal were in front two of mounting a comeback. While the game went fl at Flamengo now await the win- period. minutes later. With South Amer- Flamengo had conceded in the thereafter for a long period, Hen- ners of the second semi-fi nal Flamengo did create the fi rst ican side’s defence all over the 12th minute of the Copa Liberta- rique headed into the net after between European champions opportunity of the game with de place, Mohamed al-Burayk’s pass dores fi nal. But they scored in the Rafi nha’s cross from the right put Liverpool and CONCACAF title Arrascaeta whipping a cross to from the right cut back sharply 88th and 91st minute to win the Flamengo ahead. Later when Al- holders Monterrey of Mexico to- Gabriel Barbosa, who couldn’t into the box, where a charging al- tournament for the second time bulayhi put the ball into his own day. If Liverpool do live up to the quite connect at the back post. Dawsari shot in one motion. The and seal Club World Cup qualifi - net the game was over for Hlial. expectations and beat Monterrey, Hilal conjured their opening ball took a slight nick of defender cation. They did not leave it that With six minutes left, Andre it will set up a repeat of Intercon- chance only in the 16th minute Rodrigo Caio and also a touch of late against Hilal yesterday. Carrillo was shown a straight red tinental Cup fi nal in 1981, which and the Saudi Arabian side Alves’ gloves before slamming After Everton Ribiero’s cross card for a high boot foul as Hilal’s Flamengo went on to win 3-0 in should have gone one-up. into the net. was palmed away by Hilal stop- good start to the contest went in Tokyo. After al-Dawsari’s shot was Al-Dawsari, who played a key per Abdullah al-Mayoof, De Ar- vain. Club World Cup holds a spe- blocked by Flamengo goalkeeper hand in Hilal’s AFC Champions rascaeta raised the decibel level cial place for Flamengo fans and Diego Alves, the rebound went League success last month, cel- of Khalifa. Gabriel Barbosa found Flamengo’s coach Jorge Jesus it was quite evident with the large straight to Bafetimbi Gomis, but ebrated with a double fl ip in front Henrique in the box, with the greets the crowd following his number of them making a long the pace of the ball was too much of Flamengo’s end. The Brazil- forward unselfi shly sending the team’s victory in the FIFA Club haul journey from Brazil to Qatar. for the striker as he could only ian team’s supporters were not ball to unmarked De Arrasca- World Cup semi-final against Al But it was not a start they would fi nd the stands. alarmed though as recent history eta, with the Uruguayan tapping Hilal. (AFP) Gulf Times Wednesday, December 18, 2019 FIFA Club World Cup 2 Qatar 2019 PREVIEW LIVERPOOL VS MONTERREY (8:30PM) Liverpool manager Klopp happy with Khalifa stadium pitch Agencies good condition. Doha “The training ground yester- day was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. My concern was from Klopp focused on iverpool coach Jurgen England; I have never been Klopp yesterday praised here in this country, especially Lthe pitch on which his never played football here, team is to play in the Club but obviously the pitches are World Cup at the Khalifa Inter- brilliant and should not be a national Stadium in Doha, days proper concern,” said before after he had expressed concern adding that “our groundsman over hosting five games on the said it is unbelievable, built winning than hype surface within a few days. on sand, which is good in this He said that he spoke with case, so it will suck all the water the team’s groundsman who off . The pitch will hopefully be described the pitch as in very no concern.” around Liverpool COMMENT ‘Nobody cares about what happened three days ago... We respect the opponent Forced to play two a lot,’ says Klopp ‘Liverpool maybe the best team in the world right now. We have made a huge eff ort to reach this stage,’ says Monterrey manager Mohamed teams, Klopp says By Sahan Bidappa time to rethink Doha scheduling t’s been little over four years since Jurgen Klopp took over Reuters in between other competitions... the reins of Liverpool and in Doha I think the FIFA plans a team that period the German has world cup in the summer but it is Itransformed the Reds to world a summer when African Nations beaters, which even the Anfi eld iverpool manager Jurgen is on as well and other competi- faithful would have not dreamt Klopp has appealed for tions,” he said. of. football authorities to Liverpool players will gather at Unlike his off -the-pitch de- rethink the scheduling their hotel on Tuesday to watch meanour, where he is always Lof their big events, as he pre- their younger versions playing at sporting a smile or cracking pares for today’s Club World Cup Aston Villa in the League Cup. a joke or two for the cameras, semi-fi nal in Qatar. But while he has in the past Klopp is an intense manager. He Confronted with a League Cup questioned the domestic sched- is a man with a bundle of energy match in Birmingham yesterday ule in England, where his team when on the touchline, always and then the clash in the Gulf is involved in two national Cup making gestures or screaming at state with Mexican club Monter- competitions as well as the Pre- his players. rey today, Klopp has been forced mier League and Champions His energy has rubbed on to to fi eld a youth team against As- League, Klopp thinks it is now his players and the club. The ton Villa. time for a global re-set. 52-year-old led Liverpool to the His European champions have “They all have to sit around European title earlier this year – fl own to Qatar to play in a tour- a table and talk about the com- their fi rst since the miracle of Is- nament that holds little prestige petitions not being at the same tanbul in 2005, and now they are in Europe and while the German time. From the organisational in a race of their own to win their insists he wants to triumph at the point of view everyone needs to fi rst English Premier League ti- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) speaks at a press conference as player James Milner looks on on the eve of the semi-final against Khalifa International Stadium, think about it. FIFA cannot plan tle since 1989-90. Monterrey in Doha. (Below) Monterrey’s coach Antonio Mohamed (left) speaks to the media. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil he believes FIFA and other bodies a tournament in the summer and Before that, though, Klopp’s need to review the entire football then UEFA says ‘We’ll have one men will be eyeing to become the football and will try to show calendar. as well’. It is not too easy. fi rst Liverpool side to clinch a that. It will be diffi cult,” the Liv- “If you had asked me before- “You need to fi nd a common FIFA Club World Cup title.