FOOTBALL | Page 3 CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 6 Mueller, Drucker wins Kimmich fi re 16th Vuelta To Advertise here Germany past stage, Quintana Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Norway maintains lead Tuesday, September 6, 2016 CRICKET Dhul-Hijja 4, 1437 AH ‘Dilscoop’ inventor GULF TIMES gets set for parting shot at the game SPORT Page 10 PREVIEW: 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Qatar looking to bounce back against Uzbekistan ‘We played with a lot of determination against Iran and we will be playing with the same mentality against Uzbekistan. We will forget the first match now and we will focus on giving our best, especially because we will be playing at home...’ By Sports Reporter Doha atar will be hoping that the right chapter of history re- peats itself when they take on Uzbekistan in today’s Q2018 World Cup Group A qualifi er. The match, to be played at the Al Sadd stadium, is Qatar’s second in the third round of qualifi cation from Asia and Qatar will be looking to take advantage of the home conditions in the hope of bouncing back from their last-gasp de- feat to Iran in Tehran last Thursday. The Uzbeks are going to be tough opponents for Qatar. In the previous six World Cup qualifying matches that these two sides have played against each other, the Uzbeks have won four of them and drawn one. And they have won with big margins – 5-1 (2013) and 4-0 (2009). But the one match that Qatar won (2008) was at this ground. The hosts can also take confi dence from the fact that the last time these two teams met – in a friendly last October — Qatar emerged victorious 3-0. Qatar, however, are fretting over injuries to Pedro Miguel and Hassan al-Haydos who are doubtful for the match, although Coach Carreno was not short on confi dence. “The situation after the fi rst round of matches will put us under a lot of pres- sure to win as we lost against Iran and Uzbekistan defeated Syria. However, I’m confi dent that our players will give Qatar players during a training session ahead of their 2018 World Cup third round qualifying campaign. (Right) Qatar coach Jose Daniel Carreno. their best tomorrow and will get the three points from the match although “Qatar will be a hard team to Qatar’s morale is high, says QFA president GRIT it will not be easy,” said the Uruguayan. beat because they had a good “We played with a lot of determi- performance in the fi rst match. I Qatar Football Association (QFA) nation in the fi rst match against Iran told the players that we will President Sheikh Hamad bin and we will be playing with the same be playing against a strong Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani has China aim to reproduce mentality against Uzbekistan. We will team with good character and urged ‘Al Anabi’ to fight in their forget the fi rst match now and we will this means that we should con- match against Uzbekistan. focus on giving our best, especially centrate throughout the match,” “The national squad has our sup- Korea form against Iran because we will be playing at home said Uzbek coach Samvel port. We know they can do well. and in front of our fans.” Babayan We hope they put on a fight,” AFP China’s fi rst task will be to avoid The Uzbeks are ranked 55th while Sheikh Hamad said on Sunday. Beijing conceding after Zheng Zhi’s own goal, Qatar are currently at 80. But the hosts because they had a good perform- “The players have said they will followed by strikes from Lee Chung- will take heart from the fact that during ance in the fi rst match. I told the play- give their best. I have watched Yong and Koo Ja-Cheol, gave them a their match against the higher ranked ers that we will be playing against a them in training,” he said. “I want hina are hoping to reproduce the mountain to climb in Seoul. Iran (39), they were up for the fi ght until strong team with good character and them to give their best. form that gave South Korea pal- Carlos Queiroz’s Iran are Asia’s top- a horrible error from goalkeeper Claude this means that we should concentrate “They are working hard. Their pitations last week as they take ranked side at 39th in the world, and they Amine — in the fourth minute of injury throughout the match,” said Uzbek morale is high,” the QFA Presi- QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa on heavyweights Iran in another started the qualifying round with a 2-0 time — resulted in them falling behind, coach Samvel Babayan. Cbig World Cup qualifying test today. victory over Qatar in Tehran — although dent added. bin Ahmed al-Thani (r) talking to Carreno. and then they conceded another goal in The match will start at 7pm. China fought back from 3-0 down both goals came in injury time. the 101st minute. to make it 3-2 with 14 minutes left in “It’s going to be very tough... We come After today’s match, Qatar have Seoul, ensuring a tense fi nale to a game from diff erent results in the fi rst games, games against lower-ranked Syria and which South Korea had looked like but the situation is reversed now that China (whom they have defeated in Qatar vs Uzbekistan - How they stack up... wrapping up with ease. China will play at home,” Queiroz said, the second round) coming up. A win KEY NOTES although it will not be easy. 18/06/13 Uzbekistan 5 – 1 Qatar While China started the fi nal round according to the Global Times. here can help Carreno’s boys revive Uzbekistan’s late win over Syria was “We played with a lot of determina- 16/10/12 Qatar 0 – 1 Uzbekistan of Asian qualifying with a defeat, they their qualifying campaign and boost their first ever victory in the opening tion in the first match against Iran 08/01/11 Qatar 0 – 2 Uzbekistan are taking heart from the performance RIOT ACT their confi dence (and points) going round of matches in FIFA World Cup and we will be playing with the same 28/03/09 Uzbekistan 4 – 0 Qatar ahead of today’s home game against In Bangkok, Japan desperately need a win into those matches. qualifying. mentality against Uzbekistan. We will Iran in Shenyang. after their shock loss to UAE, but it won’t Egor Krimets will return to the Uz- forget the first match now and we will FORM “I don’t think we have much pres- be easy for the four-time Asian champi- CONFIDENT UZBEKS bekistan squad after missing the Syria focus on giving our best, especially Qatar LWWWL sure,” said Guangzhou Evergrande ons at the Rajamangala stadium. The Uzbeks are coming off a 1-0 win game due to suspension. because we will be playing at home Uzbekistan WLWWW midfi elder Huang Bowen, according to Outspoken AC Milan forward Keisu- against Syria in their opening encoun- Qatar’s Pedro Miguel and Hassan Al and in front of our fans.” the Global Times. “I just hope we can ke Honda read his younger team-mates ter and they will be keen to maintain Haydos are doubtful after picking up HOW THEY FARED ON MD1 play the way we did in the last 15 min- the riot act after last week’s defeat, their recent good run against Qatar in injuries in the 2-0 loss against Iran on Samvel Babayan, Uzbekistan Iran 2-0 Qatar utes against South Korea.” telling them they need to work harder. the World Cup qualifi ers. Thursday. “We will go into the match looking to Goals deep into injury time at a China are bidding to reach only the “A surprising number of players “Qatar will be a hard team to beat Daniel Carreno has urged his team to get the three points and this will be packed-out Azadi Stadium in Tehran second World Cup in their history in watch and read the news so they know put the injury time loss against Iran done when we give our best possible from Reza Ghoochannijhad and a tough Group A which also brackets what I say. I don’t think they are going Today’s Fixtures out of their minds performance. I hope that we will be Alireza Jahanbaksh condemned 2022 hosts Qatar, Uzbekistan and Syria. to change straight away, but maybe be- Samvel Babayan has called on his lucky enough to win and go back Qatar to a late, late 2-0 defeat against They are not the only team needing a come aware of the fact that they have (Qatar Time) team to show their character. home with the three points. Iran as Daniel Carreno’s side seek to positive result with Japan, still smart- to make more of an eff ort,” Honda said, Group A “Qatar will be a hard team to beat secure the country’s first-ever FIFA ing from a disallowed goal in their 2-1 according to Japan’s Kyodo News. Qatar vs Uzbekistan 7pm COACH QUOTES because they had a good perform- World Cup finals appearance. defeat to UAE, facing a tricky away trip “I want to give them the opportunity Venue: Al Sadd Stadium Jose Daniel Carreno, Qatar ance in the first match. I told the play- to Thailand. to change their mindset. I have to pull China vs Iran “The situation after the first round ers that we will be playing against a Uzbekistan 1-0 Syria The top two teams from both of the the team forward when it needs pull- Syria vs Korea Republic of matches will put us under a lot of strong team with good character and Veteran striker Aleksandr Geynrikh six-strong Asian groups will earn spots ing, and it’s not just me.