Smith’s doubleouble ton puts Australia on top in 4th4th Ashes Testt PAGE 13 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 ‘Lion’ Nadal roars into US Open semis EURO QUALIFIERS chasing 19th Slam title PAGE 13 Germany vs Netherlands Almoez slams a hat-trick as Qatar begin qualifiers in style Al Annabi blank Afghanistan 6-0 in FIFA World Cup 2022 & AFC Asian Cup 2023 race; Over 10,000 fans flock Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium AYENI OLUSEGUN DOHA ALMOEZ Ali continued his impressive run of form with a hat-trick as Qatar thumped Afghanistan 6-0 in front of over 10,000 passionate fans at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadi- um on Thursday. Other goals from Hassan al Haydos, Ab- delkarim Hassan and Boualem Khoukhi ensured the Asian champions begin the race to the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in style. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez had prior to the game charged his team to shed off the favour- ites tag in Group E, which also consists of India and Oman. The Spaniard’s pep talk bore fruit and Al Annabi began in earnest as Karim Boudiaf’s header tested Afghanistan’s goalkeeper Ovays Azizi early in the match. Qatar, however, took the lead four minutes as Almoez Ali opened the floodgate of goals. The 2019 Asian Cup highest goal-scorer was on hand to head home as debu- tant Yusuf Abdurisag beat his Almoez Ali passes his shirt to a fan after the match. (REUTERS marker down the right and floated in a delightful which was met by Almoez. Qatar dominated proceed- ings as the 149th-ranked South Asian team struggled against their illustrious opponents. Al Annabi made it two 11 minutes in as the pace of attacking trip Akram Afif, Almoez Ali and Hassan al Haydos ripped the Afghani- stan defence apart. A lovely Qatar’s forward Almoez Ali (right) celebrates with Akram Afif after scoring a goal during the Group E exchange of passes between second round opener for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification against Haydos and Afif released Al- Afghanistan at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Thursday. (AFP) moez again and the striker sent his effort beyond the out- Azizi after a darting run but stretched arm Azizi. Almoez blazed the rebound Immediately after, Afif harmlessly high. turned provider. After good Sanchez was forced into an work down the left, the Al early change though when Bou- Sadd winger unselfishly set up diaf went down for a suspected Haydos who easily tapped into groin strain. an empty goal. The Al Duhail midfielder “I think we got the result was replaced by his club team- Qatar fans cheer the national team at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Thursday. (AFP) that we were looking for. We mate Bassam al Rawi. created chances and scored ear- “What we try to do is to hour mark when AFC Asian they left off and Almoez got mark. Almoez turned his mark- ly which made it easier for us. play our way, sometimes we Player of the Year 2018 Hassan his hat-trick six minutes into er before sending a cross into The team showed they want- change the structure. Karim sent a brilliant strike with his the second half. A pass from the box which found the un- ed to play and created more has played as a centre-back for famous left foot into the top left Al Rawi teed up Boualem marked midfielder who calmly chances and I have to congratu- his club and he passes the ball corner of Azizi’s goal. Khoukhi who quickly released slotted home from 10 yards out. late them for the effort today,” really well, it’s unfortunate he Goalkeeper Saad al Sheeb Almoez. The striker did the “It’s always nice for us Sanchez said after the match. didn’t get to finish the game. hardly broke a sweat as the rest, sending a low shot into to get the fans in to support The dominance continued As a team we need to try to 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts the bottom right corner. us. We have to keep bringing and it could have been four have different options which went into the break with a The Asian champions were them joy and hopefully more minutes later. Abdelkarim will make us unpredictable.” Qatar’s forward Akram Afif (left) battles past two Afghanistan 4-0 advantage. all over the field and Khoukhi fans come for our next game,” Hassan forced a save from It was four just after the half defenders during the match. (AFP) Qatar picked up where made it six just past the hour said Sanchez. Mongolia notch maiden win; Oman fight back to down India REUTERS/TNN Malaysia when Beto slipped Group G, ahead of Thailand behind to thrash the Philip- Tuesday while Oman will play TAIPEI the ball under goalkeeper and Vietnam, who played out a pines 5-2 in Group A while the their second match on October Farizal Marlias 12 minutes goalless draw in Pathum Thani. Maldives also picked up three 10 against Afghanistan. MONGOLIA secured a surprise into the game. Jordan took all three points points with a 1-0 win away Mongolia are joined in 1-0 win over Myanmar while Ghana-born midfielder from their Group B encounter against Guam. pole position in Group F by Malaysia twice came from be- Mohamadou Sumareh levelled away against Chinese Taipei, In Group C, Hong Kong Tajikistan, who beat Central hind to beat Indonesia 3-2 in shortly before the break with with Baha Faisal and Ahmed were held to a 1-1 draw in Cam- Asian neighbours Kyrgyzstan stoppage time as the second his first involvement after com- Samir giving Vital Bourkel- bodia and Iraq scored a late 1-0 in Dushanbe courtesy of a round of Asia’s qualifying cam- ing off the bench, only for Beto mans’ side a two-goal lead at equaliser through Mohanad goal from Alisher Dzhalilov. paign for the 2022 World Cup to restore Indonesia’s lead two halftime before Wen Chih-hao Ali to draw 1-1 with Bahrain. Palestine pulled off an up- finals kicked off on Thursday. minutes later with a fine strike claimed a late consolation. In Group E, Oman came set with a 2-0 win over heavily Aramaa Dulguun scored from outside the area. “I was coming to Taipei to from a goal down to beat India fancied Uzbekistan in Group with a well-taken strike to earn Syafiq Ahmad restored par- take the three points and we 2-1 in Guwahati. D, while Singapore drew 2-2 Mongolia a win in their first- ity midway through the half did it,” said Bourkelmans. Sunil Chhetri had given with Yemen. ever appearance at this stage with a deft header and the game “Also the performance in India a first half lead but the North Korea made a win- of World Cup qualifying. looked to be heading for a draw the first half was clear and if young Rabia Alawi Al Mand- ning start in Group H with for- Yet the most dramatic ac- until Sumareh found the roof of it had been 3-0 or 4-0 nobody har turned out to be the hero mer Asian Young Player of the tion came in Jakarta’s Gelora the net from six yards out seven can talk.” Jordan are joined at as he scored twice to give Year Jong Il Gwan scoring both Bung Karno Stadium where minutes into stoppage time. the top of Group B by Kuwait, Oman the three points. goals in a 2-0 win over Lebanon Sunil Chhetri (left) had given India lead but Rabia Alawi Al Mandhar Indonesia took an early lead The result means Malay- who hammered Nepal 7-0. AFC Asian Cup champions as Turkmenistan picked up a turned out to be the hero as he scored twice to give Oman victory. against bitter regional rivals sia lead the early standings in Syria came from a goal Qatar are up next for India on 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka. 12 Friday, September 6, 2019 Sports ‘Lion’ Nadal roars into US Open semis chasing 19th Slam title AFP NEW YORK Canadian teen continues to excel RAFAEL Nadal, called a “lion” by his latest victim and “the Like a lion in the greatest fighter ever” by his middle of the jungle. Andreescu rallies next opponent, stalks his 19th Grand Slam title in Friday’s He’s big. He’s a US Open semi-finals. fighter. He knows The 33-year-old Spaniard, how to play the forced to retire from last year’s important moments to meet Bencic semi-finals with knee pain, is every single time. feeling healthy now and ready AFP to pounce upon Italy’s 24th- Argentina’s Diego NEW YORK seeded Matteo Berrettini. Schwartzman after “He’s serving huge, big losing to Rafael Nadal CANADIAN Bianca Andreescu forehands, moving well, and became the first teen US Open big confidence because he’s semi-finalist in a decade, ral- having a great year, so let’s lying to defeat Belgium’s Elise see. I need to play my best,” Mertens on Wednesday and Nadal said of his first-time foe. advance to a last-four match- “Looks relaxed, looks he’s up with Belinda Bencic. ready to fight for important Andreescu, a 19-year- things.” old from suburban Toronto, At stake is a berth in Sun- downed 25th seed Mertens day’s final at Arthur Ashe 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to book a Thurs- Stadium against a first-time day clash against fellow Slam Grand Slam finalist – the win- semi-final debutante Bencic, ner between Russian fifth seed the Swiss 13th seed who beat Daniil Medvedev and Bulgar- Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina in the men’s singles Croatian 23rd seed Donna Ve- ia’s 78th-ranked Grigor Dim- quarter-final of the 2019 US Open in New York on Wednesday.(AFP) kic 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.