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Despite Real Madrid’s struggles in recent times, this was a result that was never in doubt. The Spanish giants brushed past Mexican side Pachuca to clinch the Intercontinental Cup title at Lusail Stadium last night.Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr scored a goal each, with Rodrygo adding another after a spectacular solo effort, as Real capped off an exceptional year with yet another title. Against underdogs Pachuca, Real faced an opponent well below their level. Still, as coach Carlo Ancelotti had warned on the eve of the match: “Every game is a trap, particularly the Cup ones.”Madrid started off slow, but once they warmed up on a cold night, the La Liga and Champions League holders ran away with the title — their ninth global trophy, including three in the original Intercontinental Cup format and five FIFA Club World Cups. Ancelotti, who has been under pressure for his team’s underwhelming performances this season, became the most decorated coach in Real Madrid’s history with his 15th title, surpassing the 14 trophies won by Miguel Munoz, who managed the Spanish powerhouse in the 1960s and ’70s.“I am very happy, it is natural,” the 65-year-old Ancelotti said. “We did the things we prepared, and this made the difference. Everyone played a good match. I am very happy. It was a match that, in the middle of the season, could have caused problems, and instead, we deservedly won it. We didn’t get off to a good start but finished well, showing great attitude.”The Italian coach will hope that last night’s victory helps regroup his side, which has struggled defensively this season – not least due to the absence of defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, both sidelined long-term with ACL tears.Currently sitting third in La Liga with 37 points from 17 games, Real trail leaders Barcelona by just one point, although Barca have played an additional game. Their Champions League campaign, however, remains precarious, with automatic progression to the Round of 16 far from guaranteed.Ancelotti will also be pleased with the performances of Mbappe and Vinícius, who combined for the opening goal. The French star, who missed Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday due to a thigh problem, played 62 minutes without any visible discomfort. Meanwhile, Vinícius played the full match, having returned from injury during Tuesday’s Champions League win in Bergamo.Exactly two years to the day after his iconic hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final at the same venue — which France lost to Argentina on penalties — Mbappe opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Jude Bellingham’s perfectly timed pass set up Vinícius, who mesmerised with dazzling footwork to evade Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno. The Brazilian then squared the ball to Mbappe, who calmly slotted it into an empty net.Pachuca had started the game with promise, as Luis Rodríguez tested Thibaut Courtois early on with a powerful drive, but the Belgian goalkeeper was equal to the task. Madrid gradually took control, and Mbappe nearly doubled the lead with a fierce 20-yard shot that narrowly missed the target.The European champions doubled their advantage early in the second half when Rodrygo unleashed a sublime curling effort from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute. A brief VAR review followed to determine whether Bellingham, standing in an offside position, interfered with the play. The referee deemed otherwise, allowing the goal to stand.Pachuca, to their credit, refused to fold under pressure. Captain Salomon Rondon came close to reducing the deficit twice — first with a perfectly struck free-kick saved by Courtois and then with a header that skimmed just over the bar.Real Madrid, however, ensured victory was beyond doubt in the closing stages. Vinícius, fresh off being named The Best FIFA Men’s Player after missing out on the Ballon d’Or, converted an 84th-minute penalty after Oussama Idrissi fouled Lucas Vazquez in the box.Rodrygo had special praise for Vinícius, calling his countryman “an example of resilience.” He said: “I’ve been following Vini since he started in Brazil. We never played against each other in the professional league, only with youth teams,” said the forward. “We’ve always talked about all the difficulties he had in the beginning. He is an example of resilience, for everything he went through, and now he has become the best player in the world. I’m always happy for my friend’s achievements, especially after seeing his work every day.”Pachuca, winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup, defeated CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly of Egypt to reach the final. Real, however, did not take part in the earlier rounds. Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada admitted his side failed to capitalise on their opportunities and paid the price. “We had our chances, but their efficiency was decisive. We had opportunities and couldn’t capitalize on them. Many young players gained their first international experience throughout the tournament. It was an amazing experience. Of course, we wanted to win the final, but the effort was outstanding,” Almada said.This is the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which broadly maintains the format of the previous Club World Cup. The latter is being expanded to include 32 teams in 2025 and will now be played every four years. A past version of the Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004, involving the champions of Europe and South America.Madrid are set to play Pachuca again at next year’s Club World Cup in the United States, alongside an Al Hilal team featuring Neymar and Red Bull Salzburg. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday in their final game of the year. They are scheduled to return to the Middle East in early January for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Crisis is a word rarely associated with Real Madrid or their coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, the current season has tested that narrative. Following a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League in the last week of November, the Spanish giants have managed three wins and one draw in their last five matches across all competitions.Currently sitting third in La Liga with 37 points from 17 games, Real trail leaders Barcelona by just one point, although Barca have played an additional game.Their Champions League campaign, however, remains precarious, with automatic progression to the Round of 16 far from guaranteed.The season began on a high note with Ancelotti steering Madrid to a UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta. But inconsistency has since plagued a side that welcomed French forward Kylian Mbappe into their ranks after last season’s La Liga and Champions League triumphs. A humiliating 4-0 loss to Barcelona in October, disappointing performances against lower-tier league opponents, and Champions League defeats to Liverpool, AC Milan, and Lille have raised serious doubts about Ancelotti’s tenure. Despite signing a contract extension last year amid speculation linking him to Brazil’s national team, Ancelotti’s future beyond this season could hinge on securing major silverware.His current deal runs until 2026, but a trophyless campaign might spell the end of his second stint in Madrid.Tonight, Ancelotti has a chance to breathe life into his team’s floundering season when Madrid face Mexican side Pachuca in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final at Lusail Stadium. Victory over Pachuca would see Ancelotti become Real Madrid’s most successful manager, surpassing the legendary Miguel Munoz, who won 14 titles during his tenure from 1960-1974.Ahead of the final, the 65-year-old addressed the intense scrutiny surrounding his team, explaining that football doesn’t always follow expectations, especially after such a successful campaign last year.“As I said, I understand the criticism because Real Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League last season, then they signed the best player in the world in the summer. So everyone’s thinking it’s going to be a walk in the park. That’s not how football works. Football is about fighting in every game, understanding you can’t control everything all the time,” he said“We can’t control the results of the games. Sometimes you deserve to win and you don’t; others, you deserve to lose but you win. I think that’s the source of this criticism, the fact that this team had such a fantastic season last term and then signed the best player in the world. One plus one is two, but it’s not always the way it goes in football,” he added.Ancelotti acknowledged the challenge posed by Pachuca, saying: “Every game is a potential banana skin. Pachuca are here because they’ve earned it, beating Botafogo and Al Ahly. We respect their quality. Finals are emotional, and we have to ensure the team is well-prepared.”Madrid have endured significant injury setbacks, with defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao sidelined long-term due to ACL tears, and David Alaba yet to return from a similar injury. Mbappe, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga are also dealing with short-term fitness issues. Vinicius Junior is also part of the squad having made his return from injury in Tuesday’s Champions League win in Bergamo.Mbappe, who has scored 12 goals this season, missed Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday due to a thigh problem but has been included in the squad for the final against Pachuca. The France international, who trained yesterday at the Lusail Stadium, has primarily been deployed as a centre-forward at Madrid and is yet to rediscover the form that saw him score 44 goals for PSG last term.Ancelotti expressed cautious optimism about Mbappe’s availability. The Italian said: “It’s simple: yesterday he trained well, he felt good. He did some sprints and everything went well. Today is an important training session, where we will evaluate his feelings and the risk. If he is fine, after speaking with the doctors, he will play. If there is a minimal risk, obviously not. But his feelings yesterday were very good. We are optimistic.” Pachuca’s continental crown secured their place at the FIFA Derby of the Americas, which meant they still had two more games to win to reach this tournament’s showpiece. The Mexican outfit did just that, with a 3-0 reverse of Botafogo on December 11 at the Stadium 974, followed up three days later by a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Al Ahly after the match had finished goalless at the same venue. Their unshakeable belief and undoubted quality has carried Pachuca this far and makes it a fascinating match-up with Real Madrid.Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada highlighted the significance of the occasion, saying: “We’re coming into the game with a heavy load of matches and we’ve played a lot in different tournaments. We’ve had very few holidays. We’ve been trying to inject intensity into our game by refreshing certain aspects. It’s been going well for us and we hope to continue on this path.”He added: “It’s a final, and no matter who we’re up against... Real Madrid is one of the most recognised brands in the world. The most publicised. There are always rivals that provoke certain feelings, and without a doubt, a team of this calibre is one of them.”Almada also praised Ancelotti’s accomplishments while expressing his intent to deny the Italian coach another trophy. “What can I say about him? Any compliments I could offer, he has more than earned. He is currently one of the greats, with an impressive record. We will try to make sure that he is not the manager with the most titles in history,” he said.“This is football. History doesn’t play the game; the teams on the pitch do. We’ll aim to defend our dream and compete against one of the world’s most iconic clubs. Real Madrid is a great team, but we must focus on our strengths.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen maintained his composure in a frantic race as the reigning four-time world champion won his second successive Qatar Grand Prix Sunday.The Lusail International Circuit is known for being one of the fastest tracks in Formula 1, but the race was slowed down multiple times with safety car deployed three times. There were also numerous incidents and a penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris, which relegated the Brit to 10th place after battling for the lead with Verstappen.Charles Leclerc took second place, the Ferrari driver crossing the line six seconds back from Verstappen, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third, adding to his Saturday Sprint victory. George Russell was Mercedes’ sole points-scorer in fourth, ahead of Pierre Gasly who held off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to take a solid fifth for Alpine.Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was seventh, while Sauber scored their first points in a year courtesy of the outgoing Zhou Guanyu, who capitalised on the mayhem to finish a brilliant eighth. Kevin Magnussen took ninth for Haas ahead of Norris, was hit with a 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags.At one point, it seemed McLaren might secure their first Constructors' Championship since 1998 in Qatar, with both Norris and Piastri battling for podium positions. However, following Norris' penalty, Ferrari narrowed McLaren's lead from 30 points to just 21. The Constructors' title will now be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi next week.Verstappen, who had been demoted to second on the grid from pole position after impeding Russell in qualifying, wasted no time in asserting his dominance as the lights went out. The Dutchman swiftly overtook Russell into Turn 1 and never looked back, with Norris able to follow him through in second.Despite the ongoing chaos behind him, Verstappen maintained a mature and steady drive, clinching his ninth win of the season. "It was a very good race, the car was a lot better,” said Verstappen, as he celebrated by jumping into the arms of his Red Bull crew and his family.“That first stint was very, very fast - me and Lando (Norris) were pushing each other, always within 1.8 secs and it was a lot of fun out there. A few Safety Car moments, but very happy. It's been a while in the dry since we've been this competitive. It got a bit spicy into Turn 1 with Norris but very happy to win here,” he added.It was Nico Hulkenberg, struggling on hard tires after every driver had opted for medium, who started the incident-packed Grand Prix. The Haas driver locked up and collided with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, who in turn was hit by Williams' Franco Colapinto. While the incident triggered the first Safety Car, it forced both Ocon and Colapinto to retire from the race. Hulkenberg was able to pit and continue, but the damage had already been done for the others. Alex Albon also suffered a spin after contact with Lance Stroll at Turn 4 with the latter retiring a few laps later.Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton had a challenging start, dropping from sixth to ninth after a suspected jump start. He was penalised for the infraction and given a five-second penalty, though he did manage to gain a position back at the restart, overtaking Alonso into Turn 1.Russell became the first driver to pit on lap 23, but a slow seven-second stop put him behind Piastri, as the McLaren driver closed the gap.The race saw further drama when a loose wing mirror from Albon’s Williams was sent flying across the track, forcing a yellow flag. Valtteri Bottas, while trying to avoid the debris, ran over it, damaging his car and leading to a puncture for both him and Sainz on the following lap. This incident relegated Hamilton and Sainz to the back of the pack and prompted the deployment of another Safety Car.As the track was cleared and the Safety Car came in, Verstappen led from Norris and Leclerc, with Piastri and Sergio Perez completing the top five. Perez, however, reported a loss of power in his Red Bull and was forced to retire after spinning at Turn 15. Hulkenberg’s earlier incident also resulted in a Safety Car, further prolonging the interruptions.At the restart, Norris tried to challenge Verstappen for the lead but was forced to the outside. Russell, meanwhile, climbed back into the top five during the restart.Norris, however, would soon find himself in trouble. He was investigated for failing to slow under yellow flags when the wing mirror was on track, receiving a 10-second stop/go penalty.Norris rejoined in 15th, 16 seconds behind Liam Lawson, while Hamilton's luck worsened with a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane.Despite the setbacks, Guanyu was promoted to eighth place, a promising result for Sauber as they sought their first points of the season. Norris, battling back from his penalty, fought through the pack and managed to recover to 10th by the end of the race.In the final twist of the night, Russell was handed a five-second penalty for a Safety Car infringement but held onto his position, finishing ahead of Gasly by seven seconds.But there were no worries up ahead for Verstappen, who avoided the mayhem that unfolded around him to come out on top.Qatar Grand Prix 2024: Race classification1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 57 laps2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +6.0313 Oscar Piastri McLaren +6.8194 George Russell Mercedes +14.1045 Pierre Gasly Alpine +16.7826 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +17.4767 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +19.8678 Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber +25.3609 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +32.17710 Lando Norris McLaren +35.76211 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +50.24312 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +56.12213 Yuki Tsunoda VCARB +61.10014 Liam Lawson VCARB +62.65615 Alexander Albon Williams +1 lapDid not finishNico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 TeamSergio Perez, Red Bull RacingLance Stroll, Aston MartinFranco Colapinto, WilliamsEsteban Ocon, Alpine

Formula One has a history of nasty feuds and intense rivalries among teammates. But last night at the Lusail International Circuit, Lando Norris displayed a rare gesture of sportsmanship and gratitude as he allowed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to pass him just before the chequered flag to win the Sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix.Later, Norris revealed that he had disobeyed the team order to give Piastri his victory as payback for the Australian’s assistance during the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint. At the time, Norris was still in the hunt for the drivers’ title, but with Max Verstappen having wrapped up his fourth successive World Championship in Las Vegas last weekend, the Brit decided to return the favour to Piastri.The Sprint 1-2 also consolidated McLaren’s bid for the constructors’ title for the first time since 1998, extending their advantage over Ferrari to 30 points with two Grands Prix remaining.On the final lap, Norris was told over the team radio: “Finish in this order. We are happy.” McLaren had their reasons, as Piastri was under intense pressure from Mercedes’ George Russell throughout the race, with Russell coming close to overtaking him in the first corner on at least three occasions.But Norris says he had made up his mind to give Piastri the Sprint victory if the chance arose. Norris led from pole to flag before slowing to allow Piastri to win by 0.136 seconds, ahead of Mercedes’ Russell in third. “I know it was a bit closer than what I was wanting,” said Norris later. “But I planned to do it since Brazil. What I thought was best is probably a little bit sketchy. The team told me not to do it, but I thought I could get away with it, and we did. So honestly, I don’t mind. I’m not here to win Sprint races; I’m here to win races and a championship, but that’s not gone to plan. I did the best we could, and I look forward to tomorrow.”Piastri said his teammate’s gesture showed there is a ‘lack of egos’ at McLaren. “I was aware it could happen,” Piastri said, who had also won the 100km dash in Qatar last year. “I was a bit surprised that, with George (Russell) half a second back, it did, but I was aware it was a possibility, so it wasn’t completely unexpected. Maybe a little bit in the circumstances of the race, but yeah, I think it just speaks to our teamwork and fairness for the team, and obviously doesn’t change the points. It just shows off our teamwork and lack of egos within the team.”Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished fourth, ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, who had won a thrilling battle with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Haas’s Nico Hülkenberg and Red Bull’s Verstappen rounded out the points-paying positions in seventh and eighth, respectively.Two changes were made to the Sprint starting grid before the race, with Sergio Perez and Franco Colapinto starting from the pit lane due to car adjustments during parc fermé conditions. When the tyre blankets were removed, most drivers were on mediums, except Zhou Guanyu, whose Kick Sauber gambled on softs.At lights out, Norris surged into the lead, while teammate Piastri quickly overtook Russell for second after a bold move into Turn 2. Hamilton, determined to bounce back from his Sprint qualifying disappointment, made a stellar start, climbing to fifth ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc. Meanwhile, Verstappen struggled, falling to ninth, and Perez, starting from the pit lane, remained at the back.As Russell applied pressure on Piastri by Lap 4, replays showed Verstappen battling oversteer, limiting his early progress. Elsewhere, Zhou’s soft-tyre strategy proved ineffective, prompting an early switch to mediums. Hamilton began losing ground, with Leclerc overtaking him on Lap 13 after a tense wheel-to-wheel battle.Russell continued his pursuit of Piastri, briefly flaring tempers with a late defensive move from the Australian. Up front, Norris reported front tyre struggles, while Perez’s woes deepened with a pit stop for a new front wing.In the final laps, Norris relinquished the lead to Piastri, allowing his teammate to take the win as a reward for their teamwork.

DOHA: It’s been just over three months since Oliver Oakes became Alpine’s team principal. At 36, the former British racing driver is the second-youngest team principal in Formula 1 history, after Christian Horner, who was 32 when appointed by Red Bull. Oakes’ appointment was the latest in a series of staff changes at Alpine. He is the team’s third boss in just over 12 months, having replaced Bruno Famin, who was reassigned to a full-time role at their base in France.Becoming Alpine’s team principal wasn’t a role Oakes had always envisioned for himself. In his own words, he says, “My wife wasn’t too thrilled since my summer holiday was cut short,” but he has embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.Oakes became the World Karting champion in 2005 and joined Red Bull’s young driver program. Although his promising racing career never took off, he went on to manage his own karting team and later formed Hitech GP, which competes in Formula 2 and Formula 3.Speaking to Gulf Times at the Lusail International Circuit on Friday, Oakes acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead as he helps rebuild the famed organisation, previously known as Renault. When he took over, the team had fallen to ninth place in this year’s constructors’ championship.While there was a mini resurgence, with a stunning double podium at Sao Paulo putting Alpine in firm contention for sixth place, Haas has overtaken them again – albeit by just one point – after Pierre Gasly suffered a disastrous race at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he retired after qualifying a stunning third just 24 hours earlier. Esteban Ocon compounded Alpine’s misery by finishing 17th out of 18 runners, after having to pit one more time than necessary due to an early call to change tyres before his crew was ready.It meant that Alpine came away point-less from Las Vegas, dropping from P6 to P7 in the constructors’ standings. Haas now sits in sixth on 50 points, one ahead of Alpine, with RB on 46 points in P8.On Friday, during the Sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, Gasly had another strong qualifying performance for Alpine, securing eighth, but Ocon was knocked out in Q1.“It wasn’t lost on me before joining that the team had faced criticism, much of it undeserved. This is a team with a deep F1 heritage, successful in many forms over the years. The recent seasons have been tougher, and leadership changes added to the challenges. But since joining, I’ve felt a strong sense of positivity, particularly with leadership now aligned across myself, Flavio (Briatore), and Luca (de Meo),” he says.Alpine has taken the next step in their rebuild by confirming they will use Mercedes power units and the Silver Arrows’ gearboxes from 2026. Alpine’s power unit has been the least competitive on the grid for several years, and at some circuits, their deficit has cost them several tenths of a second — a significant gap in modern-day F1, given how tightly packed the field is.In his short time as team boss, Oakes has taken bold steps, including promoting Jack Doohan from reserve driver to a full-time seat for next season, where he will replace Ocon and drive alongside Gasly, becoming the grid’s second confirmed rookie.“The decision to step away from being a works team and to change our engine partnership was emotional but strategic,” Oakes explains. “We were transparent about our reasons, and the team rallied behind it. It’s a bold move that signals where we want to go as a team. At the core, we aim to stay humble and focused on racing, climbing up the grid, and achieving more.”“In the short term, my goal was to avoid making drastic changes. I wanted to understand the team, build chemistry, and focus on areas needing attention. Long-term, our power unit decision reflects our ambition to climb back to the front. It was a tough call but necessary to position the team for future success.”Oakes acknowledges that stepping into a leadership role mid-season gave him a unique opportunity to integrate quickly with the team, both at the factory and trackside. “One of the great things about joining in the summer is that you get to meet not just the factory team but also the race team. If you join in the winter, you might not immediately have the chance to build those relationships or see everything in action. My wife wasn’t too thrilled since my summer holiday was cut short, but that’s part of the job,” he says.“Looking back, I’d say my impressions of the team haven’t changed much after nearly four months here. The fundamentals are as I expected. It’s all about finding the right chemistry, getting everyone aligned, and pushing in the same direction. Some priorities shifted as I got a clearer view of the team’s inner workings, but that’s to be expected,” Oakes adds.With two races remaining for the season, Oakes is confident Alpine can finish in sixth. “We were fortunate with our result in Brazil — it was a fantastic boost. Since Austin, it’s been clear the car’s performance is improving, which is a testament to our hard work. Few teams manage to make such strides mid-season. The Brazil result has put us firmly in the fight for P6, a close and competitive battle,” he says.“We faced some setbacks, like Pierre’s issue in Vegas, but challenges like these are part of motorsport. They keep us sharp. What excites me most is the team’s spirit—there’s a deep competitiveness and a hunger to improve. After setbacks, we focus on the positives and stay united.”

It was here at the Lusail International Circuit last year that Max Verstappen wrapped up his third successive World Championship title by winning the Sprint race. This time, the Red Bull driver has gone one race better, securing his fourth title in Las Vegas with two Grand Prix still to go in the season. However, there remains one championship battle still alive. The Qatar Grand Prix, which begins today, will serve as a crucial indicator of who might claim the Constructors’ title heading into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Despite Verstappen’s dominance this season, reigning world champions Red Bull are rank outsiders for the team title this year. A resurgent McLaren lead the table with 608 points — 24 clear of Ferrari, with Red Bull a further 53 behind. The form of Sergio Perez has been Red Bull’s undoing this year. The Mexican has had a dreadful season compared to his teammate Verstappen. Perez is eighth in the driver’s standings — a mammoth 251 points adrift of his teammate. He has scored just nine points in the last six Grands Prix weekends, while Verstappen managed more than that tally alone in Las Vegas. These stats do little to inspire confidence in the Red Bull garage, with Team Principal Christian Horner admitting on Thursday, “We have a mountain to climb. But we’ll never give up. Max (Verstappen) has obviously been brilliant so far this year. We need Checo (Sergio Perez) to get on the scoreboard a little more in these next couple of races to have any chance,” said Horner. This leaves McLaren and Ferrari as the frontrunners with the chance to end respective long waits for the title. Ferrari last won the Constructors’ Championship in 2008, while McLaren’s last came a decade earlier, in 1998. After falling behind in the drivers’ title fight in Las Vegas, Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri will be hoping to end the season on a high with a team title. But they face a formidable challenge from Ferrari’s duo, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The Lusail International Circuit’s medium and high-speed long-radius corners, linked with long flat-out stretches, should, in theory at least, suit McLaren. Last year, Piastri took his first F1 pole position and went on to win the Sprint. The Australian and Norris also showed their pace in the corners, finishing second and third respectively behind Verstappen in the main race. McLaren will hope to edge closer to winning their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years — perhaps with some help from Mercedes, who pulled off a rare one-two in Las Vegas, where George Russell won ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. While Piastri and Norris admitted they were strong in Qatar last year, they do not believe they will be the ones to beat again this year. “Last year we were incredibly quick in all the high-speed corners,” said Piastri. “This year, we’re still quick, but it’s not as clear-cut as it was last year, probably.” At the start of the 2023 season, it seemed almost impossible to imagine any team — least of all McLaren — challenging Red Bull for the title before the next major regulation changes in 2026. Struggles in preseason testing set the tone as both Norris and Piastri failed to score points in the opening two races, with the car far off the pace of Red Bull, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Mercedes. Norris reflected on the challenges and his long-term commitment to the team: “I’ve been part of McLaren for eight years now, six years in Formula 1. There have been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of great moments, and some tough ones too,” he said. “I think for me, [the Constructors’ title is] worth more. Some people have come into Formula 1 and won in their first year—there’s not as much of a story. For me, there’s been a lot more that’s gone into it, a lot more chapters in my story, and I think that makes everything feel a little bit more special,” the Brit added. Leclerc and Sainz, meanwhile, feel it will be a tricky weekend — but they retain hope that they can end a 16-year wait for a world title for Ferrari. “It’s going to be until the very end,” said Leclerc. “McLaren are going to be very strong in Qatar, so we’ve got to have a good weekend. I would be very surprised if we recover points from them, but we’ve got to, so we’ll do our best.” Sainz added: “Over the last few weekends, we’ve done a good job. [In Qatar] the maximum might be a P5 or P6. I expect to struggle and I expect McLaren and Mercedes to be very strong, probably also even Red Bull, given that they were strong in qualifying in Austin.” McLaren can wrap things up this weekend in Qatar if they outscore Ferrari by 21 points (or 20 if they win the race, as they could not be beaten on countback results if it’s a tie) and do not lose more than 14 points to Red Bull.

Lucaz Mendes’ stunning stoppage-time strike breathed life into Qatar’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as the hosts eked out a crucial 3-2 win against Uzbekistan in a thrilling encounter last night.Qatar were in familiar territory at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium when they let slip a two-goal advantage – courtesy of a first-half brace from Almoez Ali – as Uzbekistan drew level through twin headers from Abbosbek Fayzullaev.But Mendes saved Qatar’s blushes with a dramatic winner in the dying seconds as the defender’s left-footed shot hit the post and sneaked into the net. The result moves Qatar up to seven points from five matches and to within three of second-placed Uzbekistan. However, Qatar are still in fourth place behind on goal difference to United Arab Emirates, who they play next in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Iran, meanwhile, have pulled ahead to 13 points to lead Group A after their comeback win over North Korea in Vientiane earlier in the day.On the eve of the match, Qatar coach Marquez Lopez had rallied his players to ‘fight till their last breath’. While they fought till the end, there were glimpses of sloppiness last night which had cost them victories against North Korea, UAE and Iran. Even as Mendes had his hand over his head in disbelief as the ball crashed into the net, sending his teammates, support staff and entire stadium into delirium, Lopez swiftly disappeared into the tunnel shaking his head.The Spanish coach clearly was not happy with Qatar’s performance, when they nearly gifted their opponents the match after surrendering a two-goal lead.Almoez, who combined beautifully with player of the match Akram Afif for both goals, admitted their performance dropped in the second half. “It was a challenging game. We made it difficult ourselves after taking a two-goal lead. Our performance dipped in the second half but we made a strong comeback and scored a later winner. These are three precious points and we hope to maintain our winning form,” the Al Duhail forward said.Qatar were without Abdelkarim Hassan and Edmilson Junior, unsurprisingly, as neither had featured in training on the eve of the match due to injuries.Uzbekistan too were dealt a severe blow as captain Eldor Shomurodov limped out of the field in the 21st minute after holding his groin with the Roma striker visibly shaken and in tears.It was a stop-start game, with neither side creating enough momentum to threaten each other’s defence until Asian FC Player of the Year Afif produced a sublime pass in the 25th minute. The Al Sadd star beat at least four Uzbek defenders after a counterattack to find an on rushing Almoez, whose hit brushed goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov’s hand but there was enough pace on the ball to take it over the line.Meshaal Barsham denied Fayzullaev an equaliser 10 minutes later after the CSKA Moscow shot was saved smartly by the Qatar goalkeeper. The visitors were still ruing that miss, before Qatar doubled their lead four minutes remaining for half time as the Afif-Almoez combination paid off again. Afif delivered a low, curling ball to the edge of the six-yard box from a free kick taken 25 yards out, and Ali slipped between two Uzbekistan defenders to finish, leaving Yusupov stranded.Azizbek Turgunboev almost pulled one back for Uzbekistan a minute before halftime, unleashing a shot destined for the top corner, but Barsham made a spectacular save, tipping the ball over the bar. Early in the second half, Otabek Shukurov dragged a shot wide with an improvised heel flick from the edge of the area, while Bibur Abdiholiqov came even closer, striking the post from distance.Afif had a chance to seal the game in the 71st minute, but his weak shot was easily handled by Yusupov. With 15 minutes to go, Fayzullaev took advantage of Khojiakbar Alijonov’s inviting cross from the right, diving in to halve the deficit. Just five minutes later, Fayzullaev struck again, heading home from Jaloliddin Masharipov’s delivery, igniting celebrations on the Uzbekistan bench.There were nervous scenes in the Qatar camp after a VAR check for a red card on Mohammed Waad for his foul on Fayzullaev in the 88th minute. Boualem Khoukhi too seemed to suffer from muscle strain, while Abdullah al-Yazidi twisted his ankle, which meant 12 minutes were added into injury time. And that set up a dramatic ending, which Mendes won’t forget in a hurry. While al-Yazidi made it back to the pitch on a painful limp, Khoukhi too summed up his every last energy to head the ball into the path of unmarked Mendes, who took a shot with his second touch as the ball crashed onto the post.While Qatar’s players and fans celebrated with joy, the Uzbek players sank to their haunches, their comeback effort in vain. Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec was not pleased with his team’s performance. “Luck eluded us as we lost in the last moment of the match. The match was tough as we expected but we didn’t put up a required performance,” he said. “We recovered well after conceding two goals but conceded a fatal goal at the last moment. This is what football is.”

With Qatar’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup hanging by a thread, coach Marquez Lopez insists his players "will fight until the last breath" in a must-win match against Uzbekistan.On Thursday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, the two-time Asian champions face an unbeaten Uzbekistan side riding high on confidence, as the White Wolves chase a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. The Central Asian team currently sits on 10 points—level with Iran, as both teams hold the two automatic qualifying spots in Group A.Qatar’s position is far more precarious, with just four points from four matches. A six-point gap between them and the top two makes Lopez's task all the more daunting.A defeat to Uzbekistan Thursday, coupled with an Iran victory against North Korea in Vientiane, Laos, would widen that gap to nine points—a nearly insurmountable distance, even with half of the qualifying campaign still to go.It's a reality not lost on Lopez, who faces immense pressure as his job comes under increasing scrutiny just nine months after leading Qatar to a second Asian Cup title at home.While Qatar forwards have been in fine form, it’s the team’s defence frailties that has haunted Lopez. Injuries to key defenders – including Pedro Miguel has not helped his cause as he hopes to bring in fine balance in defence and attack.Qatar lost both their matches against the United Arab Emirates and Iran after taking the lead. While Lopez has bolstered his side with the inclusion of experienced forward Mohammed Muntari, who makes a return after a long injury layoff, it remains to be seen how Qatar fare against Uzbekistan’s forwards.Lopez acknowledged his Qatar's defensive struggles but was confident that his team can rise to the occasion. “Yes, we've conceded 10 goals in the qualifiers, and injuries have often made things difficult. Defensively, we don’t have many options, and key players getting injured only adds to the challenge,” the Spaniard said in a press conference Wednesday.“That said, we are ready for the match, and we need to give 200%. Players are human, and mistakes happen—football can be unforgiving. We face a lot of challenges when preparing the squad, especially when injuries occur. Our goal is to win and secure the three points that will be key to our hopes of qualification. The players and everyone involved are aware of this, and we hope everything goes in our favor. We will fight until the last breath to win," the Qatar coach added.Uzbekistan have kept six clean sheets in their last eight World Cup qualifying matches as they even held Iran to a goalless draw. Forwards Oston Urunov and Jaloliddin Masharipov are both fitness concerns but the White Wolves welcome back head coach Srecko Katanec after illness forced him to miss the last two qualifiers.Uzbekistan's squad features several players playing at a high level of European football, a luxury Qatar do not enjoy. Captain Eldor Shomurodov represents Serie A side Roma, Abdukhodir Khusanov has been impressive in France at Lens, while Abbosbek Fayzullaev is a key playmaker for CSKA Moscow."They are a tough team that doesn't concede many goals and consistently plays with the same group,” said Lopez. “They have excellent players, especially their attacking trio. We saw how much we struggled against them in the Asian Cup until it went to penalty kicks. We'll try to impose our style—I won't change my approach. We've studied the opponent closely and trained hard throughout the past week. We'll look to exploit their weaknesses, but it will be a challenging match," he noted.For Uzbekistan, a win against Qatar Thursday would put them well on course for a historic World cup appearance in two years’ time. Despite some impressive performances in qualification over the years, the closest Uzbekistan came was in 2014, with only goal difference denying them an automatic spot at the tournament before they were beaten in a play-off by Jordan.There is optimism, however, that they could be about to break their duck and secure a place at the 2026 competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.Shomurodov was optimistic about his team’s chances, with the captain saying a victory Thursday over Qatar will be a pivotal step towards qualification.“If we manage to beat Qatar, our chances will improve even further,” he said. “We’re fully focused on getting those three points. Qatar is right behind us in the standings. We must do everything we can to keep them from closing in. Winning this game is crucial.”Uzbekistan’s assistant coach, Vlado Radmanovich said one key moment could prove to be a difference against Qatar. “The match will be decided on small details. One accurate shot, one dribble, or one mistake can make the difference. Not losing the match will be a good result,” he said Wednesday.The top two finishers in each group will qualify automatically for the World Cup. The six nations that finish third and fourth in their respective groups then advance to the fourth round, where a further two automatic berths are available. One additional team will then advance to the FIFA Play-off Tournament, where six sides compete for the last two tickets to the global finals.

In May 2012, Mutaz Barshim was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lumbar spine, leaving his participation in the London Olympic Games uncertain until the last moment. Three years later, in 2015, Barshim reflected on that pivotal moment, saying, “Because it was the Olympics, I took my chance, and I ended up with a bronze medal (later upgraded to silver) after jumping 2.29 metres. That gave me a lot of confidence because I thought, ‘If I can do that with a broken back, imagine what I can achieve when I’m healthy.’”Twelve years later, standing on the podium with his fourth Olympic medal — bronze — draped around his neck in Paris, Barshim would look back at the moment with pride and gratitude. His crowning achievement was undoubtedly the gold he won at the Tokyo Olympics, which will forever be remembered in folklore as the Qatari legend shared the gold with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi after both were locked in first place.But the bronze in the Paris Games will hold a special place in his heart. At the age of 33, with injuries plaguing him — he was troubled by a calf injury in qualifying — Barshim was still able to produce magic when needed. He was eventually outdone by the Hamish Kerr of New Zealand for gold and Shelby McEwen for silver. But as he showed that night at the Stade de France, Barshim can still give his young rivals a run for their money.Having announced that the Paris Games would be his last Olympics, Barshim stated that his next goal is to win his fourth World title in Tokyo next year. He has also set his sights on a fourth gold at the 2026 Asian Games, which will be held in Japan. So, could he push for another appearance at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028?“Well, it’s almost like people are trying to negotiate with me now,” said Barshim with a chuckle on Thursday, in his first interaction with the media since winning the bronze in Paris.While admitting “it’s possible” to compete in his fifth Olympics, the legend that is Barshim said he would do so only if he can sustain the high standards that he has set all these years.“I know I can go for one more, but for me, it’s not just about going to the Olympics and being there. When I’m there, I want to go for a win. For me, in order to do that, I need to be 100 percent. I don’t really like going to competitions without being fit. I have to just try not to get injured. It’s really, really difficult as a passionate high jumper to do that. And that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 2-3 years. I would let myself take the time to heal. But it’s possible. You never know,” he added.Barshim, however, is confident he can be at his best at next year’s World Championships in Tokyo, where he will look to create more history after winning three straight golds in London 2017, Doha 2019, and Eugene 2022. Besides, he is also looking forward to elevating the What Gravity Challenge — a competition he hosted earlier this year and won.“There is always something new, and I will be competing in the World Championships in Japan next year. The rest of the events, like the Diamond League, only if it serves our agenda. It has to be part of the training that leads to a bigger championship. So of course, it might be a few Diamond League events,” he said.“But for me, the most important will be the What Gravity Challenge. It’s my baby, and the first edition was amazing. So I’m looking forward to competing in that and the World Championships, and anything apart from that, we’ll see.”The second-best high jumper in history, with a personal best of 2.43m achieved at the Diamond League in Brussels in September 2014, Barshim is only behind Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor (2.45m) on the all-time list. In July 2018, he damaged his left ankle ligaments while attempting to break Sotomayor’s world record, which has stood since 1993.While Sotomayor himself recently admitted it will be tough for Barshim to break the record, the Qatari legend has not given up hope. “Every day I wake up, I take it day by day. How can I be better? And for me, I look at everything as a challenge, and the world record is not excluded. It’s always there,” Barshim said, with his eyes lighting up at the mention of the world record.“The challenge is to push yourself 110%. I’m waiting for that moment. But for the past two or three years, it really has been difficult because I wasn’t 100% healthy. And it was too much of a risk to push myself to that level, knowing that you have a championship which is important for that year. I can’t push myself early and end up injured. I feel like at this stage, I’ve done it all, and the only thing I’m looking for is to be healthy and push myself. So let’s hope for the next few seasons,” he said.Barshim has already figured out what he would do after calling it a day on his illustrious career—working with youngsters in Qatar.“The experience I’ve been collecting and all the knowledge is only right to give back, you know. It’s only about timing — when it is the right time to feel like I want to do something now — because while you’re still active, it’s really, really difficult,” he said.“I have confidence. You know, we have a very good young team. For example, there’s eleven people, as we speak, flying to the World Juniors. The talent is there, the infrastructure is there,” he added.Barshim wrapped up the personal interactions thanking his family and his father. “Growing up in a sports family, seeing my father compete on television. I wanted to be like him, he was role model. Today, I think I am better than him,” he said in a lighter vein with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. “Yeah, it’s all in the family.”

DOHA: Two of the reigning Olympic and World champions – Neeraj Chopra and Miltiadis Tentoglou – had to contend for the second place at the Doha Diamond League on Friday. Jakub Vadlejch – the runner-up in Doha for the past two years – got the better of India’s golden boy Chopra in javelin by just two centimetres, while Jamaican Carey McLeod stunned Tentoglou in long jump with a massive 8.52m leap in his fourth attempt. Not all favourites had an off day last night though at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium, with Alison dos Santos and Kenny Bednarek breaking meet records with dominant performances. Brazilian dos Santos broke his own record in Doha, setting two years to win the 400m hurdles in 46.86 secs – the fifth fastest time ever. The 23-year-old former world champion – who struggled with injuries last year – won by more than one-and-a-half seconds from USA’s CJ Allen (48.39) with France’s Wilfried Happio further back in third (49.10). “This is a very good way to start things – I’m very excited,” said Dos Santos. “It’s going to be a tough year, so to start in this fashion is very positive.” America’s Bednarek, meanwhile, scorched to a world-leading 19.67sec in 200 metres. The 2022 world silver medallist crossed the line a clear winner, smashing Noah Lyles’ six-year-old meeting record by 0.15. His compatriot Courtney Lindsey was a distant second in 20.01 and Kyree King made it a US clean sweep by placing third in 20.21. “I feel great about the race. I knew I was in this shape, I just had to put it down on the track,” said Bednarek, who finished second to Canada’s Andre De Grasse at the Tokyo Olympics. “I’m healthy, I’m stronger than ever and I’m ready to go.” Olympic champion Steven Gardiner was a comfortable winner of the men’s 400m. The 28-year-old, who won the world title in Doha in 2019, finished 0.31 ahead of Muzala Samukonga of Zambia. The most enthralling contest, however, came in the men’s javelin – where Chopra was a clear fan favourite. The affable 26-year-old – who was inundated with selfie requests from Qatar’s large Indian diaspora an hour after the event had ended – nearly overcame a foul start to snatch victory from Czech Republic’s Vadlejch. In the final round, Chopra sent his spear flying well beyond the 85-metre line. But he fell just 2cms shy of 88.38m thrown by Vadlejch in round three. “It was a little bit revenge for last year,” said Vadlejch, who lost out to Chopra by four centimetres in Doha last year. “I think it’s a good rivalry and it’s good for the spectators,” the Diamond League champion added. Chopra, who again missed out on joining the elite 90m club, felt he could have done better. “I’m satisfied with the result but I’m not satisfied with my effort,” he said. “I think I can do something about this and maybe next competition I will throw far.” Meanwhile, world indoor bronze medallist McLeod upset the small Greece contingent rooting for Tentoglou as the Jamaican wind-assisted leap of 8.52m gave him long jump honours. It was the longest jump of his career in any conditions, but 5.2m tailwind meant it wouldn’t count as a personal or meeting record for McLeod. “It is a great feeling, in order to win I have to jump something amazing. It was not windy, so it was wonderful. I will just go back home to see how well I can prepare for the next competition. 8.52 is amazing,” he said. Tentoglou’s best was 8.36m on the night and the 26-year old said: “It was my first competition and I was feeling kind of rusty at the beginning. But every time I was getting better.” Swiss Simon Ehammer was third with a wind-assisted 8.30m. Kenyan fans, who poured in large numbers, were dancing in delight after world title-holder Mary Moraa held off Britain’s Jemma Reekie to win the women’s 800m by half a second in 1:57.91, her season’s best. Moraa was pushed all the way by Reekie, the world indoor silver medallist. Benin’s Noelie Yarigo was third in 1:58.70. “I can say it was a hard race, all of us were in good shape,” said Moraa. Another Kenyan Beatrice Chebet was similarly impressive in the women’s 5000m. In the high-quality field – which featured the likes of Ejgayehu Taye and her fellow Ethiopians Medina Eisa and Melknat Wudu – Chebet unleashed a burst of speed with 200m to go to win in a world-leading 14:26.98. Kenya’s Brian Komen came out narrowly ahead of compatriots Timothy Cheruiyot – the former world champion and Tokyo 2020 silver-medallist – and Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot with 3:32.43 in the men’s 1,500m. In the women’s pole vault, Britain’s world indoor champion Molly Caudery won on countback against reigning world champion Nina Kennedy of Australia after they both cleared 4.73. Meanwhile, European bronze medallist Ditaji Kambundji came from behind to win the 100m hurdles. The Swiss 21-year-old came off the final hurdle well to propel herself past USA’s Tonea Marshall, winning in 12.49. In a race where 0.05 separated the top four finishers, Marshall was second in 12.51 and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska was third in 12.53. In the women’s 100m flat, Britain’s Darryl Neita edged ahead of USA’s Tamari Davis to win by 0.01 in a season’s best of 10.98. Celera Barnes was a close third in 11.02. And in the final race of the night, Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu was locked in a fierce sprint with world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott in the closing stages of the men’s 3000m steeplechase, eventually emerging with victory in a PB of 8:07.25. Serbian teenager Angelina Topic, the youngest in the field by five years, won the women’s high jump with 1.94m, clearing all of her bars up to and including that height on her first attempt.

An hour or so after the pre-event press conference for the Doha Diamond League was over, Neeraj Chopra was still giving interviews to journalists, seeking exclusive quotes from India’s javelin superstar. While others who attended the media conference – Steven Gardiner, Nina Kennedy and Miltiadis Tentoglou – had long left the venue and were taking much-needed rest before Friday’s event at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Chopra was in no hurry to leave.Among many amazing qualities that the reigning Olympic, World and Asian champion possesses, it’s his rare ability to handle every situation with composure and always sport a smile and pose for pictures for anyone who walks up to him.But there is one question that has followed him ever since – by his own admission – he threw 88.06m at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, en route to winning the gold medal. When will he cross the 90m mark?“I really want to break this barrier,” Chopra said on Thursday, as he launches himself towards what he hopes will be a successful title defence at the Olympic Games in Paris this August.Fellow Olympic and World long jump Champion Tentoglou, who was seated two seats away from Chopra, chipped in: “I will be very happy if Neeraj throws 90m tomorrow, truly happy.”The Greek echoed what everyone in the athletics world would want. The 90m throw is a magic mark for a javelin thrower and Chopra – who set his personal best of 89.94 in 2022 – has never shied away from acknowledging that he needs to cross it one day. For an athlete, who has won all that needs to be won, the distance should not matter. But here is Chopra, who continues his quest for excellence despite having gone the distance no Indian has dared to achieve.“I am stuck between 88 and 90 metres,” said Chopra in a lighter vein on Thursday. “This question has followed me ever since I threw 88.06 at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. But I had elbow surgery soon after, which forced me to miss the 2019 season.“But I really want to break the barrier this year. Even last year, I had said that Doha is famous for 90m. But, we were not lucky due to too much headwind. Maybe tomorrow we’ll have a good day. Obviously, it is the Olympics year and India is a big country and everyone always expects gold. My focus is to just stay healthy and concentrate on my technique. And yes, if I stay healthy everything will be good,” the 26-year-old added.Chopra, however, insisted remaining consistent has been his key to success in big events. “Maybe it is my greatest weapon. I will throw over 90, but consistency is more important for me,” he pointed out.Chopra enjoys immense popularity in India but downplayed his celebrity status saying his decision to train in South Africa, Turkiye recently and in Europe later this year, was motivated by the need to focus on the Paris Olympics.On Friday, Chopra will face competition from Jakub Vadlejch, to whom he finished second at the Diamond League final in Eugene last September but ended his season with victory at the Asian Games.They will be joined by Grenada’s two-time world champion Anderson Peters, who finished third behind Chopra and Vadlejch in Doha last year, plus 2015 world champion Julius Yego and world finalist Oliver Helander.The women’s pole vault features the indoor and outdoor world champions, as Australia’s Nina Kennedy opens her Diamond League campaign against Britain’s Molly Caudery, who competes for the first time since her world indoor triumph in Glasgow.Kennedy said she was confident of adding Olympic gold later this year as she begins her season in Doha.“The last two years in my career have been a huge step up. Two world medals and a Diamond League final winner. I will be going to this Olympics with a good shot. It’s these new nerves and new feelings, which is all new to me. I am trying to approach it exactly like last year. I am excited but I am trying to enjoy this pressure,” the Australian said.In the men’s long jump, world and Olympic champion Tentoglou makes his Doha Diamond League debut as part of a field also featuring Carey McLeod, Tajay Gayle and Simon Ehammer.The 26-year-old athlete – who retained his world indoor title with victory in Glasgow in March – boasts a personal best of 8.60m from 2021 and is so far unbeaten this year. In recent years he has gained a reputation for being an exceptional championship performer and in particular, for his final jump heroics. “I keep myself motivated because I love the event and love to jump,” said Tentoglou, when asked about what motivates to keep going.“I plan to get better every time and every year. This year is very special because of the Olympics in Paris. There are European Championships too next month. I am doing more quality training. It’s going to be a difficult year but I am excited. I am definitely one of the best and other guys know that I can jump very well anytime so I think I put pressure on them,” the Greek said.

Doha: Francesco Bagnaia is still the man to beat in the new MotoGP season after the reigning champion’s commanding victory at the Grand Prix of Qatar. Under the lights at the Lusail International Circuit, the factory Ducati rider was untroubled after he shot past pole-sitter and sprint winner Jorge Martin, who managed to cling on to third spot on the podium.Brad Binder repeated his Saturday’s sprint heroics as the KTM rider finished second, but was a whopping +1.329 secs behind Bagnaia, who barely gave a sniff to his rivals last night.After finishing fourth in the sprint, it was a statement of sorts from Bagnaia, who had won his second successive title last year after a close battle with Martin.Marc Marquez went one better than sprint to finish fourth on his Gresini Grand Prix debut. The eight-time champion was involved in a fascinating tussle with rookie Pedro Acosta, who justified the hype around him with an impressive debut before railing off to end ninth.Bagnaia, starting from fifth on the grid, slotted into second behind Martin before the Italian scythed past Prima Ducati rider up the inside into Turn 4 to snatch the lead straight away. There was going to be only one winner on the night thereafter as Bagnaia steadily built the gap between him and the rest of the pack en route to his 19th MotoGP victory.The 27-year-old later said the changes made to his Desmosedici GP24 after the woes in sprint, worked perfectly in the Grand Prix. “We work in silence. We knew our potential, we tried to do the maximum yesterday, knowing that it was important to change something for today’s race. And what we did this morning in the warm-up was important,” he said.“The race was completely different compared to yesterday. I tried to manage in a different way and it worked. So I’m very happy and now we move on to Portimao (for the Portugal GP) with another step in front we did with the new bike,” he said.Binder and Martin battled for the second spot for much of the night, switching positions on a number of occasions before the South African had the better of tussle when the Spaniard ran wide at Turn 1 on lap 11.“I’m super stoked with the result today,” said Binder. “When we were going in we knew it was going to be tough to get the tyres to the end, I’m surprised we managed to do it so well to be honest. I tried to get close to Pecco (Bagnaia) but he did an unreal job, not making one single mistake during the entire race. Hats off to him. Thank you to my team, they did an incredible job and my bike was next level today compared to yesterday again. If we get this going we will get it right eventually.”Martin ended up 0.5s down at the finish after picking up his pace on the penultimate lap of the race to ward off a late push for podium from Marquez.“Today was a difficult race. I started quite well, but then straight away I was trying to manage the tyre a bit and Pecco was pushing a bit more at that point,” Martin said.“P3 and yesterday’s win, with a lot of points for the weekend, so I’m pleased and I’m really looking forward to the next one,” he added.Marquez, who got to within four tenths of Martin at one point, later said he abandoned his pursuit for podium spot after struggling with the front tyre.“We analysed with the team a lot of things to try to manage the start, it was better today,” the Gresini rider said.“I did attack in the last eight laps, and when I did it was when I started to push more with the front and my front tyre was finished, and the last two laps I gave up because I saw the chance to crash and the chance to take two more points, three more points... I preferred to finish fourth and wait for two weeks in Portimao.”Marquez, meanwhile, was put under pressure by Tech3 GasGas’s Acosta. The KTM-backed rookie moved into fourth position at Turn 1 on lap 12 after a stunning move. But as his tyres began to wear off, he ran wide two laps later, which handed the spot back to Marquez.Acosta’s pace dropped significantly in the final quarter of the race, with both Gresini’s Alex Marquez and factory Ducati’s second rider Enea Bastianini breezing past him.Earlier, the race was reduced from 22 to 21 laps after Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez experienced a technical issue on the starting grid.Fernandez’s bike was taken back to the pits. He was due to begin from 12th on the grid, but instead he started from the back of the grid, giving up 10 positions.Fernandez’s miserable night ended with four laps to go when he retired into the pits – making him the only rider not to complete the season-opening Grand Prix.

Doha: In his own words, Jorge Martin came ‘really close to crashing in a lot of corners’. But to the naked eye, the Prima Pramac rider was in firm control at the Lusail International circuit, as he eased into Saturday’s sprint victory at MotoGP’s season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar.Martin, who lost the championship title agonisingly to Francesco Bagnaia last year, had issues with rear chatter on his GP24 Ducati – which had also plagued him throughout pre-season testing. But the Spaniard expertly steered himself to victory from start to finish – his 10th Sprint win since the format was introduced last year.KTM’s Brad Binder was 0.548s behind in second, while Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro burst past Bagnaia in the closing stages to take the final podium spot. Eight-time grand prix world champion Marc Marquez finished fifth on his Gresini Ducati debut, after a late mistake allowed Espargaro to overtake him.After pocketing the first 12 points of the season, Martin though was less optimistic about his chances in Sunday’s Grand Prix if Pramac cannot find an answer to persistent chatter problems. “I was fast, but the rear chatter is still there,” Martin said.“So, we need to work on it. I think today I was really close to crashing in a lot of corners. So, I was struggling a lot. Today we achieved the win, but for sure tomorrow if we keep it like this (the chatter problem) it will be impossible. So, let’s work on it. I feel confident, I feel fast. The only thing is the bike, so we’re going to work on it tonight and let’s see if we can enjoy a big one,” the 26-year-old added.Martin had earlier broken the lap record in qualifying to clinch pole position. When the lights went out, he was put under pressure by Binder – who had qualified fourth but was behind Martin’s rear wheel in no time. The two quickly built up a half second gap from the rest of the pack led by Espargaro.Binder got extremely close to passing Martin into Turn 1 at the start of lap two, but that was South African’s only opportunity to take the lead as Pramac rider stayed in control till the chequered flag.Factory Ducati’s Bagnaia, who started from fifth, was up a place by the end of the first lap. But he slipped a place after Espargaro powered past him at Turn 15 on the penultimate lap.Espargaro himself had dropped behind Marquez at one point, but the latter ran wide at Turn 14 on lap eight, which allowed the Aprilia ride to move back into fourth.Bagnaia’s teammate Enea Bastianini was sixth, while Alex Marquez got the better of Pedro Acosta at the line, beating the rookie to seventh position. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) came across the line to score the final point of the night after coming home to finish in ninth position.Fabio di Giannantonio, the surprise winner of the grand prix in Qatar last year, took a thumping fall from his VR46 Ducati bike on lap eight.Meanwhile, Marquez was all smiles despite finishing fifth after at one point he was in contention for the podium. Making his debut for Gresini Racing in a Ducati after 11 years at Honda, the Spaniard seemed to have made adjustments to the new manufacturer.Later, the 31-year-old said his decision to quit Honda was correct when asked if his sprint result in Lusail validated his decision for him. “When I took the decision I was fully convinced and I’m still convinced. And what I said on Thursday, my target is to try to fight in those top six positions,” Marquez said.When asked how it felt to race a Ducati compared to the Honda, he added: “Easier. You overtake on the straight and then it’s easier. Especially when you arrive at the brake points a bit closer. So, yeah, I was able to overtake two, three riders today and I was able to be in that fight. But of course you need the speed. Speed means lap time, and still at that point I need two, three tenths that for example Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Aleix Espargaro had.”Sprint result1. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 20min 41.287sec, 2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) at 0.548s, 3. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 0.729, 4. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 1.625, 5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 1.872, 6. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati) 2.322, 7. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 3.154, 8. Pedro Acosta (ESP/GasGaS-Tech3) 4.431, 9. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 6.738, 10. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM) 12.670, 11. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 12.835, 12. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 12.863, 13. Miguel Oliveira (POR/Aprilia-Trackhouse) 13.095, 14. Raul Fernandez (ESP/Aprilia-Trackhouse) 13.795, 15. Joan Mir (ESP/Honda) 14.096, 16. Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda-LCR) 14.840, 17. Alex Rins (ESP/Yamaha) 15.629, 18. Augusto Fernandez (ESP/GasGaS-Tech3) 17.711, 19. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 22.733, 20. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Ducati-Pramac) 23.267, 21. Luca Marini (ITA/Honda) 25.553DNF: Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati-VR46)Championship standings1. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 12, 2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 9, 3. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 7, 4. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 6, 5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 5, 6. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati) 4, 7. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 3, 8. Pedro Acosta (ESP/GasGaS-Tech3) 2, 9. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 1

Not since Valentino Rossi’s switch to Yamaha from Honda in 2004 has there been as much excitement in the MotoGP paddock as Marc Marquez’s move from Honda to Gresini Ducati ahead of this season.The eight-time world champion was offered a big-money contract to extend his trophy-laden 11-year stay at Honda. However, the Spaniard – who is winless since 2021 and has had a wretched luck with injuries – opted to join his brother Alex at the satellite Gresini team this season.The 31-year-old will ride a year-old version of the title-winning Ducati Desmosedici, and he couldn’t have asked for a better place to start the second innings of his MotoGP career. At the Lusail International Circuit – which will host the season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar this weekend – the Gresini team has won the last two races courtesy of former riders Enea Bastianini (2022) and Fabio di Giannantonio (2023).However, Marquez has sought to temper expectations as he expects battle for the championship to remain between two-time defending champion Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati and runner-up Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing.Marquez is the last rider to win three titles in a row, while Bagnaia is the clear favourite to match that record this year, the man he looks to emulate may himself be a dark horse this time.Marquez finished fourth-fastest in pre-season testing in Qatar last month, but having had to adapt his riding style with the Desmosedici GP23 bike, he has a point to prove. “My target is to try to feel competitive again, then I’ll smile and have the motivation to push and keep going,” Marquez said at a press conference on Thursday.“Expectations are super high, but I know what I’ve been through in the last four years. I need time. No rush. I don’t pretend to win from the beginning because it would be a huge mistake, especially because I haven’t won a single race (since 2021). And now I arrive in a manufacturer where there are two-three guys, especially Pecco, Martin and Bastianini, who are riding this bike superfast, super good. I need to learn from them and adapt,” he added.Marquez’s cautious approach is pragmatic. In the last four seasons, he has crashed numerous times while often attempting to push Honda’s bike beyond its limits and thus had to undergo four surgeries on his arm.Marquez’s last title came in 2019, and he is now bidding to become the oldest premier class World Champion in the MotoGP era. Marquez said he is feeling “comfortable” on the Gresini Ducati, but is “not ready to fight for the podium“Of course, it was a completely different pre-season because I was used to riding, just trying things for the bike and developing a bike,” Marquez said. “But this winter was the complete opposite. I was focused on myself, trying to adapt my riding style to the new bike, and from the beginning I was not feeling bad. Still, there are many things to learn and many things to improve, especially learning from the top guys inside Ducati. At the moment I feel comfortable, not ready to fight for the podium, not ready to fight for the victory, but step by step we need to create the base and try to understand during the race weekends where we are.”He also admits that he is now at a stage in his career that he must start to ‘learn’ from the younger riders around him to remain competitive. “We cannot forget that every athlete has his moment and then starts to drop. Then you need to work harder and harder to keep flat. Young guys arrive, like Fabio in his first year, now Pedro, Pecco, Martin that are riding faster. So I need to learn from the younger riders and try to keep that level as long as possible,” he said.Meanwhile, Alex Marquez – who is in his second season with Gresini Racing – says he is excited to share the garage with his more illustrious older brother. “You have to take things as a joke and even more so when it’s your brother,” Alex said on Thursday.“There’s a healthy rivalry. I arrive prepared and with a lot of enthusiasm, very positive. Then during a 21-race season there will be problems and there will be better and worse moments. But to start well is a big step. So we are ready, I feel very good every day being competitive and above all having the bike much more in my hand. It’s going to be a special weekend, the first race with Marc and for the whole team.”

Jenson Button says his ‘expectations are high’ but called his team as ‘underdog that is hungry to succeed’ as the former Formula One champion embarks on a new chapter with a full-time Porsche Hypercar ride in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Team JOTA.The Brit will team up with Phil Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen at this weekend’s season opener, the Qatar 1812km at the Lusail International Circuit.A bumper crop of 26 WEC rookies are on the grid at the Qatar 1812km, of which eight are entered in Hypercar and 18 in the new-for-2024 LMGT3 class. And Button is ready to lead JOTA’s charge in their debut season with two Hypercars, setting their sights on more than just the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams title.Button’s return to the forefront of endurance racing marks his first full-time race programme since 2019, following a podium finish at the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona with WTR Andretti. And Button is going full tilt to make it a memorable season.“Expectations are always high,” said Button on Wednesday. “You don’t go into a season hoping to finish second or third in the championship. But you have to be realistic because we are racing against mighty manufacturers. We are, I would say, an underdog. But an underdog hungry to succeed and that’s what is exciting about it. It reminds me of my 2019 F1 season, when I raced for Brawn and won the World Championship. So hopefully history will repeat itself,” the 44-year-old said.Button’s experience in diverse racing categories should help him and his team transition to prototype racing. Button said he enjoyed his first experience of driving at Lusail in the Prologue test on Monday and Tuesday.“There’s something about the asphalt that’s very tricky,” said the British driver. “It’s very edgy, and it’s easy to lose the car on corner entry. It makes it difficult to push aggressively, but it also makes it fun, because you can drive the car in a manner that you can’t at most circuits. It kind of feels like driving a go-kart, when you see the steering inputs. It’s a challenging but fun circuit to drive.”Button, who won 15 races and finished on the podium 50 times in 300 races in his 17-year long F1 career, was excited with the challenge of endurance racing.“It’s good. Unlike F1, we get to test all week, so we’ve been doing a prologue. It’s basically our test before the season. So we’ve been driving on track and it’s been really good. The championship is in a really good place. There’s 19 cars in hypercars, and then you’ve also got the GT3 cars racing. So, endurance racing is in a really good place right now and it’s such an exciting championship with many different manufacturers involved as well as privateer teams like Team Jota,” he said.Unlike the cutthroat competition within F1 teams where teammates are often viewed as adversaries, endurance racing demands a unified effort. And Button relished the prospect of teamwork with his teammates Rasmussen and Hanson“In terms of teamwork, it’s very similar to Formula 1 in terms of you need to work closely with your engineers and strategists and what have you. And it’s obviously on a slightly smaller scale, but still very, very professional,” Button observed.“The difference here is that you actually work with your teammates to succeed rather than fighting your teammate. You know, in F1 the most important person for you to beat is your teammate, whereas here you’re working with your teammates because you’re all driving the same car. So it’s almost a 10-hour race, I think we’ll have it under the lights here in Doha. So, yeah, it’s a busy week, but a fun week and really good gelling with my teammates, Oliver Rasmussen and Phil Hanson,” he added.After the stint in Qatar, Button will have a chance to tackle some of the most famous endurance races in motorsport, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while also visiting some of the venues that he raced at during his F1 career such as Imola, Spa, Interlagos, Austin, Fuji and Sakhir.Button said he feels energised ahead of the season and is ready for more. “From 2019 to now I’ve had two kids, but they’re a little older now. It makes it easier now when I’m travelling,” he explains. “During Covid we all felt like we lost years, and I would have been racing in something full time, I think, but it didn’t work out.“So I did NASCAR, Le Mans, Petit Le Mans. I enjoyed it, but jumping in and out, you don’t get the best out of yourself. I want to dig deep into the details and technology. I’m excited about competing in a full season. I don’t see this as a one-year deal. I don’t want to be jumping around now. I am 44, I won’t be racing for many more years. I’m fully on it in wanting to achieve over the next couple of years. I don’t want to be switching championships. I think I’ll be doing WEC for the next couple of years.”

Malin Baryard-Johnsson and her mare H&M Indiana share a special relationship and that was on display in abundance on Saturday as the pair worked in tandem to clinch the CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix.Baryard-Johnsson and her 16-year-old horse H&M Indiana have been partners for nine years, with the Sweden rider calling the mare the ‘best horse I’ve ever had’. On Saturday, under the lights of the magnificent Al Shaqab arena, the pair showed their class to win the CSI5* 1.60m class, the marquee event of the 11th edition of the prestigious competition.Only 12 out of nearly 40 combinations made it into the jump-off, in which Baryard-Johnsson steered to a clear round aboard H&M Indiana in 43.19 seconds. Just 0.04 second adrift was Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, who was in the saddle of the 19-year-old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot.Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir also had quite some experience under his saddle with the 16-year-old Iq van het Steentje but the pair had to settle for third place in time of 43.88 seconds.After her triumph, Baryard-Johnsson could not stop singing the praise of her horse H&M Indiana, who has played a big role in the life of the 48-year-old rider.With her mare, Baryard-Johnsson became team Olympic champion in Tokyo and team World Champion last year, after winning silver with the team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon four years earlier. The pair turned clear rounds for Sweden in countless Nation prizes, and when they compete in the Global Champions Tour, they are usually placed in the top ten.“When you have a horse like H&M Indiana, you can’t do anything wrong,” said a delighted Baryard-Johnsson as she was Cleary emotional. “She is jumping her heart out. I am really emotional, because she is so good. For the second day in a row – the jump off yesterday and two rounds today – she just keeps trying harder. It’s so nice to ride her and she really deserves this win. Of course, having partnered with her for a long time helps. We know each other inside out. Every win is a great win. It’s great to win here too. My mare really deserves this win,” she added.Meanwhile, Jose Daniel Martin Dockx emerged triumphant Dressage CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle. The Spaniard astride 14-year-old stallion Malagueno LXXXIII rode to victory with 79.300%. The pair had finished second in the Grand Prix with 72.283% on Friday.France’s Morgan Barbancon took second place with the twelve-year-old KWPN member Habana Libre A with 76.055%. Justina Vanagaite of Lithuania came third with the eleven-year-old BWP rider Nabab with 75.745%.Portuguese rider Maria Caetano, with her horse Horizonte, won the dressage Grand Prix Special, one day after finishing third in the Grand Prix. The combination scored 70.021% to finish ahead of USA’s Lina Uzunhasan (69.319%), in Furst Fabelhaft Uzn, and the Netherlands’ Laurens van Lieren (68.234%), in Dutch Design.ResultsCSI5* • CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix; Prize money €410.000(Ranking, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Penalty, Time)1) Malin Baryard-Johnsson, SWE – H&M Indiana, 0, 43.19 secs2) Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, ESP – Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, 0, 43.23 secs3) Wilm Vermeir, BEL – Iq van het Steentje, 0, 43.88 secsCSI5* • Faults & Time (LR) • 1.50m; Prize money €56.8001) Max Kuhner, AUT – Eic Julius Caesar, 0, 55.55 secs2) Michael Duffy, IRL – Dublin, 0, 56.04 secs3) Christian Ahlmann, GER – Otterongo Alpha Z, 0, 56.16CSI3* • Grand Prix - Jump Off 1.50m; Prize money €105.5001) Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, GER – Messi Van ‘T Ruytershof, 0, 35.03 secs2) Abdullah Alsharbatly, KSA – Atome des Etisses, 0, 35.10 secs3) Ali al-Khorafi, KUW – I, 0, 36.79 secsCSI1* • Grand Prix - Jump Off • 1.25m; Prize money €100001) Saad Ahmed al-Saad, QAT – Irschi, 0, 33.53 secs2) Abdalmalik Alqahtani, KSA – Edwin, 0, 37.05 secs3) Hussain Alkharafi, KUW – Miss’s Blue S Z, 4, 35.53 secsCSI3* • Faults & Time • 1.35m; Prize money €5.0001) Faleh Suwead al-Ajami, QAT – Steyburn, 0, 52.78 secs2) Roberto Previtali, ITA – Hachiko, 0, 53.73 secs3) Hussain Said Haidan, QAT – D Saucedo, 0, 54.74 secsDressage CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle(Ranking, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Percentage)1) Jose Daniel Martin Dockx, ESP – Malagueno LXXXIII, 79.300%2) Morgan Barbancon, FRA – Habana Libre A, 76.055%3) Justina Vanagaite, LTU – Nabab, 75.745%Dressage CDI5* • Grand Prix Special1) Maria Caetano, POR – Horizonte, 70.021%2) Lina Uzunhasan, USA – Furst Fabelhaft Uzn, 69.319%3) Laurens van Lieren, NED – Dutch Design 68.234%Para Dressage CPEDI3* • Para Grand Prix Freestyle IV1) Kate Shoemaker, USA – Vianne, 77.208%2) Melissa Janssen, NED – Royal Rubinstein, 74.334%CPEDI3* • Para Grand Prix Freestyle I1) Claire Overweg, NED – Jackson B, 73.389%2) Michail Kalarakis, GRE – Eros CS, 68.944%CPEDI3* • Para Grand Prix Freestyle II1) Fiona Howard, USA – Jagger, 77.723%2) Sho Inaba, JPN – Huzette BH 70.000%3) Pepo Puch, AUT – Vis Viva 67.222%CPEDI3* • Para Grand Prix Freestyle III1) Maud Haarhuis, NED – Baron, 75.278%2) Lotte Krijnsen, NED – Rosenstolz N.O.P., 72.611%3) Adib El Sarakby, EGY – Life’s Good Astola 66.889%

South Korea’s style of play at the Asian Cup, which had been christened ‘zombie football’ by their faithful back home, met a fateful end at the hands of Jordan on Tuesday.It felt like Jordan’s 70,000 expatriate population in Qatar had descended into Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, creating a raucous atmosphere as the West Asian side made history to reach their first Asian Cup final.The 2-0 win against highly-fancied South Korea in the semi-finals was a deserving one for Jordan, who according to their Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta “delivered a heroic performance”.After a goalless first half in which they outthought and outfought South Korea, ‘The Chivalrous Ones’ stormed into the Saturday’s title clash – with Iran or holders Qatar waiting for them – after Yazan al-Naimat and Musa al-Taamari struck in the second half,South Korea, who had made a habit of coming from the dead after stoppage time goals against Saudi Arabia and Australia and hence dubbed as ‘zombie football’ by their fans, were completely outplayed on the night by a Jordan team ranked 64 places lower than them.Jurgen Klinsmann’s men were left shell-shocked as the former German forward was left fuming. “I am disappointed, I am angry,” said Klinsmann. “We did not exist in the first 20-30 minutes.”South Korea were gunning for their first Asian Cup title since 1960 but Jordan’s desire for a maiden continental showpiece trophy showed in their performance. It was a dominant display from start to finish from Jordan with South Korea having no answer to their determined rivals.Taegeuk Warriors’ talisman Son Heung-min, who endured a frustrating night, encouraged his teammates not to give up after al-Naimat had put Jordan ahead in the 53rd minute. But when al-Taamari doubled the lead 13 minutes later, the Tottenham Hotspur star was in disbelief as the writing was very much on the wall for South Korea.Son and his teammates had been in a losing position in four of their matches in Qatar, but there was no way back this time for them as they lacked the desire and energy of Jordan.“It is very disappointing. I am devastated about this result. Jordan are having an amazing journey this tournament,” said Son. “They are incredible and they deserve it. They have been fighting until the end but, for us, it was very disappointing”Into the last four for the first time, Jordan were missing central defender Salem al-Ajalin and forward Ali Olwan through suspensions. They also were without their record goalscorer Hamza al-Dardour, who had been sent home last week after a touchline altercation with Ammouta.But Ammouta, who had spoken about the importance of getting his tactics right against South Korea, was given a passionate and brave performance from his men.“The players delivered a heroic performance. The X-factor was we didn’t need to give South Korea more respect than needed,” said Ammouta after the match. “Based on their record in their last few games, they conceded goals and we knew it was possible to score against them and that was the turning point.”Star forward al-Taamari, who started after having recovered from a minor knock in Jordan’s win over Tajikistan in the quarter-finals, was too hot to handle for South Korea along with al-Naimat.“Actually I was dreaming about this tournament before when I was in France,” said the 26-year-old Tamari, who plays for Montpellier in France and was named man of the match.“It means everything to me to be in the final and I hope we can do it in the final,” he added, having also set al-Naimat up for the first goal. “It’s also good to be in the final because it will make everyone speak about my country in France and this is very emotional for me.”Jordan wasted no time asserting dominance, launching into a fast-paced attack that nearly caught their opponents off guard. In the fourth minute, al-Naimat’s swift strike from just inside the area forced goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo into a diving save.Throughout the match, Jordan looked threatening whenever they transitioned into attack. Al-Taamari showcased his skill by manoeuvring past three defenders before setting up Noor al-Rawabdeh, who tested Jo with a strong shot.While South Korea gradually found their rhythm, with Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in attempting shots, Jordan remained dangerous in their offensive plays. Despite several opportunities, including chances for al-Naimat and al-Tamari, they couldn’t convert.In the dying moments of the first half, al-Naimat’s powerful drive was saved by Jo, and al-Rawabdeh’s follow-up attempt too was blocked by the South Korean goalkeeper. Although South Korea had their share of opportunities, notably a penalty call overturned by VAR and Lee Jae-Sung’s shot hitting the upright, they failed to capitalise. Jordan’s relentless pressure paid off early in the second half when al-Taamari took advantage of a defensive error to set up al-Naimat for the opening goal.Despite South Korea’s efforts to equalise, Jordan extended their lead with another goal from al-Taamari. Klinsmann brought in Cho Gue-sung to bolster his attack, but South Korea couldn’t find a way back as Jordan held firmly to securing their place in the final.

A team that refuses to die will clash against a team that is determined to make history. South Korea and Jordan will lock horns in the Asian Cup semi-final on Tuesday at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, aiming to take one step closer to that elusive title. For the first time semi-finalist Jordan, who have been the surprise element of the tournament, it’s a chance to write history. For South Korea, it’s time to banish the bitter memories of six decades of pain of not winning the Asian crown jewel. Without an iota of doubt it will be Jurgen Klinsmann’s men, who will be under immense pressure against the lowest-ranked team left in the competition Jordan, who have risen to the occasion under Hussein Ammouta. South Korea, despite carrying a team with proven stars in the European leagues led by captain Son Heung-min, have failed to fire so far. They finished second behind Jordan in the group stage, and had to stage late fightbacks to win against fellow Asian powers Saudi Arabia and Australia in the knockout matches, which has been dubbed “zombie football” by their fans for the way they keep coming back from the dead. It’s a moniker coach Klinsmann is happy with, but the former German forward will be hoping that his players can win the match inside 90 minutes and seal a spot in the final for the first time since 2015. On Monday, Klinsmann – who has faced severe criticism from the South Korean media and fans – said his team is determined to prove the doubters wrong and urged them to ‘relax’ in Tuesday’s semi-final. “We are very excited for this semi-final match, a huge compliment to Jordan. We emerged from the same group, which only highlights our strong team dynamics. However, our hunger for success drives us to go further. We are fit, optimistic and eagerly looking forward to advancing all the way to the final. The mood within the team is very positive,” said Klinsmann, who won the 1990 World Cup as a player for Germany. “The team needs to stay relaxed, focus on the upcoming challenge and eliminate distractions that are not important right now. I believe this group of players are experienced and our goal is to reach the final and we are entering the match against a very strong Jordan team fully prepared to play 120 minutes and even face a penalty shootout if needed,” added the 59-year-old. South Korea and Jordan drew 2-2 in the group phase with the Koreans salvaging a point with an injury-time own goal. On Tuesday, the Taeguk Warriors will be favourites to beat Jordan and reach Saturday’s final, with Iran or holders Qatar awaiting them. Klinsmann believes that his team has matured throughout the tournament. “The expectations and pressure at the beginning are always challenging for every nation but as things progress, you build confidence, and now, being in the last-four, it boosts that confidence. Similar to how Argentina overcame their defeat against Saudi Arabia in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener, they faced pressure in their subsequent game against Mexico. “Once you get the first couple of games out of the way and the confidence builds after navigating through all the challenging matches, having the whole nation behind you becomes a positive factor. A team needs plenty of mental strength to play in a tournament and you have to be prepared for the marathon. Now, we just have to finish strong and secure that gold.” South Korea’s bid for second final in three editions, however, will have to be attained without Kim Min-jae, with the Bayern Munich centre-back suspended for the semi-final. Jordan will miss key players too with Ali Olwan and Salem al-Ajalin ruled out of the semi-final through suspension. However, Ammouta sounded upbeat about his team’s chances against South Korean and is confident he has enough quality in his squad to compensate for the absence of the suspended players. “It’s going to be a very challenging match for both teams. It will be tough for us as we will be missing two key players. This match will be more difficult than the ones we had in the group stage. But we are placing plenty of emphasis on our preparation,” said the 54-year-old Ammouta. The Jordan coach believes he has to get his tactics right to strengthen his team’s chances of advancing into the final. “Everyone in this competition is mentally prepared, and that’s why we have to focus on improving the tactical aspects of our game. We need to make improvements when playing at this stage of the tournament and the tactical aspects should be well covered. Making tactical decisions involves avoiding or pressuring strong teams and ensuring that every player gets what they deserve. Each team needs thorough preparation, both mentally and physically, to endure playing for 120 minutes.” Ammouta said his side they must be prepared to fight to the end given their opponents’ ability to stay alive in matches. “The focus has to be big, it is going to be tiring,” said the Moroccan, whose team beat debutants Tajikistan 1-0 in the quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals for the first time. “We have to struggle and fight until the very last minutes.”