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Salman Mohamed al-Emadi won the feature event at the His Highness The Amir’s Sword Showjumping Championship yesterday. The Qatari rider piloted his 15-year-old gelding The Toymaker to victory in the Big Tour and received the Amir’s Sword from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena. Al-Emadi’s victory also rewarded him with a Lexus car. The Big Tour class was held over two rounds. Al-Emadi, who was placed sixth after the first round on Friday, put on a clinical show with The Toymaker in the second as the duo galloped the course in 60.12 seconds to trump the 145cm class. Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi finished runner-up with Casal Des Forets after clocking a time of 44.81 secs, while last year’s winner Faleh Suwead al-Ajami led Carport to third place in 46.38 secs. Both al-Rumaihi and al-Ajami registered quicker timings than al-Emadi but were undone by eight penalties they accumulated. On the other hand, al-Emadi reaped benefits for making just one mistake. The Qatari rider said this was his most important accomplishment of his career. “My joy is indescribable. After years of attempts, I am finally able to gain the great honour of winning the sword of His Highness the Amir. This is my biggest achievement, even though I have won various championships, including at the Asian Games,” al-Emadi said. “I was determined to win the precious sword. The competition was stronger than last year. There were many riders with the new horses so it wasn’t easy out there. I had to be at my best today and I could win only because I did conceded fewer penalties than others. In the end it was just a matter of small margins,” he added. Al-Emadi also paid credit to his participation in the annual Longines Hathab series, which is held over 12 legs, for his improvements. “Hathab is a very rewarding series. Not just me, it has benefited all the riders as it’s held over 12 legs. This victory will only make me perform better in the future Hathab legs,” he said.  Meanwhile, al-Rumaihi wasn’t too disappointed with runner-up finish as he was riding an inexperienced eight-year-old gelding Casal Des Forets. “I didn’t expect to win honestly as my horse is still very young and was competing in his first major championship. I was lying in seventh position after the first round, so to finish second overall is a great effort,” he added. Defending champion al-Ajami was also happy with his third-place finish, after coming into the second round in eighth place. “It was a tough competition as there were many strong performances from the elite riders. I have been doing well on the circuit and I hope I can make it to the Qatar’s Olympic team,” he said Results Big Tour | Table A, Two rounds against the clock, Art. 273.3.3.1 | 135/145cm | 1. Salman Mohamed al-Emadi. Horse: The Toymaker, Rd I: Faults: 0; 0; Time:79.70secs; Rd II: Faults: 1; Time: 60.12 Prize: Lexus Car 2. Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi. Casal Des Forets, Rd I: Faults: 4;0; Time: 74.40secs; Rd II: Faults: 4; Time: 44.81secs; QR11,200 3. Faleh Suwead al-Ajami. Carport, Rd I: Faults: 4; 0; Time: 77.04secs; rd II: Faults: 4; Time: 46.38secs; QR9,000. Future Riders | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 | 85/100cm 1. Majed Abdulrahman al-Awadh. Horse: Ubor; Faults: 0; Time: 41.05secs 2. Lolwa Ali Atat. Animo’s Boy Van De Dennehoeve Tat; 0; 43.57secs 3. Mohammed Ibrahim al Hor. Zaragossa; 0; 43.58secs. Future Riders | Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1 |70/85cm 1. Jassim Adel al-Saegh. Joly’s Arno; 0; 40.59secs 2. Fahad Abdulkarim Abed. Leslie Ann 2; 0; 41.27secs 3. Haya Khalid al-Hitmi. SITA; 0; 44.91secs

Zamalek clinched their fourth CAF Super Cup in an impressive fashion after a 3-1 win over Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Al Gharafa stadium yesterday. The Egyptians giants were playing their first Super Cup match — which pits the winners of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup — since 2003, and they put on a relentless display in front of a packed crowd to take home the title.  Youssef Obama opened the scoring for Zamalek in just the second minute. Abdelraouf Benguit made it 1-1 by converting a penalty in the 54th minute but Zamalek were back in front just four minutes later thanks to Achraf Bencharki’s cool finish, and the forward once again struck in the injury time to cap a memorable night for the Cairo-based side.  For Esperance, it was another bitter pill to swallow as they lost a second consecutive Super Cup title clash, after having gone down to Moroccan side Raja Casablanca at the same venue 12 months ago. And it was Patrice Carteron, who came back to haunt them again. The French coach had led Casablanca to victory last year and he once again plotted Esperance’s downfall on the night.  The Tunisians – back-to-back winners of the CAF Champions League – have now gone without a Super Cup title since 1995, the only time they have won the title in five appearances. Zamalek’s Confederation Cup victory was their first continental silverware since winning the CAF Champions League 18 years ago, and looked like they are keen to make up for the lost time.  Carteron’s men were right on the money from the whistle, as Obama put Zamalek ahead in the second minute, the midfielder heading in a lovely cross from Mohamed Abdel-Shafy, with Esperance goalkeeper Ben Cherifia unable to do much.  It was a dream start for Zamalek as they were all over the Esperance side in the first ten minutes. The Tunisians had got first look at the rival goal in the 12th minute when Ilyes Chetti struck a fierce shot but Abdul Shafi was alert to the danger.  Four minutes later, however, Moustafa Mohamed went close to doubling Zamalek’s lead, but the forward’s dipping shot from close range went over the bar. Mohamed was in the thick of action again with a rasping curling attempt flying narrowly over the top of Cherifa’s goal.  Zamalek had another golden opportunity in the 39th minute with Zizo having acres of space at the back post to control and shoot – but Chetti got his body in the way to make a spectacular save.  While Zamalek were constant a threat on the counter-attack, Esperance found it difficult to break their opponents’ defence. Zamalek came to Qatar with a 12-match unbeaten streak, a run that stretched back to mid-December and included eight clean sheets.  But Esperance were let back into the game three minutes into the second half after Mahmoud Hamdi handled the ball in the box. Referee Victor Gomes initially waved to play on but changed his decision after a lengthy VAR review, where he went to the pitchside monitor to have a look.  Benguit thumped his spot-kick into the top corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. But their joy lasted barely four minutes. With the Esperance defence wide open, Bencharki had an easy run to the box, and the forward curled a low shot across Cherifia and into the bottom corner.  Esperance introduced striker Yassine Khenissi four minutes thereafter in place of Ghanaian Kwame Bonsu in pursuit of a comeback. But Mooine Chaabani’s could not get past the Egyptian team’s defence. Bencharki then completed his brace in added time with another cool finish to send Zamalek fans into raptures.

Sir Geoff Hurst is a bundle of energy. The scorer of the only hat-trick in a World Cup final, which helped England win the tournament in 1966 with a 4-2 victory over West Germany, his enthusiasm for the game is infectious.  The former England striker – who also won FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup medals with West Ham in his illustrious career – was in Qatar for a short visit. Hurst was part of the National Sport Day celebrations yesterday as he refereed a tournament for international property and construction consultancy Gleeds. Hurst is 78, but looks much younger and can dazzle the room with his witty anecdotes. In a wide-ranging interview with Gulf Times, the English legend spoke about Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup, memories of his magical night at Wembley and much more. Excerpts:    Q. You have been coming to Qatar since 2005, what are your impressions of the country?  A: It’s my third visit to Qatar. Last year I came here and my first was in 2005.  I enjoyed my visit last year. It’s very different from what it was in 2005. I have been to one or two Arab countries before; it’s a different culture and I enjoy being here. I spent two years coaching in Kuwait from 1982-84. It’s nice going to different countries and cultures.   Qatar has changed dramatically over the years. I can see many changes in a short time since my visit last year. I can see so much construction going on. It’s just enormous and amazing. You are going to need that when hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world come to Qatar for the World Cup. I think that was an issue they spoke about. Like when the fans come, where they going to stay? Someone was speaking about housing fans on cruise ships here. I think that is fascinating and that will be fun.     Q:  Qatar will make history in 2022, when it will become the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup. How important is it to host the tournament in new countries and regions? A: I think every country is different. And of course, every country is different when it comes to hosting the World Cup. It’s very different and unusual and because of that it makes interesting for a different culture to host the World Cup. I firmly believe every country should have an opportunity to host the World Cup. It’s fantastic what they are doing here and I am convinced it will be a successful World Cup.   There will always be negatives. When any World Cup comes around there has always been negativity – Russia was a good example. But after the World Cup in Russia every single English person I spoke to said the tournament and hospitality of the Russians was fantastic. I don’t go around with negativity. As a person I am positive, as a player I was very positive. It’s going to be a great World Cup in Qatar.     Q: Qatar’s World Cup will be played in November and December. Do you thinking holding the tournament in the middle of the traditional European season will have any negative impact? A: I think the Premier League and other leagues will adjust for one year.  I don’t think that is an issue. They have had plenty of time to plan for it. That cannot be a problem. It’s great that they have moved the World Cup to winter. When it was first announced, they said it will be held in summer and naturally there was some criticism because it was going to be too hot for the players.  I have experienced that. I have played In Mexico World Cup in 1970 and we played there in the summer there and it was hot. We played in a city called Guadalajara which is at 5,000 feet, so we were playing at an altitude. There were a couple of games in which I played and I was getting a dizzy spell and had to rest more than I would normally do.   Now they have quite rightly decided to move the Qatar World Cup to winter. If it’s that hot, not only it’s not good for the players but also for the fans, who will be walking around. That would spoil their enjoyment.    Q: What advice would you give to the Qatari players before the World Cup?  A: My advice for them is to be 100% focused and dedicated on their performance and fitness. One important thing to be successful is for the team spirit to be good. I think it’s a fundamental requirement for a successful national team. The manager needs his players to commit that. Alf Ramsey (England’s 1966 World Cup winning coach) for me was good in a way, because when a player didn’t want to be part of the team, then it was a goodbye. Ramsey was left with a very good bunch of players and hard-nosed, dedicated players and that for me has always been a fundamental reason for success. I have talked to other international players who have won the World Cup and they say they were successful because the team they played in had great team spirit.      Q:  Do you think England can be strong contenders for the 2022 World Cup?  A: I think they will. I am very positive about the England team at the moment. I think under Gareth Southgate we have improved and done well. The English fans prior to Southgate’s tenure were getting very disappointed and disillusioned with the English team. We were not having a full house at Wembley. But since Southgate has taken over, we have seen 80-9000 people packed at the stadium. At the Brazil World Cup in 2014, we played two group games and we were out. That’s the World Cup and in the Euros we lost against Iceland. That was the worst game I have seen. The fans want their team to play well so there was a bit of disillusionment during that period. But now the situation has changed dramatically. Now there is lot more interest back home.      Q: Do you think that Southgate can lead England to Euro Championships success this summer?  A: I do fancy England’s chances of winning the Euros. The last 16, semis and final will be played in London, which I see as a big advantage for the home team. I can certainly see us winning. We are a young side. It’s different now to my times, because there is a smaller percentage of English players playing the league. Southgate now is selecting players very unusually, for, they have hardly played for their clubs.  I think Callum Hudson-Odoi for example was picked for England having hardly played a game for Chelsea. In my time that was unthinkable. I had to play for three years, my club West Ham was doing very well and I was scoring goals. Still it was three years before I was picked for England. I made the West Ham first team in the 1962-63 season. Nowadays it’s different. Having said that, Southgate is harnessing raw talent who are without experience into a good unit. Overall, Southgate’s managerial style and what he’s doing, and the way they’re playing, is just fantastic. There is a team spirit and camaraderie, which I think was missing for a long time.    Q: Is the memory of scoring a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany at Wembley still fresh in your mind? A: The memories are still fresh and it’s also fresh in fans’ mind. I still get people of my generation talk about the memories of that final, where they were and what they were doing at that time. That’s one of the most enjoyable things when you win the World Cup in your country. Those memories last forever for people and I always enjoy when people talk about it.      Q: Do u think your feat of scoring a hat-trick in the final of a World Cup will ever be matched?  A: No! I sometimes say yes because nothing is impossible in football. You can never tell. Who would have thought Liverpool will win the championship this year so easily? They are 22 points ahead at the moment. And also, who would have thought Liverpool, one of the greatest clubs, will take 30 years to win another title? Manchester United under Alex Ferguson achieved so much, but currently they are languishing in seventh spot. So anything can happen in football and that’s the beauty of sport. It’s very unpredictable. What is true is scoring has become lot harder. Teams that are winning the World Cup are not some of them who are scoring many goals. We scored 11 goals when we won. In 1956, Jules Fonte scored 13 on his own. It’s statically a lot tougher, so on that basis you can say it’s a lot harder to equal my record. Q:  According to you who will be favourites for the title in Qatar?    A: I would say usual suspects are not far away. France are a very good team at the moment. The Germans have not done quite as well in recent years but they have been dominant for a long time. I think England is still in the mix, and in another two years if the players continue to develop we have a chance. Brazil and Argentina are always around. Portugal has a good young team, and I think they will do very well in Euros this year and if they can do then they can be a force at the World Cup. Having said that, you can sit and predict here of who will in Qatar in three years’ time but you can never be sure of what is going to happen.     Q: Your former team West Ham is languishing in 18th spot in the Premier League. What according to you is the reason for their decline?  A: We are in a very difficult position, in bottom three. It’s going to be a hard battle between now and the end of the season to get out of trouble. I think (manager) David Moyes has been a good acquisition. I was surprised that, when he got us out of trouble for the first time we didn’t keep him.  He is a very experienced manager who did well at Everton.  I think he is a good choice, but he has taken over at a very difficult time and now it’s a tough battle. And we have very difficult fixtures ahead, with most of the matches against top teams. The last game was very disappointing, because were 3-1 up against Brighton and we drew the game. We lost two points and that makes a huge difference at this time of the season.     Q: Who according to you is the best player – Messi or Ronaldo?  A: I lean towards Messi. Both are great players, even if they had played in any other era.  I just favour Messi a little bit. I have always felt that Ronaldo and Messi playing at two great clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain was great. Them playing in attacking teams meant they scored lots of goals.  But what’s good about Ronaldo going to Juventus is – even though they are a dominant club – he is still doing very well there at his age. I think his attitude is very good and he keeps himself fit. But I always felt Messi is the best player and it’s nice to choose between two of them.

Liverpool are finally the champions of the world and the Reds owe it to Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian forward struck another crucial winner to break the hearts of his countrymen as Liverpool edged past South American champions Flamengo 1-0 in the final to clinch the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar at the Khalifa International Stadium Saturday. Firmino, who had come in as substitute to stroke home a stoppage time winner in the semi-finals against Monterrey on Wednesday, was the hero for Liverpool again. With the game ending goalless after 90 minutes and going into extra time, Firmino broke the deadlock in the 99th minute after a classic Liverpool counter set it up for the forward. Captain Jordan Henderson found Sadio Mane with a long ball, with the Senegalese then drawing the Flamengo goalkeeper Diego Alves forward before slipping the ball to Firmino, who then cleverly slowed things down and smashed into the net. Liverpool's Alisson lifts the trophy as they celebrate after winning the Club World Cup   Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and teammates celebrate Liverpool's Naby Keita celebrates with the trophy and teammates  Flamengo did get a couple of chances to take the final to penalties, with Lincoln getting the best one of the night in the final seconds. But the substitute blazed it over as the Liverpool defence stood firm to seal a historic maiden title. This was after high drama in the stoppage time of regulation time, when Liverpool were awarded a penalty by Qatari referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim for a foul on Mane by Flamengo full-back Rafinha. Flamengo players protested furiously with al-Jassim, who then had a long look at the pitch-side monitor in a VAR review before overturning his decision. The replays showed Rafinha had clipped Mane just outside the box as the Liverpool midfielder was poised to shoot. Flamengo and Rafinha heaved a sigh of relief, with the defender’s yellow card also rescinded by the referee. Flamengo, however, ran out of legs in the extra time as Liverpool dug deep to come out triumphant. Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their goal Liverpool's Joe Gomez in action with Flamengo's Bruno Henrique Flamengo's Pablo Mari in action with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in action with Flamengo's Bruno Henrique It was also sweet revenge for Liverpool, who had lost to Flamengo in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup final, a precursor to the current tournament. Liverpool had also gone down to another Brazilian side, Sao Paulo, 0-1 in the final in 2005 in Yokohama, Japan. Victory in Doha meant Jurgen Klopp’s men became the second English side after Manchester United in 2008 to win the global club competition. Captain Henderson, who lifted the trophy as Jamie Webster’s Allez Allez Allez rang out at the Khalifa, said the mental strength of the side pulled them the through. "It was an interesting game. I am sure it was interesting to watch but we kept going, good performance and mentality shined through. We could have scored a couple more. Overall delighted with the result and performance in difficult conditions,” Henderson said. "We have found a way for a long time now. Some late goals, we just want to keep going, keep improving. Keep working hard and putting in performances like that," he added While Liverpool were clearly the better side on the night, they lacked the killer punch, wasting plenty of scoring opportunities. But that has been the story of Klopp and his men this season, who have made a habit of winning from difficult situations. However, it had looked like Liverpool won’t take it till the end when they started with a frenetic pace in the first ten minutes. Forty seconds into the game, Liverpool almost had a dream start. With Flamengo still seemingly in their warm ups, Firmino was sent through but the Brazilian’s shot just looped over the bar. Liverpool were all over Flamengo with crowd favourite Mohamed Salah setting up a great chance for Naby Keita, who could only strike it over. Trent Alexander-Arnold too had a pop at the goal as the Reds looked well in control before Flamengo settled into the game. Flamengo came back strongly though, with coach Jorge Jesus’ tactic to stop his full-backs getting out of the midfield stopping Liverpool. In fact the Copa Libertadores champions dominated possession as Bruno Henrique and Gabrie Barbosa made life difficult for the Liverpool defence, who welcomed back Virgil van Dijk. Joe Gomez had to make a brilliant slide-in tackle to deny Pablo Mari, who was played in by Henrique, for the Brazilians’ best chance of the first half. With Klopp visibly frustrated on the touchline, Liverpool upped the ante in the second half. But it played similarly to the first half as the Reds missed couple of glorious chances. Firmino though was unlucky to have seen his one-bounce shot in the 47th minute ricochet off the post and go out of play. Two minutes later, Trent Alexander-Arnold cut a ball back to Mohamed Salah, but the Egyptian shot it wide of the post. At the other end, Barbosa fired at the Liverpool goal with Alisson doing well to make a save Meanwhile, Firmino had another chance but the unmarked Brazilian failed to control the ball as Alves claimed it easily. By then it was an end-to-end contest as Barbosa scuffed a left footer after played through by Henrique. Salah, who walked away with Golden Ball award for best player of tournament, thought he had put Liverpool one-nil up when he buried the ball into the net in the 76th minute, but the off side flag was already up. Flamengo also survived another scare when Henderson’s shot from outside the box was tipped over by Alves. The penalty drama in the end added another twist to the final, before Firmino made sure Liverpool kept their date with destiny.

Liverpool and Flamengo will clash in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar final at the Khalifa International Stadium Saturday, with both the clubs carrying different weight of expectations. The competition is seen as a showpiece event in Brazil, with many Flamengo fans having made a long journey to Doha in the hope of watching their team winning the title. The match begins at 8.30pm. For Liverpool, the opportunity to win a Club World Cup title has come in the middle of a dream season. They won the Champions League earlier this year – which sealed their ticket to Qatar – and are now on course for a first English Premier League title since 1989-90, having taken a 10-point lead at the top. Hence, the Anfield faithful hasn’t taken kindly to a Liverpool team making a week-long trip for a competition they see as less important. Saturday’s final against Flamengo will be their ninth game of a packed December schedule for the Reds, with them also having to field a team of teenagers in their heavy 0-5 defeat to Aston Villa last Tuesday – for which they had to face criticism back home. For Jurgen Klopp and his men though, the Club World Cup is a chance to prove they are the best club in the world, a tag which has been bestowed by them by many in recent times. There is also the small matter of revenge for Liverpool, as they had suffered a 0-3 loss to Flamengo when the last time the two clubs faced each other in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup final, a precursor to the current tournament. They will also be gunning for their first world title, having lost to Brazilian side Sao Paulo 0-1 in the final in 2005 in Yokohama, Japan. There is a lot riding for Liverpool and Flamengo; while Klopp admitted the ‘situation is different’ for both the clubs, he hopes he can chance the perception of European clubs, including his own, towards the tournament. “Look, it is not an advantage or a disadvantage or whatever, but this situation is different for Flamengo and for us. Flamengo got sent here from their continent with a clear order to win it and to come back as heroes. We got told, 'Stay at home and play the League Cup'. That's a massive difference. We cannot change that,” the German manager said Friday. “But we are here and we want to win the competition, even when we know it is very difficult because the other team is really, really good, but that's how it is with the big competitions. I think the view on it in Europe is completely different to the view in the rest of the world. But I like pretty much to change that view a little bit in the moment, it changed for me since we are here. Will that change the view of people in Europe? Probably not,” Klopp added. For Liverpool, to walk away with their maiden world title Saturday, they will have to put on a much better performance than they did against Monterrey in the semi-finals on Wednesday. The European champions needed Roberto Firmino to score a dramatic injury-time winner to beat the Mexican side. While Klopp fielded a starting XI made up of bench strength – with the exception of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah – against Monterrey, he is mostly likely to go in with regular starters against Flamengo. That means Sadio Mane, Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold are set to return, while Klopp also raised hopes of influential defender Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum coming back to the team. Van Dijk was forced to sit out of the semi-final due to illness, while Wijnaldum was sidelined with the muscle injury. Klopp said he knows what to expect of Flamengo, who themselves are enjoying their best season. Last month, the Brazilian club secured a dramatic Copa Libertadores victory over rivals River Plate and came from behind to beat Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 3-1 in Tuesday’s semis. "I know what we have to expect," Klopp said. “Flamengo will be intense, organised, (coach) Jorge Jesus has changed their fortunes and most of their things. They have different ways of playing and they have real quality in the centre of the park, they are cheeky on the wings and they can shoot from distance - just like a successful team should be. This is the first time that I have faced a Brazilian team but this is also the first time Flamengo have played a team like Liverpool," he added. Meanwhile, Flamengo's coach Jorge Jesus was confident his side can bridge the financial gulf between the two clubs. "We cannot compare between two good teams easily. Yes, Liverpool has a distinct history in recent years: they have won many titles and they are one of the best clubs in the world," the Portuguese said. "Jurgen Klopp has been with the team for many years and accomplished a lot with them, not only in the English League but Champions League. Liverpool have left their mark on world football. We know Flamengo are enjoying an excellent season, so there are similarities. We can say Liverpool and Flamengo may be at the best levels in their history.” Qatari referees for final FIFA announced Friday that the Club World Cup final between Flamengo and Liverpool at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha will be officiated by Qatari referees. Abdulrahman al-Jassim will be in charge, assisted by Taleb Salem and Saoud Ahmed. Algeria's Moustafa Gharbal will be the fourth referee. Liverpool reached the final after edging past Mexico's Monterrey 2-1, while Flamengo defeated Asian champions Al Hilal 3-1 on their way to meet Liverpool. 

Monterrey coach Antonio Mohamed had promised to put up a strong fight against European champions Liverpool and his players did more than just that at the Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. The Mexican side were on par with the Premier League leaders for most of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar semi-final encounter, but a cruel injury-time goal from Roberto Firmino knocked them out of the competition. While Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp heaved a sigh of relief at the final whistle after a narrow 2-1 win, he will know his side will have to fare much better against South American champions Flamengo in Saturday’s final, if they are to become club world champions for the first time. Klopp yesterday went in with five changes from last week’s league win over Watford, with Sadio Mane, Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold warming the bench while influential defender Virgil van Dijk missed out due to cold. That meant the German manager was forced to start with a makeshift defence with captain Jordan Henderson playing as centre-back alongside regular defenders Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson, with James Milner taking the right-back role. Liverpool did dominate the early proceedings and controlled possession but Monterrey was just waiting for the counter-attack. The Mexican side’s forwards Dorlan Pabon and Rogelio Funes Moria gave a tough time to Liverpool’s back four. But it was Mohamed Salah’s terrific assist that put Liverpool in front. After the Egyptian star was denied by the Monterrey defence in the eighth minute, Salah provided an excellent reverse ball pass for Naby Keita four minutes later. While Salah’s ball pierced through the Monterrey defence, Keita timed his run to the box perfectly to put Liverpool ahead. If the Reds thought they would run away with the game, they were wrong as Monterrey hit back immediately. With Jesus Gallardo’s shot blocked by Alisson Becker, the rebound was latched onto by Rogelio Funes Mori, who controlled the ball with his first touch and then slammed the ball into the net, with the Liverpool goalkeeper diving in vain. With a spring in their step after drawing level, Monterrey looked much bigger threat than their fancied opponents. In fact, Liverpool were bailed out of trouble on few occasions by Alisson, with the Brazilian keeper enjoying a terrific game. In the 27th minute, Alisson dived to his right to block a Pabon shot from 30 yards. He was called into action again ten minutes later with the Liverpool stopper having to deny the Monterrey captain with a crucial late save, which fell to Gallardo but the defender was late onto the ball. Salah, meanwhile, continued to cause Monterrey trouble but his back flip pass for Milner was saved by Argentine goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero. With two minutes remaining for half time, Keita too had a chance for his second goal, but failed to put it past Barovero after having almost rounded the keeper. Monterrey began the second half brightly and could have had their lead if not for Alisson’s intervention. In the 50th minute, the goalkeeper produced another excellent save, this time palming away a dangerous free-kick from Pabon from the edge of the box. Liverpool did have chances at the other end, but Keita’s left-footed low shot was chested away by Barovero in the 58th minute. With time running out, Klopp brought in Mane for ineffective Xherdan Shaqiri, while Alexander-Arnold replaced the veteran Milner, who made his 200th appearance for the club yesterday. Klopp also had a touchline argument with Mohamed, with both managers shown yellow card by the referee. Mane did have an opportunity to calm Klopp’s nerves in the 68th minute, but the Senegal forward’s shot was easily grasped by Barovero. With extra time looming, Klopp called on Firmino in place of Divock Origi and the Brazilian duly rewarded his manager with a crucial goal. In the first of the three-minute stoppage time, Monterrey players heart was broken as Firmino tapped in from a close range after a sumptuous ball from Alexander-Arnold. Klopp later paid tribute to Alisson for saving Liverpool’s blushes. “All you need is Alisson. He was there in the decisive moments. A really hard game and then you can bring on the boys. We have brought in a few kids and see what we can do line-up wise. We want to play the final and see what we can do,” he said. The Liverpool manager praised the atmosphere at Khalifa, with 45,416 fans packing the stadium. “Wonderful goal, great game, super atmosphere,” he said.

Flamengo sprung to life in the second half to beat Al Hilal 3-1 and book their place in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar Tuesday. The red-hot South American champions had gone into the contest as favourites, but Salem al-Dawsari’s 18th minute strike had stunned their travelling supporters, who had packed the Khalifa International Stadium. While an upset looked like very much on cards – with Flamengo looking uncharacteristically dull in the first half – the Brazilians came into their own in the second. Giorgian de Arrascaeta stroked home from close range four minutes after the restart to draw level, before Bruno Henrique had a hand in the next two goals. Henrique headed home in the 78th minute for Flamengo’s lead and the advantage doubled four minutes later with the striker’s cross turned into own goal by Al Hilal defender Ali Albulayhi. Flamengo now await the winners of the second semi-final between European champions Liverpool and CONCACAF title holders Monterrey of Mexico Wednesday. If Liverpool do live up to the expectations and beat Monterrey, it will set up a repeat of Intercontinental Cup final in 1981, which Flamengo went on to win 3-0 in Tokyo. Club World Cup holds a special place for Flamengo fans and it was quite evident with the large number of them making a long haul journey from Brazil to Qatar. But it was not a start they would have hoped for as their players looked off-colour in the opening period. Flamengo did create the first opportunity of the game with de Arrascaeta whipping a cross to Gabriel Barbosa, who couldn’t quite connect at the back post. Hilal conjured their opening chance only in the 16th minute and the Saudi Arabian side should have gone one-up. After al-Dawsari’s shot was blocked by Flamengo goalkeeper Diego Alves, the rebound went straight to Bafetimbi Gomis, but the pace of the ball was too much for the striker as he could only find the stands. Flamengo survived but not for long as Hilal were in front two minutes later. With South American side’s defence all over the place, Mohamed al-Burayk’s pass from the right cut back sharply into the box, where a charging al-Dawsari shot in one motion. The ball took a slight nick of defender Rodrigo Caio and also a touch of Alves’ gloves before slamming into the net. Al-Dawsari, who played a key hand in Hilal’s AFC Champions League success last month, celebrated with a double flip in front of Flamengo’s end. The Brazilian team’s supporters were not alarmed though as recent history suggested their team was capable of mounting a comeback.   Flamengo had conceded in the 12th minute of the Copa Libertadores final. But they scored in the 88th and 91st minute to win the tournament for the second time and seal Club World Cup qualification. They did not leave it that late against Hilal Tuesday. After Everton Ribiero’s cross was palmed away by Hilal stopper Abdullah al-Mayoof, De Arrascaeta raised the decibel level of Khalifa. Gabriel Barbosa found Henrique in the box, with the forward unselfishly sending the ball to unmarked De Arrascaeta, with the Uruguayan tapping home into the open goal. While the game went flat thereafter for a long period, Henrique headed into the net after Rafinha’s cross from the right put Flamengo ahead. Later when Albulayhi put the ball into his own net the game was over for Hlial. With six minutes left, Andre Carrillo was shown a straight red card for a high boot foul as Hilal’s good start to the contest went in vain.

* Reds take on Monterrey in semi-final on Wednesday Al Sadd, who missed out on a semi-final date with European champions Liverpool at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar, had something to smile about as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on the Qatari champions. He also had positive things to say about Arab football in general. Sadd lost in the quarter-finals by a narrow 2-3 margin to Mexican side Monterrey, which ended their hopes of playing against the Premier League leaders Liverpool in the last four on Wednesday. Klopp, who watched Sadd in action from his base in Anfield, felt the Qatar Stars League side played "good football" and "could have gone through". “It's not too easy for us to watch too much Arabic football in Europe. But what I saw from Al Sadd was really good,” the German said on Tuesday at Khalifa International Stadium. “They are playing for Xavi, one of the best football players in the world with a big career and now as a coach. You could see that in the game as well, it was really good football. I think they were ready and it was a tight game and it was really close and Al Sadd could have gone through,” he added. Klopp, who was named as the best coach of the year at the FIFA Awards recently, also lauded Arab football in general. “We have a very famous Arab player in our team in Mo Salah, I worked together with Mohamed Zidan, I played together together with Abderrahim Ouakili from Morocco – that’s my experience with these players. All (are) technically excellent and pretty quick most of them. Mahrez is one of the best players from this part of the world. Really a lot of good players, that's all,” the 52-year-old said. The former Borussia Dortmund coach, however, said comparison between Arab clubs and European teams was not fair. “I have a lot of respect for them but we cannot compare the football because we don’t see it. We have to play our own games, that's one thing, and then the broadcast thing is about, for me, other English football or German football, that's pretty much what I can follow. But the respect couldn’t be bigger,” he said. Sport Pages 1, 2, 3 Flamengo reach final Brazilian champions Flamengo came from behind to beat Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday and book their place in the final of the Club World Cup. The Copa Libertadores winners will face either European champions Liverpool or Mexico's Monterrey in Saturday's final. In the other match on Tuesday, Tunisia's Espérance Sportive de Tunis defeated Al Sadd 6-2 to secure the fifth place.

It’s been little over four years since Jurgen Klopp took over the reins of Liverpool and in that period the German has transformed the Reds to world beaters, which even the Anfield faithful would have not dreamt of. Unlike his off-the-pitch demeanour, where he is always sporting a smile or cracking a joke or two for the cameras, Klopp is an intense manager. He is a man with a bundle of energy when on the touchline, always making gestures or screaming at his players. His energy has rubbed on to his players and the club. The 52-year-old led Liverpool to the European title earlier this year – their first since the miracle of Istanbul in 2005, and now they are in a race of their own to win their first English Premier League title since 1989-90. Before that, though, Klopp’s men will be eyeing to become the first Liverpool side to clinch a FIFA Club World Cup title. They take on the Mexican side Monterrey in the semi-finals today at the Khalifa International Stadium, and there is little doubt that they go into the contest as the overwhelming favourites. The last time Liverpool came close to winning the club continental championship was in 2005 in Japan, where they lost to Brazilian side Sao Paulo 0-1. Klopp has brought in a full-strength squad to Qatar, while fielding a second string side of academy players for last night’s League Cup match against Aston Villa in Birmingham, which shows the importance they have given to the Club World Cup. Having won the UEFA Super Cup earlier this year, this is another opportunity for Klopp and his men to add one more title to Liverpool’s trophy cabinet. The German had had a terrible record in finals, until this year. The former Borussia Dortmund manager lost six major finals in succession, including last year’s Champions League loss to Real Madrid. Having had a taste of titles, he would want to continue his winning run in Qatar. And Klopp has a carefully assembled squad to do so. Of the 18 players he inherited from his predecessor Brendan Rodgers in 2015, only four are still at the club – Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne. While he has splurged huge money on defender Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alison Becker, he also has made some shrewd signings by bringing in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Besides finding players with the right physical and technical abilities to fit into his preferred high-pressing game approach, Klopp has also been careful with the types of personalities he has brought into his squad. Spain and Barcelona midfield great Xavi Hernandez credits Klopp for overhauling the Liverpool squad and making them a powerful force in European football. “What stands out for me with Klopp and Liverpool is their intensity,” Xavi, the current coach of Qatar champion Al Sadd, told FIFA.Com last week. “The intensity they play with both in defence and attack, the high press by the front three who occupy the space between the lines and do their pressing there. They’re a very difficult team to attack. Physically they’re very strong. They win all the second balls and they also work really hard on their tactics. They’re dominant in so many areas of the game,” Xavi said in a tone of awe. Yesterday on the eve of their semi-final against Monterrey, Klopp did not give too much importance to ‘best team in the world’ label nor did he consider his side as the favourites for the Club World Cup title. “Look, it is not important if, and I not sure about that, we were the “best football team in the world” in the summer, the last game or whatever – it is only important what we will be tomorrow night,” he said. “Nobody cares about what happened three days ago, five days ago or six days ago. We need to show we are ready and that’s the only thing we are concerned about. I am an optimistic person, but it is not that I think before a game that we have it already won. We are ready to work hard tomorrow night, we will make sure we find a line-up to work hard. We respect the opponent a lot. We are not here to just show up, we are here for football and will try to show that. It will be difficult,” the Liverpool manager said. On the other hand, Monterrey’s coach Antonio Mohamed, while acknowledging Liverpool as the red-hot favourites, said his team would ensure it would not be a walk in the park for the European champions today. The CONCACAF Champions League winners are making their fourth appearance in the tournament, and sealed a semi-final date with Liverpool after a 3-2 win over local side Al Sadd on Saturday. “We have a big ambition to play against Liverpool and we came to compete strongly at this mega-tournament,” he said. “Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers and Liverpool maybe the best team in the world right now. We have made a huge effort to reach this stage and have come to compete irrespective of which team or manager we are facing. We came here to play and win the match with our weapons. We didn’t come to participate in this tournament and let Liverpool win against us. Nothing is impossible in football,” the Argentinean added. Monterrey will be without Vincent Janssen, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker, due to injury. The Mexican side will rely on forward Rogelio Gabriel Funes Mori, the twin brother of former Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori, for goals.

With a dream semi-final date against Liverpool dashed, Al Sadd head coach Xavi Hernandez was yet to overcome the disappointment of missing out on a marquee clash at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar. Sadd went down to Mexican side Monterrey 2-3 in the quarter-finals on Saturday and will now play for a fifth place play-off against African champions Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Khalifa International Stadium today. On the eve of the match against the Tunisian side, Xavi seemed to be still carrying the wounds from the Monterrey encounter. The Spaniard, while admitting his team would look to end their campaign on a high, said Sadd played better than Monterrey but without much luck. “We were better than Monterrey in the last match, but we didn’t have luck on our side,” Xavi said. “We wanted to reach the semi-finals of this tournament but we couldn’t win the last match so we have to play for the fifth place. But we are still excited to finish this competition in the best way,” he said. Despite dominating possession against Monterrey, Sadd were wasteful in front of the goal. That along with a couple of defensive errors in the first half cost them badly, despite mounting a comeback in the second half. Xavi, however, reiterated his belief in his players and was pleased with their show in the tournament. “I am happy with the performance of my players. I am proud of them. We are at the same level with Monterrey. We were better than them in the quarter-final. I think we are competing really well, we have to adjust some things and we are not far off from other teams,” the Spain and Barcelona great said. Xavi felt Sadd will have to work hard to beat Tunis, who were undone by substitute Bafetimbi Gomis’ stunning goal as Asian Champions League winners Al Hilal snatched a narrow 1-0 win. “They (ES Tunis) have good players like we have at Al Sadd. They are fighters and warriors, and have a very good coach. They are working very well and that is why they are here. They are the champions of Africa and we will have to work hard to beat them,” he said. Sadd will be without goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb, who had to be substituted in the second half after suffering a shoulder injury against Monterrey. Qatar’s under-23 goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, who filled in for al-Sheeb, is set to start today. On the other hand, Tunis have historically lost to Asian clubs and the African champions would want to set the record straight. The Tunisians have lost to Sadd 1-2 in the only time the two teams played against each other at the 2011 edition of the tournament, while Saturday’s loss to Hilal was another hard pill to swallow for them. “African teams are not winning against the Arab clubs for a long time. The reason may be they each have five to six professional players in the side, and then they have good infrastructure. But, we are looking to break this record against Al Sadd (today),” ES Tunis assistant coach Majdi Traore said. “Al Sadd are a very strong side but we will play for victory. We played this match last time and we won,” he said.  “We played a good last match technically and only lost after a late goal. The players are in good state mentally and are determined to win this match to win fifth place,” said Traore.  ES Tunis goalkeeper Rami Jridi did not see much of a difference between Tunis and Sadd. “Al Sadd are a tough side and it will be a difficult match. Al Sadd have a good history but we are also the African champions,” he said.

With the focus entirely on European champions Liverpool, Flamengo arrive at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar determined to play spoilsport. The Copa Libertadores champions are in red-hot form, with their 30-match unbeaten streak ending only last week. By then, though, the Flamengo had already wrapped up the Brazilian league title by a whopping 16 points. While the Club World Cup may not evoke much enthusiasm in other parts of the world, but in South America it is an obsession. And Flamengo will be keen to repeat their historic achievement of 1981, when they beat Liverpool 3-0 to claim the old Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo. With the Anfield club representing Europe again, a rematch is on the cards. But before that, though, Flamengo will have to clear the Al Hilal hurdle, with the Asian champions aiming to spring a surprise of their own when the two sides clash in the first semi-final at the Khalifa International Stadium today. On the eve of the match, Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus was bombarded with questions about Liverpool, who are slated to play the second semi-final against Mexican side Monterrey tomorrow. While Jesus played down the hype, choosing to focus on Hilal, whom he coached until January this year, the palpable excitement surrounding a possible Flamengo-Liverpool clash is justified. Here is why. Jesus – who coached Al Hilal until January this year – has overseen a wonderful few months for Flamengo since being appointed in June, guiding them to success in the Brasil Serie A and Copa Libertadores, adding to their Campeonato Carioca success prior to the Portuguese manager’s arrival. Flamengo’s qualification to Club World Cup Qatar was nothing but spectacular. Jesus’ outfit trailed River Plate in last month’s Copa Libertadores final for 75 minutes but, as the final whistle and defeat loomed, Gabriel Barbosa struck twice to snatch the glory in Peru. “In Brazil, there has been a lot of talk at Liverpool, but they forgot that we have to play a semi-final before,” Jesus said, urging his team not take his former team lightly. “It is a Saudi team, which is not well known and there is always a tendency to devalue. But it is a team I know well. I am very proud of my period with Al Hilal and recruited three or four players for them. They are a good side and we respect them but I am obviously focused on my job at Flamengo where I am honoured to be the coach,” the 65-year-old said. Jesus admitted there is a huge pressure on his players but he was confident that the quality and experience his team has can bail them out. Flamengo play with an average home attendance of over 60,000 and have players such as full backs Rafinha, who had eight successful years at Bayern Munich, and Felipe Luis, who equally had a successful time at Atletico Madrid. “At Flamengo there is always pressure. It is a club that demands the most. It’s a year of pressure, but a lot of satisfaction. We have a great joy of playing, providing a good show and try to win. Success leads teams to have moments of great pressure. Who doesn’t want to put pressure on success? I want to live my whole life like this,” Jesus said philosophically. Meanwhile, Hilal will head into today’s clash in strong form having won each of their past five matches across all competitions, including Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis. Romanian Razvan Lucescu, who replaced Jesus at Hilal, wasn’t too impressed with questions on his predecessor’s time at the Saudi club and said Jesus’ knowledge of his former players would count for nothing. “I don’t think it comes into it. It is eleven against eleven. This game is all about how you react in certain moments, the decisions you make,” said Lucescu. Hilal coach, however, was aware of Flamengo’s quality but had belief that his players would rise to the occasion. “Brazil produce the biggest number of talented players, but football is not just about talent. It’s also about organisation, movement, interpretation of the game and how a team or the players perform on a given day. But we have our huge motivation. We are on top of our game after ending 19 years of wait of our fans by winning the AFC Champions League. We will play with enthusiasm and confidence knowing that we are facing one of the best teams in the world. We are in a very good psychological moment,” Lucescu added.

Al Sadd were the dark horses going into their FIFA Club World Cup Qatar quarter-final match against Monterrey, and the Qatar giants put on a valiant fight before going down 2-3 in a pulsating encounter yesterday. The Mexican side were too good for Sadd in the first half, but the hosts never gave up as they twice reduced a two-goal deficit in the second half before running out of time at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Monterrey will now gear up for a marquee semi-final showdown with European champions Liverpool on Wednesday at the Khalifa International stadium, while Sadd will play a fifth place play-off tie against African champions Esperance Sportive de Tunis on Tuesday. Sadd started on a positive note but goals from Leonel Vangioni (23rd minute) and Rogelio Funes Mori (45 +1) gave Monterrey the advantage at half time. While Sadd ignited comeback hopes with a Baghdad Bounedjah header in the 66th minute, Carlos Rodriguez’s strike ten minutes later restored Monterrey’s two-goal advantage. Sadd were back in the contest after a stunner from Abdelkarim Hassan in the 89th minute, but could not force the game into extra time in the six added minutes. “I am very disappointed but proud of the players for what their effort. We made many mistakes that helped the Mexican team. But we deserved more than that and could have taken the game to extra time,” Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez said. “We must learn from our mistakes. But I am happy with most of the players and how they played. But in football the result is most important and we committed too many mistakes to lose today,” he added.  On the match eve, Xavi had urged his players to play without fear and embrace being the dark horse for the clash. While the hosts did put on a much better show in the second half, they weren’t clinical enough in the first even as Monterrey took their chances. Unlike against Hienghene Sport last Wednesday, where they scraped to a 3-1 extra-time win, Sadd were punished by the South American champions for wasting too many chances. Monterrey did go close after just 98 seconds, when Jesus Gallardo hit the bar, but in the next ten minutes Sadd had a chance to take the lead through Akram Afif and Nam Tae-hee. In third minute, Asian best player of the year Afif’s shot was blocked by Marcelo Barovero, and the Monterrey goalkeeper did not do much when South Koream international Nam whipped over the post. On the other hand, Vangioni struck a belter to give the CONCACAF Champions League winners an early lead in the 23rd minute. The defender picked up a ball from 35-yards and unleashed a left-footer, which hit the top of the right-hand post and then slammed into the net. Afif and Hassan did try their luck from outside the box but could not find the target before Sadd captain Gabi’s blunder at the stroke of half time put the hosts two goals behind. The Spanish midfielder played a back pass to Boualem Khoukhi, but could only find a lurking Mori, who squared up Sadd keeper Saad al-Sheeb and calmly put it into the net. Afif had enough time in the remaining seconds of first half to pull a goal back but the forward’s corner from the left was cleared by Barovero. Sadd came in with a lot more intent in the second half but Barovero was again on hand to parry a shot from Hassan al-Haydos. While Xavi’s men did enjoy more of the possession, Monterrey were always a threat. Captain Dorlan Pabon went close a couple of times, but Sadd defenders were able to thwart the danger. Afif did have another big opportunity in the 65th minute, but the 23-year-old once again shot wide. A minute later, however, Bounedjah gave his side a hope when he bundled in a Khoukhi cross. Monterrey were back in control though, when Pedro Miguel lost the ball in the midfield to Jesus Gallardo, who then passed it to Rodriguez to drill into the net. When all the hopes seemed to die down, Hassan’s thunder strike from 25 yards in the 88th minute gave Sadd a slim of a chance. But the Monterrey players were clever in running down the clock as Sadd players ran out of gas.

*FIFA Club World Cup Qatar kicks off A spirited Hienghene Sport gave Al Sadd a scare before the hosts won 3-1 in a play-off match as the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar kicked off Wednesday. At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Sadd needed extra time to beat Oceania winners Hienghene to seal a place in the quarter-finals against Mexican side Monterrey. Sadd looked for a comfortable win when Baghdad Bounedjah put them in front in the 26th minute, but Hienghene hit back immediately after half time when Amy Roine drew level. Al Sadd's Abdelkarim Hassan celebrates after scoring a goal  Al Sadd's Abdelkarim Hassan (third from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal   With Sadd players spurning chance after chance, the game went into 30-minute extra time, where Abdelkarim Hassan scored after a howler from Hienghene goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine, before Pedro Miguel relieved pressure on coach Xavi Hernandez with a strike in the 114th minute. Qatar league champions Sadd have not been at their best form, having lost three of their last four league matches. And they looked lackluster once again against a Hienghene side, who are made up mostly of part-timers. Sadd manager was not too happy with his players for wasting plenty of opportunities to score. "We had many chances to score. We concede just a little bit. They didn't look like scoring in the second half apart from early on. We suffered too much, we did more than them but we missed too many chances. Monterrey will be very difficult side on Saturday," the Spaniard said. Going into Wednesday’s contest, Hienghene were always the underdogs but they battled hard against one of the best teams in Asia. Felix Tagawa’s men were surprise winners of the Oceania Champions League and are the first New Caledonian side to qualify for the Club World Cup. They are based in a remote part of New Caledonia with a population of just 2,500, five hours away from the country’s capital, Noumea. Hienghene does not possess the quality of Sadd, so it was obvious that they would sit deep and look to attack on counter. While the hosts dominated, Hienghene had their fair share of chances in the first half. Sadd did have couple of chances in the opening minutes but it was Hienghene who had first real shot at the goal. In the ninth minute, forward Jefferson Dahite’s right footed shot hit the side net. Four minutes later, Hienghene goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine, was called into action with Gabi and Bounedjah both trying their luck. Nyikeine, however, was equal to the task, blocking both the shots easily.  Roine, meanwhile was a constant threat to the Sadd defence, and the forward tested Saad al-Sheeb from outside the box with Sadd stopper diving to his left to make a save. In the 25th minute, Roine should have put Hienghene into the lead. Captain Bertrand Kai played in a perfect cross into the box, with Roine having beaten defender Pedro Miguel to the ball but the forward could not add power to his header as al-Sheeb made a regulation save. Roine was still lamenting his close miss, when Bounedjah made no mistake at the other end to put Sadd ahead. Hassan delivered a cross from the left-hand flank, which was tapped in by Bounedjah. There was a VAR review for the goal with Bounedjah seemed to be offside but a little nick off the defender on the way through meant the Algerian was played onside. In the 39th minute, Akram Afif thought he had doubled Sadd’s advantage when the Qatari forward had slotted the ball into the net after Boualem Khoukhi’s free kick was palmed away by Nyikeine. But the goal was disallowed after a VAR review by Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal, who deemed Bounedjah had obstructed Nyikeine as he looked to save Afif's follow-up shot. Hienghene got the second half under way and they equalised within a minute after the break, but not before the visitors were made to wait for the goal to be given. Roine had slotted the ball to the bottom right corner after nudging Khoukhi just outside the box but the referee ruled a foul by Hienghene forward. Upon watching a VAR review, Ghorbal reversed his decision as Roine went on a celebratory run with his teammates joining him. There was more VAR drama in the 69th minute and Sadd were at the receiving end again. After Nyikeine had denied Bounedjah with a brilliant save, substitute Hassan al-Haydos fierce shot hit the net. But the referee cut short al-Haydos’ celebration after Bounedjah, who had made the pass to his teammates, was offside. Sadd had numerous chances to finish the game with Afif having couple of golden chances. While the 23-year-old’s header whisked past the post, he was also guilty of shooting wide as the game went to extra time. While Hienghene continued to defend stoically, a mistake from goalkeeper Nyikeine undid all their good work. After confusion with defender, while clearing a Sadd attempt, Nyikeine gave a back pass to his teammates. With referee awarding a free kick to Sadd inside the box, Hassan blasted past a wall of defenders from close range. With Hienghene’s spirits crushed, Pedro added another goal with six minutes remaining to keep Sadd in the tournament.

*FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 Since 2013, three host nation clubs have gone on to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019. Al Sadd will be aiming to become the fourth one. The Qatar league champions will kick off their campaign Wednesday against Oceania winners Hienghene Sport in a play-off match Wednesday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. A victory will give Sadd a place in the quarter-finals, where they will take on Monterrey of Mexico. With a potential semi-final or final encounter against European champions Liverpool – the tournament’s crowd-pullers – looming, the Qatar giants have much to look forward to. Hienghene Sport manager Felix Tagawa (left) and captain Bertrand Kai address a press conference. This will be Sadd’s second participation in the competition having played previously in the 2011 edition, where they finished third. The passionate Sadd fans will hope their team can repeat what Raja Casablanca (2013), Kashima Antlers (2016) and Al Ain (2018) did when the tournament was held in their home country. Sadd’s head coach Xavi Hernandez said it would be a difficult feat to achieve but not impossible. “We are aware that it is difficult, but we are here to perform and play and we have one of the best players of this generation in the club’s history. They were part of the Qatar team which won the Asian Cup this year. We have a very good football philosophy and we are capable of continuing the achievements, but the task will be very difficult,” Xavi said. While Sadd should be able to breeze past New Caledonia’s Hienghene, their recent form does not inspire too much confidence. They have lost three of their last four league games, with Xavi finding it hard to produce consistent results. Sadd’s dip in form coincided with their AFC Champions League semi-final exit, where they lost to eventual champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Against Hienghene – who play in a 1,800-capacity stadium and were only formed in 1997 in the Pacific Island French territory of New Caledonia – Xavi would want his team to strike form. “I am very happy to participate in this big tournament, in which we will play the best clubs in the world. We are very excited, although we know very well the extent of the challenges that we will face throughout the competition, since all the clubs are the champions of their continents,” he said “We will try to display our best level, and we will see what happens later because no one can know what will happen in football. We have to deal with the championship step by step,” Xavi added. After playing four seasons for Sadd, the veteran Spain midfielder hung up his boots in May this year to take up the coaching reins. At 39, he is too early in his coaching career but the former Barcelona great knows how to taste success in big tournaments. As a player, Xavi won two Club World Cup trophies in three attempts with Barcelona. Now the Spaniard will hope to draw his experience as a player to motivate Sadd players. “Now I have no relationship with Barcelona, because I am part of Al Sadd. I am very proud to coach at this club and train its players. It is an honour for me to lead the club in this big tournament. For the players, this tournament means a lot too,” Xavi added. On being the first person to participate in the Club World Cup as a player and as a coach, Xavi said: “This is a great thing for me. I had no idea I will be the first one to do so. It gives me great motivation for tomorrow’s match to win, especially since I played in tournament on three occasions, and won it twice. But it is different this time.” Meanwhile, for Hienghene players, it will be an opportunity of a lifetime. Manager Felix Tagawa’s team are the first New Caledonian side to win the OFC Champions League – having debuted in the competition just two years earlier – and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, and only the second non-New Zealand side to do so. It will be the first time a senior New Caledonian side – club or country – will compete in a global football tournament. The team is based in Hienghene, a remote part of New Caledonia with a population of just 2,500, five hours away from the country’s capital, Noumea. Hienghene arrived in Doha ten days early for the tournament and have put in a week’s preparation. “We have nothing to lose and we are prepared, said coach Felix Tagawa. “They have good defenders and midfielders and a top striker in Baghdad Bounedjah but we have done well to qualify for this tournament and we want to give our all,” he added.

Bahrain sealed an historic Arabian Gulf Cup title – their first in tournament’s 49-year-old history – after a stunning 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium Sunday. Mohamed al-Rumaihi’s 69th minute goal put an end to Bahrain’s years of pain, in which they had finished runner-up four times in 1970, 1982, 1992 and 2003. As the final whistle was blown, Bahrain players sank to their knees to thank the almighty even as the support staff and substitutes rushed onto the field in celebration. _______________________________________ Tweet by His Highness the Amir We are delighted with the participation of the brothers in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, during which we have seen amazing days. Congratulations to Bahrain for winning the title and better luck to the other teams. We are proud of the success of the championship and all thanks and appreciation for all those who have participated in organising it. سعدنا بمشاركة الأشقاء في بطولة #كأس_الخليج_24 التي عشنا معها أياما رائعة. هنيئا للبحرين الفوز باللقب وحظا أوفر للفرق الأخرى. فخورون بنجاح البطولة وكل الشكر والتقدير لكل من شارك في تنظيمها. — تميم بن حمد (@TamimBinHamad) December 8, 2019 _________________________________________ His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was in attendance for the high-profile match and later crowned the champions. It was a fitting triumph for Bahrain, who came into the tournament as underdogs, and put their heart and soul into every game. They had lost 0-2 to Saudi in the group stages and were in the brink of elimination, but a thrilling 4-2 win over Kuwait put them in semis, where they held their nerve to edge past Iraq on penalties. Portuguese manager Helio Sousa, who had earlier this year led Bahrain to West Asian Football Federation Championship title, attained legendary status as he brought an end to Pearl Divers’ Gulf Cup drought. Sousa chose to go with an entirely different XI to the one that played against Iraq in the semi-finals, and he was proved right. Bahrain despite lacking in quality to Saudi, stayed in the match after early dominance from the Green Falcons, who wasted a penalty in the 10th minute. Saudi – the three time champions and a regional football powerhouse – should have taken a two-goal lead inside the first ten minutes. Salem al-Dawsari, who came into the starting XI after sitting out of the semi-final against Qatar due to injury, was inches away from giving Saudi the lead. The Al Hilal star’s ferocious right-footer in the fourth minute bounced off the top right bar as Saudi started on the front foot. Six minutes later, al-Dawsari was once again in the thick of action after he was brought down by Bahrain’s Jasim al-Shaikh in the box, with Swiss referee Lionel Tschudi pointing to the spot. In what turned out to be a turning point, captain Salman al-Faraj stepped in to take the penalty but put too much power behind his effort as the ball landed in the stands. Bahrain players heaved a sigh of relief, so did their travelling supporters. Bahrain forward Mahdi al-Humaidan, who had an outstanding game, had a chance to put his team ahead in the 14th minute but hit straight to goalkeeper Fawaz al-Qarni. Thereafter, chances were few and far between as both sides struggled in front of the goal. The energetic al-Dawsari did look like breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute. The winger danced around the box as he dodged three Bahraini defenders, but slipped just before aiming his shot. Al-Humaidan also came close to scoring but his header was tipped over by al-Qarni. Al-Humaidan had his heart in his mouth when forward Abdullah al-Hamdan – Saudi’s hero in semis win over Qatar – went down after a slight contact at the end of first half. Tschudi had waved to play on and a VAR review confirmed the referee was right. In the second half too, Saudi controlled the possession with Bahrain waiting to attack on the break. Al-Dawsari continued to threaten but was found wanting in his final third as frustration crept into Saudi’s game. In the 69th minute, Saudi were penalised for early misses. Al-Humaidan ran into a wide position and crossed in a prefect ball to al-Rumaihi, who beat defender Abdulellah al-Malki, to tap into the net with his left foot as Saudi stopper al-Qarni watched in frustration. Armed with a one goal-lead and their supporters rallying behind them, Bahrain had a spring in their step and tightened their defence. Saudi searched for an equaliser but Bahrain closed down the spaces. The Green Falcons had a chance in the 87th minute to take the game into extra time, but Feras al-Bikran's shot was way off the mark. Herve Renard’s men also won a free kick in the stoppage time after Syed Isa Hashim fouled al-Bikran just outside the box but the Bahraini wall was able to avert the danger. That was the last piece of action in the game as Bahrain held on for a significant win in their football history.

Bahrain will be hoping to end 49 years of anguish as they aim for their first Arabian Gulf Cup title Sunday. Standing between them and a historic triumph is Saudi Arabia, the traditional powerhouse, who will be gunning for their fourth title at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. Undoubtedly Saudi, the three-time Gulf Cup champions, will start as favourites, but Bahrain are more than capable of pulling off an upset. The two teams clashed in the group stage, with Saudi walking away with a 2-0 victory. However, that would matter for little when the two teams kick off the final at 7pm. For, Bahrain have bounced back spectacularly since losing to Saudi – their only loss in the tournament. They defeated Kuwait 4-2 in the final group game to seal their place in the semi-finals, where they knocked out Iraq on penalties. Saudi, on the other hand, knows how to play in big matches. Herve Renard’s side edged past tournament favourites and Asian champions Qatar 1-0 in the semi-finals, despite a sustained pressure from the hosts for long period. In Frenchman Renard they have a serial winner, who in the past has led Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory. After a 1-3 thrashing by Kuwait in their opening match, Renard has set-up his defence and it will be a tough test for Bahrain’s attack to penetrate into the box. Saudi will once again look for Abdullah al-Hamdan for goals. The 20-year-old striker has put on man of the match performances against Bahrain and Qatar so far, and will be the one to watch out for in the final. Renard said Saudi, who will be looking for their first Gulf Cup title since 2003, will have to stay focused in the final. “We have a strong team. And in the final, we need to play with humility. Since 2003 Saudi hasn’t won this competition, so the players want to make history. We just want to be ourselves. It will be completely different from the game we played against Bahrain in the group stage and we are ready," he said. “We are very pleased to have qualified for the final. I think we deserve it. So we need to concentrate very hard. This is the most important match. The players are very motivated and their level is getting better in each match. We want to be the champions,” he added. Renard indicated his team would not sit back and would play aggressively against Bahrain. “I think against Bahrain and Oman we played good offensive football. The game against Qatar was completely different. When we are in a tournament we need to have a strategy. We love to play offensive football but it’s not possible all the time. Our captain was out. So it was difficult. We played with our heart. We played for the flag of our nation,” he said. Meanwhile, Bahrain coach Helio Sousa has quietly rallied his side into the final, after at one point they looked to be out of contention. The Portuguese manager had earlier this year led them to West Asian Football Federation Championship title, and if he can mastermind Bahrain to their maiden Gulf Cup triumph Sunday, then he would attain legendary status in the country. “We are focusing on ourselves,” said Sousa Saturday. “By entering the final, we have bettered ourselves. But this is not enough. We play every match to win it. We can’t be happier than being in the final of Gulf Cup. It’s our best performance. But we want to win it," he added Sousa admitted his players would be under pressure to create history. “This is the biggest chapter for us. There is pressure, but this is the best pressure that can happen to us. We only have semi-professional championships in Bahrain. But we are winning against the best teams of Asia. The players are doing an amazing job. This is the pressure we want. To be here playing the fifth game. Against a top team,” he said.

It was heartbreak for Qatar as the hosts went down fighting to Saudi Arabia 0-1 in the semi-finals of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday. At the Al Janoub Stadium, the Asian champions were unlucky to bow out of the competition despite putting on a brave show in front of a packed crowd. Abdullah al-Hamdan’s 28th minute header turned out to be the winner for Saudis, who will face Bahrain in Sunday’s final at the Khalifa International Stadium. Bahrain had earlier knocked out Iraq in the first semi-final at the Abdullah bin Khalifa stadium after winning via penalty shootout, with both sides locked at 2-2 after extra time. While Saudi will be looking for their fourth Gulf Cup title – their first since 2003 – Bahrain will finally hope to end their drought, after having finished runners-up four times in the competition. On the eve of the tournament, Saudi coach Herve Renard had picked out defence as the backbone of his team. And the Frenchman proved to be right, as his defenders stood like a rock even as Qatar players fired in 21 attempts on the night. Saudi had only four shots but three of them were on target, to hosts just two. Qatar came close to scoring many times with their best chance coming off Abdulaziz Hatem in the 63rd minute. The midfielder’s audacious attempt from the corner slammed into top of the post before it hit Saudi goalkeeper Fawaz al-Qarni’s head. Qatar’s head coach Felix Sanchez followed his blueprint which has given him much success this year, employing a 3-4-2-1 formation. It was an aggressive one, with Abdelkarim Hassan and Pedro Miguel continuing to play as wingers. And it almost gave Qatar success as early as in the seventh minute. Pedro burst into the right side and fired a cross into the box, but Almoez Ali could only get a tiny touch as the ball went out. Captain Nawaf al-Abed had a chance to put Saudi in front in the 16th minute but hit straight to goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb. There were no clear cut chances for both sides until an al-Sheeb mistake provided the breakthrough for the Saudis in the 28th minute. Sultan al-Ghanam played, what looked like an innocuous ball into the Qatar box, but al-Sheeb reacted slowly to clear the aerial ball by which time al-Hamdan got a slight touch on the ball. Salem al-Hajri made a last ditch effort but the ball had already gone in. Two minutes later the hosts could have equalised after al-Qarni fumbled to collect the ball, but Qatar players were nowhere near the ball to take advantage. While their defence looked vulnerable, the hosts’ sheer potency in attack kept them in the game. But the Asian player of the Year Akram Afif had an off day, while Pedro, Almoez Ali and Hatim spurned their chances. It was all Qatar in the second half as the hosts went all out in attack in search for an equaliser. But it took them 60th minute to create a goal-scoring opportunity, with both Hassan and Hatim shooting wide. In the meantime, Saudi players had dropped back to guard their goal but were a threat on the counter. In the 62nd minute, the Green Falcons had a chance to double the lead when al-hamdan was clear on goal, but Boualem Khoukhi’s timely intervention blocked the 20-year-old’s shot. Thereafter, desperate Qatar players continued to pound the Saudi defence. While Almoez was late to latch onto a fine pass from Afif, Hatem’s ferocious corner that bounced off the post indicated it was not meant to be Qatar’s night. Saudi had their own misfortune in the 83rd minute, when Mohamed Kanu’s shot struck the post. The rebound fell into Yasir al-Shahrani, whose shot was tipped off by al-sheeb. With time running out for Qatar, Afif had the best chance in the 85th minute but his header flew well off the target. The Al Annabi had more than 70 percent of the possession in the last 20 minutes, but despite a sustained pressure they could not take the game into extra time.

Qatar will take on Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday, in what is a highly-anticipated contest between two of the biggest teams in the region. Before the blockbuster tie at the Al Janoub Stadium, which is slated for 8pm, Iraq will face Bahrain in the first semi-final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Duhail. Both Qatar and Saudi have had a similar path to the last four. Having lost their opening matches, they bounced back in the next two games to cruise into the knockout stage. After a shock 1-2 defeat to Iraq, hosts Qatar brushed past Yemen 6-0, before beating the UAE 4-2 in an equally dominating fashion to finish second in Group A. Saudi had slumped to a 1-3 loss to Kuwait, but were back to their best as they beat Bahrain 2-0 and defending champions Oman 3-1 to top Group B. Both teams have won the Gulf Cup three times each, with Qatar last winning the title in 2014 in Riyadh, while the Saudis haven’t won the regional competition since 2003 in Kuwait. The last times these two teams faced each other, Qatar beat Saudi 2-0 in the group phase of AFC Asian Cup in January, which the former went to win. Such is the anticipation for the match that, Qatar Football Association (QFA) confirmed tickets were sold out inside 24 hours, with people lining up at various locations in the country and also rushed online to buy tickets. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez, while acknowledging that the support of the home fans will play a big part, said Saudi will be a tough test for the Asian champions. “It’s always nice to play under pressure in front of your fans,” said the Spaniard. “At this point in the competition, you cannot make mistakes, we are playing against a strong team, we will try to play our game, we have our strengths and we will do our best to get a strong result. At this point, every game is a final if you lose you will be out so we have to be at our best,” he added. Qatar will once again rely on newly-crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif, who has been in sublime form and scored a brace against the UAE. Abdelkarim Hassan, Almoez Ali and captain Hassan al-Haydos will also have to play a key part for the hosts. Saudi’s fortunes will depend on eight players from Al Hilal, which won the AFC Champions League last month. Hattan Bahebri and Salem al-Dawsari will pose problems upfront, while winger Salem Mohamed al-Dosari has also been in good form. Green Falcons coach Herve Renard, who has previously led Zambia and Ivory Coast to African Cup of Nations glory, there is nothing much to separate both the teams. “We always have a special conversation with the players before the games, when you are the coach you think about your team and your opponent. We are playing the champions of Asia but they also have to respect Saudi Arabia, it will be difficult for us but we have prepared well,” the Frenchman said. Meanwhile, it will be an intriguing encounter between Iraq and Bahrain in the other semi-final. While Iraq are the only unbeaten team in the competition, Bahrain have not lost the West Asians in their last three meetings. Iraq coach Srecko Katanec said his side’s never-say-die spirit is makes them a stand out team. “All the players are working towards the same objective and hope we make it. The thing with Iraq is the spirit we have. But you never understand what the players do under pressure. If we have experienced players it’s easier,” said the Slovenian. Bahrain, who are yet to win Gulf Cup title, entered the semi-final after a thrilling 4-2 win over ten-time champions Kuwait in their last group match. “We are preparing knowing that we are playing against one great team. We will do well for sure. We are now among the top four teams in the tournament and we are very proud,” said the Bahrain Portuguese coach Helio Sousa.