FOOTBALL 55-star Qatar make -star Qatar make llight work ...

1 345. days to go CRICKET. Saturday, December 11, 2021. Jumada I 7, 1443 AH. Root, Malan GULF TIMES lead England fightback in first SPORT. FOOTBALL . Ashes Test Page 2. 5 -star Qatar make light work of UAE. to enter semi-finals Qatar await the winner of Algeria-Morocco match in last four By Sahan Bidappa Doha Q. atar powered past a hapless United Arab Emirates 5-0 with a ruthless rst half dis- play to seal their place in the FIFA Arab Cup semi- nals. The packed Friday crowd at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor witnessed Qatar 's golden gen- eration of footballers put on a breathtaking display in the quarter- nals. But the UAE, who were gunning for a revenge for their 0-4 thrashing by Qatar in the Asian Cup semis in 2019, were dreadful in the rst half.

2 The Whites were a different side to the one that were ham- mered two years back in Abu Dhabi but the scars seemed to Qatar 's defender Boualem Khoukhi (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the UAE. remain fresh on the players' during the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 quarter-final at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor yesterday. (AFP). minds. Qatar 's forward Almoez Ali is fouled by UAE's defender Mohnad Salem (left) and goalkeeper Ali Khaseif The imposing Al Bayt Stadi- (right) during the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-final at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil the nerves of Qatari players, as UAE's Mahmoud Khamis gifted the penalty to the top corner.

3 Um, which had a small number of the UAE players struggled to them the second goal. Eight minutes later, Abdulaziz UAE fans, also made it difficult where anything Qatar players Morocco waiting for them in the who made a late substitute ap- build up momentum. The UAE In the 27th minute, Khamis Hatem's thunderous strike off a for the young visiting side. touched turned into gold, also in semi- nals. pearance against Iraq and also players enjoyed more than 70% handled the ball in the box off pass from A f made it 4-0 be- It was such a one-sided con- part thanks to the largesse by the Sanchez elded a full- bagged a goal each, pressed the possession in the rst half, pre- a cross from Ismail Mohamed, fore Almoez found the net again test in the rst half, that Qatar UAE players, who gave away two strength side yesterday, after UAF defence high from the be- ferring to build it up from the with Almoez putting the pen- in stoppage time.

4 Coach Felix Sanchez chose to sit penalties and also committed playing a second-string side for ginning and it didn't take long back, which played into Qatar 's alty into the net to double the With ve goals, Qatar 's play- in the dugout and chat with his defensive howlers at will. most part against Iraq in their - for them to crumble. hands. advantage. For the UAE, all hell er's intensity did drop off a bit assistants even as players went We will celebrate this vic- nal group game on Monday. With In the sixth minute, UAE de- The hosts simply chose to sit broke loose thereafter as Qatar while UAE did put on a much down the tunnel to the dress- tory because it's a great result Pedro Miguel missing due to in- fender Mohanad Salem failed back and counter-attack with smashed three goals in 12 min- better display.

5 Khoukhi went ing room for a breather. It's very for us. The team is showing im- jury, Abdelkarim Hassan slotted to clear a back pass as Almoez Almoez and A f lethal upfront. utes. closest to scoring in the second rare when a coach does not need provement after every match in as one of the three centre- latched on to the ball and laid it The Qatari forwards, however, In the 36th minute, Almoez half but Sanchez biggest wor- to talk to his players at half-time and now we need to focus on the backs, with Ismail Mohamed off to A f, whose shot de ected didn't have to do anything ex- was brought down by UAE cap- ry will be his star forward A f but Sanchez was afforded that semi- nal, said Sanchez, with started as a right wing-back.

6 Off Ali Salmin for an own goal. traordinary as another clumsy tain and goalkeeper Ali Khaseif, limping off late in the second af- luxury by his team. It was a night African heavyweights Algeria or Akram A f and Almoez Ali, It was a perfect start to calm defensive mistake from the with Boualem Khoukhi slotting ter picking up a knock. FOCUS. Spirited Tunisia reach semi-finals with win over Oman By Rizwan Rehmat Mohamed ben Hmida curled close range. Three minutes into Doha in a near-perfect loopy cross the second half, Oman's Salaah from the ank for Jaziri. The tall al-Yahyaei produced a powerful Zamalek striker jumped high to low shot that was pouched by Today's schedule T.

7 Unisia yesterday over- meet the cross and headed the Tunisia keeper Mouez Hassen. Quarter-finals came a feisty challenge ball into the net past keeper Ib- A minute later, Tunisia's from Oman to become rahim al-Mukhaini in the 16th Drager curled in a spectacular X. the rst side to reach minute. long-range shot that went nar- the FIFA Arab Cup semi- nals Tunisia, with a goal's advan- rowly past the goalpost to the Egypt vs Jordan with a 2-1 win at Education City tage, stitched more attacks with left of keeper al-Mukhaini. 6pm Stadium. Goals from Seifed- regularity in the rst half. In the Tunisia's Maskni also got into Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakra dine Jaziri (16th minute) and 19th minute, Mohamed Drager the act but his shot on an indi- captain Youssef Msakni (69th red a bullet but Oman keeper rect freekick beat the Omani wall minute) helped Tunisia wrap up al-Mukhaini parried the ball but the keeper who collected a convincing performance un- above the crossbar.

8 The low ball. A minute after the X. der lights. For Oman, the 2018 Soon after the half-hour mark, hour-mark, al-Jaziri unleashed Gulf Cup champions, Rashid al- Drager found time and space to a powerful shot from the edge of Morocco vs Algeria Alawi reduced the de cit in the nd his way into the Oman box the box but the ball caught the 10pm 66th minute with a spectacular and without wasting time, the head of Oman's Juma al-Habsi. Al Thumama Stadium, Doha long-range effort that was wildly 25-year-old Nottingham Forest Five minutes later, Oman pro- cheered by fans at the Education winger clipped the ball towards duced an equaliser in spectacu- City Stadium.

9 Team mate Naim Sliti who was lar fashion. Yesterday's results With yesterday's goal, Jaziri on the other side of the shoot- Al-Alawi after picking up a Quarter-finals now has a tally of four in as many Tunisia players celebrate after their 2-1 win over Oman in the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals at the ing range. Sliti aimed quickly but short cross way outside the Tu- matches at the 16-team tourna- Education City Stadium in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed his shot sailed above the Oman nisia box unleashed a power- Tunisia 2 (Jaziri Seifeddine ment. Tunisia coach Monder crossbar. Five minutes from the ful shot that smashed into the 16', Youssef Msakni 69') bt El Kabir said yesterday: We quick reaction in the match after match.

10 We are happy to achieve from Tunisia's Yassine Meriah in rst-half whistle, Sliti opted for net with keeper Hassen unable Oman 1 (Arshad al-Alawi 66'). thank God for this win. We won we conceded the equaliser. That our goal by advancing from the the fth minute. a long-range shot but the ball to stop the ball despite a dive to Qatar 5 (Ali Salmin 6' OG, because of a compact perform- was a big factor in us winning the quarter- nals stage. We will not Eight minutes later, Al Arabi sailed past the goalpost to the his right. Almoez Ali 28' P & 45'+3', ance from my players. We have match. After that we dominated focus on the next match.)