Year in review: The highlights of Middle East club football

Omar Khribin was the Asian Player of the Year and also our player of the year
Updated 24 December 2017
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Year in review: The highlights of Middle East club football

PLAYER OF THE YEAR — OMAR KHRIBIN
This has been a vintage year for forward in the Middle East and it is to be hoped that some of the best in the region show their worth at the World Cup. Syria won’t be there but Omar Khribin really made a name for himself this year. A striker who can do everything, he almost shot his war-torn country to the biggest sporting event. His performances helped the Qasioun Eagles to the playoffs and he almost single handedly guided Syria past Australia and had his 120th minute free-kick in the second leg not hit the post, then things would now be very different.
It was the same story in the Asian Champions League. The tournament top-scorer was inspirational as Al-Hilal made the final and he scored in the first leg. An injury in the second held him back, and that may just have been the difference between the Riyadh team getting the trophy and returning home from Japan empty handed.

TEAM OF THE YEAR — WYDAD CASABLANCA
It has been a vintage year for Moroccan football. Not only did the national team qualify for the 2018 World Cup but Wydad Casablanca were crowned as the winners of the CAF Champions League, squeezing past Al-Ahly of Egypt in a memorable final. It was a second continental title for the Casablanca club, coming a quarter of a century after their first.
Wydad may not have been the most entertaining team in the competition, with Al-Ahly more crowd-pleasing in that aspect, but their discipline, tactical organization and flexibility made a difference when it counted. Conceding just six goals in the entire tournament showed that the old adage of defending winning titles can be true.

MATCH OF THE YEAR — Al-Rayyan (Qatar) 3-4 Al-Hilal (KSA)
If you are going to have a seven-goal thriller then the final game in the group stage of the 2017 Asian Champions League is a decent place to stage it. Al-Hilal traveled to the home of Al-Rayyan needing a point to secure a place in the knockout stage. The Qatari hosts had to win. Both teams had chances until the Saudi Arabians took the lead just before the break through Romanian midfielder Nicolas Milesi.
Ten minutes after the restart, however, Sebastian Soria equalized and on the hour, Rodrigo Tabata put Al Rayyan ahead to give them one foot in the last 16. Just six minutes later, however, Omar Khribin levelled to make it 2-2 and soon after, Milesi got his second to put Al Hilal ahead once more. Sergio Garcia made equalized for the Qataris with seven minutes remaining and once again, the nerves were jangling back in Riyadh only for Khirbin to score once more and give Al-Hilal the points and the place in the knockout stage.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR — HENK TEN CATE
The Dutchman deserves an award for lasting two years in charge of Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates where the turnover of coaches in the country is so high. He did deliver a second league championship for the Abu Dhabi outfit but there was disappointment in the Asian Champions League and a group stage exit. But Ten Cate really came into his own at the Club World Cup in December.
Al-Jazira were rank outsiders and had to go through the playoff against Auckland City to earn a quarter-final tie with Urawa Reds, the clever and disciplined champions of Asia from Japan. Al-Jazira won 1-0 for the second game in succession despite having much less possession.
Then came a semifinal with Real Madrid, the mighty 12-time European champions who had won three out of the last four of their continental titles. For many, this was the biggest club in the world. Yet Al-Jazira scored in the first half despite having one third of the share of the ball. And had there not been a harsh offside call early in the second half, the lead could well have been 2-0. It took two second-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to give the Spanish a tight win. Al-Jazira performed much better than South American champions Gremio against Real Madrid thanks, in part, to a great coaching performance.

GOAL OF THE YEAR —
Doris Fuakumputu for Al-Muharraq (Bahrain) vs Nejmeh (Lebanon), 2017 AFC Cup Group Stage, March 13, 2017

There are few things more satisfying than seeing a long-range shot into the roof of the net over the despairing dive of the goalkeeper. Fuakumputu has been around in the Middle East for years in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and now Bahrain but this was his finest hour. He picked up the ball far from goal, turned and then in a single motion fired a rocket home in delicious fashion. Throw in a somersault celebration in addition and you have a goal to remember. It was pure instinct, delivering something beautiful and unexpected and there are few sights better in football than that.

TEAM OF THE YEAR:
(4-3-3)

GK: Khasif (Al-Shabab, UAE);
DF: Mohamed Ounajem (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco) Osama Hawsawi (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia) Samal Saeed (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Iraq) Ali Maaloul, (Al-Ahly, Eygpt)
MF: Xavi (Al-Sadd, Qatar), Omar Abdulrahman (Al-Ain, UAE) Brachim Mekkach (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco)
FW: Omar Khribin (Al-Hilal, KSA) Achraf Bencharki (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco) Ahmed El Sheikh (Al-Ahly, Egypt)


Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Updated 08 November 2024
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Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

  • Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links
  • Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67

ABU DHABI: Paul Waring hit the shot of his life to complete a career-low 11-under 61 in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday and establish a five-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the European tour’s first playoff event.
The No. 229-ranked Englishman hit a draw with a 3-wood from about 260 yards to inside 4 feet at No. 18 and tapped in the birdie putt to move to 19-under par for the tournament.
The European tour confirmed to The Associated Press that it is the lowest 36-hole score to par in the tour’s history.
Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links and set a course record.
First-round leader Tommy Fleetwood of England (68), Johannes Veerman of the United States (67) and Danish players Niklas Norgaard (65) and Thorbjorn Olesen (67) were tied for second place on 14 under.
Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67 and was nine strokes off the lead.
McIlroy can clinch a sixth Race to Dubai title with a win this week.


Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Updated 08 November 2024
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Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

  • Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp
  • The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge

Liverpool: Arne Slot said he is not shocked by a stunning start to life in charge of Liverpool as the Reds have stormed to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge in all competitions as the holders have also progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp.
But he has built on the solid foundations left by the German after Liverpool finished third in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Arsenal last season.
“Surprise isn’t the right word I’d use because I knew the quality of our team. But quality is one thing, to be consistent is a second thing,” said Slot at his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.
“From the moment I started working with them I saw how much energy they put in on a daily basis and that is I think the reason you can be consistent.”
Liverpool were inspired by the power of the Anfield crowd to come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend to move two points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League.
A similar atmosphere helped blow Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen away 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Slot is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground but is happy for the fans to get excited about the possibility of just a second league title in 35 years.
“If the end result of them being excited is to bring the atmosphere of the second half against Brighton and the whole game against Leverkusen, I am hoping they will keep being excited because that atmosphere helped us a lot,” added the former Feyenoord boss.
Diogo Jota remains sidelined but should return after November’s international break.


Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

  • Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title for 3rd time
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif promises to set up world-class facilities for sportsmen

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif for winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship in Qatar for the third time, Pakistani state-run media reported on Thursday.
Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title in a thrilling final on Nov. 6. He outclassed Ali 5-3: 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118 and 93(80)-4.
“Asif made the entire nation proud by winning the international championship for the third time,” PM Sharif was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster. “The talented youth of Pakistan are highlighting the country’s name in the fields of sports.”
The IBSF, founded in 1971, is the governing body for billiards and snooker worldwide. It represents 85 member countries and is recognized by the World Confederation of Billiard Sports and the International Olympic Committee.
Asif, 42, first won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2012 and went on to win it again in 2019. His victory ties him with India’s Pankaj Advani who has also won the World Snooker Championship thrice.
The Pakistan prime minister said Asif’s family and coach also deserved recognition, adding that providing quality facilities to Pakistani players was top priority of his government.
“The government is making all possible efforts to provide international standard facilities to the players,” he added.
 


Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Updated 08 November 2024
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Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

BARCELONA: Raphinha knew he would have a hard time getting off Barcelona’s bench with the soccer world enthralled by teen phenom Lamine Yamal and the club eyeing to sign another hot prospect in the attack.

Instead of pouting, he evolved.

While the entire Barcelona team improved under new coach Hansi Flick, no player has made such a leap forward this season as Raphinha.

His 12 goals and team-leading 10 assists across all competitions are a big part of why Barcelona is playing its best soccer since the exit of Lionel Messi more than three years ago.

But if one player looked to be on the out when the season started, it was the Brazil forward.

Raphinha seemed destined to become a second-choice right-side winger after 17-year-old Yamal helped Spain win the European Championship in dazzling style. To make matters worse, the club was heavily linked to a possible transfer bid to pry Spain left-side winger Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao.

That move never materialized for Williams, but Raphinha was still left with either playing in a new position or being a backup to Yamal.

And when Flick gave him the chance to have a new role, he made the most of it.


England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

Updated 08 November 2024
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England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

LONDON: Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall were called up to the England squad for the first time on Thursday as interim coach Lee Carsley made his final selection before Thomas Tuchel takes charge.

Tuchel does not start until January after being hired to lead the national team’s bid to win the 2026 World Cup.

Carsley will oversee England’s final Nations League games against Greece and Ireland and has continued to look toward a new generation of players, having already handed debuts to Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke since taking over on a temporary basis from Gareth Southgate in August.

Carsley said had not discussed his selection with Tuchel.

“He hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection. I’ve spoken to him by text, but it’s literally congratulations,” he said. “I think he’s highly respectful of the job that not only myself, but the staff are doing.

“We’ve been left to it, like we always have.”

England plays Greece in Athens on Nov. 14 and Ireland at Wembley on Nov. 17.

Carsley will resume his role as England Under-21 coach after those games.