Al Nassr thrown SPL lifeline as Al Ahli stop Al Hilal’s title march

Al Ahli retook the lead 12 minutes later through Abdulfattah Asiri brilliant diving header after a fine move initiated by Al Somah. (FILE/AFP)
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Updated 21 August 2020
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Al Nassr thrown SPL lifeline as Al Ahli stop Al Hilal’s title march

  • Points deficit at the top of the table down to six points with four matches left
  • In the three rounds since the restart of the league after the break enforced by the coronavirus crisis, Al Hilal had claimed three straight wins

DUBAI: A semblance of life was breathed into the Saudi Professional League (SPL) title race when runaway leaders Al Hilal were last night beaten 2-1 by Al Ahli, whose win ensured that second placed Al Nassr, are now only six points off the top with four matches left.

In the three rounds since the restart of the league after the break enforced by the coronavirus crisis, Al Hilal had claimed three straight wins as they looked to wrap up record 16th title in double quick time.

They started the day nine points clear, but Al Nassr cut the deficit to six with a comfortable 4-1 win at Al Taawoun. It meant the Riyadh club needed a win to stretch the leaf again. It was not to be, as Al Ahli, inspired by Omar Al Somah, handed their Jeddah rivals the most welcome, and perhaps unexpected, of gifts.

The Syrian international gave a youthful Al Ahli team the lead after only five minutes, volleying home after his initial effort had been blocked by Abdullah Al Mayouf in Al Hilal goal.

Parity was restored in the 62 minutes when Ali Al Bulaihi side footed from Al Hilal substitute Mohammed Al Breik’s low cross, but Al Ahli retook the lead 12 minutes later through Abdulfattah Asiri brilliant diving header after a fine move initiated by Al Somah.

Al Ahli boss Vladan Milojević was mobbed by his staff as the final whistle went while his gleeful players celebrated on the pitch. For Al Hilal, nerves may start to creep in, though matches are running out fast for their challengers Al Nassr.

The win sees Al Ahli strengthen their grip on third place with Al Wehda in hot pursuit three points behind.

Al Hilal’s French forward Bafétimbi Gomis, who has been in red hot form since the restart, had a difficult night and looked to be struggling in the stifling heat, prompting fans to call in and send messages to the television stations to check on his health. 

“I am fine. At some point I felt the heat, but thankfully I managed to finish the match,” he said. “I want to thank all the fans who called in to check up on me.”

“The teams at the top will have days like these when they face difficulties,” he added. “You can’t become champions if you don’t go through these moments. If you remember recently, Juventus went through a difficult time on the way to the title win with a few draws and some dropped points. We were not at our best, but credit to Al Ahli who played well and scored two goals. At the same time the two goals were avoidable, as they came from our mistakes rather than from an obvious superiority over us.”

Al Ahli Bosnian midfielder Elvis Saric, one of the match’s standout performers, revealed he was more than happy to curb his attacking instincts to maintain his team’s defensive shape, in particular keeping a close watch on Al Hilal playmaker Sebastian Giovinco.

“It was a very difficult game as we were playing against the leaders,” he said. “For me it was no problem, I can play in midfield number 6 or number 8. It’s not a problem, the coach will decide every game where I play

He also praised Al Ahli’s younger players who showed maturity and endurance in difficult conditions.

“For sure we have some very good young players and it’s a very good opportunity for them to play against teams like Al Hilal, like Al Nassr,” Saric added. “I think they are playing very well, they’re training very well, and they listen to everything that the coach says to them. I have no problem with the young players, they need to play. In football it’s not a problem who is old and who is young, only who can play. Of course you need experience. You couldn’t play with 11 young players or you couldn’t play with 11 old players. You need to have balance in the team and I think that we have very good balance in the team and we will be better and better in every round.”

One of those young players, Ali Al Asmari, said that despite Al Hilal having the majority of possession (69 percent), Al Ahli’s determination ensured that they were never overawed.

“Al Hilal is a big team and they always like to have the majority of the play, whether in their own half or the opposition half,” he said. “Having the confidence in ourselves is what allows us to overcome the challenges that face the players, whether they are young or old. The experienced players supported us throughout the match and hopefully we can get better in the future.”

“A lot of people predicted Al Hilal will win with a big margin but we’ve been feeling optimistic over the last two days, and thankfully we got the three points,” Al Asmari added. “Al Hilal is a big club, and Al Hilal is a big club, and big matches like that are not decided by big scores.”

In the day’s other matches bottom of the table Al Adalah lost 4-2 at home to Al Wehda, while AL Fayha and damar played out a 0-0 draw.

Next up for Al Hilal on Monday is a home game against Al Faisaly, while Al Nassr will be expected to keep the pressure on with a win against Al Adalah later that night.


McIlroy shares Dubai lead with Ballesteros mark in sight

Updated 15 sec ago
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McIlroy shares Dubai lead with Ballesteros mark in sight

  • McIlroy fired a 67 to stand on top of the leaderboard alongside Tyrrell Hatton
  • McIlroy only needs a top ten finish to secure a sixth Race to Dubai crown of his career, matching the tally of Ballesteros
DUBAI: Rory McIlroy claimed a share of the first-round lead at the World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday as he closed in on equalling Seve Ballesteros’ mark of six European Tour Order of Merit crowns.
McIlroy fired a 67 to stand on top of the leaderboard alongside Tyrrell Hatton.
The 35-year-old McIlroy started the season-ending event in Dubai with a healthy lead over South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence who endured a nightmare day, signing for a one-over 73 which included five bogeys.
With 2,000 points on offer to the winner, McIlroy only needs a top ten finish to secure a sixth Race to Dubai crown of his career, matching the tally of Ballesteros.
Playing partners Hatton and Paul Waring, who sealed the biggest victory of his career at last week’s Abu Dhabi Championship, hit the front at four under after they each birdied the 14th hole, but the Northern Irishman followed suit shortly after.
Hatton became the first person to reach five under with a birdie at the penultimate hole, only to be matched by McIlroy’s 48-foot putt at the same hole to share the lead with Englishman.
“I thought I played well. I hit the ball pretty well. I gave myself plenty of chances, plenty of looks,” four-time major champion McIlroy said.
“I want to go on from here and win the golf tournament. I’ve opened up with a really good score, but I need to go out and play similarly over these next three days, not just to try to win the tournament, but also to try to get the job done in the Race to Dubai.
“I’m under no illusions that that was probably Thriston’s worst day. If he goes out and has three good ones, I still need to go out there and play some very solid golf.”
Hatton, 33, carded seven birdies and two dropped shots in his round.
Dubai-based Waring reached the turn in 32 before mixing a bogey and birdie on the back nine to sit alone in third at four under.
There are seven players at three under — Billy Horschel, Matt Wallace, Adam Scott, Alex Fitzpatrick, Niklas Norgaard and Japanese duo Keita Nakajima and Rikuya Hoshino.

Jeddah Corniche Circuit to host SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 on Nov. 29-30

Updated 14 November 2024
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Jeddah Corniche Circuit to host SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 on Nov. 29-30

  • SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 consists of two main races, the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe and the GT4 European Series
  • Some of the world’s leading drivers and manufacturers will take part in the race

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, dubbed the fastest street circuit in the world, is set to host the SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 for the first time on Nov. 29-30.
The SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 consists of two main races — the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, which lasts for six hours and covers 1,000 km with more than 40 teams participating, and the GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing, which is 250 km long and features more than 30 teams.
GT racing showcases car models designed for road use that have been expertly modified for high-speed endurance events, often proving to be more powerful and durable than Formula cars, according to a media statement on Thursday.
The championship is sponsored by Fanatec, a leading manufacturer of racing simulation equipment, offering a connection between real and virtual motorsports.
The race will see an array of the world’s leading drivers and manufacturers take part, such as Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Ford.
The primary focus of GT racing is to challenge the endurance of both drivers and cars, particularly in events such as the SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024.
Teams, drivers and spectators are set to make the most of the opportunities offered by the SAL Jeddah GT 2024. Saudi Arabia will again be in the global spotlight as it becomes an important destination for international motorsport stars and racing enthusiasts, in a new championship that stands apart from other regional competitions, the media statement said.


UEFA investigates English ref Coote over footage of alleged drug use at Euro 2024

Updated 14 November 2024
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UEFA investigates English ref Coote over footage of alleged drug use at Euro 2024

  • “A UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by the referee, Mr. David Coote,” UEFA said
  • The report said the incident was filmed one day after Coote’s last match duty, the quarterfinal between France and Portugal

NYON: UEFA started another investigation into English match official David Coote on Thursday after a video allegedly showed him using cocaine during the European Championship.
“A UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by the referee, Mr. David Coote,” UEFA said in a statement.
Coote worked as a video review specialist at Euro 2024, where match officials stayed at a hotel near Frankfurt. He was an assistant supporting the lead VAR official at eight games.
British daily The Sun published a video late Wednesday appearing to show Coote snorting the drug using an American banknote.
The report said the incident was filmed one day after Coote’s last match duty, the quarterfinal between France and Portugal. France won a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Coote was suspended on Monday by the English match referees body after a different cellphone video circulated of him making offensive comments with friends about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. That body and the English FA started investigations.
UEFA already withdrew Coote from match duty for national team games this week after the first video was published.
The games he worked at Euro 2024 included host Germany’s 2-0 win over Denmark in the round of 16 that included a controversial penalty award for handball. The lead VAR official at that game, Stuart Attwell, was involved in some of the tournament’s most debated decisions.


Sinner doping case could have been communicated more efficiently, ATP chair says

Updated 14 November 2024
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Sinner doping case could have been communicated more efficiently, ATP chair says

  • A decision by an independent tribunal to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September
  • The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year

TURIN: There “could have been better communication” in explaining the rules involved in Jannik Sinner’s doping case, ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged Thursday.
However, Gaudenzi said at the ATP Finals that anyone hinting that a “double standard” was applied because of top-ranked Sinner’s status is “unfair because the rules have been the same.”
Sinner is playing at home this week for the first time since it was announced before his US Open title that he tested positive for an anabolic steroid in two separate drug tests in March.
The case wasn’t made public until August.
“I learned the day before we all learned,” Gaudenzi said in his first public comments on the case. He spoke in a round-table discussion with international reporters.
“And to be honest, I’m happy about that. I really thank the ITA (International Testing Agency) and our representatives there for intentionally keeping me and our entire team in the dark because that’s how it should be.
“It should be completely independent and that was agreed by the (parties). It was a shock, but obviously comforted by the evidence afterward.”
A decision by an independent tribunal to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in September and the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to make a final ruling on the case early next year.
Sinner’s explanation was that the banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own cut finger.
WADA is seeking a ban of one to two years for Sinner.
“We are completely external and it’s (an) independent process,” Gaudenzi said. “I generally think has been a fair process. It was really done by the book and by the rules. Maybe there could have been better communication in explaining those rules, and that is something that I would urge every party involved to work better in the next time.”
ATP Finals future will be revealed
Gaudenzi said he plans to announce on Sunday the future host of the ATP Finals. The contract with Turin expires next year and there is an option to move the event to nearby Milan at a bigger arena being built for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.


Saudi goal disallowed in scoreless draw with Australia

Updated 14 November 2024
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Saudi goal disallowed in scoreless draw with Australia

  • Green Falcons thought they had won in the 93rd minute when Sultan Al-Ghannam rifled home from just inside the box
  • Mitch Duke clashed heads with goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar who came out to clear the ball, but VAR showed the infringement was outside the box

MELBOURNE: Saudi Arabia had a goal disallowed in added time in a scoreless draw with Australia, a result that did neither side any favors in their bid to qualify for World Cup 2026.
Despite several chances in front of a sold out AAMI Park in Melbourne, the breakthrough both teams desperately needed never came.
The Saudis and their new French coach Herve Renard thought they had won in the 93rd minute when Sultan Al-Ghannam rifled home from just inside the box.
But the flag went up, with one of his teammates offside.
“We had some good opportunities but we have to go give our opponent credit. First half we didn’t play very well,” said Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.
“We were not very good with the ball while they were sharp and energetic.
“We improved significantly in the second half, which is good,” he added.
“Overall, it’s a point and we move forward but certainly we can improve.”
The stalemate played into the hands of Group C leaders Japan and opened the door for Bahrain to leapfrog them as Asian qualifying reached the halfway mark.
Australia and the Saudis both have six points, four behind table-toppers Japan who can stretch their lead further when they meet Indonesia in Jakarta on Friday.
Bahrain, on five points, host China later in Riffa and will move into second spot if they win.
Just the top two seal their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America, with third and fourth forced into another round of Asian qualifying.
Australia must now lift themselves for a difficult trip to Bahrain next week, while Saudi Arabia travel to Indonesia.
Popovic made just one change from the team that drew with Japan in Saitama last month with Standard Liege midfielder Aiden O’Neill in for Luke Brattan.
Renard, who was appointed a fortnight ago in place of Roberto Mancini, swung the axe with just four survivors from their last match, a goalless draw with Bahrain.
Both sides started at a frenetic pace and in a big moment on 12 minutes the referee awarded Australia a penalty after Mitch Duke clashed heads with goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar who came out to clear the ball.
But VAR showed the infringement was outside the box.
The first decent effort did not come until the 27th minute when Saudi midfielder Nasser Al-Dawsari whipped in a shot from a tight angle. Goalkeeper Joe Gauci saved at the near post.
Gauci made another crucial stop on the cusp of half-time, charging off his line to pluck the ball off the feet of Feras Albrikan in a one-on-one situation.
Australia had the brighter second half, creating far more chances with Riley McGree and Duke whipping in shots that were blocked.
They had a glorious opportunity with seven minutes left when substitute Brandon Borrello beat the offside trap.
But instead of shooting he opted to pass and the chance was wasted, before the last-minute drama with the disallowed goal.