Glory for Saudi Arabia: Young Falcons defeat Uzbekistan 2-0 to win first-ever AFC U-23 Asian Cup

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It is the first time the young Green Falcons have won the AFC U-23 Asian Cup after final defeats in 2013 and 2020. (Saudi National Team)
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Saudi Arabia became Asian U-23 champions on Sunday after defeating hosts Uzbekistan 2-0 in Tashkent. (AFC/the-afc.com)
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Updated 19 June 2022
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Glory for Saudi Arabia: Young Falcons defeat Uzbekistan 2-0 to win first-ever AFC U-23 Asian Cup

  • It’s the first time a team from the Kingdom has won the trophy following two previous final defeats

TASHKENT: Saudi Arabia became Asian U-23 champions on Sunday after defeating hosts Uzbekistan 2-0 in Tashkent, thanks to superb second half-strikes from Ahmed Al-Ghamdi and Firas Al-Buraikan.

It is the first time the young Green Falcons have won the AFC U-23 Asian Cup after final defeats in 2013 and 2020, and it also marks the first major continental trophy for coach Saad Al-Shehri who also lost two continental finals in his career.  

Al-Ghamdi gave Saudi Arabia the lead early in the second half with a strike worthy of winning any prize, with Al-Buraikan adding an equally impressive second with 16 minutes remaining.

As the team’s defense had failed to concede a single goal at any time in the tournament, the size of Uzbekistan’s task was apparent as they were going to have to do something that five teams had failed to do this month. Roared on by 34,000 fans at the Milliy Stadium, the men in blue tried their utmost but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi.

While the final minutes were understandably frantic, the opening period was a cagey one with Saudi Arabia keeping the ball well and Uzbekistan looking to break forward quickly when they won possession. The first half was at the midway point before there was any danger of a goal.

It was Saudi Arabia who came close. Hamad Al-Ghamdi, inside the area, got to the byline on the left and pulled the ball back for Al-Buraikan, but the striker’s low shot from close range was well-blocked by Alibek Davronov.

The hosts, with their fans filling the stadium two hours before the kick-off, had their first clear chance after 32 minutes. Hojimat Erginov ran on to a through ball but, from the edge of the area, shot high and wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Moments later, Hamad Al-Yami unleashed a powerful shot from 25 meters, which had goalkeeper Vladimir Nazarov scrambling to his left to tip the ball away from his corner.

Then, seven minutes before the break Al-Ghamdi was bundled over by Davranov in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. VAR had a good look and a five-minute wait decided there had been a marginal offside in the build-up.

That episode got the Tashkent temperature rising, but the last action of the first half saw the Saudis almost take the lead. A long ball from inside their half was headed back by Al-Buraikan to Ayman Yahya, whose looping header hit the outside of the post with the goalkeeper scrambling back from no man's land.

Then just three minutes into the second half, Saudi Arabia took the lead in stunning fashion. Al-Yami found Al-Ghamdi on the edge of the area, but the 20-year-old player still had work to do. The Ettifaq man evaded the attentions of two defenders and then fired an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner.

Uzbekistan were understandably eager to get back on level terms as soon as possible and, around the hour mark, were starting to push Saudi Arabia more onto the back foot, although the much-vaunted defense held firm. There were some hearts in mouths, however, as the man in form for the Central Asians, Jasurbek Jaloliddinov, almost repeated his spectacular semi-final strike against Japan but his long-range shot just went over the bar.

The hosts had the ball in the net with 20 minutes remaining. Jaloliddinov sent Ruslanbek Jiyanov through on goal and while his low shot from the right across Al-Aqidi beat the goalkeeper, the forward received the ball in a clear offside position.

Soon after, it was 2-0. Uzbekistan had been leaving gaps at the back, but Saudi Arabia couldn’t take advantage until Al-Buraikan scored another memorable goal. The striker was outside the box on the left side and unleashed a deadly shot into the far corner, past Nazarov’s despairing dive.

It knocked the wind out of the hosts’ sails and there was no way back for the 2018 champions, who grew increasingly frustrated. There was a major bust-up toward the end as Uzbekistan felt their opponents were time-wasting, which led to plenty of pushing and even a few water bottles thrown from the stands onto the pitch.

The Young Falcons kept their cool, their eyes on the prize, and soon, in the presence of the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation  Yasser Al-Misehal, had their hands on the trophy for the very first time at the third time of asking.


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.