AL KHOR, Qatar: Defending champions and hosts Qatar became the first team to book their place in the Asian Cup last 16 with a 1-0 win over debutants Tajikistan on Wednesday.
China’s 0-0 draw with Lebanon earlier in the day means Qatar are guaranteed to go through to the knockout round as Group A winners.
Livewire forward Akram Afif, who scored twice in Qatar’s opening 3-0 victory over Lebanon, hit the winner early in the first half in front of 55,000 with another clinical finish.
Tajikistan finished with 10 men after Amadoni Kamolov was sent off for kicking out at Ahmed Al-Ganehi’s face late in the game, the first dismissal of the tournament.
Qatar were returning to the tent-like Al Bayt Stadium, where they lost 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening game of the World Cup just over a year ago.
The 2019 Asian champions gave another solid performance, illuminated by a flash of brilliance from Afif.
The forward raced onto a through ball from Almoez Ali in the 17th minute before stabbing it deftly past goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov.
Coach Tintin Marquez — only in the job since early December — made five changes to the starting lineup that faced Lebanon, dropping captain Hassan Al-Haydos to the bench.
Tajikistan made a positive start and Rustam Soirov stung Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham’s hands with an early shot from inside the box.
All that changed in the blink of an eye when Afif opened the scoring, but Qatar should have had more after dominating the rest of the first half.
Tajikistan had a close shave when Manuchekhr Safarov appeared to take a swipe at Ali in the box midway through the first half, only for a VAR check to rule out a penalty for Qatar.
The Central Asians escaped again when Zoir Dzhuraboev cleared off the line from Ali after a goalkeeping blunder from Yatimov shortly before half-time.
Tajikistan had a chance early in the second half when Alisher Dzhalilov prodded the ball past the onrushing Barsham, but the striker could not catch up in time to steer it into the net.
Kamolov was sent off in the 81st minute when he lashed out with his boot at Ganehi when going down under a challenge.
Tajikistan drew 0-0 with China in their opening game for their first point ever at the Asian Cup.
They still have a chance to qualify for the knockout round and face Lebanon on Monday.
Qatar play China in their final group match the same day.
Holders Qatar first team to reach Asian Cup last 16
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Holders Qatar first team to reach Asian Cup last 16
- Livewire forward Akram Afif hit the winner early in the first half in front of 55,000 with another clinical finish
- The 2019 Asian champions gave another solid performance, illuminated by a flash of brilliance from Afif
Man City will ‘struggle’ to overcome injury crisis, says Guardiola
- Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, leads a stellar cast of absentees in Guardiola’s squad
- Guardiola urged City not to make excuses despite their injury woes
LISBON: Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will struggle to overcome a mounting injury crisis but encouraged the English champions to bounce back in Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Sporting Lisbon.
City travel to Portugal after consecutive defeats to Tottenham in the League Cup and Bournemouth on Saturday, which ended an 11-month unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, leads a stellar cast of absentees in Guardiola’s squad that also includes Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and John Stones.
Kevin De Bruyne could make his first appearance seven weeks but is unlikely to start, while Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Jeremy Doku and Savinho are also not fully fit.
“You know the situation with Rodri, nominated the best player in the world,” said Guardiola at his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“We know we will struggle, and we have to accept that, and it is fine.
“The games will be difficult; in previous seasons it was smooth. Personal reasons, injuries, we won six Premier Leagues in seven years. Things change, we have to accept that.”
Guardiola will come against one of his future rivals as Sporting boss Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before beginning his role as Manchester United manager.
The sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League when City romped to a 5-0 victory in Lisbon and on aggregate.
“They have changed players but have same manager and same mentality,” added Guardiola on the challenge Sporting provide.
“Winning the league for first time in 20 years and then doing it again last season shows what a good job he has done.”
Bernardo Silva scored twice in City’s 5-0 win over Sporting two years ago on his return to Lisbon, where he began his career at Benfica.
He urged City not to make excuses despite their injury woes.
“With a full squad we are stronger, there’s no denying that. We have a lot of unbelievable players missing,” said Silva.
“We have not been able to count on Kevin for six weeks. Rodri is out for the season and other players out shorter times. But we never find excuses. This club was never about that.”
Both sides are unbeaten in the new Champions League format with seven points from their opening three matches.
UAE Pro League pauses for international break after breathless start to season
- Iran superstar Sardar Azmoun’s instant impact has seen Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club sit joint top of standings with a 100% record
DUBAI: A three-week pause in play provides welcome opportunity to take stock of what has been a breathtaking start to the 2024-2025 ADNOC Pro League.
Fueled by Iran superstar Sardar Azmoun’s instant impact, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club sit joint top of the standings with an ominous 100 percent record from six outings.
A reinvigorated Sharjah under their rebounding “trophy machine” Cosmin Olaroiu are keeping pace on 18 points from seven fixtures.
Meanwhile, a talented chasing pack includes Hussein Ammouta taking his winning touch from Jordan to Al-Jazira, and neighbors Al-Wahda under their Celtic-inspired managerial duo of Ronny Deila and assistant Kenny Miller.
Stumbles from holders Al-Wasl and AFC Champions League kings Al-Ain add further intrigue.
Increasingly familiar difficulties for promoted clubs Dibba Al-Hisn and Al-Orooba provide some concern, plus mixed feelings about how the UAE’s World Cup 2026 qualifying mission is progressing.
Here are Arab News’ key talking points from the top flight’s early action.
An influx of talent and excitement
The majority of ADNOC Pro League clubs can reflect on a job well done in the transfer market. Most strikingly, Shabab Al-Ahli.
Iran’s Azmoun has gone from Bundesliga title joy at Bayer Leverkusen, to six goals in six starts under the enlightening tutelage of new head coach Paulo Sousa.
Global headlines were claimed by much-improved Jazira’s capture of France and Real Betis magician Nabil Fekir, plus Egypt and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny. A rise to fourth under the wise Ammouta is testament to this work.
Deila has Wahda in third off the back of 2023-2024 Belgian Pro League glory with Club Brugge.
Kalba’s smart decision to bring astute Middle East-campaigner Vuk Rasovic back to the UAE has them sitting a solid sixth, and ex-Netherlands anchorman Leroy Fer has added ballast to fifth-placed Al-Nasr.
Ex-Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic and Romania’s Euro 2024 lead defender Andrei Burca are in situ at Baniyas, with Jamaica forward Junior Flemmings among the goals for Ajman.
An impressive introduction promises much for the challenges ahead.
Headache for the holders continues
It is one of Middle East football’s enduring conundrums.
Why can the ADNOC Pro League champions not hold onto their title? On current form, seventh-placed Al-Wasl — nine points off the pace, having played a game more than Shabab Al-Ahli — look likely to join this list.
You have to go back to 2011-2013 for the last time a UAE club, Al-Ain, retained their crown.
In the same period, Al-Nassr (2013-2015) and Al-Hilal (2016-2018; 2019-2022) have dominated the Roshn Saudi League. In the Qatar Stars League, Al-Sadd (2020-2022) and Lekhwiya, now Al-Duhail, have repeated such feats (2013-2015; 2016-2018).
Have the AFC Champions League Elite commitments drained resources? Has injury to Serbia’s Euro 2024 selection Srdan Mijailovic prevented a necessary shake-up of the XI?
Talent runs deep at Wasl, while boss Milos Milojevic’s four major trophies in two seasons with his current employers and Red Star Belgrade point to serious winning pedigree.
Maybe this is just a blip for the storied club who waited 17 years between ADNOC Pro League successes.
What is next for Crespo and Al-Ain?
May’s unexpected, but richly merited, Asian triumph now seems a long time ago for Al-Ain and Hernan Crespo.
The joy from a pulsating campaign has evaporated in 2024/2025 for “The Boss.” They have dropped points in three of their five league outings to sit a distant eighth with two games in hand, while just one point is on the board from three AFC Champions League Elite – League Stage fixtures.
Youth was paramount to their summer recruitment. Porto center-back Fabio Cardoso, 30, was the outlier.
Fiorentina loanee Gino Infantino and Paraguayan prospect Matias Segovia, both 21, are among those to show flashes of promise thus far.
It may be a waiting game to see such talents bloom, as Crespo closes on his one-year anniversary amid disappointment about how this term is unfolding.
Is the step-up too big?
Another season, another painful start in the ADNOC Pro League for promoted sides.
Last season’s joint-relegation of Hatta and Spain legend Andres Iniesta’s Emirates Club could be matched by Orooba and Dibba Al-Hisn.
Both inhabit the bottom two. They have conceded the most goals and scored the fewest, winning just one of their combined 14 matches.
Dibba Al-Hisn sit bottom this time, despite adding ample international experience through the likes of Tunisia stars Haythem Jouini and Oussama Haddadi, plus Cameroon midfielder Pierre Kunde. Iran forward Mohammad Reza Azadi was Orooba’s headline recruit.
The competition is not getting any kinder.
Even 2022-2023’s survival of Al-Bataeh was at the expense of fellow new boys Dibba Al-Fujairah. Orooba and Emirates were doomed in 2021/2022.
Can the UAE make their World Cup dream come true?
Domestic pursuits take a backseat to international aspirations for much of November.
Paulo Bento’s UAE kicked off World Cup 2026 qualifying’s third round with the welcome surprise of September’s 3-1 win at double Asian Cup holders Qatar. But a slog now appears apparent.
Only two points separate the third-placed Whites — a position good enough for the fourth round — and bottom-placed North Korea. This is in a Group A from which automatic tournament entry appears already sewn up by Iran and would-be-debutants Uzbekistan.
Brazil-born Jazira forward Bruno last month joined the trickle of naturalized options available to Bento. This could turn into a torrent throughout the next 18 months.
What is not, however, flowing freely are ADNOC Pro League goals for potential callups. Last month’s six dedicated attacking options tally only eight 2024/2025 strikes — seven come from Bruno (four) and Wasl veteran Caio Canedo (three).
An intriguing subplot is record UAE and ADNOC Pro League marksman Ali Mabkhout, 34, sitting on five efforts in seven outings since a reinvigorating summer move to Al-Nasr.
Is rapprochement tempting with an icon who played zero minutes at January’s Asian Cup?
Man United off to worst Premier League start after Chelsea draw
- The Red Devils’ return of just 12 points from 10 games is United’s worst start to a league campaign since 1986/87
- Caicedo cost a British transfer record £115 million ($149 million) when he joined Chelsea just over a year ago and is beginning to deliver on that investment after a difficult first season
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Moises Caicedo’s strike denied Manchester United victory in their first Premier League game since sacking Erik ten Hag as Chelsea claimed a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be replaced by Ruben Amorim later his month, sprinted down the touchline in celebration after Bruno Fernandes put United in front from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.
Caicedo quickly replied for the Blues, who edge above Arsenal on goal difference into fourth place in the table.
A point leaves United still down in 13th, six points off the top four.
The Red Devils’ return of just 12 points from 10 games is United’s worst start to a league campaign since 1986/87.
Amorim was not in attendance as he prepares to take charge of Sporting Lisbon for the one of the final times against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
United were far more competitive than in 3-0 demolitions by Liverpool and Tottenham at home this season, but showed many of the same flaws that cost Ten Hag his job.
Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a 5-2 demolition of an under-strength Leicester in his first match in charge to reach the League Cup quarter-finals in midweek.
Still a hero among the United fans from his days as a prolific striker, the Dutchman’s name was chanted in a buoyant pre-match atmosphere.
However, a Chelsea side that have lost once in nine Premier League games, provided a much stiffer test for a United side still short on confidence.
Both sides hit the woodwork in a disappointing first 45 minutes as Noni Madueke hit the post from a corner before Marcus Rashford clipped the bar with a cushioned volley in the last action of the half.
Pedro Neto’s burst of pace nearly gave Chelsea a dream start to the second period but the Portuguese winger’s shot flew just past the far post.
However, the Blues remain overly reliant on Cole Palmer for inspiration.
The boyhood United fan, who began his career at Manchester City before joining Chelsea last year, was kept quiet by Van Nistelrooy’s pairing of Casemiro alongside Manuel Ugarte in midfield.
Before kick-off only Southampton had scored fewer than United’s eight Premier League goals in nine games this season.
The lack of efficiency in front of goal that Ten Hag often bemoaned was in evidence again.
“Over the last games we played we lost some points where we didn’t convert our chances,” said Van Nistelrooy, who is set to take charge of two more games.
“When you create a lot, all through the season so far, I’m not too worried the players will get in a flow with results and confidence growing. Results will come.”
Alejandro Garnacho wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring from Fernandes’ cut-back with a tame effort that looped into the arms of Robert Sanchez.
United were gifted the chance to break the deadlock when Sanchez clipped Rasmus Hojlund inside the box.
Fernandes kept his cool to send the Spanish international goalkeeper the wrong way and spark wild celebrations from Van Nistelrooy.
United’s joy was short-lived as Chelsea hit back within four minutes.
A corner was only cleared to the edge of the box, where Caicedo connected a sweet strike to fire into the bottom corner.
Caicedo cost a British transfer record £115 million ($149 million) when he joined Chelsea just over a year ago and is beginning to deliver on that investment after a difficult first season.
“Since we arrived Moi is doing fantastic,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
“The problem with Moi is because the club paid big money, people expect them to be the best. It is normal to be a bit up and down. We are trying to improve him and he is showing how good he is.”
Chelsea should have struck again moments later when substitute Enzo Fernandez spooned over with Andre Onana stranded.
But it was United who came closest in a frantic finale when Garnacho’s acrobatic effort flew just over.
Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0
- Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly opted to drop Retegui
MILAN: Despite — or perhaps because of — the absence of the league’s top goalscorer from the starting lineup, Atalanta stunned Serie A leader Napoli by winning 3-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.
Mateo Retegui was surprisingly benched but Ademola Lookman netted twice in the first half to inflict what was only Napoli’s second defeat of the season, and the first since the opening day.
Retegui was brought on with 14 minutes remaining and scored in stoppage time for his 11th goal in as many matches.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly opted to drop Retegui. That was reportedly because he wanted a more unpredictable attack against a Napoli defense that had kept clean sheets in six of its past seven matches and only conceded five goals all season.
Gasperini instead picked Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere in attack with Mario Pasalic behind them and that paid off almost immediately as Atalanta took the lead in the 10th minute.
A cross was cleared by Napoli but only as far as the edge of the area where it was put back in and De Ketelaere nodded it back for Lookman to slot into the near bottom corner.
Napoli almost leveled immediately, but Scott McTominay’s powerful effort crashed off the right post.
The Atalanta forward combined again in the 31st as De Ketelaere raced down the right and squirmed between two players before passing across to Lookman, who slotted a hard shot into the far bottom corner.
Sead Kolasinac thought he had extended Atalanta’s lead early in the second half but the defender was offside.
Retegui was brought on for De Ketelaere late on and he volleyed a cross into the bottom right corner.
Mo Salah strike beats Brighton to take Liverpool top of Premier League
- A 13th win in 15 games in charge for Arne Slot takes Liverpool two points clear of Manchester City
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 and go top of the Premier League thanks to Mohamed Salah’s stunning winner at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds deservedly trailed at half-time to Ferdi Kadioglu’s sweet strike.
But two quickfire goals from Cody Gakpo and Salah punished Brighton for not making more of their first half superiority.
A 13th win in 15 games in charge for Arne Slot takes Liverpool two points clear of Manchester City, who were beaten 2-1 at Bournemouth.
Both sides were much-changed from the League Cup tie between the pair on Wednesday, which Liverpool edged 3-2.
Despite the Reds welcoming back a plethora of stars including Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, it was the Seagulls who dominated the first half and should have been out of sight before the break.
Liverpool’s only clear sight of goal in the first 45 minutes came when Darwin Nunez ran from inside his own half into the Brighton box and saw a shot brilliantly turned behind by Bart Verbruggen.
Kadioglu opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a blistering right-footed drive in off the inside of the post.
Liverpool were again without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker due to injury but his stand-in Caoimhin Kelleher produced a vital save to prevent Brighton doubling their lead.
Jack Hinshelwood’s sublime pass split the Liverpool defense to set Georginio Rutter in behind Virgil van Dijk, but the Frenchman failed to beat Kelleher.
Kadioglu blazed over another big chance to make it 2-0 before a Danny Welbeck free-kick hit the side-netting.
Liverpool were forced into a change at the interval as Ibrahima Konate hobbled off with his arm in a sling and was replaced by Joe Gomez.
The England defender should have made an instant impact when he headed straight at Verbruggen when unmarked from a free-kick.
Slot’s half-time team talk had the desired effect as Liverpool tore out of the blocks a side transformed in the second half.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header was turned behind at his near post by Verbruggen before Van Dijk did not connect when picked out by Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
Brighton had kept Salah quiet for an hour but the Egyptian should have punished the visitors when he sped onto Nunez’s flick and failed to beat Verbruggen one-on-one.
The home side needed some fortune to get the comeback started as Gakpo’s attempted cross flew into the far corner without getting a touch.
With Anfield now in raptures it took just three minutes for Slot’s men to find the winner.
From a Rutter fluffed shot at one end, Liverpool broke at speed as Curtis Jones found Salah, who cut inside onto his trusted left foot and smashed into the top corner.
Brighton pushed the hosts back in a nervy finale, but Liverpool held on for a vital three points on a day that title rivals City and Arsenal, who were beaten 1-0 at Newcastle, both stumbled.
