Qatar defeat UAE 4-2 to book spot in Gulf Cup Semifinals

DOHA, December 3, 2019 - Asian champions Qatar overcame a gritty United Arab Emirates (UAE) 4-2 in their last Group A match to advance into the semifinals of 24th Arab Gulf Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday evening.Akram Afif, who was taken of in the 86th min, celebrated his AFC Asian Player of the Award with a double strike that knocked the stuff out of the visitors early on while Haidous added the third following a melee inside the box in the 53rd.Ali Mabkhout, who had a great game for UAE, converted from the spot to reduce the margin in the 30th.The 29-year-old even threatened to take the match with his second in the 77th minute.But Boualem Khouki headed home a corner in the final minute of added time to kill the contest.The hosts ended their group engagements with two wins and a defeat while the Emiratis bowed out of the competition after having lost two games and just a win against Yemen.

World’s Best Tennis Players will compete in Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2020

DOHA, December 01, 2019 – The Qatar Tennis and Squash Federation (QTSF) announced on Saturday the entry list of world best tennis stars who confirmed their participation in the new edition of Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2020 will be held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha from 6 to 11 January.World No. 16 Stan Wawrinka leads the entry list of the 2020 Qatar Exxon Mobil Open. The 34-year-old Swiss will make his sixth appearance in the tournament but will be the lone top 20 player in the line-up of the ATP 250 Tour event held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha from 6 to 11 January.In the past, many of the world's best tennis players opened their seasons in Doha, the capital and most populous city of the State of Qatar. It is one of two ATP Tour events held in the Middle East. Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won multiple titles at this event, with Nadal's haul including the 2014 singles title and four doubles crowns (2005, '09, '11 and '15). Djokovic won back-to-back titles in 2016 and '17. In last year's singles final Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Tomas Berdych in three sets.Doha 2020 entry list 16 Wawrinka, Stan (SUI) 23 Rublev, Andrey (RUS) 29 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 31 Raonic, Milos (CAN) 38 Djere, Laslo (SRB) 40 Krajinovic, Filip (SRB) 43 Mannarino, Adrian (FRA) 47 Tiafoe, Frances (USA) 49 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 51 Chardy, Jeremy (FRA) 52 Sonego, Lorenzo (ITA) 54? Dolgopolov, Alexandr (UKR) PR 56 Bublik, Alexander (KAZ) 58 Bedene, Aljaz (SLO) 59 Kecmanovic, Miomir (SRB) 61 Gasquet, Richard (FRA) 63 Thompson, Jordan (AUS) 64 Andujar, Pablo (ESP) 65 Herbert, Pierre-Hugues (FRA) 66 Berankis, Ricardas (LTU) 67 Kukushkin, Mikhail (KAZ)The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is an example of how Qatar is setting global standards for excellence across various industries and sectors. It also shines a light on the country's position as a world-leading host of major sporting events.

Hosts Qatar to face United Arab Emirates in Gulf Cup on Monday

DOHA, December 01, 2019 - Hosts and Asian champions, Qatar national football team resumed training session on Saturday ahead of their upcoming match against United Arab Emirates in the third round of group A match in the 24th edition of Arabian Gulf Cup at Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.It is worth mentioning that hosts Qatar bounced back strongly at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup, thrashing Yemen 6-0 in their second Group A match on Friday. Team Qatar were in need of a victory to make a comeback in the competition after shock loss to Iraq in the opening match, the Asian champions came with an improved show as they outclassed Yemen in both the sessions, much to the delight of over 26,000 fans present at the iconic FIFA World Cup 2022 venue. Qatar's first victory in the tournament saw Iraq – who defeated the UAE 2-0 for their second successive win earlier on Friday – becoming the first side to reach the semi-finals of the eight-nation tournament.A draw against UAE will also ensure the hosts a place in the semi-finals.

Students displayed impressive performance in SOP football competitions

DOHA, December 2, 2019 – Intermediate schools students have made outstanding performance in the football competitions of the 13th edition of the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) took place at Aspire playgrounds, in Doha on Sunday .In group A, Pakistan school snatched the first place with 4 points after defeating Tunisian counterparts, while Lebanese school lead group B with 6 points, following their deserving 4-1 victory over Bahvana school.In group C, Shandar school topped the group, meanwhile Al Khor school led group D, Al Khaleej school clinched first place in group E and Al Andalus school siezed the first place in group F.The SOP is held annually as a collaborative effort of to encourage hundreds of students athletes competing from all over Qatar.The SOP Committee aims to spread a culture of sports through Qatar's schools and to engage the entire community in active and healthy lifestyles while retaining local values and traditions.

Qatar need a draw to enter last 4, but Sanchez wants win against UAE

DOHA , December 2, 2019 - Reigning Asian champions Qatar will be looking to end their last Group A match on a high when they take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Khalifa International Stadium here on Monday.The two sides last faced in AFC Asian Cup semifinal in January, which Qatar won 4-0 en route to their maiden Asian title.Qatar, ranked 55 in the world, has a superior head-to-head record against the UAE with 12 wins and 10 losses. The UAE are 71, according to FIFA's latest rankings.The hosts bounced back into the tournament with a determined 6-0 win over Yemen in the previous game after their 2-0 setback against Iraq in the tournament opener on November 26.Such was their authority against Yemen that left-back Abdelkarim Hassan scored the competition's first hat-trick.The victory took the Annabis' goal difference to +5, and they just need a draw against UAE to advance into the semifinal.“We want to win. I know even a draw is good for us, but it's always risky to play for a draw. We are taking it as a final," said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez.Following Qatar's impressive run of wins at the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers since September, the defeat against Iraq was a huge blow for the side looking for their fourth title.Barring the draw against India in Group E, Sanchez's men won four to top the pool ahead of Oman.“The team has good qualities and capabilities. We are capable of sailing again," said Abdelkarim.UAE, 2017 finalists and also a three-time winner, will need a win to see them through to the knock-out stage.However, they have a tough task at hand as their opponents are brimming with confidence.“In my opinion, Qatar are the best. But we also have a chance. We have to give our best against them," said UAE's Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.In other Group A match, Iraq, who has already qualified with two wins from as many matches, will lock horns with Yemen at the Al Duhail Stadium (5.30pm).In Group B, tournament's most successful side Kuwait face Bahrain, also at Khalifa Stadium (8pm), while defending champions Oman are up against three-time winners Saudi Arabia at Al Duhail Stadium (8pm).

Abdelkarim Hassan hat-trick helps Qatar thrash Yemen in Gulf Cup

DOHA, November 30, 2019 - Abdelkarim Hassan scored a hat-trick, including an unstoppable long-ranger, as Asian champions Qatar finally got going in the Gulf Cup and it proved too much for a hapless Yemen who were handed a 6-0 thrashing at Khalifa International Stadium on Friday.The victory took Qatar's goal difference to +5 and they just need a draw against UAE in the final group match on Monday to book their place in the semifinal.The result also meant that Iraq, who defeated UAE in the opening match on Monday, became the first team to progress into the last four of the competition.Felix Sanchez-coached Qatar were under pressure after the opening-day defeat to Iraq but they responded brilliantly to the challenge.Yemen had tried to unsettle the hosts by closing them down quickly at the start but once Abdulkarim Hassan opened the scoring in the 29th minute it was an out and out Qatar show.Besides Hassan, Almoez Ali and substitute Abdullah Alahrak both scored stunners while Akram Afif, who is playing in a slightly withdrawn role than he is used to, also helped himself with a goal.Qatar had 72 per cent possession, most of it in the opposition half, 20 shots with 11 on target while Yemen did not manage even a single attempt on goal.But it was not that easy at the start for Al Annabi.They were missing plenty of chances, and when Abdulaziz Hatem injured his shoulder and went out the mood had become slightly sombre, before Abdulkarim Hassan lifted it in the 29th after a mistake from Yemen's Nasser Ahmed.Karim Boudiaf, who came in for Hatem rose high and headed down Afif's corner into the six-yard box where Ahmed failed to clear it properly allowing a lurking Hassan to toe-poke the ball home.Qatar continued to miss chances with Boualem Khoukhi failing to hit the target from close range but it did not matter as Hassan launched a left-footed rocket from 30 yards out that swerved and beat Salem Abdullah in Yemen goal in the 36th minute.It was 3-0 in the 58th as Almoez reproduced a bit of his magic from the Asian Cup and volleyed a left-footer home after playing a one-two with Afif.Hassan completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot after Ismail Mohamed's cross hit Nasser Ahmed on the hand.Though Ali Shaban of Kuwait pointed to the spot, there was a bit of delay for the VAR review, but the referee stood by his decision and Afif who had the ball handed it to Hassan to complete his hat-trick. The Al Sadd left-back, voted AFC player last season, sent another rocket right through the middle to make it 4-0 and celebrated with his team-mates.Qatar were far from as finished Abdullah Alahrak scored a stunner, a right-footer from outside the box into the top corner, to make it 5-0 in the 85th before Afif wrapped it up in style in the 89th.