Rizwan RehmatThe Peninsula

World number one Andy Murray of Great Britain will launch

the new ATP Tour season at Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the organisers of the hugely pop-ular event said yesterday.

Murray, who capped his dream run in 2016 by winning the London Tour Finals on Sunday, will be joined by ten-nis star Novak Djokovic of Serbia for the season-opening

event. Tournament Director Karim Alami told The Penin-sula that Murray and Djokovic have agreed to be part of the 32-man field which also includes Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and the 2012 champion and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.

Murray won 9 titles in 2016 including victories at Wimble-don and the Olympic Games gold in Rio de Janeiro.

The Briton, who finished the year as the number one for the first time in his flourishing career, is expected to renew his rivalry in the final of the tour-nament that draws huge

crowds every year in Doha. Djokovic, who lost the final

to Murray last Sunday, grabbed 7 titles in 2016 including two Grand Slam titles in Melbourne and Paris.

"Every year, the Qatar Exx-onMobil Open presents a strong field and this year things just got better," Alami said yesterday.

"We will have Andy Mur-ray and Novak DJokovic launching the 2017 season in Doha," he said.

The 32-man field will see 25 players appearing in the main draw based on their rankings.

The organisers - the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) - will give away three wild cards while four slots will be reserved for those who get in after playing the qualifiers.

The January 2 to 7 tourna-ment will be played at Khalifa

International Tennis and Squash Complex, Alami said.

"We have launched our preparations in earnest for the 2017 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional men’s tennis," Alami said.

Alami said next year's sea-son-opening event will be the 25th edition of the tournament that was first won by German legend Boris Becker in 1993.

According to the list released by QTF, Jeremy Chardy, Ivo Karlovic, Fernando Verdasco, Dusting Brown and David Goffin are confirmed entries for the six-day event.

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open enjoys top billing among the players heading for the season's first Grand Slam in Melbourne.

"Our tournament gives players the match practice they seek at the start of the season," Alami said.

In the doubles field, 16 teams will aim for the Doha honours at the same venue

There will be 32 players in the main draw while the Dou-bles will consist of 16 teams.

The qualifying rounds will take place from December 31, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

“We are more than happy to welcome the world once again to Doha. Qatar is the hub of global sport and we are pas-sionate about tennis. I’ve no doubt that the 2017 Qatar Exx-onMobil Open will surpass the previous editions,” Alami said yesterday.

"Qatar ExxonMobil Open is a symbol of the strategic and enduring partnership between the Energy Company Exxon-Mobil and QTF aimed at taking the sport to higher heights and bringing the community of Qatar the finest tennis and entertainment," he added.

The season's first event will offer $195,000 to the win-ner. The winner in Doha becomes the world number one in the lead up to the Aus-tralian Open, the season's first Grand Slam set to be held in January 2017.

Thursday 24 November 2016

SPORT Hall, Tamminen share lead onday one

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Afridi to lead star cast in Doha

en

Battle for World number one

The season's first event will offer $195.000 to the winner.

Murray, who capped his dream run in 2016 by winning the London Tour Finals, will be joined by tennis star Novak Djokovic of Serbia for the season-opening event.

King Murray to join Djokovic at Qatar ExxonMobil Open

AyAyAy. Pic: Qassim / The Peninsula → See also page 26

FROM LEFT: Saklain H Rizvi, Managing Director of Stepco Group, Mohammed Hussain Chowdary, CEO of HOW Auto Mobiles, Mohammed bin Mahdi bin Ajayan Al Ahbabi, CEO of Ibin Ajayan Projects, Abdullah Darwish Ashkanani, Board Member of Qatar Sports for All Federation of Ministry of Culture and Sports, Sajjad Chowdary, Manzoor Ahmed, General Secretary of Qatar Cricket Association (second right) and Managing Director of PRO Events (right) pose for a photograph during a press conference held at Marsa Malaz Kempinski in The Pearl, Doha yesterday. Picture by Kammutty VP / The Peninsula → See also page 29

'Qatar XI' vs 'World XI' at Asian Town Cricket Stadium

Most singles titles: 3Roger Federer - Switzerland (2005, 2006, 2011)

Most consecutive singles titles: 2Stefan Edberg - Sweden (1994–1995), Roger Federer - Switzerland (2005–2006), Andy Murray - United

Kingdom (2008–2009)

Most singles finals: 3Ivan Ljubicic - Croatia (2004, 2005, 2007), Roger Federer - Switzerland (2005, 2006, 2011), Andy

Murray - United Kingdom (2007, 2008, 2009), Nikolay Davydenko - Russia (2010, 2011, 2013), Rafael

Nadal - Spain (2010, 2014, 2016)

Most consecutive singles finals: 3Andy Murray - United Kingdom (2007–2009)

Most doubles titles: 4Rafael Nadal - Spain (2005, 2009, 2011, 2015)

Most doubles finals: 4Mark Knowles - The Bahamas (1996, 2000, 2001, 2003), Daniel Nestor - Canada (1996, 2001, 2003,

2009), Rafael Nadal - Spain (2005, 2009, 2011, 2015)

QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN RECORDS

World number one Andy Murray of Great Britain.

Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2016 champion Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy in this file photo.

Tournament Director Karim Alami

27THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2016 SPORT

AyAyAy. Pic: Qassim / The Peninsula → See also page 26

Qatar bowling team honoured

Qatar bowling team poses for a photo during a ceremony to honour them at Qatar Bowling Center. (RIGHT) Qatar Bowling Federation (QBF) President Abdul Salam Abbas, Honorary President of the QBF, Salman Abdullah Al Abdulghani, and other officials cutting the cake to celebrate the success of the national team. Pic: Kammutty VP/The Peninsula

Decisive day looms for Hamilton

and Rosberg at Abu Dhabi GP Abu DhabiReuters

Lewis Hamilton feels he faces "pretty impossible odds" going into Formula One's Abu Dhabi title-decider while Mer-cedes team mate and rival Nico Rosberg says he will treat Sun-day's race like any other.

Both are being disingenuous, of course. Hamilton knows he still has a real chance and Ros-berg is well aware just how much is at stake.

While Rosberg is the favour-ite to win the 'Duel in the Desert', needing only to finish on the Yas Marina podium to become Ger-many's third world champion after Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, he will still be on tenterhooks.

"I will give it everything to end the season with a win," said Rosberg, the son of Finland's 1982 champion Keke, even if cynics suspect he would be happy enough to settle for a fourth successive second place.

"In Brazil ... I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time. But, the more I think about it, the more that's actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race."

That has become Rosberg's mantra, his increasingly-implau-sible mechanism for dealing with the pressure as the title talk grows louder. That stress will be greater

than ever on Sunday, a lifetime's ambition within reach after years of being beaten by Hamilton. How he handles it in the day-to-night race could be crucial.

Hamilton, who started the year tipped to become Britain's first four times world champion but goes into the season-ender 12 points adrift, has less pressure.

He must finish in the top three to have any hope but, in his mind, has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"I'm faced with pretty impos-sible odds no matter what I do this weekend. But I can't and won't give up. You never know what might happen, however unlikely it may seem," said the reigning champion. In fact four of Hamilton's nine wins this sea-son (Monaco, Canada, Austria and Germany) came with

Rosberg off the podium -- a result that if repeated for a fifth time in 21 races on Sunday would hand him the title. Not quite the impossible odds he suggested.

Hamilton, who has won the last three races and could end the year with more wins than Rosberg (nine each at present), knows only too well that a

mechanical failure or first cor-ner collision can change everything in an instant.

At Abu Dhabi in 2014, Ham-ilton won both race and title while Rosberg started on pole but had a power unit problem and finished out of the points.

There is also the prospect of rivals -- and particularly the Red

Bull pairing of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen -- getting in among the title contenders.

Verstappen in particular showed in Brazil, with a super-lative drive through the field to third in the closing laps and wet conditions, that he is no respecter of reputations, nor is he afraid to get stuck in.

Canadian GP to go ahead, says Montreal mayor MontrealReuters

The Canadian Formula One Grand Prix will go ahead next June after

organisers reached an agree-ment in principal with the sport's commercial rights holders, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre said on Twitter.

The race was one of three, along with Brazil and Ger-many, listed with an asterisk against it as subject to confir-mation on the sport's provisional 2017 calendar.

Formula One's 86-year-old commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been pushing for improvements to the circuit but said this month he was hopeful the race would remain on the calendar.

"There will be a Grand Prix of Canada in 2017," said Coderre.

Organisers said sepa-rately in a statement that tickets for the June 9-11 race would go on sale today.

Next year's race will cel-ebrate 50 years of Formula One in Canada, with the country having a driver on the grid for the first time since 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve retired in 2006.

Montreal-born teenager Lance Stroll will race for the Williams team.

'Toughest yet' Dakar Rally unveiled ParisAFP

The 39th Dakar Rally will be raced over nearly 9,000 kilometres from

January 2-14 in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay and will demand "extreme endurance", organisers announced yesterday.

The race will set off from the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion, with race sporting director Marc Coma promising "the toughest edition in the history of South American rally-raiding".

There will be one week spent on the Bolivian Altiplano, with five stages raced at crush-ing altitudes of more than 3,500m (11,480ft), going up to 4,500m.

"High up in the mountains, you're really tested on a respi-ratory level," race director Etienne Lavigne said.

"Producing an effort is more complicated. Competitors will experience this discomfort very often and for long periods."

There will also be six special stages of more than 400km, dune crossing and driving in sand, especially on the sections of the route still unknown to rally-raid regulars or during the all-important "Super Belen" stage, three days from the fin-ish line in Buenos Aires.

"It's a very physical course for the competitors, the stages are long and on the bike or quad they'll be very physically chal-lenged," Lavigne said, adding that the rally threw up an unprecedented series of extreme geographical scenarios and climates.

"There will be great differ-ences between the tropical temperatures in Paraguay, the high-altitude climatic conditions (in Bolivia) and then the descent into the northwestern part of Argentina which is very dry and desert-like.

"The nature of the terrain, both tricky, rocky, off-road, numerous sandy parts on the route, along with rain, wind, sometimes snow, mud, sand,

salt... It makes for a very com-plicated cocktail for the competitors."

Some 316 vehicles, includ-ing 83 cars and 146 motorbikes, are registered for the rally, which will feature old hands such as Peugeot's French duo of defending champion Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres, and Toyota's two-time winner Nasser al-Attiyah of Qatar and South African Giniel De Villiers.

Also in the running will be nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz, both in Peugeots, 2004 Dakar champion Nani Roma in a Toy-ota and Finland's Mini driver Mikko Hirvonen, fourth on his debut in 2016.

It will be the ninth time the Dakar Rally has been held in South America.

The race was cancelled in the year 2008 over security threats in Mauritania, organis-ers taking the decision to move the rally to another continent in 2009.

Formula One

Hamilton's nine wins this season came with Rosberg off the podium, a result that if repeated would hand him the title.

Rosberg is the favourite to win the 'Duel in the Desert', to become Germany's third world champion.

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s drivers Nico Rosberg (right) and Lewis Hamilton waving at the fans at the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka in this file photo of September 15, 2016.

Formula 1 season finale statisticsAbu DhabiReuters

Statistics for Sunday's sea-son-ending Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix:

Lap distance: 5.554km. Total distance: 305.355km (55 laps)

Race lap record: One minute 40.279 seconds, Sebas-tian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull, 2009

2015 pole: Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:40.237

2015 winner: RosbergStart time: 1300 GMT (1700

local)CHAMPIONSHIPRosberg has a 12-point

lead after 20 of the 21 races. That means he will be cham-pion if he finishes on the podium, regardless of other results. He will also take the title if Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton fails to finish in the top three.

WINSHamilton's victory

in Brazil was the 52nd of his Formula One career, making him second to Michael Schu-macher (91) on the all time list of winners.

Mercedes have won 50 of the last 58 races and 18 of this season's 20.

Rosberg and Hamilton have both won nine times this year. Red Bull's Max Verstap-pen and Daniel Ricciardo are the other winners.

No driver has ever won eight races in a season and failed to win the champion-ship, which means history will be made whoever takes the title. Only three drivers (Ham-ilton, Vettel and Schumacher) have won 10 or more races in a season.

Four-times champion Vet-tel has 42 wins, McLaren's Fernando Alonso 32, Rosberg 23, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen 20 and McLaren's Jenson But-ton 15.

Rosberg, who is level with

Brazilian triple champion Nel-son Piquet in the list of all-time winners, has more victories than any other non-champion in Formula One history. If he wins the title, that honour goes back to Stirling Moss (16).

Ferrari have won 224 races in total, McLaren 182, Williams 114, Mercedes 63, Red Bull 52. McLaren last won in 2012.

POLE POSITIONMercedes have been on

pole in 55 of the last 58 races and all but one of this season's grands prix. They have had 13 one-twos in qualifying so far in 2016.

POINTSFelipe Nasr scored Sau-

ber's first points of the season in the Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the year.

That leaves team mate Marcus Ericsson, Haas's Este-ban Gutierrez and Manor's Esteban Ocon as the only driv-ers still to score this year.

28 THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2016 SPORT

NZ eye first Pakistan series win in decadesHamilton AFP

New Zealand have a chance to seal a first series win against Paki-

stan in more than 30 years in the second Test in Hamilton with the tourists without talis-man Misbah-ul-Haq. The seventh-ranked Black Caps go into the match which begins tomorrow 1-0 up in the two-Test series following a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over second-ranked Pakistan in the opening Test in Christchurch.

A win or draw in Hamilton will be enough for New Zealand to notch their first series win over Pakistan since 1985 and only their third ever in 22 series between the two countries.

The last time they met six years ago in Hamilton, New Zealand collapsed spectacularly in their second innings, losing their last eight wickets for 50 runs to be beaten by 10 wickets.

Wahab Riaz took three

wickets in that onslaught and comes into contention for this Test after being by-passed in Christchurch.

Pakistan need their own injection of good fortune as they battle to turn around a sub-par batting performance in Christchurch where they totalled only 304 in two innings.

"As a batting unit we need to put up a better show ... We have to improve in the next game," said Azhar Ali, who takes over the captaincy in the absence of Misbah.

The inspirational Misbah, who has kept Pakistan unbeaten in the last seven series they have played around the world, has returned home following a fam-ily bereavement.

He would not have been available even if he had stayed in New Zealand after receiving a one-Test ban for Pakistan's slow over rate in the first Test.

"We'll miss him, definitely," Azhar said. "Obviously we have to cope with that now and who-ever comes into the side will take that opportunity and give

us runs, as well as the stability he gives us in the middle." Apart from the likely inclusion of Wahab, Pakistan were reveal-ing little about the make-up of their side for a pitch that gen-erally offers pace and reverse swing, with some turn as the match progresses.

Azhar even suggested there was the possibility that acclaimed leg-spinner Yasir Shah could be excluded.

"We'll see the pitch and make the decision then. What-ever the conditions tell us, we'll try to pick the best XI for those conditions," he said.

New Zealand have spinner Mitchell Santner back in their squad after recovering from a wrist fracture while Dean Brownlie, whose last Test was in 2013, was recalled as cover for Ross Taylor after a growth was detected in his left eye.

However, late Wednesday the 77-Test veteran was cleared to play in Hamilton, although he will undergo surgery after-wards. "Both the specialists he's seen in recent days have advised

Ross still has 20/20 vision and Ross himself feels confident he is ready to play," team physio-therapist Tommy Simsek said.

"Ross will still need to undergo a medical procedure on his eye to remove the ptery-gium before it gets any larger.

"He'll have surgery follow-ing the Test which rule him out of cricket for approximately four to six weeks."

New Zealand, like Pakistan, were short of runs in the first Test but declared themselves delighted with the "world-class" seam attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme, suggesting no change there.

"The way the four seamers in particular got into spells, held their areas for long periods ... was world class and it certainly was a huge effort," said captain Kane Williamson.

Both sides head to Aus-tralia after the Test, where New Zealand will play three ODIs and Pakistan three Tests as well as a series of limited-over matches.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (left) celebrates with bowler Rahat Ali during the second Test against West Indies at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in this October 26 file picture. Misbah-ul-Haq will miss the second Test.

Sri Lanka snatch thrilling victory over wasteful West IndiesBulawayo Reuters

Sri Lanka took three wickets in the last three overs to snatch a thrilling one-run

victory over West Indies in the triangular one-day series yesterday.

Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis both scored 94 runs as Sri Lanka posted 330 for seven from their 50 overs but for the second game running, West Indies worked themselves into a winning position before falling agonisingly short of their target as they finished on 329 for nine.

Needing 10 runs off the final over bowled by Nuwan Pradeep, Sulieman Benn belted the third delivery for six to leave the West Indies requiring three runs from

the final three balls. But amid a frantic finish they could only manage one more run and must now battle hosts Zimbabwe on

Friday to determine who will play Sri Lanka in Sunday's Tri-Series final. A sparkling maiden ODI century from West Indies opener

Evin Lewis (148 from 122 balls) was in vain as captain Jason Holder (45 not out) was the only other batsman to get past 30 in the innings. As they had done in their last match against Zimba-bwe, when they could only manage three from the final over to tie, West Indies failed to close out the match. Lewis was one of three run outs in the innings that came at crucial times and kept Sri Lanka in the game.

Dickwella and Mendis shared a 107-run partnership for the third wicket as Sri Lanka posted a formidable 330 in their innings.

Dickwella fell six runs short of a century as he was trapped leg before wicket by Holder and Mendis then also missed out as he edged a delivery from Ashley Nurse.

SRI LANKAD de Silva c & b K Brathwaite .................................. 58

K Perera b Gabriel ..........................................................7

N Dickwella lbw b Holder .........................................94

K Mendis c Hope b Nurse..........................................94

S Jayasuriya b C Brathwaite ........................................9

U Tharanga c Nurse b Holder...................................26

A Gunaratne c Powell b Holder ..................................6

S Pathirana (not out) .................................................24

Extras (LB-7, W-5) .......................................................12

Total (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) ................. 330Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-123, 3-230, 4-258, 5-277,

6-291, 7-330.

Bowling: Gabriel 5-0-29-1; Holder 10-0-57-3; C

Brathwaite 7-0-64-1; Nurse 8-0-58-1; K Brathwaite 10-

0-56-1; Benn 10-0-59-0.

WEST INDIESJ Charles c Tharanga b Lakmal ................................26

E Lewis (run out) ......................................................148

K Brathwaite b Gunaratne.........................................16

S Hope (run out) ......................................................... 25

J Carter (run out) ............................................................6

R Powell lbw Kulasekara ...........................................10

J Holder (not out) ........................................................45

C Brathwaite b Kulasekara ........................................19

A Nurse c Dickwella b Lakmal .....................................2

S Benn c de Silva b Pradeep .......................................11

S Gabriel (not out) ........................................................ 0

Extras (LB-6, W-15) ....................................................21

Total (for 9 wkts in 50 overs) ................. 329Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-133, 3-175, 4-198, 5-224,

6-262, 7-307, 8-312, 9-328.

Bowling: Kulasekara 10-0-73-2, Lakmal 10-0-67-2,

Jayasuriya 4-0-20-0, Pradeep 10-0-65-1, Pathirana

7-0-51-0, Gunaratne 9-0-47-1.

Result: Sri Lanka won by 1 run.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka captain Upul Tharanga (right) shakes hands with West Indies player Jason Holder after winning the fifth match in their triangular series at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, yesterday.

Pressure on Australia in Adelaide

Adelaide AFP

Skipper Steve Smith yester-day insisted he was excited rather than daunted as a

drastically reshaped Australia look to avoid their first ever home Test series whitewash against rampant South Africa.

Australia's cull after two Test thrashings has extended to five changes to the starting team for the day-night third Test in Adelaide, including three debutants.

But Smith was upbeat about the changes, which include Eng-lish-born opener Matt Renshaw and fellow newcomers Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson.

"I'm really excited. I think it's a great opportunity for me to stamp my authority on this team as the leader," Smith said ahead of the first day today.

"I've almost felt a little shift over the last couple of days in

attitude and energy from what the new guys have brought in.

"I know that growth doesn't hapen overnight, so it could take some time, but I am confident that with the guys we have here that we can start turning our results around straight away and start playing the way we want to play."

It has been a traumatic time

for Australian cricket after last week's sudden resignation of chairman of selectors Rod Marsh, and with intense pressure on top officials including coach Darren Lehmann.

Smith is looking for stability and continuity as the new team face the prospect of a rare sixth straight Test defeat, including their 3-0 reverse in Sri Lanka.

"I think it's a great opportu-nity to try and get a little bit of continuity with our team and try to make guys feel as comforta-ble as they can," he said.

"I know when you feel com-fortable and relaxed that's the way you play your best cricket. It's trying to get that feeling amongst the group."

Australia won last year's

day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval, where they thrillingly beat New Zealand by three wickets on only the third day.

"If you look at pink ball sta-tistics most wickets have been lost in the third (night) session of play," Smith said. "The ball has changed from last year. It has an extra layer of lacquer so it doesn't swing as much as the previous

ball." Smith has given Jackson Bird the third fast bowling spot behind spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with local quick Chadd Sayers 12th man.

"Jackson Bird took five-for in his last Test match. He's bowled well with the pink ball in the Shield games he's played," he said.

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada practises in the nets ahead of the third Test cricket match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, yesterday. RIGHT: South African cricket captain Faf du Plessis holds two bats during a training session in Adelaide.

Day-night Test

An Australian team full of rookies will be pushed into the spotlight in today'sday-night Test in Adelaide

29THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2016 SPORT

Honda drivers eye top WTCC rankings at LosailThe Peninsula

Factory Honda drivers Rob Huff, Norbert Michelisz and Tiago Monteiro will be in

attack mode when the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Champion-ship reaches its climax under floodlights in Qatar on Friday.

With 55 points up for grabs at WTCC DHL Race of Qatar, all three remain in contention for the coveted runner-up spot behind José María López, who made it a hat-trick of world titles two races ago.

Monteiro is the best-placed member of the trio to snatch sec-ond spot from Yvan Muller, although the Portuguese will have to cancel out a 31-point def-icit to do so.

“My aim at the start of the season was to finish in the top three of the championship, but while right now I’m third in the points, we’ll all try our absolute hardest to take second place, even though the points gap will be tough to overcome,” said the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team driver.

“The package we’ve devel-oped with Honda this year is a significant step forwards and I arrive in Qatar on a high having just won the Macau Guia Race. This will give me even more strength and confidence to end

my season on a high.”Michelisz, who clinched the

WTCC Trophy title in Qatar last season, is 14 points behind Monteiro.

“We’ve definitely maximised the opportunity to finish in the top three at every round by mak-ing sure our qualifying strategy was right,” said the Hungarian.

“With less compensation weight than we’ve had recently, I think our strategy will be a lit-tle different, but our aim will be the same and that’s to win. Last year I made the podium in Qatar, and the Civic is a stronger pack-age than it was 12 months ago, so I think things are looking pretty good.”

Huff, meanwhile, will have his work cut out to finished P2 in the final ranking with the Briton needing to qualify on the DHL pole position and win both races. Even then he’d need Muller to non-score and Monteiro to falter.

Meanwhile, Thed Björk wants Polestar Cyan Racing’s

expectation-exceeding FIA World Touring Car Champion-ship season to continue when WTCC DHL Race of Qatar brings the curtain down on the Swed-ish squad’s inaugural campaign.

Björk’s Opening Race win in China last time out was a first in the WTCC for Volvo Cars, Pole-star Cyan Racing and the multiple Scandinavian Touring Car champion. Now the 35-year-old Swede has a thirst for more in his factory Volvo S60 Poles-tar TC1.

“I’m feeling really strong after the Shanghai, to claim the lead and the win on the very last lap was amazing,” said Björk. “Our first season has exceeded our expectations both in terms of race weekends and testing in between, so I am very much looking forward to continue this

under the floodlights in Qatar.”Björk and team-mate Rob-

ert Dahlgren head to Qatar on the back of a successful three-day test in southern Europe recently. Meanwhile, John Filippi has paid tribute to compatriot and mentor Yvan Muller ahead

of the latter’s FIA World Touring Car Championship farewell at WTCC Race of Qatar.

Muller has advised the Cam-pos Racing privateer during the 2016 season and the four-time WTCC champion has clearly made an impression on the 21-year-old Corsican.

“A lot of people wanted his career,” said Filippi, who famously clashed on-track with Muller at WTCC Race of Qatar in 2015.

“He was a reference for French drivers, we knew Prost is world champion in Formula One, Sébastien Loeb is world champion in rally and Yvan was world champion in touring cars. I will be a bit sad without him in the paddock. He was a figure of the WTCC and it will be very dif-ferent without him. He had a very beautiful career.”

Factory Honda drivers Rob Huff, Norbert Michelisz and Tiago Monteiro will be in attack mode when the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship reaches its climax under floodlights in Qatar tomorrow.

ScheduleToday16.00 – 16.30 30’ FIA WTCC Free Practice 1

21.00 – 21.30 30’ FIA WTCC Free Practice 2

Tomorrow14.30 – 14.50 FIA WTCC Qualifying (Q1)

14.55 – 15.05 FIA WTCC Qualifying (Q2)

15.10 FIA WTCC Qualifying (Q3)

15.30 – 16.00 FIA WTCC MAC3

21.20 – 21.50 FIA WTCC Opening Race (12 laps)

22.35 – 23.05 FIA WTCC Main Race (13 laps)

FREE Entrance at the Grandstand and Paddock

FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONMSJHIOP

Three way race

Huff, Michelisz and Monteiro remain in contention for the runner-up spot with 55 points up for grabs at WTCC Race in Qatar.

Cricket: Afridi to lead star cast in DohaChinthana WasalaThe Peninsula

Pakistan cricket hero and former captain Shahid Afridi will be one of top players to feature in a block-

buster next month, organisers of the event said yesterday.

The one-off game will be played at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium on December 16, coin-ciding with the National Day celebrations, officials said dur-ing a press conference yesterday.

Afridi will be joined by former Pakistan players Salman Butt, Abdul Razzaq, Sohaib Maq-sood, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Muhammad Sami, Saeed Ajmal and Fawad Alam in a game that will feature a 'Qatar XI' tak-ing on the 'World XI'.

Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, compatriot Mohammad Kaif, former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, Jerome Taylor of the West Indies, former South African superstar Her-schelle Gibbs, countryman Imran Tahir, English paceman Liam Plunkett, Afghanistan’s Nawroz Mangal, Sri Lankan pacer Farveez Maharoof and retired star Chaminda Vaas are some of the confirmed entries for the December 16 clash.

This will be Afridi's second visit to Qatar in recent years.

The match is being organized by PRO Events in association with How Automobile Centre and Stepco Group, in

collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, details showed yesterday.

Ibin Ajayan Projects, the facility managers of Asian Town Cricket Stadium, also assisting in bringing in top cricket action to Qatar, officials said.

Sajjad Hussain Choudhry, CEO of Pro-Events, who has worked tirelessly over the past few years in bringing these superstars to play a high-octane cricket matches in Qatar, said his vision is to promote and popu-larise the game in the country.

“We started our company two years back with the dream of promoting cricket in Qatar. We are striving for excellence, not only with local players but by also inviting International play-ers from around the world to

play here in Qatar. These inter-national stars, by sharing the dressing room and playing with them, will guide the local play-ers and improve their techniques,” Choudhry said.

“We are attaining this vision through the commitment of each member of the cricket commu-nity, government support and partner organisations," he said.

"With the support of Minis-try of Culture and Sports, we are developing sporting habits among the new generation by bringing in their favorite international stars. I am thankful to the Qatar government for their efforts to promote cricket here.

"I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) and those who have shared their time

and efforts in helping us to achieve all this,” Choudhry added.

Manzoor Ahmed, General Secretary of Qatar Cricket Asso-ciation (QCA), said that their goal is to popularize cricket in Qatar and this event will play a prom-inent part in achieving that goal.

Saqlain H Rizvi, Managing Director of Stepco Group, said

he expects that this high profile event will be a blockbuster and will draw a huge crowd.

The organizers expect that Afridi’s presence is sure to bring the excitement level high among the Asian expats, particularly the Pakistanis living in the country.

The star all-rounder has a cult following in the sub-conti-nent as well as in the world and is a huge attraction in the T20 cricket leagues played all over the world.

Also, with other stars from cricket-crazy South Asia, and three other continents heading for Qatar, thousands of expatri-ates are expected to fill up the 13000-capacity Asian Town Cricket Stadium, marking a new dawn for cricket in Doha.

Commenting on their

expectations, Mohammed bin Mahdi bin Ajayan Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Ibin Ajayan Projects said: “Asian Town Cricket sta-dium is developed to boost the growing interest in the game of cricket in Qatar. As the Manag-ers of a place like Asian Town, Ibin Ajayan Projects have always extended our support, and pro-moting the culture of Cricket in Qatar. I hope that this nation will host a memorable event and the people of Qatar, especially the expatriates’ community will turn out to watch them and provide the support that they deserve.’’ He added.

Having previously conducted matches between Pakistan Stars and Qatar Stars with massive success, Pro Event, the organiz-ers, hope that the upcoming star affair at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium will create a huge buzz as well.

The match will be followed by a Gala Dinner with the Inter-national Cricket Stars on the next day, at Marsa Malaz Kempinski at The Pearl, Doha.

Players list for the event: Shahid Afridi,Salman Butt, ,

Abdul Razzaq, SohaibMaqsood, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Muhammad Sami, Saeed Ajmal, Fawad Alam (all Pakistan), Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Kaif (India), Mohammad Ashraful (Bangald-esh), Jerome Taylor (West Indies), Herschelle Gibbs, Imran Tahir (South Africa), Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Nawroz Mangal (Afghanistan), Liam Plunkett (England).

World Stars vs Qatar Stars

The dazzling Pakistani batsman heads the list of players who will be seen in action at Asian Town Cricket Stadium on December 16

Shahid Afridi Herschelle Gibbs Mohammad Kaif Yusuf Pathan

30 THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2016 SPORT

Hall, Tamminen share lead in Doha The Peninsula

Lydia Hall from Wales and Noora Tamminen of Finland yesterday shot matching bogey-free rounds of

five-under-par 67 to lead on the first day of the Qatar Ladies Open, the history-making Ladies European Tour (LET) event at Doha Golf Club (DGC).

Scotland’s Kylie Walker and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden are a stroke further back on four-under-par, Walker having stormed home in 31, ending with three straight birdies.

On a day of mainly fair weather conditions, punctuated by a shower at dusk, Hall set the target early in the morning. The 28-year-old from Pencoed missed nine months of her 2015 season due to knee surgery to her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and is clearly playing with fresh enthusiasm this season.

Hall said: “It was really solid out there today. I think I hit 17 greens in regulation and got my putter going throughout the mid-dle part of the round, so I’m playing well.

“I’ve been playing well all year really, after injury last year. I came back with a fresh set of eyes. I’ve been focusing on playing rather than on technical things.”

Co-leader Tamminen, who represented Finland in the Olym-pic Games in August, is another player who has struggled with injury. After working hard to overcome a back problem, the 26-year-old is now looking for her maiden victory on tour.

She said: “I felt really confi-dent and calm this morning. My long game was super good and I hit all the greens. I had some bad drives but they weren’t that bad, so it was a steady round.

“I just want to enjoy the game and have no pressure. I really like

playing in the Middle East. Eve-rything is well organised and I love that we have Abu Dhabi and this one. I really like the course and that you have to be good from the tee.”

Most players favoured the more attackable back nine and Walker, who made five birdies from the 10th later in the after-noon, said: “Hole 16 is a driveable par-4 so I just got it on the front

edge and two putted. I hit it in close on 17 and holed a good seven, eight footer. Then the last, we were having to play it in three because the wind was hurting but I holed a good 15 footer.”

On her goals for the penulti-mate stroke play event of the LET season, she added: “We’ve got two great tournaments to finish here and in Dubai and we had Abu Dhabi as well. To finish in the Middle East like this is great and this event is awesome this week.

It’s our first time here and they’ve put on a great show for us. They are really looking after us well so I’m just enjoying it.”

Nordqvist, who flew in on the eve of the tournament, also enjoyed the course.

“It was a little interesting as I’d never seen the course before and had a local caddie to show me around" Nordqvist said.

"I played great today and I’m very happy with a four-under. I’ve been playing well this year. I gave myself a couple of bad clubs today but I can only blame myself. It was just nice out there and a very quick pace, which I like, 4 hrs 15 to 4 hrs 20. It was fun and I had a good time.

"I learned a bit of the course today so I can improve on it for the next few days. I think it’s a great golf course, I really do. There are a couple of small dog legs and you’re trying to cut the corners off the tee."

"The rough is not where you want to be on this course, it’s very unpredictable, so I feel I’ll have a better idea for the lines and lay-up areas."

"I short sided myself a little on 18, a little too far back. The course is great and the greens are a little slow but that makes you be aggressive and hit the putts firmly. I like this place, I think it’s a great layout and I look forward to playing the next couple of days,” she said.

Elsewhere in the 108-strong field, Connie Chen made history of her own with a hole-in-one at the par-3 13th, which capped off a great hour for the South Afri-can after she also eagled the 10th hole in a round of 71.

It was her third competitive hole-in-one on the LET and her fourth in total as she also made an ace during a practise round.

The Qatar Ladies Open con-tinues with the second round on Thursday, starting at 6.30am.

The Peninsula

Ladies European Tour (LET) pros Nanna Koertsz Madsen and

Florentyna Parker took on rookies, Nuria Iturrios and Linda Wessberg in a unique challenge at Al Safliyah Island yesterday, as the inau-gural Qatar Ladies Open (QLO) began at Doha Golf Club.

Teeing off towards the stunning Doha skyline, the teams - who will play together as part of the LET’s team at The Queens tourna-ment in Japan next month - were tasked with hitting a target on the roof of a Dhow ship 100 yards out from the shoreline, made no easier by

the fact the players were using biodegradable ‘fish-food’ golf balls, heavier than what they’re used to.

The winner will be announces via Instagram and Twitter (@qatarladiesopen), and on Facebook (/QatarLa-diesOpen) over the coming days.

One hundred and eight players compete in Qatar’s first women’s professional golf tournament this week for the QR2,000,000 prize purse and a chance to climb the 2016 Order of Merit as the season reaches its climax.

The event is free to attend and more information can be obtained at www.qatarladiesopen.com

The Queens on Q at the dhow ship challenge

(-5) Lydia Hall (Walse) 67

Noora Tamminen (Finland) 67

(-4) Kylie Walker (Scotland) 68

Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) 68

(-3) Chloe Leurquin (Belgium) 69

Nicole Garcia (South Africa) 69

Sarah Kemp (Australia) 69

Anne Van Dam (Netherlands) 69

Nanna Koerstz Madsen

(Denmark) 69

Sophie Giquel-Bettan (France) 69

Becky Morgan (Walse) 69

Carmen Alonso (Spain) 69

Johanna Gustavsson (Sweden) 69

Annabel Dimmock (England) 69

(12) Lina Boqvist (Sweden) 70

Marta Sanz Barrio (Belgium) 70

Ashleigh Simon (South Africa) 70

Titiya Plucksataporn (Thailand) 70

Isabelle Boineau (France) 70

Aditi Ashok (India) 70

Alexandra Vilatte Farret (France) 70

(-1) Patricia Sanz Barrio (Spain) 71

Ann-Kathrin Lindner (Germany) 71

Diana Luna (Italy) 71

Lien Willems ( Belgium) 71

Agathe Sauzon (France) 71

Ursula Wikstrom (Finland) 71

Caroline Hedwall (Sweden) 71

Connie Chen (South Africa) 71

Jessica Karlsson (Sweden) 71

Linda Wessberg (Sweden) 71

Sophie Sandolo (Italy) 71

LADIES EUROPEAN TOURQATAR LADIES OPEN

Connie Chen made history of her own with a hole-in-one at the par-3 13th, which capped off a great hour for the South African after she also eagled the 10th hole in a round of 71 yesterday.

Fowler and Walker target 25th World Cup for US Melbourne AFP

Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker are targeting a record 25th World Cup

for the US and thwarting Aus-tral ia 's search for back-to-back successes in Melbourne this week.

The US pair are making their World Cup debuts at Kingston Heath but Walker said they had their eyes set on the trophy.

"Davis (Love) sent both of us a text the other day," world number 19 Walker said yesterday.

"(The message said:) 'Go do what Freddie (Couples) and I did back in the day, bring it home.' I can remem-ber watching that when that happened.

"He knows what's going on. He knows two of his guys are going down here to play and have a chance to bring it home. I know both of us enjoyed that."

Couples and Love won four consecutive World Cups in the 1990s.

"I've played well down here," Fowler, ranked 12th, said. "Jimmy's played well down here and this style of golf definitely fits our games and we both like to hit shots."

The World Cup of Golf, to be held at Melbourne's King-ston Heath Golf Club beginning Thursday, features 28 two-man teams playing 72 holes of stroke play. The first and third days will be the foursomes (alternate shot) and the second and final days fourballs (better ball).

The event has attracted many of the world's top 50 with its prize money of $8m, including Australia's seventh-ranked Adam Scott, Japan's number six Hideki Mat-suyama and Sweden's ninth-ranked Alex Noren.

Scott and Marc Leishman will play the opening round alongside the Americans today.

World number one Jason Day -- who is a no-show this time due to a back injury -- won the individual title for Australia in 2013, while Day and Adam Scott clinched the team portion for the best aggregate score.

"There aren't any team events other than this that we play in representing Australia. The Presidents Cup, sure, we represent Australia but the team is the internationals.

Welsh golfer Lydia Hall tees off at the Doha Golf Club during the opening day of Qatar Ladies Open yesterday. Picture by Kamutty VP / The Peninsula

Noora Tamminen of Finland tees off

Linda Wessberg tees off

31THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2016 SPORT

Drogba bids farewell to Montreal after final home gameMontrealReuters

Striker Didier Drogba has indicated he will not return to Montreal Impact next season, with the Major

League Soccer club releasing a video on Twitter thanking him for his service.

The 38-year-old former Chelsea striker played his last home game for the club after he came on as a second half substitute in Impact's 3-2 win over Toronto FC in the first leg of the MLS Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday. "Everyone knows that it was my last game here," Drogba said when asked after the match if he would be back next season. There is still one, maybe two games to go. Let's think about next week's game, I think that is more important than if it's finished

or not." Montreal travel to Toronto for the second leg on November 30, know-ing either a win or a draw will see them advance to the MLS Cup final in either Seattle or Colorado on December 10.

Drogba joined Montreal in July 2015 and has scored 21 regular season goals in 33 appearances across two seasons.Injuries resulted in him losing his place in the starting lineup to Italian Matteo Mancosu and a subsequent feud over playing time with manager Mauro Biello extended his spell on the sidelines.

The prolific former Ivory Coast international spent nine seasons in the English Premier League with Chelsea before moving to the United States, scoring 164 goals across all competi-tions and leading the Premier League club to their first ever Champions League title.

Arena will stress teamwork for US to reach 2018 World Cup

Los AngelesAFP

An older, wiser Bruce Arena returned to the US national team coaching

role Tuesday after a 10-year absence, vowing talent and hard work will result in a 2018 World Cup berth.

Arena, who had guided the team from 1998-2006 before taking charge of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, was named to replace Jurgen Klins-mann, who was fired on Monday after five years in the role.

The Americans lost World Cup 2018 qualifiers 2-1 at home to Mexico and 4-0 at Costa Rica, but their next qualifier is March 24 at home against Honduras, giving Arena time to revamp the squad in his image.

"We'll develop an identity over the next couple of months to build the best team we can be and be ready when March 24 rolls around," Arena said.

"I don't think the roster is going to have radical changes but obviously there will be some. What I really know is how to build a team. I'm hopeful those qualities will allow me to get this team moving at full speed when qualifying starts in March."

While Klinsmann often pit-ted players against one another to boost talent at every position, the impact hit camaraderie and Arena sees teamwork as a high priority.

"We need to build the chem-istry of this team and have a common goal," Arena said.

"I believe we have good players. We've just got to get them working together as a team. It takes hard work. It takes communication. It takes disci-pline and it takes some talent. I believe we have enough talent to be in Russia in 2018. It's going to take time, patience and a lot of hard work."

Arena, whose 2002 lineup reached the World Cup quarter-finals before falling to Germany, said the US squad has advanced in the years since his contract was not renewed after a first-round ouster in the 2006 World Cup.

"US Soccer has made great progress, with the growth of the league," Arena said.

Leicester, Real march into last 16 ParisAFP

Leicester kept their Champions League dreams aflame on Tuesday, cruising into the last 16 with a 2-1

win over Belgium's Club Brugge, where they were joined by Real Madrid -- but not a crestfallen Tottenham.

Joining the hopeful debu-tants and the holders on the night were Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco.

They join last year's run-ners-up Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who had already booked their spot in the last 16 with two group games to spare.

Leicester's success saw the Foxes advance as Group G win-ners in their maiden season in the event, giving a major fillip to Claudio Ranieri's side, who are just two points above the domestic drop zone.

Shinji Okazaki netted after

just five minutes and a Riyad Mahrez penalty made it 2-0 before Jose Izquierdo notched a second-half consolation for Brugge. The Colombian's strike was the first goal Leicester have conceded in the tournament to date.

As Leicester celebrated, Tottenham in contrast saw their adventure in Europe's top club competition come to a grind-ing halt after a 2-1 loss at Monaco, who won Group E in the process.

Spurs had a let off when their French keeper Hugo Lloris saved Radamel Falcao's early spotkick. But quickfire goals from Djibril Sidibe and Thomas Lemar just after the break, sandwiching a Harry Kane pen-alty, did for the Londoners.

In the same group Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 at CSKA Moscow to take the Germans into the knockout stages fol-lowing Spurs' loss. Kevin Volland put Leverkusen ahead after 16 minutes before Israeli international Bibras Natcho levelled.

Spurs will host CSKA in a final game whose outcome will

decide who goes into the Europa League. In any case, 'home' advantage at Wembley Stadium has hardly shone on Mauricio Pochettino's side, given that they succumbed to defeats by Monaco and Leverkusen. Holders and 11-times winners Real Madrid joined 1997 champions Borus-sia Dortmund in qualifying from Group F after a 2-1 win at star man Cristiano Ronaldo's former club Sporting Lisbon.

Raphael Varane gave the

'meringues' the lead before Adrien Silva netted a spot-kick for the Portuguese only for sub-stitute Karim Benzema to pop up with the winner for Real.

Dortmund secured the group win with a game to play after swatting Poland's Legia Warsaw 8-4 -- a record goal-fest for a Champions League encounter.

The Germans became one of an elite clique to notch five goals in a single Champions League half having led 5-2 at

the interval. Marco Reus scored a hat-trick and Japanese star Shinji Kagawa netted a brace as Dortmund ran riot.

Two-times champions Juventus are through after defeating previous Group H leaders Sevilla, Europa League champions for the past three seasons, 3-1 in Spain. Claudio Marchisio, Leonardo Bonucci and Mario Mandzucic scored for the 'Old Lady' of Turin after Nicolas Pareja had put Sevilla ahead early on.

Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez (3rd left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring against Club Brugge during their UEFA Champions League match at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England on Tuesday.

Champions League

Joining Leicester and holders, on the night were Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco.

Spurs will host CSKA to decide who goes into the Europa League.

Group ECSKA Moscow 1 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen

Monaco 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Group FBorussia Dortmund 8 - 4 Legia Warsaw

Sporting Lisbon 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Group GLeicester City 2 - 1 Club Brugge

FC Copenhagen 0- 0 Porto

Group HSevilla 1 - 3 Juventus

Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 1 Lyon

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS

P W D L G/F G/A Pts

Group EMonaco 5 3 2 0 9 4 11

Bayer Leverkusen 5 1 4 0 5 4 7

Tottenham 5 1 1 3 3 5 4

CSKA Moscow 5 0 3 2 4 8 3

Group FDortmund 5 4 1 0 19 7 13

Real Madrid 5 3 2 0 14 8 11

Sporting Lisbon 5 1 0 4 5 7 3

Legia Warsaw 5 0 1 4 8 24 1

Group GLeicester 5 4 1 0 7 1 13

FC Porto 5 2 2 1 4 3 8

FC Copenhagen 5 1 3 1 5 2 6

Club Brugge 5 0 0 5 2 12 0

Group HJuventus 5 3 2 0 9 2 11

Sevilla 5 3 1 1 7 3 10

Lyon 5 2 1 2 5 3 7

Dinamo Zagreb 5 0 0 5 0 13 0

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLES

Didier Drogba

Bale injured ahead of El ClasicoMadridReuters

Real Madrid are sweating over the fitness of Gareth Bale ahead of their showdown with arch-rivals

Barcelona on December 3, after the Wales international limped out of their 2-1 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Cham-pions League on Tuesday.

Bale injured his right ankle a little less than an hour into the contest in Lisbon and Real coach Zinedine Zidane said the extent of the injury was not yet clear.

"Gareth Bale suffered more of an ankle twist than a knock, but we will have to wait and see what the problem is," Zidane said after the game.

A late goal from Karim Benzema helped Real into the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition for the 20th successive season.

Real are second in Group F, two points behind leaders Borussia Dort-mund, and will look to pip their German rivals to top spot when the sides meet in Madrid for the final game of the group stages on December 7.

Zindane's team are four points ahead of Barcelona at the top of La Liga and play Sporting Gijon in the league on Saturday, before travelling to Bar-celona for their first meeting of the season the following weekend.

ParisAFP

Europa League nights are a distraction for some, given far lower prize money than the Champions League, but a

means of staying in touch for others such as Manchester United, who are seeking to reach the last 32 today.

Jose Mourinho, thus far thwarted in his ambition to become the first coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs after glory with Porto and Inter Milan but failure with Chelsea and Real Madrid, must currently eye more modest goals as his side host Feyenoord.

United stand a point behind the Dutch and Fenerbahce, who beat them in their last outing in Istanbul to open up a fascinating three-way battle for last 32 berths.

The last time Mourinho was involved in the tournament, albeit in its former UEFA Cup incarnation, he won it with Porto, 13 years ago.

But after two defeats for two wins so far this season with United, who his Porto side famously knocked out of the Champions League a year later, there is a distinct possi-bility the Red Devils will miss out.

After the Fenerbahce loss, Mourinho accused his men of "sleeping" on the job and looking as if they were "playing a summer friendly."

Local media reports on Tuesday sug-gested Mourinho would offer the Feyenoord test as a springboard for Henrikh

Mkhitaryan, a bit-part player since his sum-mer move from Dortmund.

"Obviously he is not happy but he is transforming his frustration in a good way which is close the mouth and work hard and try to adapt," Mourinho said of the Armenian midfielder.

With Fenerbahce meeting winless Group A tailenders Zorya Luhansk in the other game, United need to go all out for the win if they are to keep their campaign on the rails.

Other English interest centres on South-ampton, who following their success over Inter Milan, another former European cham-pion forced to slum it with the B listers, meet surprise group leaders Sparta Prague.

The Saints beat the Czechs 3-0 earlier in the tournament but since then the latter have snatched three wins on the trot.

A win will see Prague qualify -- but they must first see off English opposition for the first time in three decades.

Inter, bottom with one win for three losses and having just appointed Stefano Pioli in place of sacked Frank de Boer, held city neighbours Milan to a draw which cost the latter second spot in Serie A -- but they them-selves languish in ninth.

However, a win over Israel's Hapoel Beer Sheva, currently a point above them, would lose the gap on Southampton to a single point -- if the Saints lose.

Four sides have qualified to date -- Zenit Saint Petersburg, former European champi-ons Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Schalke, yet to drop points in Group I

United, Saints eye Euro progressGareth Bale