THE PENINSULA

TEHRAN: Qatar football giants Al Duhail will be aiming for an outright win in their return AFC Champions League quarter-final clash against hosts Persepolis, team coach Nabil Maaloul said yesterday.

In the first leg two weeks ago, Al Duhail beat Iranian outfit Persepolis 1-0 to grab advantage going into the second leg to be played today at Azadi Stadium.

“Al Duhail has completely forgotten the outcome of the first leg against Perse-

polis. We will enter the second leg with a clear and specific aim and that is to win and reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League,” Maaloul said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.

When asked about the possi-bility of playing for a draw, Maaloul said: “The attitude of this team, the potential of my players and my phi-

losophy in training do not make me play in a

defensive manner. We will play to win this game. The best we

can do is balanced performance and put pressure on the opponents and work to reach the net.”

The Tunisian added: “We do not look at the p r e v i o u s r e s u l t s achieved by the team. We

are in front. We must show the required form and come out with the result that takes us to the next round of this big com-petition. We know that the levels among all the clubs that have reached this stage is tough. We also know that in football you can have only three things - a win, a draw or a defeat.”

“We are expecting a tough game, but it will not only be difficult for Al Duhail only but for Persepolis also,” Maaloul added. “We will enter the game with the aim of winning the match,” he added.

“We are playing this stage of the

tournament for the first time. Our players are ready to do well. The most focused team is the one who will eventually win this clash. The competitive levels of both side is very close. We know that the Iranian club will depend on the support of their crowd. Teams rely on the support of their fans for such games,” he said.

“We also know that physical fitness also plays a key role in such matches. Our confidence is and we will fight on the pitch at the stadium,” the Al Duhail coach said.

“Such games will be very tactical. Our players must carry out the plans prepared.

We should close out the space for Perse-polis players. They have a number of injuries and key players are likely to be absent,” the coach of the Qatari outfit said.

“Then there are suspensions also. We have (central defender) Karim Boudiaf back for us. He is an important member in the squad for us. His presence is key,” Al Maloul said.

“Although our preparation for this match was simple because of the presence of our players with the Qatari national team but overall we are ready for the game,” the coach said.

RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira has urged his players to remain ‘focused’ for the entire duration of the AFC Champions League (ACL) quarter-finals leg against Iranian outfit Esteghlal today.

Former champions Al Sadd, 3-1 winners of the first leg in Tehran two weeks ago, play host to the Iranian giants at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium for the return match. A win today will seal Al Sadd’s spot in the semi-finals of the region’s premier football championship.

“I have asked the players to focus at all times in the match,” Ferreira said during a pre-match press conference yesterday. “The dream is to reach the semi-finals.

“A similar focus gave us an early goal against Esteghlal in the first leg (at Azadi Stadium). That was great motivation to do well in the entire match,” the seasoned Portuguese coach added.

“We went on to play great football and win by three goals. I have spoken to my players about not making mistakes.

“In fact we must exploit mis-takes by our opponents,” he said.

Al Sadd coach said: “We know the strength of our opponents and we know what awaits us and most importantly I am confident we will not make too many mistakes. I trust the players to win the match.”

The Al Sadd coach had a piece of advice for the club fans.

“I address all Qatari football fans to come and support Al Sadd. All the fans will be representing Qatar football. If we qualify for the semi-finals, it will be the third time in the history of the club. I know the fans will be behind us,” he added.

When asked about a possible draw, he said: “We will not play for a draw. We will choose to fight and control the match. That is the best way to win a match of this

kind. A win can give us a ticket to the semi-finals,” he said.

“This match against the Iranian side is very important for us. We will start the game with a score of 0 -0 scoreline. We will not think about the first leg. We have forgotten about it com-pletely. We will play as if we have no points yet,” he said.

Al Sadd captain and key striker Hassan Al Haydos said ‘home advantage’ remains with Al Sadd, the winners of

the 2011 AFC Champions League.“We have the home

advantage. We will be playing in front of our own fans,” Al Haydos said yesterday.

“We will try to provide our best to repeat the win we got in the first leg,” he added.

“A win (today) will confirm our berth in the semi-finals,” Al Haydos said.

“They (Esteghlal) have come here four days in advance. They have this ‘nothing to lose

mentality’. They will enter the game with all systems go. We must be fully prepared for that kind of attitude and we must play according to our brand of football. That’s the way to deal with this kind of a high profile game,” he added.

The game will kick off at 7:00pm.

SPORT

We are expecting a tough game, but it will not only be difficult for Al Duhail only but for Persepolis also. We will enter the game with the aim of winning the match: Coach Nabil Maaloul

I address all Qatari football fans to come and support Al Sadd. All the fans will be representing Qatar football. If we qualify for the semi-finals, it will be the third time in the history of the club. I know the fans will be behind us: Coach Jesualdo Ferreira

Monday 17 September 2018

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 27Hamilton opens

40-point lead with Singapore GP win

Ronaldo opens Juventus account with a brace

Al sadd’s players taking part in a training session on the eve of their AFC Champions League quarter-finals second leg match against Iran’s Esteghlal which will be played at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha today.

Al Duhail’s players taking part in a practice session ahead of their AFC Champions League quarter-finals second leg match against Iran’s Persepolis which will be played at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran today.

Advantage Al Sadd as Xavi’s men eye semi-final berth

We will be aiming for a win, says confident Al Duhail coach

“Al Duhail has completely fthe outcome of the first leg again

polis. We will enter the seconda clear and specific aim anto win and reach the semithe AFC Champions LMaaloul said at a pre-maconference yesterday.

When asked about thbility of playing for a drawsaid: “The attitude of this tpotential of my players and

losophy in trainingmake me pla

defensive mawill play togame. The

can do is bperformaput presthe opand workthe net.”

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pwill enter the game with the aim of winningthe match:Coach NabilMaaloul

hey will enter thel systems go. We prepared for that

e and we must play ur brand of s thethae e

Jesualdo Ferreira

TODAY'S FIXTURES: AL DUHAIL VS PERSEPOLIS FC

(IRN) at Azadi Stadium: 5.00pm

AL SADD VS ESTEGHLAL FC (IRN)

at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium: 7.00pm

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

26 MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2018SPORT

Qatar Swimming Federation President Khaleel Al Jabir interacts with a Qatari swimmer during the FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2018 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha. RIGHT: Volunteers and officials who were part of the FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2018 in Doha pose for a group picture. The three-day event ended on Saturday and several world records were broken at the meet which attracted some of the leading swimmers of the world, including world record holders and Olympic winners.

Kipchoge shatters marathon world recordREUTERS

BERLIN: Kenya’s Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge pulverised the marathon world record with a blistering run yesterday, to shave off a stag-gering 78 seconds off the previous best and land the one major running crown that had eluded him.

The 33-year-old, widely seen as the greatest marathon runner of the modern era, ran an official time of time of two hours, one minute and 39 seconds on a sunny autumn day along the flat inner-city course to smash Dennis Kimetto’s 2:02:57.

Kimetto’s record had stood since the Kenyan set it at the same course in 2014 but Kip-choge’s run will likely take some time to break as it is the biggest improvement on the marathon record since Australian Derek Clayton shaved almost two and a half minutes off the record in 1967.

“I lack words to describe this day,” said a beaming Kipchoge, a former world champion over 5,000 metres and marathon gold medallist at the Rio de

Janeiro Olympics in 2016. “I am really grateful, happy to smash the world record.”

“They say you can miss it twice but not third time. So I want to thank everyone who has helped me,” said Kipchoge, who had won in Berlin in 2016 and 2017.

Kipchoge, who last year took part in the Nike Breaking Two

project, where he ran two hours and 25 seconds with the aid of “illegal” in and out pacemakers, started off at a sizzling pace.

He quickly shook off his biggest opponent, Wilson Kipsang, to make it a one-man show and with weather condi-tions perfect and virtually no wind, it was clear after the opening few kilometres that

Kipchoge’s only opponent would be the clock.

His three pacemakers were pushed to the limit to keep the tempo high as Kipchoge dipped well below world-record time by the halfway mark.

But even after the last pace-maker peeled off after 25 kilo-metres, Kipchoge showed no sign of slowing, passing the 30km

mark in 1:26:45, with a pace of 2:52 per 1,000 metres, with thou-sands of Berliners lining the streets and egging him on.

Berlin has now been the stage for the last six men’s world records over the distance.

Kipchoge kept up the pace to sprint through the Brandenburg Gate and complete a world record run that cements his reputation as one of the greatest runners of all time.

Since debuting in the event in Hamburg in 2013, Kipchoge has won World Marathon Majors series runs in Chicago (2014), Berlin (2015 and 2017) and

London (2015, 2016 and 2018).He has now won 11 out of 12

marathons he raced in, including at the Olympics.

Kenya completed their podium sweep with Amos Kipruto in second place more than five minutes later and Kipsang, a former world record holder back in 2013, in third.

Fellow Kenyan Gladys Cherono won the women’s race with a course record and best time of the year of 2:18:11, leaving Ethiopians Ruti Aga and pre-race favourite Tirunesh Dibaba in second and third place respectively.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge celebrates winning the Berlin Marathon setting a new world record in Berlin, yesterday.

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge set a new world record for the men’s marathon yesterday, clocking 2hr 01min 39sec to improve the previous world mark by more than a minute.

Below is a list of the last 10 men’s world records for the marathon, held over a distance of 42.195 km (26 miles).

2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/18 in Berlin 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin

2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin

2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago

2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin

RECENT MARATHON WORLD RECORDS

Cool Coric steers Croatia into Davis Cup final with FranceREUTERS

ZADAR, CROATIA: Borna Coric kept his cool to prevail in a thrilling winner-takes-all duel with fellow young gun Frances Tiafoe yesterday and steer Croatia into the final of the Davis Cup for the second time in three years with a monumental 3-2 victory over the US.

The 21-year-old Coric came from two sets to one down to defeat the 20-year-old debutant Tiafoe 6-7(0), 6-1 ,6-7(11), 6-1 ,6-3 and finally subdue a remarkable fightback from the Americans, who had earlier lev-elled the tie 2-2 from two down.

Late understudy Sam Querrey had rewarded captain Jim Courier’s gamble by taking the tie into a decider in the fourth rubber, battling back from the brink of two sets down to beat home talisman Marin Cilic 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-4.

Yet with everything resting on the first duel between two of tennis’s brightest young ‘Next Gen’ men, Coric overcame the loss of two very contrasting tie-breaks to book Croatia’s final date against champions France.

“That was unbelievable. This

is the most special moment of my whole life,” said a thrilled Coric on court afterwards.

The French, who defeated Spain 3-2 in the other semi-final in Lille, will have home advantage in the November showdown and hope to avenge their 3-2 loss to the Croatians in the 2016 semi-final.

The self-styled men’s ‘World Cup of Tennis’ will also see a repeat of the football World Cup

final in Russia with the French, 10-times Davis Cup champions, again favourites to beat the Croatians, whose only victory came in 2005.

Yet for a moment, after Coric had capitulated 7-0 in the first set breaker and 13-11 in the third set decider, the shocked fans in the Dalmatian resort feared Croatia could be on the wrong end of one of the competition’s unlikeliest comebacks.

Coric, though, demonstrated why he is seen as one of the sport’s best prospects, holding his nerve against the equally brilliant young American and proving too solid over the final two sets as he finally prevailed after four hours six minutes.

At 2-0 down after Friday’s singles, there had not seemed the remotest chance of a US team without their top two players John Isner and Jack Sock recov-ering to reach a first final in 11 years.

Only when 40-year-old Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison fought courageously to claw out a five-set doubles win on Saturday, were the Americans given even faint hope of contesting the last final to be staged under the tra-ditional Davis Cup format.

But Courier was rewarded for a bold, if slightly desperate-looking risk when he rested his No.1 Steve Johnson and instead threw Querrey into the must-win fourth rubber even though the 30-year-old had never previ-ously beaten Cilic in six attempts.

Cilic had also become the most successful Croatian Davis Cup player in history on Friday when winning his 37th rubber

against Tiafoe but the world number six was found wanting when, after winning the opening set on a tiebreak, he stood on the verge of a commanding lead.

He took a 6-1 lead in the second set tiebreak in superb fashion only to crumble under Querrey’s onslaught with the American world number 61 winning seven straight points.

“I just hung in there. After being 6-1 down in the tiebreak, I just played aggressively and from then on the pressure just builds,” said Querrey.

Cilic’s early dominance on the outdoor clay, cheered by an enthusiastic crowd in the Dal-matian resort, then evaporated as Querrey took the next two sets to win in three hours and eight minutes.

In Lille there was relief that the Croatians had won as it guar-anteed the final would be a home tie for France. Yannick Noah, who will be seeking a fourth win as French captain, will be wary of the Croatian firepower. He was captain two years ago when Cilic contributed all three points to the home side’s semi-final win in Zadar.

Croatia’s Borna Coric (centre) celebrates with him team-mates after winning the decisive game against Frances Tiafoe of the US during the Davis Cup semi-final match held at Sport Center Visnjik in Zadar yesterday.

Taiwan’s Hsieh wins Japan OpenAFP

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN,: Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei trounced American qualifier Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-2 to capture the Japan Women’s Open yesterday.

The second seed had too much experience on the big points as she dashed her teenage oppo-nent’s hopes of claiming a maiden WTA t i t le in Hiroshima.

Anisimova, who only turned 17 two weeks ago, suf-fered from stage fright in her first final on the women’s tour, committing 23 unforced errors.

Hsieh, 32, showed far more composure as she rolled to her third career singles title following victories at Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou in 2012.

The tournament acts as an hors d’oeuvre to this week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where Japanese fans will hope tennis sen-sation Naomi Osaka can deliver a strong showing after her defeat of Serena Williams in the US Open final.

27MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2018 SPORT

UEFA Champions League live and exclusive on beIN

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The 2018-19 season of the UEFA Champions League is set to kick off tomorrow and the fans can tune into action live and exclusive on beIN.

This year’s UEFA Champions League promises to be a memorable one, as 32 teams dream battle it out for a chance to take part in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano on June 1st 2019.

Defending champions Real Madrid are looking to add to their impressive record of 13 Champions League titles and will have a point to prove following the departure of their star man Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus this summer. Real Madrid will have to face CSKA Moscow, Roma and Viktoria Plzen in Group G of the group stages.

Last year’s runners up Liverpool paid the price of being seeded in the 3rd pot when they were handed a “group of death”.

Liverpool will face Napoli, Paris Saint Germain and Red Star Belgrade over two legs in Group C. Jurgen Klopp’s team have a tough task ahead of them if they are to replicate their run in 2016-2017 and will be hoping their star player Mohamed Salah is at his best. Italian champions Juventus are in Group H where they will face Young Boys, Valencia and Ronaldo’s former team Manchester United.

Lionel Messi’s Barcelona are in Group B find themselves in a tough group with games against Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan promising to keep fans at the edge of their seats.

English Premier League champions Manchester City are in Group F with Lyon, Shakhtar Donetsk and 1899 Hoffenheim. Bayern Munich find themselves in Group E along with Dutch giants Ajax, AEK Athens and Portuguese side Benfica.

The UEFA Champions League will be broadcast live and exclusive on beIN in English, Arabic and French. Fans can check out further information on beIN, on www.bein.net/en/tv-guide.

Ronaldo opens Juventus account

with a braceTORONTO

MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo broke his Juventus duck in his fourth game when his second-half brace gave them a 2-1 win over Sassuolo yesterda, although the Turin side’s day was marred by a red card for Douglas Costa for spitting at an opponent.

The five-times World Player of the Year opened his account in the easiest possible fashion by tapping into an empty net from less than two metres in the 50th minute, then finished off a counter-attack 15 minutes later.

Khouma Babacar headed one back in the 90th minute but the game ended in ugly scenes as Costa became involved in a running feud with Sassoulo midfielder Federico Di Francesco. The Brazilian escaped with a booking for elbowing and then head-butting his rival as they tangled before the Sassuolo goal, but was then sent off after cameras caught him spitting at the same player in another altercation.

Juventus, chasing an eighth successive Serie A title, have 12 points, three ahead of Napoli, while Sassuolo are on eight after their first defeat of the season.

“I was a little bit anxious as expectations were high,” said Ronaldo. “I really wanted to score, so I’m happy.”

Sassuolo allowed Ronaldo few openings in the first half apart from an early shot which was blocked and a header which went wide from Alex Sandro’s cross. He also tried his luck from a 30-metre free kick but sent a disappointing effort harmlessly wide of Andrea Consigli’s goal. But Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s prediction that it would be Ronaldo’s day proved to be right.

Ronaldo’s luck changed when Sassuolo defender Gian Marco Ferrari headed a corner onto his own post and the rebound left Ronaldo with the easiest of tap-ins.

Sassuolo, who caused Juventus trouble all afternoon, were then caught on the break, with Emre Can sliding the ball to Ronaldo to drill an angled left-foot shot into the far corner.

Ronaldo could easily have had a hat-trick but missed two more good chances and also had a penalty appeal turned down. Stephan El Shaarawy and Bryan Cristante put them 2-0 ahead in under half an hour, but Chievo hit back after the break as Valter Birsa curled in a delightful effort and Mariusz Stepinski levelled with seven minutes left.

Qatar Arc Trials: Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Yazeed victorious THE PENINSULA

PARIS: H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani watched his purebred Arabian horse Yazeed win his first Gr1 PA in the Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr1/PA) at ParisLong-champ yesterday.

The Qatar Arc Trials day was held in Paris, France yesterday. The Qatar-sponsored and named day had exciting races in the card, all bearing the name of Qatar, including two group 1, two group 2 and two group 3 races. Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi, QREC General Manager, and France Galop offi-cials were at the races and awarded the trophies to the winners. Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-Germain ’s star, also watched the racing action yesterday.

Cantering among the others during the race, Yazeed followed the Yas Horse Racing Management horse Shahm. The latter took the lead at the start of the home straight

and kept accelerating until Yazeed was pulled out by Olivier Peslier 300m from the post and attacked Shahm.

Both fought for victory until the end but Yazeed took the advantage in order to win by a short neck in front of Shahm who came in second. Gazwan, owned by H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani came third, nine lengths behind. The other Sheikh Abdullah-owned horse of the race, Tayf, fin-ished fourth.

Yazeed’s trainer Alban de Mieulle said: “I think that good older Purebred Arabian horses can progress. We did not race this summer before this prep-race. I am surprised by the second. He runs very well and will be a serious chal-lenger in the big one. My horse still has progress to make. This afternoon, he was not at 100 % and need this race. We have no horse for him in the morning. We have to train him with thoroughbreds.”

The winning horse in the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Gr1/PA), Yaseed’s jockey Olivier Peslier (centre), trainer Alban de Mieulle, (right) and a team representative celebrate during the presentation ceremony with Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) General Manager Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi, at the Qatar Arc Trials at ParisLongchamp in Paris, France yesterday.

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yesterday after he scored his first goal since he joined Juventus.

Ibrahimovic nets 500th career goal

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring his 500th goal during the first half against Toronto FC at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on Saturday.

AFP

LOS ANGELES: Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic made history on Saturday by scoring his 500th career goal in stunning fashion against Toronto FC.

The 36-year-old Ibrahimovic became just the third active footballer to reach the milestone, joining Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ibrahimovic scored 62 of his goals for Sweden with the rest coming while playing for Malmo FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and now the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

The six-foot-five (1.95 metre) Ibrahimovic joined the 500 club by releasing a perfectly-timed roundhouse kick in the 45th minute that fooled Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono. The goal cut Toronto’s lead to 3-1 at BMO Field.

He came into Saturday’s game tied for second in MLS scoring with 16 goals this season.

Costa will be fined for spitting incident: AllegriREUTERS

MILAN: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said winger Douglas Costa faces a fine after he was sent off for spitting against Sassuolo yesterday, marring a 2-1 Serie A win in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goals for the club.

Allegri was also angry at the way his team played after going 2-0 ahead in the 65th minute of the game, saying they became too individualistic.

Costa was dismissed for spitting at Federico Di Francesco after a running feud in which the Brazilian also elbowed and head-butted the Sassuolo player.

“Even if he was fouled, these epi-sodes must not happen,” Allegri told reporters. “We mustn’t fall for provocation.

“The game was winding down, we had it in the bag and, instead, we stopped playing as a team, everyone wanted to dribble a bit.

“Then the other team gets back into the game, some players get irri-tated and that sort of thing happens.”

Allegri added: “It’s only right that he (Costa) is fined, and he certainly will be... I was surprised by his reaction. We have suffered a goal, a red card and a suspension which will be long.”

Ronaldo needed three-and-a-half games to break his duck for Juventus, but Allegri said he never had any doubts about the Portugal forward.

The first goal was a gift as a Sas-suolo defender headed the ball onto the post and the rebound landed right at Ronaldo’s feet, leaving him with the easiest of tap-ins.

“Was there any anxiety? Not on my part,” said Allegri.

“You just have to see the first three games and how close Ronaldo went to scoring,” he said. “He was a little too hasty and eager to score again today, but football takes away and it gives, and the ball bounced off the post and right into his path.”

AFP

DUBAI: Former cham-pions Pakistan thrashed an inexperienced Hong Kong by eight wickets in a one-sided match to open their Asia Cup campaign in style yesterday.

Pakistan’s bowling attack was too hot to handle for Hong Kong in Dubai as Usman Shinwari finished with 3-19 and Hasan Ali took 2-19, while leg-spinner Shadab Khan managed 2-31 to bowl Hong Kong out for 116 in 37.1 overs.

Pakistan then com-pleted the chase com-fortably for the loss of opener Fakhar Zaman (24) and Babar Azam (33), while Imam-ul-Haq finished on 50 not out after just 23.4 overs.

It proved another cakewalk for Pakistan, like their two previous vic-tories against Hong Kong, by 173 runs in the 2004 Asia Cup in Colombo and by 155 in Karachi four years later.

This was a perfect warm-up for Pakistan ahead of their high-profile showdown with arch rivals India, also in Dubai on Wednesday.

Hong Kong struggled after captain Anshuman Rath won the toss and chose to bat in the Group A opener.

Top-scorer Aizaz Khan (27) and Kinchit Shah (26) fought valiantly during their sixth-wicket stand of 53 runs to offer some respite after Hong Kong were left reeling at 44-5.

Skipper Rath (19) and Nizakat Khan (13) were the only other two men to reach double figures.

Bangladesh thumped Sri Lanka by 137 runs in the first Group B match in Dubai on Saturday.

Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, with the top two from that table contesting the September 28 final in Dubai.

SPORT11.00PM 11:00PM

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25MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2018

Basically we did our own race. We tried to follow Lewis a little bit, but in the end we

knew that second was going to be the result

Max Verstappen F1 driver after finishing second in Singapore

Hamilton opens 40-point lead with Singapore win

AFP

SINGAPORE: Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix yesterday in dominant fashion to increase his Formula One cham-pionship lead over Sebastian Vettel to 40 points with just six races remaining.

The Mercedes driver led from pole to chequered flag, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen more than eight seconds behind and Fer-rari’s Vettel a distant third.

“Great job everyone, what a weekend,” said Hamilton on team radio immediately after winning at the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the second year running. “Keep pushing -- we’ve got this guys.” A unique set of challenges makes the steamy track in the heat and humidity of Singapore’s tropical climate the toughest physical test of the season.

The duration of the race, with each of the 61 laps of the 5.063 kilometre track having 23 bends and 80 gear changes -- more than any other on the Formula One calendar -- means that drivers and machinery are worked to breaking point.

“I’m spent. It felt like the longest race of my life so I’m glad it’s over,” said Hamilton when interviewed on track after hugging his crew in celebration. “Max put up a great fight as well -- but what a day, what a

weekend.” Hamilton got the perfect start from pole position as Verstappen was slower away from second on the dirty side of the grid and saw his Red Bull come immediately under pressure from Vettel.

The German four-time world champion used his superior Ferrari power to outdrag Ver-stappen down Raffles Boulevard and just managed to nip past the Dutchman before the safety car brought a temporary halt to hos-tilities on the first lap for the third year in succession in Singapore.

It was prompted by a col-lision between the Force Indias that put Esteban Ocon into the wall and out of the race after a sideswipe from teammate Sergio Perez. Hamilton controlled the restart four laps later to sprint away more than a second clear of Vettel.

The championship leader had stretched his lead to around three seconds when, on lap 14, Vettel was first to pit for ultrasoft tyres, but it soon looked an ill-judged move as he rejoined behind the slower Force India of Perez.

Hamilton responded imme-diately and pitted on the next lap, but he crucially opted for the soft compound that had been pre-dicted to last until the end.

Vettel’s frustration increased as Hamilton rejoined in front and

then boiled over as Verstappen jumped him when he too pitted for softs with a cry of “Yes!” on team radio.

There’s “no chance” of winning, Vettel moaned. “We were too late again,” he bawled. “These tyres will not make it to the end.”

When the last of the

front-runners, Daniel Ricciardo, took on ultrasofts on lap 27, it left the top six back in grid order: Hamilton leading, Verstappen second and Vettel third.

“I think the team had a great strategy so we could get back into second place,” said Verstappen.

Hamilton remained in control but was getting twitchy up front. “I feel we have stopped too early,” he said, as a few spots of rain began to tumble around the circuit.

“No we are looking good compared to those around us,” assured his race engineer Peter Bonnington. Hamilton withstood a challenge from Verstappen as the pair threaded their way through some backmarkers. “Basically we did our own race. We tried to follow Lewis a little bit, but in the end we knew that second was going to be the result,” admitted Verstappen.

Hamilton conceded that Ver-stappen had worried him as they both got caught in the traffic.

“Max, you had an oppor-tunity,” Hamilton told the young Dutchman after the race. “I had to go on massive defensive while still racing the backmarkers.” Valtteri Bottas guided his Mer-cedes to fourth place, Kimi Raik-konen’s Ferrari came home fifth and Ricciardo was sixth in the second Red Bull.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore yesterday.

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX RESULTS

Pakistan crush Hong Kong in Asia Cup

Pakistan cricketer Hasan Ali (second right) celebrates with team-mates after he dismissed Hong Kong batsman Christopher Carter during the One-day international (ODI) Asia Cup match held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai yesterday.

HONG KONGNizakat Khan run out..................................13

A. Rath c Sarfraz b Ashraf ........................ 19

Babar Hayat st Sarfraz b Shadab ............. 7

C. Carter c Imam b Hasan .......................... 2

K. Shah c Shadab b Hasan .......................26

Ehsan Khan lbw b Shadab .........................0

Aizaz Khan b Shinwari ..............................27

S. McKechnie lbw b Shinwari .....................0

Tanvir Afzal b Shinwari ...............................0

Ehsan Nawaz run out ................................. 9

Nadeem Ahmed (not out) .......................... 9

Extras: (W4) ...............................................4

Total: (all out) .............................. 116Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-32, 3-39, 4-44,

5-44, 6-97, 7-97, 8-97, 9-99

Bowling: Amir 7-1-20-0, Shinwari 7.3-19-3

(w1), Ashraf 4-0-10-1 (w1), Hasan 7-0-19-2,

Shadab 8-1-31-2 (w1), Malik 3-0-17-0, Fakhar

0.3-0-0-0

PAKISTANFakhar Zaman c McKechnie b Ehsan ......24

Imam-ul-Haq (not out) .............................50

Babar Azam c McKechnie b Ehsan ......... 33

Shoaib Malik (not out) ................................. 9

Extras: (NB1, W3) ......................................4

Total: (for two wkts)................... 120Did not bat: Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shad-

ab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir,

Hasan Ali, Usman Shinwari

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-93

Bowling: Afzal 4-2-13-0 (1w), Nawaz 4-0-

27-0 (1w), Aizaz 3.4-0-19-0, Ehsna 8-0-34-2

(1w), Nadeem 4-0-27-0

Result: Pakistan won by eight wickets

SCOREBOARD

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes-AMG)

309 km in 1hr 51min 11.611sec (average

speed 167kph/103mph)

2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at

8.961 sec

3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at

39.945

4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes-AMG) at

51.930

5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) at 53.001

6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) at

53.982

7. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Re-

nault) at 1min 43.011sec

8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) at 1 lap

9. Charles Leclerc (MON/Sauber) at 1 lap

10. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) at 1

lap

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 281 pts, 2. Se-

bastian Vettel (GER) 241, 3. Kimi Raikko-

nen (FIN) 174, 4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 171,

5. Max Verstappen (NED) 148, 6. Daniel

Ricciardo (AUS) 126, 7. Nico Hulkenberg

(GER) 53, 8. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 50, 9.

Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 49, 10. Sergio

Perez (MEX) 46