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The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) held the official draw ceremony for the 2025-2026 Men's General League on Tuesday evening at the Al Wasil Hall in the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters. The event was attended by key figures from the Qatari basketball community and representatives of the nine participating clubs.The ceremony was graced by the presence of Saadoun Sabah al-Kuwari, General Secretary of the QBF and National Teams Director, Ahmed Youssef al-Darwish, Assistant General Secretary and Head of the Competitions Committee, and Mr. Essam Lotfy, Technical Expert at the QBF.A New Era: The Qatar Basketball Super CupIn a significant development for the sport, al-Kuwari announced the launch of the inaugural Qatar Basketball Super Cup. This new competition will kick off the 2025-2026 season and will feature four top clubs: Al Arabi and Al Rayyan (last season's league and His Highness the Amir Cup finalists), along with Al Sadd and Al Ahli (the third and fourth-placed teams in the previous league).The Super Cup semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, pitting Al Arabi against Al Sadd, and Al Rayyan against Al Ahli. The final will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025.Tributes and Arab AchievementsAl-Kuwari commenced the event with a heartfelt tribute, eulogizing the late Dr. Mustafa Diab, a technical expert at the QBF, praising his immense contributions to developing Qatari basketball. He also expressed the Federation's pride in Al Arabi Club's achievement of winning the bronze medal and securing third place in the 37th Arab Clubs Basketball Championship, recently held in Dubai. He also commended Al Rayyan Club for their strong and competitive performance, stating that these results reflect the growing stature of Qatari basketball on the Arab stage.League Reforms and World Cup PreparationsAl-Kuwari detailed a modified league system for the new season, designed to enhance the technical level and increase the number of matches to 15 per team. This reform aims to provide more competitive experience and is part of a broader strategy to optimally prepare the national team for its upcoming commitments, most notably the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, which Qatar will host.Echoing this vision, Ahmed al-Darwish emphasized the Federation's commitment to introducing new organizational and technical initiatives."We are facing an exceptional season with many milestones, including Al Arabi's participation in the Asian Super League, which is an honorable representation for Qatari basketball," al-Darwish stated. "We are consistently working in the best interest of the clubs and to prepare our players for the most significant event in the country's basketball history: hosting the 2027 World Cup."League Draw Results and Season ScheduleThe draw set the stage for intense early competition. The first round, starting on October 18, 2025, will feature strong matchups: Al Wakrah vs. Al Sadd, Al Shamal vs. Al Khor, Al Rayyan vs. Qatar Club, and Al Ahli vs. Al Gharafa. Al Arabi will have a bye in the opening round.The league will proceed at an intensive pace until the sixth round on November 5, 2025, before pausing to allow the national team to participate in the first window of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers. The first half of the league concludes on December 13, 2025, with the second half running from December 20, 2025, to January 17, 2026.The semi-final playoffs are scheduled for January 22-31, 2026, culminating in the final between February 2 and 7, 2026. The season will also feature a "Play-In" tournament for teams ranked third to sixth, adding a dynamic layer of competition to determine the final playoff contenders.

Erling Haaland carried Manchester City to within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with the only goal at Brentford, while Crystal Palace's 19-game unbeaten run was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Everton.The Norwegian maintained his sensational early season form to score his 18th goal for club and country in just 11 appearances this season. Haaland showed his strength to bully his way through the Brentford defence from Josko Gvardiol's long ball and fire home on nine minutes.Victory came at a cost for Pep Guardiola's men as Rodri was forced off in his latest injury setback since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament tear that saw him miss most of last season. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was in tears when he had to be replaced with an apparent hamstring problem midway through the first half. Despite a less than sparkling performance, City held out to haul themselves up to fifth and right back into the title race.Palace missed the chance to go second after suffering a European hangover at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Eagles were dominant in the first 45 minutes but were left to rue not adding to Daniel Munoz's finish from Ismaila Sarr's pass. However, their UEFA Conference League exertions in winning away to Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday took their toll in the second half.Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the penalty spot after Maxence Lacroix clumsily upended Beto as Everton fought back to avoid a first defeat at their new home. Jack Grealish then got fortunate for his first Everton goal as Munoz's attempted clearance rebounded off the Manchester City loanee into the roof of the net. "I thought Crystal Palace should have been out of sight, they should have been 3-0 up, but we stuck at it," said Everton boss David Moyes.Ange Postecoglou's wait for a first win as Nottingham Forest manager goes on after a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. The Australian is the first Forest boss in over 100 years to fail to win in his first seven games and now faces an anxious wait to see if club owner Evangelos Marinakis decides to make another managerial change over the international break. "I knew it was a big challenge walking in. That's what it is and there's nothing wrong with that," said Postecoglou.Newcastle had only won one of their opening six Premier League games. But Bruno Guimaraes led the Magpies to victory with a brilliant strike from outside the box to break the deadlock on 58 minutes. Guimaraes then won a penalty after robbing former team-mate Elliot Anderson inside the Forest box.Nick Woltemade smashed the resulting spot-kick into the top corner for his fourth Newcastle goal since joining from Stuttgart last month. Forest slip to 17th, the same league position that saw Postecoglou sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season despite winning the Europa League.After a slow start to the season, Aston Villa beat Burnley 2-1 to secure a fourth win in the last 11 days. Donyell Malen was the Villa match-winner with his first goals since April. The Dutch forward opened the scoring after racing onto Boubacar Kamara's brilliant through ball to slot into the far corner.Morgan Rogers was the creator for the second that Malen controlled before drilling confidently into the far corner. Lesley Ugochukwu pulled a goal back but Burnley remain in the relegation zone. Wolves are still rooted to the foot of the table after conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to Brighton.

Al Shaqab Training Show will take place this Friday, October 10, from 3pm to 8pm at the Longines Indoor Arena, Al Shaqab announced Sunday. This event serves as an important platform to showcase the talents of aspiring riders and prepare them for the upcoming season’s competitions, including the prestigious Al Shaqab League.The Training Show is designed as a vital stage that empowers riders to gain practical experience in a safe and motivating competitive environment. It combines both educational and competitive aspects, aligning with Al Shaqab’s vision of developing a new generation of riders capable of representing Qatar in regional and international championships.Commenting on the event, Mohammed al-Khayareen, Director of the Equestrian Education Department at Al Shaqab, said: "At Al Shaqab, we place great emphasis on providing a comprehensive educational environment for our riders. The Training Show is a key step in this journey. It not only offers riders valuable hands-on experience but also helps them face real challenges with greater confidence. Through such initiatives, we aim to nurture ambitions, sharpen skills, and enhance opportunities for reaching podiums while raising Qatar’s flag high on the global stage."The competition will feature several categories of varying levels, tailored to suit different ages and abilities, including 40cm, 60cm, 80cm, 100cm, 110cm and 120 cm. A large number of Al Shaqab riders are expected to participate, showcasing the progress and skills they have been working hard to develop in recent weeks before both the audience and the judging panel.Al Shaqab in a statement said: “Al Shaqab’s management is committed to making this event more than just a sporting competition. It is envisioned as a holistic experience that combines education, inspiration, and entertainment. Spectators will enjoy the riders’ outstanding performances while also gaining insight into the significant effort invested in their training—reflecting Al Shaqab’s mission to instill values of discipline, teamwork, and commitment in all participants.”“The presence of spectators plays a pivotal role in motivating and encouraging riders. It provides them with the extra boost to give their best and instills perseverance and determination. The support of families and friends in the stands creates an ideal atmosphere that inspires riders to face challenges with confidence and leaves a lasting impact on their journey toward success.”Al Shaqab said it is inviting all equestrian enthusiasts in Qatar to seize this opportunity and join for an exceptional sporting evening filled with excitement and thrill. The Training Show promises captivating show jumping competitions that highlight precision, strength, and the harmony between horse and rider.

Brazilian wonderkid Estevao’s first Chelsea goal inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Liverpool Saturday, allowing Arsenal to go top of the Premier League after beating West Ham 2-0.After winning their opening seven games of the season in all competitions, Liverpool have suffered a nightmare week to leave Arne Slot plenty to ponder over the international break.Injury-hit Chelsea were well worthy of a dramatic 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge to end their three-game winless run in the Premier League.One-time Liverpool target Moises Caicedo blasted the Blues into a half-time lead with a blistering strike into the top corner on 14 minutes.Alexander Isak’s £125mn ($168mn) move to Liverpool last month broke Caicedo’s record as the most expensive Premier League player of all-time.The Swedish striker is still yet to score a league goal but his deft touch teed up Cody Gakpo to equalise just after the hour mark.However, Chelsea were not to be denied as Estevao slid in at the far post to meet Marc Cucurella’s cross deep into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations from manager Enzo Maresca who was shown a red card for sprinting down the touchline.Liverpool now trail Arsenal by one point, while Chelsea edge up to sixth.Arsenal lose Odegaard In Mikel Arteta’s 300th match in charge, Arsenal proved far too strong for the struggling Hammers to further their ambitions of a first Premier League title for 22 years.Victory came at a cost for Arsenal as captain Martin Odegaard was forced off injured before half-time for the third time this season.However, the strength in depth now on offer to Arteta has made light of Arsenal’s injury troubles.“We dominated and fully deserved to win this,” said Arteta. “To go top of the table after some big fixtures over the last week and some injuries... we were able to respond.”Declan Rice, who left West Ham for £105 million in 2023, ended the visitors’ resistence by blasting high into the net on the rebound after Alphonse Areola parried Eberechi Eze’s drive.Bukayo Saka made the points safe midway through the second half from the penalty spot on his 200th Arsenal appearance after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf.Breathing spacefor Amorim Manchester United handed Ruben Amorim some relief with a 2-0 win over Sunderland Saturday.The Portuguese had taken just 34 points from his previous 33 Premier League games in charge, but enjoyed a rare convincing win to give him some breathing space over the international break.“We were a competitive and adult team today,” said Amorim. “We need to do this kind of performance away as well - it’s our responsibility to play like this,” he added.Before kick-off Old Trafford fell silent to honour the victims of a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue this week.Amorim’s bold calls with his team selection paid off as goalkeeper Senne Lammens kept a clean sheet on his debut, while Mason Mount justified his place over Matheus Cunha with the opening goal.Mount eased the home fans’ tension with a fine finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross on eight minutes. Benjamin Sesko doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with a predatory finish from a long throw-in for his first Old Trafford goal since a £74mn move from RB Leipzig.Nearly a twistThere was nearly a twist at the end of the half as Sunderland were initially awarded a penalty, only for VAR to intervene due to insufficent contact by Sesko on Trai Hume.Tottenham showed their newfound defensive resolve under Thomas Frank to end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten league run at Elland Road with a 2-1 victory.Mohammed Kudus’ first goal for Spurs secured all three points after Noah Okafor cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for the visitors.“That feeling to get over the line, to get three points, was big,” said Frank after his side moved up to third.

Al Rayyan made a perfect start to their Gulf Club Champions League campaign with a resounding 5-0 victory over Yemen’s Tadamon Hadramaut in their opening match at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium Wednesday.Brazilian forward Roger Guedes set the tone with a brace in the first half, scoring in the 17th and 28th minutes. The third goal came early in the second half when Yemeni defender Ayoub Tlili turned a cross into his own net (49th minute). Rodrigo Moreno (68th minute) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (90+6th minute) added further strikes to complete the rout.The home side dominated from the outset, pressing high and creating chances with sustained attacking pressure. Guedes broke the deadlock after a corner slipped past the defence, before doubling his tally with a thunderous strike from outside the box.After the restart, Tlili’s own goal widened the gap, and Moreno converted from a Mitrovic cross to make it four. Mitrovic then capped the night in stoppage time with a powerful header off a Wesley delivery.The emphatic win secured Al Rayyan’s first three points and a direct passage to the semi-finals of the competition. Al Rayyan midfielder Jassim Jaber hailed the team’s performance, calling the victory an “important motivation” for the squad moving forward.“We performed well and pressed from the start with the goal of winning, and that’s what we achieved,” Jaber said. “I thank the players for their great effort. The team has proven it has strong starters and substitutes who can maintain a high level.”

Qatar's Al Ahli and Uzbekistan's Andijon shared the points after playing out a goalless draw in their AFC Champions League Two Group B tie Wednesday in Andijan, Uzbekistan.The stalemate meant both sides are still seeking their first win, with their respective opening encounters also ending in draws. The first chance fell to Andijon when Mukhammadkarim Toirov let fly on the bounce from 25 yards out in the 11th minute but his effort was straight at Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Sherif.The game then became cagey and only really came to life in the final minutes of the half when Al Ahli’s Suhaib Gannan picked out Sekou Yansane in the box but the forward hit his effort into the ground, allowing Erzhan Tokotaev to gather easily. A mistake from Driss Fettouhi – who underhit his pass – nearly cost the Qatari side in the 43rd minute when Usmonali Ismonaliev intercepted and fed Doniyor Abdummanopov, who forced a diving save from Sherif.Andijon looked the more likely to break the deadlock after the interval with Krystian Nowak’s header from Damir Temirov’s corner delivery sailing just over a minute into the restart. Seeing his side under pressure, Al Ahli head coach Igor Biscan called upon the experienced Julian Draxler to replace Yansane in the 64th minute and the former German international nearly created the opening goal eight minutes later when he spotted Hilal Mohammed’s run, only for the full-back to scoop his effort over the bar.Al Ahli’s improvement saw them forcing Tokotaev to make a point-blank save from Gannan’s header in the 78th minute but the remainder of the game yielded no goals as the sides shared the spoils.Ahli coach Igor Biscan expressed satisfaction with the away result despite his side’s missed chances. “We played well and created several opportunities, but we were unlucky and faced difficulties breaking down their defensive organisation,” Biscan said at the post-match press conference.He pointed to the poor pitch conditions as a factor affecting his players’ attacking play but remained upbeat about their prospects. “Overall, I am satisfied with the draw away from home. We will work hard to achieve victory in the next round when we host Andijon in Doha,” he said.The Croatian praised his players’ commitment, saying they deserved more than a draw based on their performance. He also revealed that Draxler was introduced only in the second half due to fitness concerns. “He had some pain after the league match against Al Shahaniya, so I didn’t want to risk him from the start. His quality and influence were clear when he came on, and he remains a very important player for us,” Biscan added.Al Ahli will now look to secure their first group-stage victory when they meet Andijon again in the return fixture in Doha.

Kylian Mbappe struck a hat-trick as record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid romped to a 5-0 league phase win over Kairat in Kazakhstan Tuesday.Xabi Alonso’s side bounced back from their thrashing by city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday with an emphatic victory on the road, after travelling more than 7,000 kilometres. Mbappe put the hosts to the sword with his treble and Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz wrapped up Madrid’s victory, which took them provisionally top of the table.Kairat, appearing in the tournament proper for the first time, beat Celtic in qualifying but could not handle Los Blancos, even after their long journey east, in particular French superstar Mbappe.“We can’t forget what happened this weekend (against Atletico) but we have to keep thinking about it, and working to be better each day and each week so we don’t have another night like that,” Mbappe said.The forward boasts 13 goals already this season in nine games across all competitions, but looked frustrated with himself when he missed a good chance in the second half.“My work is helping the team, doing what I can so that the team wins,” continued Mbappe. “If I have five chances, and I want to score five goals then I have to score five goals, that’s why Real Madrid bought me. I’ll work to be better and try to score more goals and be more efficient in front of goal.”Hosts Kairat lined up with 18-year-old Sherkhan Kalmurza in goal because of injuries to three other goalkeepers at the club. Kalmurza was to blame for Madrid’s opener, as he clumsily felled Franco Mastantuono.Mbappe, who had a shot saved earlier by the youngster, sent Kalmurza the wrong way from the spot in the 25th minute.The Frenchman was Madrid’s main threat, as has been the case all season, and whistled a shot narrowly wide of the far post before the break. Seven minutes into the second period Mbappe grabbed his second, after a long kick by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent him through on goal.Mbappe gently dinked the ball over Kalmurza to net his fourth in the competition after a brace against Marseille in Madrid’s opener. “It was an enormous pass worth 80 percent of the goal, and I added the other 20 percent,” said Mbappe. The striker should have had his hat-trick after exchanging passes with Vinicius Junior but fired wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. At the other end, promising 17-year-old forward Dastan Satpayev, who will join Chelsea next summer, whipped a free-kick narrowly wide.Kairat thought they had won a penalty when Dani Ceballos was penalised for tripping Valery Gromyko, but it was cancelled after a VAR review. Mbappe then completed his treble after Arda Guler flicked the ball into his path on the edge of the box and he produced a razor-sharp finish. Camavinga, on as a substitute, nodded home after 83 minutes and Diaz rounded off Madrid’s rout in stoppage time.Atalanta come from behind to beat Club BruggeIn Bergamo, Italy, Atalanta came from behind to beat Belgium’s Club Brugge 2-1 at home with Mario Pasalic netting the winner after earning the penalty that led to the equaliser. The Croatia international, in his eighth season at the Serie A club, headed home in the 87th minute from a corner to win the game for the hosts, who were trailing with 16 minutes remaining.Christos Tzolis’ first-half strike gave the visitors the lead, but a penalty tucked away by Lazar Samardzic in the 74th minute brought Atalanta back into the game.The win gave the Italian outfit their first points of the campaign after they lost 4-0 to holders Paris St Germain in their opening league-stage fixture in mid-September, while Brugge already had three points after beating Monaco 4-1 at home.Brugge were first on the score sheet when an error from Marten de Roon allowed Carlos Forbs to tee up Tzolis, who jinked left and then right before firing home a curling effort in the 38th minute.Atalanta won a penalty when goalkeeper Nordin Jackers rushed out to try and tap the ball away from the feet of Pasalic but made contact with the midfielder and gave away the spotkick, which substitute Samardzic converted.Brugge might have snatched the lead back a minute later, but Romeo Vermant’s effort went narrowly wide with the goalkeeper out of position before home pressure told and Pasalic got in at the back post to head home the winner.

Sharjah FC came from behind to force an entertaining 1-1 draw with Al Sadd in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Tuesday.The hosts’ Akram Afif’s cracker of a shot in the 18th minute was cancelled out by the UAE side’s Caio Fernandes in the 73rd minute to give the teams a share of the points.Sharjah were the early aggressors, with Rei Manaj and Caio Fernandes both sending their attempts over the bar within the first six minutes while Manaj blasted his free-kick straight into the defensive wall in the eighth minute.Afif, however, flipped the script in the 18th minute when he came down the right, cut in and rifled an unstoppable shot from 20 yards past Darwish Habib’s right hand.The thrills continued two minutes later when the UAE side were awarded a penalty after Boualem Khoukhi handled the ball, but keeper Meshaal Barsham judged correctly, diving to his right and palming out Caio’s attempt.The game slowed down after the initial rush, with the next noteworthy moment coming in the 40th minute when Manaj picked up a pass from Khaled Ebraheim, pivoted in the box and let loose a shot that rattled the left post. Barsham pulled off a fine save from Manaj in the 61st minute after the striker controlled the ball and side-footed from close range while his counterpart Darwish pulled off an equally important save four minutes later from Rafael Mujica inside the area.Sharjah’s determination was finally rewarded when Caio made amends for his penalty miss, picking up a lovely chip from Adel Taarabt in the 73rd minute and blasting home from just outside the six-yard box. Barsham prevented Sharjah from increasing the scoreline 10 minutes later when he went into a full-length dive to prevent Ousmane Camara’s low shot from going into the bottom left corner.Al Sadd coach Felix Sanchez sounded disappointed after his side were held to a draw by Sharjah, with the Spaniard saying his team had “lost two points” at home.“We took the lead in the first half,” Sanchez said at the post-match press conference. “We wanted to continue the same performance in the second half and play attacking football, but the team retreated and we conceded a goal unexpectedly. The match was evenly balanced, and we were unable to control it.”Sanchez said that a draw was not the target, especially on home soil.“Yes, we definitely lost two points. We should have won, and our goal was to win the match. We got a point, but it wasn’t enough,” he said. Sanchez acknowledged the need for improvement while pointing to the absence of key players.“I made several changes during the match, some of which were necessary, as we wanted to increase the pressure on the opposing team. We didn’t achieve the desired result, and I don’t want to find excuses, but we are waiting for the return of Claudinho and other injured players. We have a good team, and we must develop ourselves in the coming period,” the former Qatar coach said.The result leaves 2011 champions Al Sadd still looking for their first win after their 1-1 opening stalemate with Iraq’s Al Shorta while Sharjah have amassed four points after their 4-3 win against Qatar’s Al Gharafa SC on Matchday One. Sharjah will meet Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC on Oct 20 while Al Sadd face Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC the next day.-www.the-afc.com

Al Gharafa of Qatar turned on the power in the second half to defeat Iraq’s Al Shorta 2-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite tie Monday.Strikes from Joselu and Ferjani Sassi earned Pedro Martins’ side the points as Al Gharafa got on the winning trail after having suffered a 4-3 defeat against UAE’s Sharjah FC in their opener.Al Shorta, meanwhile, are still seeking their first win after having played to a 1-1 draw with Qatar’s Al Sadd two weeks ago. The home side were almost caught napping by a counter-attacking move in the fifth minute when Ahmed Yahia powered down the left and relayed the ball to Mahmoud al-Mawas, whose shot rattled the left post from inside the six-yard-box.Al Gharafa came close to taking the lead in the 13th minute when Joselu pounced on a poor back pass from Mehdi Ashabi, only to see his effort from an acute angle strike the right post. The Iraqi outfit had a great chance just moments later after Mahmoud al-Mawas lost his marker down the right and set up Leonel Ateba who fumbled his shot from close range.The duo almost conjured the opener just after the half-hour mark when al-Mawas timed his run to perfection to slip the ball to Ateba, whose effort from inside the box was foiled by Al Gharafa keeper Amine Lecomte-Addani. At the other end, Al Shorta wasted their best chance of the half from a fast break which saw Fabricio Díaz play the ball across to Ahmed al-Ganehi, who skied his effort.The deadlock was broken three minutes into the second half when al-Ganehi intercepted a poor pass, leaving Yacine Brahimi to tee up Joselu to slot home from close range.Gharafa extended their lead in the 54th minute after Brahimi’s precise cross into the box was headed by Sassi past outstretched keeper Ahmed Basil.The home side were denied a third goal in the 66th minute when al-Ganehi’s effort struck the bar from inside the box, while Al Shorta came close on a breakaway with Al Mawas teeing up Dominique Mendy, whose shot was blocked.Al Gharafa next meet defending champions Al Ahli Saudi in an away game on October 20, with Al Shorta to host Al Ittihad Club on the same day.Duhail hold defending champions AhliAl Duhail and Al Ahli Saudi FC both had the lead but eventually had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their AFC Champions League Elite match.While the stalemate meant Al Ahli equalled the tournament’s unbeaten run record of 20 matches, it ended their eight-game winning run as Duhail earned a well deserved point. The reigning champions didn’t have to wait long to register their first attempt on target, Matheus Goncalves with a delicate chip into the box in the eighth minute which Roger Ibanez got his head to, forcing Al Duhail goalkeeper Arthus Desmas to backtrack to tip the ball over.Al Ahli, however, then found themselves trailing for the second game running as Matthias Jaissle’s side switched off the 25th minute, allowing a goal kick to be flicked on by Krzysztof Piatek to Adil Boubina, who hit the post but Edmilson Junior was on hand to tap home the rebound. Al Duhail suffered a blow seven minutes later when Desmas - who was making his debut for the Qatari side - suffered a head injury after a heavy collision with Feras Albrikan, with Bautista Burke replacing him.Burke, however, didn’t have time to settle in as Al Ahli drew level on 42 minutes when Goncalves cut inside Youssef Ayman before firing a low shot to the near post which the 22-year-old got a hand to but was not enough to keep the ball out.Things went from bad to worse for Burke four minutes later when his attempted pass out from the box went straight to Riyad Mahrez, who had the simple task of rolling the ball into an unguarded goalmouth. Djamel Belmadi took a gamble at the start of the second half, replacing midfielder Luis Alberto with forward Almoez Ali, who partnered Piatek and the Al Duhail head coach was rewarded just two minutes in.Edmilson got away from Goncalves on the right flank before delivering a telling cross that was thumped into the top corner by Piatek. Piatek should have gotten his second 10 minutes later from another Edmilson cross but despite being unmarked, could not get his volley on target while Ivan Toney had a late attempt saved by Burke as the sides settled for a share of the points.

Omid Ebrahimi’s last-gasp penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for Al Shamal against Qatar SC in the Qatar Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium Saturday.Iranian midfielder's spot-kick, converted nine minutes into stoppage time, denied Qatar SC what would have been a crucial victory. Instead, Al Shamal stayed top of the table with 14 points, level with Qatar SC, who remain second. Al Gharafa are third with 13 points.The match produced a flurry of chances but neither side could break through in the first half. The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute, when Al Shamal’s Moufak Awad turned Eisa Palangi’s cross into his own net to give Qatar SC the lead.Late drama followed as Al Shamal were initially denied a penalty for a foul on Baghdad Bounedjah after a VAR review in the 85th minute. But deep into injury time, another foul was awarded on Bounedjah, and Ebrahimi made no mistake from the spot to ensure a share of the spoils.Al Sailiya shock Al Arabi 4-0Earlier, Al Sailiya shocked fancied rivals Al Arabi 4-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium. Khalid Ali Binsabaa scored a brace for the winners striking in the 35th and 45+4 minutes, while Youssef Snana (52nd minute), and Mohamed Benyettou (54th minute) added more to the scoreline.Their first win – after five losses – gave Al Sailiya full points but they remain 12th in standings with three points while Al Arabi are 11th with four points. It was a fine show of attacking play and precise striking by Al Sailiya, who were engaged in a fierce battle at the start with Al Arabi - also looking to draw first blood.The Dream Team came close twice to scoring early but on both occasions Al Sailiya goalkeeper Fahad Younis spoiled their efforts. In the 14th minute, a deceiving Roriguez Sanchez shot was blocked by Fahad while in the 30th minute his stretched right leg cut off a potential Isaac Lihadji attempt.Al Sailiya hit back minutes later as Al Arabi goalkeeper Yousef Hassan Ali spilled a shot taken from outside the box but an alert Binsabaa was at hand to make a left-footed kick into the net. Binsabaa doubled the lead for Al Sailiya in added time of first half making a diving header to a fine assist from Mohamed Hassan Al Taabouni.Al Sailiya consolidated soon in the second session with Snana putting in an Al Taahouni through ball that caught as many as five Al Arabi defenders napping. Minutes later, a sweeping Benyettou kick from outside the box left Al Arabi dismayed.

Substitute Jacinto Dala scored two goals as Al Wakrah defeated Umm Salal 3-2 in the Qatar Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium Friday. Despite The Blue Wave’s series of relentless attacks, they met a formidable wall of defence in Umm Salal, which they could not break down until the 54th minute when Hamdy Fathy found the net.Umm Salal got the equaliser in the 63rd minute through Cristo Gonzalez. Dala, who came in the 74th minute, restored Al Wakrah’s lead from the edge of the box in the 78th minute. Ironically, Dala turned from a hero to a villain nine minutes later when he mistakenly nodded the ball into his own net from an Umm Salal set piece. The Angolan international, however, got a redemption in two minutes of added time as he scored the winner.Al Shahania were beaten 1-2 by Al Ahli in their enthralling match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Pelle van Amersfoort opened the scoring for Al Shahania from the spot in the 14th minute after Al Ahli’s Driss Fettouhi fouled Mohammed Sayyar inside the box. The Dutchman made no mistake in converting with a right-footed shot, once the controversy that ensued following the penalty decision was resolved after a lengthy VAR check.The lone goal separated the two sides going into the half-time break. Parity was restored for Al Ahli in the 54th minute through Suhaib Gannan, who perfectly turned in a cross from Erik Exposito with ease. Twelve minutes later, Michel Vlap registered his name on the scorers’ sheet as Al Ahli took the lead, with the goal eventually proving to be the match winner.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot blasted Hugo Ekitike for a stupid sending-off after tapping home a winner against Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday and then removing his shirt in celebration. The Frenchman, who replaced record signing Alexander Isak at half-time, had been booked already for kicking the ball away in frustration and the second yellow five minutes from time left Liverpool defending a 2-1 third-round lead with 10 men.Liverpool captain Andy Robertson told said it was a stupid thing to do when on a yellow card and Slot doubled down afterwards. “I think it’s also stupid if you haven’t had a yellow card yet,” he said.“Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned, maybe a bit old school, but I did score a few goals – not at this level – as well and if I maybe outplay three players, which I never did, and then hit it in the top corner, then maybe you can say ‘oh, this is all about me.’“But if I had to score a goal like he did tonight, I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and would say ‘It’s all about you, Federico. Great assist, great run and I didn’t have to do a lot’. It was stupid, not smart in every sense... he’s now suspended for Saturday and that is far from ideal.”Ekitike later apologised on Instagram: “The emotion got the better of me tonight,” he said. “My apologies to all the Red family...”League leaders Liverpool, with a 100% record so far this season, have a tricky away trip to unbeaten Crystal Palace next in the league. Slot fielded a completely changed starting lineup on Tuesday from the side that played Everton on Saturday, with Isak starting and scoring his first goal for the club.“It wasn’t our best performance, which probably has a lot to do with players that haven’t played for a long time or for the first time,” he said. The manager said Isak would get increasing game time, with Liverpool trying to build him up faster than usual, but did not expect him to be fully up to speed until after the next international break.Club World Cup champions Chelsea suffered an early scare at third tier Lincoln City but came back from a goal down at half-time to win 2-1 with teenager Tyrique George equalising in the 48th and providing the assist for Facundo Buonanotte’s 50th-minute winner.League One (third tier) Cardiff City provided the upset of the eight games on the programme by beating top flight Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor. Premier League bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers won their top flight clash 2-0 against Everton, who had James Garner hit the bar with a second-half free kick and Jack Grealish coming off the bench.Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez scored four, including a 24-minute first-half hat-trick, as Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion thumped third tier Barnsley 6-0 at Oakwell to reach the fourth round for the fifth time in six seasons. Second tier Wrexham gave their Hollywood owners another home night to savour by beating Reading 2-0, with Nathan Broadhead scoring both – his first for the Welsh side who go through to the fourth round for the first time since 1977.Premier League Fulham beat fourth tier visitors Cambridge United 1-0 at Craven Cottage with Emile Smith Rowe scoring the 66th-minute winner. Championship side Swansea City and fourth tier giantkillers Grimsby Town are already through to the fourth round along with Premier League Brentford and Crystal Palace.