Sports


Champs UAE struggle in 3-1 victory over Yemen
THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched their title defence with an unimpressive 3-1 victory over unfancied Yemen in the volatile opening match of the Group 'B' that saw both teams being reduced to ten men at the ROP Stadium in Wattayah . The defending champions, survived some tense moments, albeit briefly, in the early stages of the match to earn full points...

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Platini against naturalisation of footballers
Soccer great Michel Platini had made a smooth transition from a gifted player to a successful sports administrator before reaching the top of the Euroeapn soccer as the main man responsible for running the continent's football governing body.
The Frenchman is well known throughout the world as his four-decade association with the beautiful game,...

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We were denied victory by ref, says Oman team manager
MUSCAT — Oman team manager Salah Thuwaini has said that the team played a good match against Kuwait in the inaugural match but the Claude le Roy-coached squad were denied victory by the Uzbekistan match referee Rafshan Amranouf. In a press statement issued yesterday, Salah Thuwaini said the team would have won full points against Kuwait if not for bad refereeing.

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‘Iraq will be ready to host 21st Gulf Cup’
MUSCAT — The Iraqis will build the necessary infrastructure and be ready to host the 21st Gulf Cup Football Championship and its associate games in 2013. The 20th Gulf Cup is scheduled to be hosted in Yemen in 2011. Jasim bin Mohammed Jaffer, Iraqi Youth and Sports Minister, and Mohammed Musabah al Wa'ilie, Governor of Al Basra, revealed the country's plans...

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Oman spikers nail Bahrain in five-game thriller
OMAN spikers fought tooth-and-nail to edge Bahrain in a five-game thriller of the Gulf Cup volleyball competition at the Sohar Sports Complex yesterday. After winning the first two games with fine co-ordination, the Omanis let go the next two to finally tame the unyielding Bahrain boys 25-21, 25-20, 27-29, 17-25, 15-12 to notch their second win.

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Sultanate handballers down UAE in opener
IN the Gulf Cup handball competition, Oman put up a strong display to scrape past a much-fancied out UAE 28-24 in the inaugural match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. With fans turning the atmosphere at the indoor stadium carnival-like, Oman started off in fine fashion matching their adversaries in every department of the game though there were hard tackling...

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Rampant Robben hands Real win
MADRID — Arjen Robben's superb run and curled shot gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday, moving the champions up to third in the Primera Liga. Sevilla dropped to fourth after conceding a dramatic late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with bottom club Osasuna and Barcelona's 3-1 win over Real Mallorca on Saturday means the Catalans are 11 points clear at the top.

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United, Villa ease through in FA Cup
LONDON — Premier League sides Manchester United and Aston Villa reached the fourth round of the FA Cup oafter seeing off lower league opponents Southampton and Gillingham. United beat Championshipstrugglers Southampton, who played for almost an hour with 10 men, 3-0 at St Mary's Stadium and will now meet Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the fourth round.

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