Sports Bulletin

Goncalo Romes scores hat-trick, Portugal to meet Morocco in the third quarterfinal Report: Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Portugal outclassed Switzerland 6-1 in the last pre-quarterfinal of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 at Lusail Football Stadium in Doha, Qatar in the wee hours of Wednesday. Also, the top-eight stage line-up is completed and four times champions Brazil will meet Croatia in the first quarterfinal of the prestigious quadrennial fixture of the soccer world. In the last pre-quarterfinal of the Qatar Football World Cup, both teams began the game with a bit slothful pace and tries to maintain control of the ball. During the first 15 minutes of the first half, spectators did not see any teamwork or joint effort to target the opponents’ goalpost. Players were shifting the ball with long passes and not eager to make any combined move from the left or right corner, as the ball remained in the middle during the first 15 minutes.   Portugal entered the pitch without world-famous soccer player Christina Ronaldo, Goncalo Romes jolted the challenger by scoring the first goal of the match from the left side to put his team in driving seat 1-0 in a knock-out stage of the top international sports fixture of the world. Later, they wasted a couple of occasions in the 21st and 22nd minutes of the match, as kicks were on target but could not prove fruitful. Pope, 39, doubled the lead after neatly netting the ball in the 33rd minute of the match on a right flank corner kick and rotated the scoreboard 2-0. Before the second goal, Shaqiri missed a chance to level the game 1-1 in the 30th minute. Sow also failed to head the ball properly in the goalpost, as he was in the box and in front of the goal line in the 38th minute of the first half. At the halfway stage of the match, Portugal were leading 2-0 in the last fixture of the top-16 team’s round. Meanwhile, in the second part of the encounter, Portugal showed their class and struck the third goal in the 51st minute of the match, this was again Goncalo Romes, who guided the ball in the right direction to make the score line 3-0. Raphael Guerreiro added the 4th goal in the 55th minute from a left-side move. He did not neglect the chance to score a goal after receiving a fine pass from his teammate. Raphael comfortably steered the ball into the net. Switzerland’s striker, Manuel Akanji reduced the deficit after scoring the goal in the 58th minute of the match, as Portugal’s players showed some leniency after scoring the 4th goal. Hero of the day, Goncalo Romes inked a new record after scoring three goals to make a median hat-trick in the Qatar World Cup 2022, as this was 5th goal of the winning team in the do-or-die encounter. Portugal’s coach sent Christina Ronaldo to the field 18 minutes before the final whistle. The substitute player Rafael Laeo scored the sixth goal in injury time to make the scoreboard 6-1. Portugal XIs: D Costa (Goalkeeper), R Gurreiro, R Dias, Pepe, D Dalot, B Silva, W Carvallho, Otavio, B Femandes, Goncalo Romes, J Fellix Switzerland XIs: Y Sommer (Goalkeeper), E Fermandes, F Schar, M Akanji, R Rodringuez, R Freuler, G Xhaka, X Shaqiri, D Sow, R Varges, B Embolo Quarterfinals Line-up: 1st Quarterfinal: Brazil vs Croatia 2nd Quarterfinal: Argentina vs Netherlands 3rd Quarterfinal: Morocco vs Portugal  4th Quarterfinal: France vs England 1st Semifinal on December 9, 2022 2nd Semifinal on December 10, 2022 3rd Position Play-off on December 17, 2022 Final on December 18, 2022

Report: Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Morocco have confirmed their berth in the top-8 stage of FIFA World Cup 2022 after beating Spain 3-0 on penalty shoots in a nerve-jangling pre-quarterfinal at Education Stadium Doha Qatar on Tuesday night. Defending champions France, England, Croatia, Brazil, Netherlands, and Argentine have already reached the quarterfinals after winning their respective knock-out round contests. Both teams started the game with pace and went all out to get the lead in the do-or-die fixture. During the first 15 minutes, Spain kept possession of the ball while Morocco had only 26 percent possession, as no one team could attack the goalpost. Morocco also missed a free kick, as Spain spurned the ball bit away from the post in the 25th minute of the game, as they wasted a golden opportunity to change the scoreboard in their favor. After 30 minutes of the first half match was scoreless but both teams show aggression and attacked the opponents’ goalpost but failed to guide the ball into the goal. Mostly the time, the Spanish guys kept the ball in control but they attempted seven fouls in this effort. Morocco did three fouls, as Spain attacked twice in the 34th and 35th minutes of the crucial fixture. Morocco’s defenders did not allow Spanish players to get the lead. In the 42nd and 43rd minutes, Morocco muffed two occasions to net the ball. A fraction of the last, Spain again missed a golden chance to make the score 1-0 at halftime. Although, in the first half Spain controlled the ball maximum time and created three possibilities to kick the ball into the net, as players of both teams display an aggressive and fast game in the first 45 minutes. Goalkeepers of both sides made their best efforts to stop the rivals’ attempts and spectators applauded their performance in the first half, which ended 0-0. Spain’s Torres shoot accurately on target to score a goal in the 54th minute of the match, from the left flank a free kick was right on target, which was brilliantly protected by Morocco goalkeeper Bono. Spain’s coach made the first change of the match and replaced Gavi with M Asensio in the 62nd minute of the game. Spain wasted two more occasions to earn the lead in the 88th minute and during injury time, as both teams were aggressive in the injury time but no one could make the goal. After 90 minutes of regular time score was 0-0, as in the 4th minute Morocco’s goalkeeper blocked a free kick bravely and saved the blushes of his team. At the final whistle, the score was 0-0 on the scoreboard. Extra time of 30 minutes was given to make the decision of the match, as Morocco’s forward wasted a golden opportunity in the 104th minute of the match, as the Spanish goalkeeper stopped the ball with his right leg. Spain also targeted the opposite goalpost twice in the first part of extra time but that could be fruitful for Spain. Morocco forward player Youssef En-Nesyri was alone with the ball near the box but could not make it a historical finish. Spain squandered an open goal chance when merely 30 seconds were left for the final whistle. Match ended goalless after 120 minutes of the game, as both teams lost countless chances to score a goal After 120 minutes, five penalty shoots were given to each team to decide the quarterfinalist team of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Bono defended 2 penalty shoots back to back and the first kick was hit back from the goalpost, as Morocco reached the quarterfinal of the Qatar World Cup 2022. The final score was 3-0. Morocco XIs: Bono (Goalkeeper), Achref Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Noussair Mazraovi, Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Ammallah, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal Spain XIs U Simon (Goalkeeper), J Alba, A Laporte, Rodzi, Mllorante, Pedri, S Busquets, Gavi, D Olmo, M Asmsio, F Torrer Quarterfinals Line-up: 1st Quarterfinal: Brazil vs Croatia 2nd Quarterfinal: Argentina vs Netherlands 3rd Quarterfinal: Morocco vs Portugal / Switzerland  4th Quarterfinal: France vs England 1st Semifinal on December 9, 2022 2nd Semifinal on December 10, 2022 3rd Position Play-off on December 17, 2022 Final on December 18, 2022         

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The three times Asian Champions, Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Football Cup, as India withdrawn from his bit to get the rights of holding mega football event of the Asian nations. According to AFC statement, after All India Football Federation’s decision of withdrawal, Saudi Arabia remained single bidder of the said event, as AFC has awarded the tournament to Saudi Arabia to host the mega soccer fixture of the Asian countries. “The Asian Football Confederation has been officially notified by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of their decision to withdraw their bid from the AFC Asian Cup 2027 host selection process,” the regional body said Monday without elaborating. Saudi Arabia defeated two times world champions Argentina 2-1 in their opening clash of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 at the different venues of Qatar.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: The Chairman, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC), Haroon Malik vowed to make a repaid progress for the federation’s elections and restoring football activities in the country, which would be gradually helpful for Pakistan football and footballers to earn due recognition across the world. He was talking to media persons in a press briefing at the FIFA Football House on Thursday flanked by NC member Shahid Niaz Khokhar, said: "Pakistan football has been moving in the right direction, along with restoring normal activities and making positive progress for transparent elections as per mandate. “Almost 4000 clubs have now been registered under Pakistan Football Connect while 1737 users have been given access. However, 1074 users have started using the website. Unfortunately, due to recent floods and difficulty in accessing the internet, some clubs and academies are still unaware of Pakistan Football Connect but we are trying to provide guidance and all possible support. The last date of registration is 15th December 2022. He said that as the national women’s football team played an international event after a gap of eight years, the tryouts of women were held in different cities in Pakistan. Soon the camp is going to start as the women’s team is all set to take part in the four-nation tournament in Saudi Arabia. "The hosts Saudi Arabia will play against Pakistan and two other countries. The tournament kicks off on the 11th of January and lasts till the 19th of January 2023. The tournament will be a part of SAFF’s football strategy of developing and up-skilling women’s football as well as connecting continents of Africa and Asia." He further said: “We participated in the FIFA Executive Summit on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2022 opening and the international community expressed happiness over the restoration of football activities in Pakistan. With the support and encouragement of important members of FIFA, we will try to improve things for the promotion of sports in the country. "The powerhouses of football showed deep interest in Pakistan football and corroborated the PFF NC of their all-out support for a better future for Pakistan football. The good ties with the international community will prove fruitful for domestic football in the country," Haroon Malik concluded. Member Normalisation Committee Shahid Niaz Khokhar said: “We are glad to inform you that Pakistan successfully conducted a Futsal Level-I Coaching Course in Pakistan. The course was done in two sessions and 15 participants took part in each session. This course will have a profound effect on Pakistan Futsal,” he added.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The first Gulberg Football Tournament will be played from December 10 to 24, 2022 at Gulberg football ground. According to an official, 16 teams will take part in the soccer event which will be divided into two groups. The final of the tournament will be played on December 24, 2022 at the same venue.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: The South African FIFA-certified female referee Akhona Makalima has arrived here on Tuesday to conduct an international course on ‘women's leadership and career mentorship in sports’ on the invitation of Galaxy Sports Academy (GSA). Akhona Makalima, who is South Africa's first FIFA female referee and has honor of refereeing the FIFA U19 Women World Cup held in Costa Rica this year, has been conducting the course entitled as 'Career Mentorship in Women Sports and Football Refereeing’ at Government College University (GCU) Lahore till November 25 under the patronage of the US Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP).  International hockey player and Pakistan's first female Olympic volunteer Rabia Qadir, who is also an alumna of the GSMP class of 2016, invited Akhona Makalima for the second time to Pakistan to train and prepare the next generation for female mentors and sports leaders.  Currently, there is no Pakistani female referee on the FIFA panel. So during this course, Makalima will train 25 national and international athletes about how they move forward in life after their playing career and become mentors and leaders. She will also guide the participants about the pathway how to become a referee at the international level.  Government College University Vice Chancellor Dr. Asghar Zaidi has taken a keen interest in the course and provided local hospitality and world-class facilities for the FIFA-certified female referee. During this visit, Akhona Makalima will also participate in different events, where she will celebrate the FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted for the first time by an Islamic country.

Sports Bulletin Report Doha, Qatar: Saudi Arabia stunned two times champions Argentine 2-1 in the first match of day three of FIFA World Cup 2022 here at Lusail Iconic Stadium Qatar on Tuesday. Argentine skipper Messi scored the first goal for his team in the 10th minute of the match on penalty kick, which was awarded after seeing the action reply on screen. After around 10 minutes Argentine netted the ball and the referee gave the goal, Saudi Arabia took the review against the decision and the referee turned his decision back. At the half time, Argentina were ahead with the score of 1-0. Salah Al Shehri equalized the score soon after the break in the 48th minute. Salem Al Dawsuri led his team in the 53rd minute of the match, as the best side of the soccer world went in deficit 1-2. Saudi Arabia maintained their lead till the end of 90 minutes.  

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Single match passes will be on sale from today in Australia (AEDT) and in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZDT) with prices starting at AUD/NZD$20 for adults and AUD/NZD$10 for children Visa cardholders will have priority access from 25 to 31 October 2022, with all fans being able to secure single match passes from 1 November 2022 Single match passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis so fans are urged to act quickly to secure tickets to the biggest women’s sporting event in the world Two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner Carli Lloyd encourages fans not to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity With the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Draw complete, and 29 of the 32 teams confirmed to be heading to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2023, single match passes are now available to fans at FIFA.com/tickets. Kicking off on 20 July 2023, the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ is set to be an unmissable experience with 32 teams competing in 64 matches across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Tickets are being made available first with a Visa Presale period from 25 to 31 October 2022, before going on sale to the general public from 1 November 2022 until 3 March 2023. The 25 October sales phase will commence at midday in Australia (AEDT) and 2pm in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZDT). For further information on what time tickets will go on sale in your country click here.

Sports Bulletin Report Islamabad: United States of America (USA) retained their top position in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, which will be used to determine the seeding for the Draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. The Draw will be held in Auckland (New Zealand) on 22 October, with the Draw for the Play-Off Tournament taking place eight days earlier on Friday 14 October. The three teams at the top in the August 2022 ranking are still there, with one slight change in the order. Though USA (1st, -) remain out front, Sweden (2nd, plus 1) have jumped into second place at the expense of Germany (3rd, minus 1). England (4th, -) and France (5th, -) complete the top five. There is plenty of movement below them. After their 2-0 defeat of USA on Tuesday, Spain (6th, plus 2) climb two places, while Netherlands (8th, minus 2) drop two. No fewer than nine teams between 11th and 20th changed positions, among them Belgium (20th, minus 1), who suffered the biggest points drop in the whole ranking (minus 32.46). Newly qualified for the intercontinental play-offs for Australia & New Zealand 2023, Portugal (23rd, plus 4) were the highest climbers in the Top 50 with a rise of four places and 54.19 points. However, nobody made more progress in the October ranking than Estonia (96th, plus 10), who leapt ten places into the top 100, while Bangladesh (140th, plus 7) rose seven themselves. Two new teams have joined since the publication of the previous ranking in August: Syria (157th) and Pakistan (160th). This takes the total number of FIFA member associations now included in the women’s ranking to 187. FIFA has 211 member associations in all. The following ten teams have qualified for the play-off tournament: Portugal (23rd), Chile (38th), Chinese Taipei (40th), Thailand (41st), Papua New Guinea (50th), Paraguay (51st), Haiti (56th), Panama (57th), Cameroon (58th), Senegal (84th) Leader USA (unchanged) Moves into top 10 None Moves out of top 10 None Matches played in total 133 Most matches played Tanzania, Bangladesh, Bhutan (5) Biggest move by points Portugal (plus 54.19) Biggest move by ranks Estonia (plus 10) Biggest drop by points Belgium (minus 32.46) Biggest drop by ranks Kazakhstan (minus 11) Newly ranked teams Syria, Pakistan Teams that are no longer ranked None  

faisal ISLAMABAD:-Muslim Hands Pakistan Under-16 Street Child’s Football team will take part in the Street Child Football World Cup 2022, which will kick-off from October 7 in Doha, Qatar. While indulging the details the Country Head of Muslim Hands, Syed Zia Al-Noor flanked with Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shiza Fatima Khawaja and team captain Mohammad Junaid, told reporter in a press conference at national Press Club on Thursday that 10 players and 3 officials would visit Qatar to represent the Pakistan in an international soccer fixture. “Pakistan has taken part in the previous two events and our players earned 3rd and 2nd positions respectively in 2014 and 2018, “he added. Responding to a question head of the Muslim Hands further disclosed that 28 teams from different 25 countries would take part in the 3rd edition of Street Child Football World Cup 2022. “14 boys’ teams and as many as 14 girls’ teams will be the part of the mega Under-19 football showpiece, “he maintained. To another question regarding the team selection Zia Noor said, “We picked up the boys on merit. We do not have a selection committee, as the all responsibilities are on the shoulders of Coach Abdul Rasheed, who is the best coach in Pakistan. There is no player in the team from Baluchistan, as the four players were in the training camp and they could not maintain their place in the last selected guys, “he said. “They are selected after trials from the established football academies after which they are trained in the main football academy of Mirpur Azad Kashmir. I hope this team will make the nation proud by showing good game skills”. On this occasion, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shiza Fatima Khawaja said, “Pakistani athletes have made the name of Pakistan famous all over the world despite limited resources. The green flag can hoist all over the world and Pakistani children are our pride and national asset. Sports are an important means of improving the character of children, hopefully the Pakistani children will return with victory in the Street Child Football World Cup starting from October 7 in Qatar”.