Day: April 6, 2024

Washington, The Dallas Mavericks is nearing qualification for the playoffs in the NBA after defeating the Golden State Warriors 108-106 today.

P.J. Washington scoring 32 points, including two crucial points just seconds before the end of the game to lead his team to victory.

In other games, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder (126-112), the Charlotte Hornets won against the Orlando Magic (124-115), the Boston Celtics narrowly beat the Sacramento Kings (101-100), and the Miami Heat triumphed over the Houston Rockets (119-104).

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Aspire Academy organized several friendly matches during the blessed month of Ramadan, bringing together students from the academy and their counterparts from visiting teams, national teams, clubs, and academies from various age groups, representing football schools from three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa.

In a statement, the academy said that it hosted the Syrian Under-17 national team, Galatasaray S.K. from Turkiye represented by three age groups (U-19, U-15, and U-14), Al Ettifaq FC from Saudi Arabia (U-18), and three football academies: Mohammed VI Football Academy from Morocco (U-16 and U-19), FC Player Academy from Romania (U-16), and FC Champions Academy from France (U-13).

These matches are part of the preparations of Aspire Academy students to represent Qatari football in various competitions, including the qualifying rounds for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup scheduled for next year, which will begin later this year.

The Aspire team U-17 played two friendly matches against the Syrian nationa
l team of the same category, with the first match ending in a 1-1 draw, while the Aspire team won the second match with a score of 2-1.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins expressed hope to achieve a victory in the upcoming match against Um Salal on Sunday at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Week 20 of the Expo Stars League.

Speaking to the media ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 20 match against Umm Salal, Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins said, “Normal preparations and everyone was working with high concentration during training, especially since everyone has great ambitions to achieve many things for Al Gharafa.

“The Umm Salal team has good players, especially in the frontline. I know many of them because they previously played in the Portuguese League. I would say to my players to be patient and fully focused, especially at that stage of the competition. What the players will offer is what will determine their fate in the league. We need everyone to be ready for this type of match, hoping not to feel any kind of regret at the end of the season. We have to pay attention as a difficult match awaits us.

“Homam Al Ameen w
ill continue to be absent due to injury, in addition to the absence of Abdullah Al Khatam and Seifeldeen Hassan due to his Olympic duty. Uruguayan midfielder Fabricio Diaz will also be absent due to suspension for receiving four yellow cards, while the rest of the players will be ready for the match,” said Martins.

Umm Salal coach Patrice Carteron said, “Facing Al Gharafa requires a high concentration of players and we go into the match with the team spirit that we were accustomed to before. Umm Salal finished last season with 18 points, so obtaining 20 points so far with several matches remaining will push us forward, especially since the team played a great match against Al Rayyan and could have achieved a good result had it not been for the circumstances.

“A decline in performance is normal and common in football, and we must return to what we were before, especially since Umm Salal youth have great potential, and we can achieve fifth place if we achieve good results during the coming period.

“The Al Gh
arafa match is extremely important for both teams mainly because the opponent is a good team, and the match will be difficult and requires us to be at the highest levels of concentration and with the same spirit with which we fought some matches in order to achieve a positive result.

“Al Gharafa are a big team and are favourites in this match. For this reason, we can still play without any pressure. The most important thing in such matches is the result and to give our best and end the season on a better note,” said Carteron.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen moved closer to winning their first Bundesliga title after beating Union Berlin 1-0 on Saturday, while Bayern Munich lost 3-2 to Heidenheim.

Florian Wirtz’s penalty gave Xabi Alonso’s side a ninth successive win to stretch their lead over Bayern Munich to 16 points with six games remaining.

Xabi Alonso’s team, who have not lost in 41 matches across all competitions this season, can clinch their maiden Bundesliga title and first trophy in 31 years with a victory at home against Werder Bremen next week.

They are also set to break an 11-season stranglehold on the league by Bayern Munich, who have won every Bundesliga title since 2013.

Leverkusen are now on 76 points with six games left and second-placed Bayern anchored on 60 following a shock 3-2 defeat at Heidenheim, their second league loss in a row.

Source: Qatar News Agency