Panel to review medical errors - Oman Daily Observer

PARIS — David Beckham enjoyed
a winning Paris St Germain (PSG)
debut as goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu
produced an outstanding performance
in a 2-0 victory over Ligue 1 title rivals
Olympique Marseille on Sunday.
The 37-year-old former England
captain, who has joined the wealthy
capital club on a five-month deal,
replaced Javier Pastore in the 75th
minute to the delight of a roaring
home crowd.
Beckham, who sat on the bench
after the packed stadium welcomed
him as the sound system played The
Beatles song Hey Jude, immediately
produced a trademark long pass to
Ezequiel Lavezzi before joining in
with a sterling defensive performance.
"He has brought his passing skills,
his experience and tactical solutions,"
PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
"He only played 20 minutes tonight
but he showed some good things."
Ligue 1 leaders PSG had opened
the scoring thanks a bizarre Nicolas
Nkoulou own goal in the 12th minute
as the ball rolled into the net after
Joey Barton and the Cameroon centre
back had both diverted a Lucas attempt.
The visiting team dominated possession
and had the best chances
throughout but Italy reserve keeper
Sirigu made a string of superb saves
to preserve the leaders' advantage until
Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed victory
with the second goal from close range
in stoppage time.
PSG have 54 points from 26 games,
three ahead of Olympique Lyon, who
beat Lorient 3-1 at home thanks to
Lisandro Lopez, Rachid Ghezzal and
Arnold Mvuemba's goals. Marseille
stayed third on 46.
The hosts seemed started well and
after two minutes Lucas hit the post
following Ibrahimovic's back-heeled
volleyed pass.
They were quickly rewarded with
Nkoulou's own-goal but then let the
visitors dominate possession, banking
on in-form Ezequiel Lavezzi's pace to
create chances.
Marseille struggled to unsettle
their hosts' tough defence for half an
hour, until Foued Kadir produced a
fine solo effort down the right, only
to see his powerful shoot parried away
by Sirigu.
It was just the beginning of the
show for the keeper who also pushed
away efforts by Mathieu Valbuena and
Andre-Pierre Gignac.
Marseille continued to push hard
early in the second half but could not
beat the inspired Sirigu who stopped
Gignac's 61st-minute overhead kick
and Andre Ayew's neat header.
The keeper should have taken all
the plaudits but the crowd were focused
on Beckham when the former
Manchester United and Real Madrid
player came on with 15 minutes left.
The 37-year-old was loudly cheered
by the frozen fans following his trademark
deep pass to Lavezzi who failed
to make anything of it.
Playing in midfield, Beckham
joined the team in the defensive work
before Ibrahimovic sealed victory
with the second goal.
In Lyon, the 20-year-old Rachid
Ghezzal shone with his first league
goal, which helped the home team
keep PSG within reach thanks to a 3-1
victory.
Ghezzal tapped the ball in five
minutes into the second half and Lyon
wrapped up the win thanks to Arnold
Mvuemba's last-gasp goal.
18 SPORT
OMAN DAILY Observer
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013
Bahrain stay ahead at GCC Golf Championships
CHAMPS: The UAE junior team pose for a group photo after winning the title
RUNNERS-UP: The Oman junior team who clinched the second place.
MUSCAT — With one day
of play behind them, the 40
golfers taking part in the 17th
GCC Golf Championships
were raring to go on the second
day of play.
Several low scores were
carded on the first day and,
with similar weather yesterday,
many players were hoping
to get ahead of their GCC
counterparts.
Nasser Yacoob of the Bahrain
National Team carded the
lowest score of the day with a
70 total, 2 under par.
“The course was beautiful,
the conditions were perfect
and my putting was good. I
learned a lot yesterday and today
I put that together and it
paid off.
“The Almouj Golf course is
very challenging with narrow
fairways and very fast greens.
I have been concentrating on
making sure my drives are in
the centre of the fairway and
setting myself up for as few
putts as possible.”
He credited his playing
partners for keeping him on
his toes and not letting him
take it easy.
“Tomorrow is another day
and it will be a challenge to
keep ahead as everyone’s
standard is getting better.”
Qatar’s Ali al Bishi remains
the overnight leader in
the men’s category after parring
the course on the second
day, adding to his 2-under par
on the first day.
He will go into the final day
with a total of 142, a 6-shot
advantage over second place
Al Shabab, Kazma aim for first wins
By Our Sports Reporter
MUSCAT — With four internationals
in their ranks who starred in Oman’s
recent success in the Asian qualifiers
for the Military World Cup, Al Shabab
Club are confident of winning full
points against Kazma Club of Kuwait
in the GCC Clubs Championship today.
The Group ‘C’ match, to be played
at the Seeb Stadium, is scheduled to
be kicked off 6.30 pm.
But Al Shabab, like Kazma,
are looking for their first win after
having lost their opening match to Qatar’s
Al Khuriatiat in the three-team
group.
Al Shabab’s coach Nooruddin Bu
Falgha, while describing the match as
an important one in their campaign,
sounded optimistic of good result.
“It is an important match for both
the teams as we have lost the opening
matches to Al Khuriatiat. But I have
confidence in our players and expecting
them to deliver tomorrow,” the
Moroccan said.
Speaking at the match-eve press
conference, he also said the team is
boosted by the presence of four star
players who helped Oman military
team in the Asian qualifiers of the
Military World Cup.
Al Shabab’s star quartet includes
former internationals Hashim Saleh
and Yousuf Shaaban, and national
under-23 forward Azan al Balushi and
defender Jaber al Awaisi.
“No doubt they are in good form
now after their good performances
in the Military World Cup qualifiers.
Beckham enjoys winning PSG debut as Sirigu shines
UAE lift junior title, Oman clinch second place
Their form augurs well for the team,”
he said.
“I hope they will help Al Shabab to
come up with a performance that will
truly represent the standard of Omani
football,” he added.
Al Shabab coach also agreed that
his team have the advantage of playing
at home while expressing hope
that fans will turn up in large numbers
to support the team.
“There is no doubt any team will
have an advantage when playing at
home. But we need large attendances
to feel that advantage. I hope fans turn
up in large numbers tomorrow: fans
of not just Al Shabab Club but all the
supporters of Omani football.”
His counter part Jamal Yaqoob also
expressed the hope that Kazma can
pull it off for their first win.
“It is an important match at this
stage. We want to win this match as
much as Al Shabab because we both
are yet to open our account. I am confident
we can achieve that tomorrow,”
he said.
“We are in fourth place in the Kuwait
league while Al Shaban are in
12th in the Omani league. But there
isn’t much difference between the
two teams. It is going to be a tough
match.”
Kazma coach also said his team
can overcome the absence of two key
players in star forward Yousuf Nasser
and attacking midfielder Talal Fadhil.
“We will miss those two players.
But we have others who have been
doing well with the club as well as the
senior national and Olympic teams.”
(Pictures by Shamsa Hamed)
"I've waited for this goal for a
long time now," winger Ghezzal told
French channel beIN Sport.
"I am lucky to score at home and
help the team join up with the leaders
before tonight's game. It's all good."
Jeremie Aliadiere had headed the
visitors in front following a corner
kick in the 11th minute, only to see
Lisandro Lopez fire past goalkeeper
Fabien Audard 13 minutes later to
make it 1-1 with his eighth goal of the
season.
Lorient could have regained the
lead in an entertaining first half but
saw Kevin Monnet-Paquet's 27th
minute effort from the left side of the
box hit the post.
Lyon went ahead when Ghezzal
notched up his maiden league goal
after Audard had parried a Lisandro
header into his path.
The seven-times French champions
then controlled the play until former
Lorient player Arnold Mvuemba
sealed victory with a powerful strike
in the 90th minute.
Lorient stayed ninth on 39 points,
one ahead of Girondins Bordeaux who
slumped to 2-0 home defeat by lowly
Brest.
OMAN’S Ahmed al Balushi who came second in junior category
Hamad Mubarak and Nasser
Yacoob, both of Bahrain.
Leading the Omani teams
is Azzan al Rumhy who was
disappointed with his score
today but stayed ahead of the
UAE players, many of who
were amongst the favourites.
In the team scoring, the
order remains Bahrain on top
with 446 points, Qatar on 457
points, UAE on 485 points
and Oman on 514 points.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
round-off the table with 526
and 585 respectively.
Leader in the junior category
with the lowest net
score was Ahmed al Balushi
who was very happy with
his round, but was acutely
aware of having to keep his
consistency over the following
days.
To his credit he did exactly
that and ended the championships
in second place
with a very impressive score
to stay close to eventual winner,
Faisal Salhab of Saudi
Arabia.
UAE player, Abdullah al
Qubasi took the third place.
The best news of the day
was the overall result of the
junior team. Playing for only
two days as opposed to the
men’s who play a full three
days, the Omani team comprising
Ahmed al Balushi,
Hamood al Harthy, Rashad al
Harthy secured second place
overall, keeping their cool
and staying ahead of the other
teams and keeping the eventual
leaders, the UAE, under
pressure.
Al Nahda, Dhofar, Al Arouba
reach HM’s Cup semis
ACTION from the quarterfinal match between Al Nahda and Al Salam in
His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship played at the Sohar Sports Complex
yesterday. Al Nahda advanced to the semifinals with a 4-1 victory. In other last
eight matches played yesterday, Dhofar routed Salalah 5-0 at Al Saada Sports
Complex while Al Arouba edged Al Talee’a 3-2 at Sur Sports Complex. The fourth
quarterfinal match between Al Shabab and Suwaiq is scheduled to be played on
March 8 as the former are involved in a GCC Clubs Championship match
against Kuwait Kazma to be played at the Seeb Stadium today.
PSG’s (from left) Blaise Matuidi, David Beckham, Sylvain Armand and Zlatan
Ibrahimovic celebrate after their Ligue 1 match against Olympic Marseille
at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Sunday. — Reuters