06/03/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | MAR 6, 2025

31

JDT hold Buriram United to goalless draw SUPER LEAGUE champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) held fancied Buriram United to a goalless draw in their own backyard in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) Round of 16 match on Tuesday night. Suphanat Mueanta came close to scoring in the 65th minute, but his powerful header from Lucas Crispim’s cross was brilliantly saved by JDT goalkeeper Andoni Zubiaurre Dorronsoro.

RESULTS & STANDINGS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Last 16, 1st leg) : Club Brugge 1 (De Cuyper 12) Aston Villa 3 (Bailey 3, Mechele 82-og, Asensio 88-pen) , Borussia Dortmund 1 (Adeyemi 22) Lille 1 (Haraldsson 68) , PSV Eindhoven 1 (Lang 43-pen) Arsenal 7 (Timber 18, Nwaneri 21, Merino 31, Odegaard 47, 73, Trossard 48, Calafiori 85) , Real Madrid 2 (Rodrygo 4, Diaz 55) Atletico Madrid 1 (Alvarez 32) . ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: Cardiff 1 Burnley 2, Hull 2 Plymouth 0, Millwall 0 Bristol City 2, Preston 0 Swansea 0. TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts Leeds 35 22 10 3 72 22 76 Sheff Utd 35 23 6 6 50 27 73 Burnley 35 19 14 2 45 10 71 Sunderland 35 18 11 6 52 32 65 Coventry 35 15 8 12 49 44 53 West Brom 35 12 16 7 45 32 52

Port, though the Chinese champions remain alive thanks to goalkeeper Yan Junling’s heroics at Pudong Stadium. The 2023 runners-up showcased continental pedigree when Lopes broke through in the 30th minute, slotting home after intelligent interplay exposed Shanghai’s left flank. The Brazilian marksman nearly claimed a hat trick before halftime, but Yan produced two reflex saves to deny the talisman. In Tuesday’s other marquee tie, Al Ahli seized control of their knockout clash with a 3-1 home victory over Qatar’s Al Rayyan. Galeno’s opener and Riyad Mahrez’s rocket established dominance before Firas Al Brikan’s stoppage-time dagger effectively ended the contest. The Saudis now carry a two-goal cushion into next week’s return in Jeddah. – Bernama/Agencies

JDT made a total of five substitutions, including the introduction of former Valencia forward Samu Castillejo, who made his debut for the Southern Tigers. However, he failed to make a significant impact, with JDT unable to find the net until the final whistle. The return leg between JDT and Buriram is set to take place at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, next Tuesday. In other matches, a clinical strike from Anderson Lopes handed Yokohama F. Marinos a precious 1-0

In the clash at Buriram Stadium in Thailand, the home side dominated possession and created dynamic attacking moves but struggled with finishing, while also facing difficulties breaking down JDT’s disciplined defence. Buriram’s best chance in the first half came when striker Martin Boakye narrowly missed converting a low cross from Dion Cools from the right in the early minutes of added time. The match became more

balanced in the second half as both teams adjusted their attacking strategies. Thai international forward

advantage o v e r Shanghai

172/25

05/03/2025

0455 1285 0904

FROM LEFT: Lee Zii Jia, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah. – BERNAMA FILEPIC

4818 3039 8191 6849 2166

8218 8844 2613 8953 1327

5057 4049 8704 6971 8358

0624 1181 6112 7648 1491

Fortune favours the brave Zii Jia, Pearly-Thinaah get kind All England 1st round draw

RM16,386,342.10

M ALAYSIA’S professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia is expected to clear the first round of the All England Championships in Birmingham, where he is drawn to play Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long. According to the draw released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the seventh seeded Zii Jia will meet the world No. 20 Ka Long, who has won only four times in 10 meetings with the Malaysian. Zii Jia has triumphed in their last five meetings stretching back to the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held in October 2023. In contrast, debutant Leong Jun Hao faces a tough challenge in the opening round, having been drawn against Indonesia’s third seed and defending champion, Jonatan Christie. Nonetheless, the world No. 26 has a chance to pull off an upset, given that he won their most recent meeting. Top seed and 2018 winner Yu Qi Shi will face Christie’s compatriot, Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, while there will be two big clashes between Denmark and Chinese Taipei. Fourth seed and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen faces Chun-Yi Lin, while

while Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are set to meet Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja. The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is the world’s oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament. Played annually, it developed after the success of the world’s first open tournament held in Guildford in 1898. The tournament was successfully organised in April 4, 1899, however only three categories (Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles) were originally staged. Both Men’s and Women’s Singles were added the following year. The first two tournaments were named “Badminton Association Tournament” and it was eventually considered (especially after the first Thomas Cup series in 1949) the unofficial World Badminton Championships until 1977 when the International Badminton Federation launched its official championships. The Championships have only ever been halted twice: during World War I from 1915 to 1919 and World War II from 1940 to 1946. This years’s tournament will be held at Utilita Arena Birmingham from March 11 to 16. – Bernama/aAgencies home match in four games. Sri Pahang head coach Fandi Ahmad said his players’ eagerness to score led to their downfall. “We attacked frequently but lacked proper finishing. We were too focused on scoring, which made our midfield less compact. When we attacked without enough support from behind, it left openings for the opposition to counterattack,” he added. Fandi also admitted that his players lost their discipline, and their formation did not work as planned, despite starting the match in an organised manner. – Bernama

second seed Anders Antonsen is drawn against Yu Jen Chi. In the women’s singles, South Korea’s An Se Young, who enters as top seed, will begin her bid to reclaim the crown she won in 2023 against China’s Fang Jie Gao. Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have also received a favourable draw as they will play Taiwan’s Teng Chun Hsun-Yang Chu Yun in the opening round. Should Pearly-Thinaah advance to the second round, they will meet either Taiwan’s Hsu Yin-Hui-Jhih Yun Li or Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, a relatively manageable challenge for them. Two other Malaysian pairs in the spotlight, men’s doubles duo Aaron Chia Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, face tricky first-round encounters. Fifth-seeded Aaron-Wooi Yik must be wary of England’s world No. 15 duo Ben Lane-Sean Vendy, while Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin have been drawn against South Korea’s Kim Gi Jung-Kim Sa Rang. In the mixed doubles, top-seeded Malaysians Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai will take on Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supisara Paewsampran, adjustments by bringing on fresher players to match our opponents, who had several foreign players in their lineup,” he said. Aidil Sharin said the move paid off when substitute Zahrul Nizwan Joe Kifli @ Zulkeflee netted the team’s second goal. “Zahrul is a quick player who can make an impact. He always works hard in defence and is aggressive in attack. “For this match, I just told him to enjoy the game, and his goal is a good sign for his development,” he said. He admitted that Sri Pahang were a tough team to beat, especially as this was their first

0455 + 0904 1285 + 0904 0904 + 1285

0455 + 1285 1285 + 0455 0904 + 0455

RM228,737.91

8 11121819233036

26 31

RM12,059,631.12

RM100,000.00

Kuching FC’s game plan bears fruit THE players’ ability to execute the game plan contributed to Kuching City FC’s 2-0 victory over Sri Pahang FC in their rescheduled Super League match at the Temerloh Municipal Council Stadium on Tuesday, said Kuching City head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak yesterday.

5 5 8 5 0 4 55850

58504

5585

8504

558

504

55

04

He said his squad deserved praise for their discipline and excellent execution, which secured them three valuable points. “In the first half, we knew Sri Pahang would push for a goal, but we worked to deny their efforts and our plan succeeded. “In the second half, we made some

85

04

All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY