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Kayhan Int’l Sport Desk
Iran Edged in Doha
Opportunity Knocks for Daei
 DOHA - Majid Mohamed’s goal sealed late victory for Qatar
against Iran in the Doha International Friendship Football
Tournament on Monday.
Iran came from 2-0 down to equalize the match but it
conceded a late goal in the extra time.
In the match held at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Ali Afif
and Magid Mohamed put their team in the lead in the 6th and
7th minutes.
Milad Zanidpour pulled a goal back with seven minutes
remaining until halftime. Ehsan Hajisafi equalized the match
two minutes into the second half. Finally, Magid Mohamed
scored Qatar’s third goal in the added time.
Iran is scheduled to play Mali on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, by becoming Perspolis coach, Ali Daei has a
unique chance to finally become a Red legend and jumpstart
his career.
Ali Daei might be a legend of Iranian football but not in
Persepolis. Despite being a huge Perspolis fan, his
achievements as a player next to none. He hasn't even won
any derby against Esteqlal, although given the number of
draws, it is almost impossible to have a derby win as a
player these days.
So while all-time greats like Ali Parvin, Karim Bagheri,
Farshad Pious, and also Ali Karimi can be considered as Red
legends, Daei still falls short. In fact, Daei is not even
popular among the Red fanbase.
Daei has the opportunity to win over Perspolis and fans.
Suns Pull Away From Lakers
PHOENIX (AP) – The Phoenix Suns cruised to a 118-103 victory
over Pacific Division rivals the LA Lakers on Monday, the
home side seizing control early and stretching their
advantage through each of the four quarters.
Amare Stoudemire had a team-high 26 points and Steve Nash
recorded 16 points and 13 assists to give the Suns (20-12)
their first win over the Western Conference-leading Lakers
this season.
"We played with toughness and grit," Nash told reporters,
with the Suns having lost three of four coming into the
game. "We had to get back to that training-camp underdog
mentality when many NBA observers picked the Suns as a
lottery team."
Kobe Bryant managed 34 points but Los Angeles slipped too
far behind in the third quarter before suffering their
second loss in three games.
The Lakers (24-6) had blasted Phoenix by a combined 39
points in two previous wins this campaign but the Suns
gained some revenge in the home confines of U.S. Airways
Center, where they are 12-2 this season. Clinging to a
six-point advantage midway through the third, Phoenix surged
with a 14-2 run over the next two minutes to go up 84-66.
Bryant sat out the final 7:50 for the Lakers as the game was
out of reach. The All-Star guard has been carrying much of
the defending NBA champions' scoring load in recent games
where the Lakers have looked vulnerable, especially in a
lopsided loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day.
Andrew Bynum had 14 points and nine rebounds in the latest
loss, and Pau Gasol added 13. Forward Ron Artest missed his
second straight game for the Lakers after sustaining a
concussion and injured elbow in an accident at his home.
The Suns received an unexpected boost from Jared Dudley, who
tied a career high with 19 points off the bench. The Suns
reserves were particularly important and tallied 52 points.
Phoenix Suns' Channing Frye (L) dunks over Los Angeles
Lakers' Josh Powell.
Pacquiao, Mayweather Ordered Tests
LAS VEGAS (AP) – The head of the Nevada boxing commission
ordered Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to submit to
urine tests as a way of trying to break the impasse that has
threatened to derail their proposed March 13 megafight.
Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48
hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada
Athletic commission.
"That at least starts the ball rolling," said Keith Kizer,
the commission's executive director.
Indeed, the two sides signaled that there could be room for
a compromise after Mayweather's representatives said there
was footage on HBO's "24/7" program that showed Pacquiao
having blood taken 14 days before his knockout win over
Ricky Hatton.
Mayweather's promoter, Richard Schaefer, said he was told
that Top Rank representatives would be talking early Tuesday
to Pacquiao in the Philippines to see what cutoff date he
would agree to on blood testing. Schaefer said there was a
possibility the two sides could compromise somewhere between
Mayweather's demand for testing up until the weigh-in and
the 14 days Pacquiao had blood taken prior to the Hatton
fight.
The urine tests, which were ordered by commission chairman
Pat Lundvall, fall under an out-of-competition testing
regulation which went into effect last year and allows state
boxing authorities to order boxers to comply. Kizer said
about 30 of the tests have been ordered in the last 18
months.
The commission's demand comes a day after Pacquiao promoter
Bob Arum said he would not budge off a proposal to do just
three blood tests on the two fighters — and none within 30
days of the fight. Arum, who had suggested the NAC decide
next month who will prevail in the dispute, said he planned
to begin negotiating a fight with Paul Malignaggi if
Mayweather's camp didn't agree to the terms.
But Mayweather's manager, Leonard Ellerbe, said Monday there
would be no fight on Arum's terms, and charged the promoter
with trying to shift the blame for the fight not happening
from Pacquiao's side to Mayweather.
"If he's unwilling to do random blood and urine it's a
nonstarter," Ellerbe told The Associated Press. "He knows
that. If they want to walk away from the richest fight in
the history of the sport, that's their decision."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) and Manny Pacquiao
Chelsea Coping With Drogba Absence
 LONDON (Goal) – Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is adamant
his team will cope with the loss of Didier Drogba while the
striker competes in the African Nations Cup.
The Ivory Coast international was given special permission
to delay his flight to Angola, along with compatriot and
Chelsea colleague Salomon Kalou, and the decision proved
vital for his club as he spearheaded their 2-1 win over west
London rivals Fulham.
Drogba headed in from Branislav Ivanovic's cross in the
second half at Stamford Bridge here on Monday to cancel out
Zoltan Gera's fourth minute opener for Fulham.
The goal took Drogba's tally to 19 for the season in all
competitions, underlining his importance to the English
Premier League leaders, who could be without the forward for
the whole of the January if the Ivory Coast go all the way
in Angola.
However, Ancelotti maintains he will make do without Drogba
as Chelsea, now five points clear of reigning champions
Manchester United, look to retain their grip on top spot.
Fulham defender Chris Smalling deflected the ball into his
own net 15 minutes from time to seal Chelsea's win. Victory
ended a difficult month for Ancelotti, with Chelsea losing
to Manchester City and managing mere draws with West Ham,
Everton and Birmingham.
However, Ancelotti said Chelsea's last game of 2009 heralded
a new dawn for the Blues.
"It wasn't a good December for us, but it's finished. We
have to look forward to January," said the former AC Milan
boss. "We can do better and maintain our position at the top
of the table. It was not easy to change this game, 1-0 down,
but there was a great determination and a great willingness
from the team and I am very happy. We played together and
Fulham are not an easy team. They are very well organized
defensively and to score two goals against them is very good
for us."
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson felt the defeat was hard on his
side, as they had defended valiantly for long periods of the
match. But the loss of Ghana defender John Pantsil, who
limped off with a knee injury in the second half, proved too
much of a burden for Fulham.
The injury is not only a blow to Fulham, who are arranging a
scan for the player, but to Ghana, who had hoped to have the
full back available for their African Nations Cup campaign.
Hodgson, reflecting on the match, said, "It was a
competitive game. We took the lead early on which gave us
something to hold on to which, subconsciously, changes your
thinking. The disappointment for my side is that such a hard
working performance - not only defending against a rampant
Chelsea team - didn't give the players any reward.”
8Chelsea players celebrate their 2-1 victory over Fulham.
US Cyclist in Doping Scandal
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – US cyclist Tom Zirbel said he tested
positive in an "A" sample doping test after the US Pro Time
Trial Championships in August.
Zirbel said he was still awaiting the results of the "B"
sample test, but had been notified by the US Anti-Doping
Agency of the positive result for an endogenous steroid
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
"I want to inform the cycling community that an 'A' sample
of mine from a urine test conducted by USADA on August 29,
2009 after the US Pro TT has tested positive for exogenous
DHEA," Zirbel said in the statement. "I have not yet
received notification from USADA on the findings of the 'B'
sample, but I expect to receive word any day now."
Zirbel, 30, was contracted with the US-based Bissell Pro
Cycling team from 2007-09. The noted time-trialer denied
doping.
"The US Pro TT was a major objective of mine this season,
but I would never compromise my integrity for any bike
race," Zirbel said.
"At this point, I don't know how this happened but
regardless of the outcome of my 'B' sample I intend to find
out with the help of a few accomplished scientists and
doctors who have selflessly helped me since I first was
notified of the 'A' findings."
Tom Zirbel
Comeback Henin Eyes Aussie Open
SYDNEY (AFP) – Belgium's Justine Henin on Tuesday said a
shock Australian Open win was "possible" after her brief
retirement, and warned she would be a better player when she
returns to the circuit next week.
Henin said a more mature, relaxed outlook would help her
improve on the performances that took her to women's number
one before her surprise decision to retire in May 2008.
"I believe I can be a better player, I believe I can use my
experience more than in the past," she said. "When you are
(playing at) 200 percent you have no time to realize it. You
are too involved all the time, and all this time off helped
me to realize everything I achieved. What I can say is I
know myself much better and that's the most important
thing."
Henin, 27, announced her return to the circuit in September,
shortly after compatriot Kim Clijsters won the US Open
following a similar comeback.
Henin will play her first WTA event at next week's Brisbane
International and will also play in Sydney before the
Australian Open, which starts on January 18.
Asked if she could pull off victory in Melbourne, she
replied, "Anything is possible."
Henin has won a total of 41 WTA Tour titles and held the
number one spot for a total of 117 weeks.
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