As the curtain came up on a revamped 32-team Fifa Club World Cup in Miami on Saturday night, there was no doubting who the 60,927 fans at the Hard Rock Stadium had come to watch.
Such was the sea of No10 shirts filing in to observe Inter Miami’s stalemate with Egypt’s Al Ahly, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was a testimonial rather than the opening match of a global football showpiece.
At times in the build-up to the month-long tournament, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi’s involvement had seemed to be as essential to the event’s success on American soil as the round object with which the game is played.
Inter Miami are, after all, not MLS Cup champions, but rather here as hosts and recipients of the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record.
The fans at least got what they came for – kind of.
Yes, they were treated to a standout performance from a veteran Argentine playing for the pink-jerseyed home side. Yet, it was not Miami captain Messi but rather his 38-year-old compatriot, Oscar Ustari, the second-choice goalkeeper and one-time Sunderland stopper, who took home the man of the match award.
One of five Argentines in the Miami starting line-up, Ustari was considerably busier than his more famous compatriot during a first half that could have seen the Egyptian giants run away with the tie before the smoke from the opening ceremony’s fireworks had even cleared.
As early as the sixth minute, Ahly – making their 10th Club World Cup appearance – should have gone ahead when striker Wessam Abou Ali found himself one-on-one only to see Ustari smother his tame finish. Three minutes later, an excellent first touch from Trezeguet led to another Ahly attack, this time the goalkeeper getting down well from top scorer Emam Ashour, who went off in tears soon after holding his shoulder.
Ashou was replaced by Zizo, making his debut after becoming the first player since 2013 to cross Cairo from arch rivals Zamalek.
And he almost had an instant impact when his through-ball to Abou Ali led to the Palestinian forward successfully finding Ustari’s net. This time, Ahly were foiled by an offside flag.
The 45-time Egyptian champions’ attacks might have been proving unsuccessful, but Miami and coach Javier Mascherano must have known they were riding their luck.
Tomas Aviles proved himself the luckiest man in the Hard Rock – yes, even more fortunate than the few fans who managed to snare a pre-match selfie with their idol Messi – when he took out Trezeguet while carrying a yellow card yet was allowed to stay on the field.
Referee Alireza Faghani, as if seeking balance after his show of leniency, deemed Maximiliano Falcon to have bundled over Zizo in the box when contact looked minimal.
Trezeguet took the spot-kick, but Ustari once more was too quick, diving to his right with all the speed of the giant herons that soar and plunge along the beaches of the Sunshine State.
“We had a really good chance to win today,” said midfielder Taher Mohamed. “We missed a lot of chances, so I feel like we need to focus on our finishing because in a big tournament like this, if you don’t take your chances, it’s going to be too late.
“Of course, Messi is a big player – the best player in the world – so it’s a pleasure to play against him. It was a big chance to win today, but I feel even the way we played, being so dominant, we were able to send a good message.”
The second half was a more balanced affair with Messi finding little pockets of space and finally forcing the opposition goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy into action.
Argentina’s ageing magician, returning to Fifa’s global stage for the first time since winning the World Cup three years ago in Qatar, had the vocal crowd on their feet on the hour when his curling free-kick thundered past the wrong side of the post.
And he came closer still. A 97th minute curling cross was preparing to nestle in the top corner only for El Shenawy to tip it on to the crossbar. It would prove the final notable moment of an uncharacteristically action-packed stalemate.
“Of course, I am sad after we had so many chances in the first half,” said Abou Ali. “We missed a lot of chances, including a penalty, but that’s football.
"We need to prepare now, study our next opponent, and get ready to go again. Next game we need the three points.”
Despite having to settle for a point, Mascherano heaped praise on the commitment of Messi after the game.
“It’s admirable how much love Messi has for the game,” said the Argentine of his Barcelona old teammate. “After all the matches he’s played, he’s still here, giving his all.
“Of course, we wanted to win, but I’m happy with the team’s performance today. Clearly, when we find Leo in positions and get the ball to him in the best way, that’s where we have the most options.”
Al Ahly face Brazil’s Palmeiras on Thursday, while Messi, Ustari, and Co take on Porto later that day.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The five pillars of Islam
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
THREE
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Racecard
2pm Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m
2.30pm Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m
3pm Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
3.30pm Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m
4pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
4.30pm Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m
5pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
5.30pm Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m
The National selections:
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
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Sarfira
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Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
