Agencies
AGL Cup
Al Wahda twice fought back to claim a 2-2 draw against city rivals Al Jazira in the Arabian Gulf Cup last night. Mirko Vucinic twice gave Jazira the lead at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium but the visitors levelled, first through Sebastian Tagliabue and then Suhail Al Mansoori, leaving Jazira on two points after three games and Wahda on four after four. Elsewhere in Group B, Dibba hit a late winner to beat Fujairah 2-1. In Group A, 10-man Al Nasr came back from a goal down to beat Al Dhafra 2-1.
UAE
Mahdi Ali gets his last chance to run the rule over his UAE players ahead of their next World Cup qualifiers tonight when his side take on Turkmenistan in a friendly. The match, which is not open to the public, kicks off at 6pm at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The UAE, who are second in Group A of the Asian qualifying competition for the 2018 finals in Russia, play host to East Timor next Thursday and then travel to Malaysia on November 17.
Tottenham Hotspur
Winger Andros Townsend has been banned from training with the first team and dropped from the squad after an on-the-pitch with a fitness coach. Townsend was pictured pushing and arguing with trainer Nathan Gardiner on the pitch at White Hart Lane following the team’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa. Manager Mauricio Pochettino banished Townsend from the first team and said he would not be part of the squad for tonight’s Europa League match at home to Anderlecht. “He did not train with the group,” Pochettino said. “It’s because of Monday. When you behave in the wrong way you always need to pay.”
Lazio
The Serie A side are set to be without Stefan de Vrij for the rest of the season after the Dutchman underwent knee surgery yesterday. The defender has been one of Lazio’s most consistent players in their defence this season, but they will now have to do without him because he will be sidelined for six months as he recovers from the operation on his left knee.
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