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Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Sadd came back from a goal down to outplay Al Duhail 4-1 and reach their 26th Amir Cup final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday. It was a sweet revenge for Sadd, who had lost to Duhail by a similar margin in the last year’s final of the prestigious championship.
That loss to Duhail in May last year was a bitter pill to swallow for Xavi Hernandez, who was playing his final game in an Al Sadd jersey in Qatar at the inauguration of Al Janoub Stadium. But since then Xavi in his capacity as coach has ensured Sadd has got the better of Duhail in the last four occasions.
In the final, Sadd take on Al Arabi, who beat Al Markhiya on Friday to reach their first Amir Cup final in 26 years.
It was a game of two halves, with Duhail dominating the first, only to be outplayed by Sadd in the second. Edmilson had put Duhail ahead in the 10th minute after an error from Sadd goalkeeper Barshem Meshaal.
Duhail after a disciplined defensive show in the first half, completely lost the plot in the second. After an Edmilson goal was ruled out for handball by the Brazilian midfielder, Boualem Khouki equalised for Sadd with a wonderful header in the 58th minute, which opened the floodgate for Xavi’s men. Guilherme Santos Torres doubled the advantage in 64th minute, while substitute Baghdad Boundejah made it 3-0 in the 77th minute. Rodrigo Tabata then completed Duhail’s misery in the 88th minute with a strike from half-line after goalkeeper Khalifa Abubakar was way off the goalpost.
“We feel very happy after this deserved victory,” said Xavi, who was involved in
a heated exchange with
Al Duhail coach Sabri Lamouchi on touchline.
“We were better than Duhail since the beginning of the match. We conceded an early goal, but we kept pressing ahead and enjoyed greater possession. We controlled the match throughout. I am delighted that we have beaten Duhail for the fourth time in a row,” the Sadd coach said.
“In my time in Qatar, I have not seen Duhail defend so deep at home but this happened today. I am proud of my players; they were wonderful on the pitch. We deserved to score more goals. We have achieved the first goal, which was to reach the final and now the second goal is to win the Amir Cup,” the Barcelona midfield great said.
Lamouchi said Sadd were superior on the night. “We have a lot to work on and improve. Sadd were clearly the better team. They have better individual players and they were good physically too,” he said.
While Xavi was upbeat after the match, he was furious with his defensive line as they came under Duhail attack. The hosts could have had two goals inside eight minutes, with Ramin Rezaeian’s free-kick flying just wide off the post, while Sultan al-Brake’s shot hit the side-net.
Sadd’s tactic of playing from the back was fraught with danger and Meshaal’s wrong pass allowed Duhail an opening. The Sadd goalkeeper’s intended pass to Wooyoung Jung was quickly intercepted by Mohamed Muntari, who then passed it on to Edmilson. The midfielder’s first shot was blocked by Meshaal but the rebound was quickly latched on by Edmilson, who celebrated with a gesture towards the dugout after Lamouchi had left him out in the last couple of matches.
Sadd did manage to create a couple of chances, but Lamouchi had set up his defenders perfectly, which did not allow any space for Akram Afif. Duhail also stretched the game with Dudu and Edmilson posing a real threat on the wings, as Sadd and Xavi were left frustrated in the first half.
Xavi introduced Bounedjah, who recovered from an injury, in the 51st minute to replace Yousuf Abdurisag but it was drama at the Duhail end which proved the turning point.
The hosts thought they had gone 2-0 up in the 54th minute, when Ramin Semeskandi found the net after a pass from Edmilson. But the goal was overruled after a VAR review, with the ball touching Edmilson’s hand from a rebound of Wooyoung block.
It was a huge sigh of relief for Sadd and they made the most of that lucky break. In the 58th minute, defender Khoukhi made it 1-1, rising highest to head home a Afif cross. Six minutes later, Afif took advantage of clumsy clearance from al-Brake, sliding through up Torres who side-footed an effort beyond the onrushing Abubakar.
With the lead having slipped away, Lamouchi substituted Edmilson and Muntari – two of his potent attacking threats and that played into Sadd’s hand. Bounedjah, playing as a lone striker upfront, netted Sadd’s third goal in the 77th minute, dribbling into the box and scoring with a low shot that went past two Duhail defenders and their keeper.
In the 88th minute, substitute Rodrigo Tabata made it 4-1 with a shot from near the halfway line, with Abubakar having advanced outside the penalty box. Duhail would end the game with nine men, after Dudu and Ali Afif were sent off in stoppage time.
Doha
Al Sadd came back from a goal down to outplay Al Duhail 4-1 and reach their 26th Amir Cup final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday. It was a sweet revenge for Sadd, who had lost to Duhail by a similar margin in the last year’s final of the prestigious championship.
That loss to Duhail in May last year was a bitter pill to swallow for Xavi Hernandez, who was playing his final game in an Al Sadd jersey in Qatar at the inauguration of Al Janoub Stadium. But since then Xavi in his capacity as coach has ensured Sadd has got the better of Duhail in the last four occasions.
In the final, Sadd take on Al Arabi, who beat Al Markhiya on Friday to reach their first Amir Cup final in 26 years.
It was a game of two halves, with Duhail dominating the first, only to be outplayed by Sadd in the second. Edmilson had put Duhail ahead in the 10th minute after an error from Sadd goalkeeper Barshem Meshaal.
Duhail after a disciplined defensive show in the first half, completely lost the plot in the second. After an Edmilson goal was ruled out for handball by the Brazilian midfielder, Boualem Khouki equalised for Sadd with a wonderful header in the 58th minute, which opened the floodgate for Xavi’s men. Guilherme Santos Torres doubled the advantage in 64th minute, while substitute Baghdad Boundejah made it 3-0 in the 77th minute. Rodrigo Tabata then completed Duhail’s misery in the 88th minute with a strike from half-line after goalkeeper Khalifa Abubakar was way off the goalpost.
“We feel very happy after this deserved victory,” said Xavi, who was involved in
a heated exchange with
Al Duhail coach Sabri Lamouchi on touchline.
“We were better than Duhail since the beginning of the match. We conceded an early goal, but we kept pressing ahead and enjoyed greater possession. We controlled the match throughout. I am delighted that we have beaten Duhail for the fourth time in a row,” the Sadd coach said.
“In my time in Qatar, I have not seen Duhail defend so deep at home but this happened today. I am proud of my players; they were wonderful on the pitch. We deserved to score more goals. We have achieved the first goal, which was to reach the final and now the second goal is to win the Amir Cup,” the Barcelona midfield great said.
Lamouchi said Sadd were superior on the night. “We have a lot to work on and improve. Sadd were clearly the better team. They have better individual players and they were good physically too,” he said.
While Xavi was upbeat after the match, he was furious with his defensive line as they came under Duhail attack. The hosts could have had two goals inside eight minutes, with Ramin Rezaeian’s free-kick flying just wide off the post, while Sultan al-Brake’s shot hit the side-net.
Sadd’s tactic of playing from the back was fraught with danger and Meshaal’s wrong pass allowed Duhail an opening. The Sadd goalkeeper’s intended pass to Wooyoung Jung was quickly intercepted by Mohamed Muntari, who then passed it on to Edmilson. The midfielder’s first shot was blocked by Meshaal but the rebound was quickly latched on by Edmilson, who celebrated with a gesture towards the dugout after Lamouchi had left him out in the last couple of matches.
Sadd did manage to create a couple of chances, but Lamouchi had set up his defenders perfectly, which did not allow any space for Akram Afif. Duhail also stretched the game with Dudu and Edmilson posing a real threat on the wings, as Sadd and Xavi were left frustrated in the first half.
Xavi introduced Bounedjah, who recovered from an injury, in the 51st minute to replace Yousuf Abdurisag but it was drama at the Duhail end which proved the turning point.
The hosts thought they had gone 2-0 up in the 54th minute, when Ramin Semeskandi found the net after a pass from Edmilson. But the goal was overruled after a VAR review, with the ball touching Edmilson’s hand from a rebound of Wooyoung block.
It was a huge sigh of relief for Sadd and they made the most of that lucky break. In the 58th minute, defender Khoukhi made it 1-1, rising highest to head home a Afif cross. Six minutes later, Afif took advantage of clumsy clearance from al-Brake, sliding through up Torres who side-footed an effort beyond the onrushing Abubakar.
With the lead having slipped away, Lamouchi substituted Edmilson and Muntari – two of his potent attacking threats and that played into Sadd’s hand. Bounedjah, playing as a lone striker upfront, netted Sadd’s third goal in the 77th minute, dribbling into the box and scoring with a low shot that went past two Duhail defenders and their keeper.
In the 88th minute, substitute Rodrigo Tabata made it 4-1 with a shot from near the halfway line, with Abubakar having advanced outside the penalty box. Duhail would end the game with nine men, after Dudu and Ali Afif were sent off in stoppage time.
