Al Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi reacts during the AFC Champions League match against Iran’s Zob Ahan at the Foolad Shahr Stadium in Isfahan, Iran on Tuesday.
DOHA: Coach Djamel Belmadi rarely shows his emotions following a football game. Even he allowed himself a smile on Tuesday night after Al Duhail beat Zob Ahan of Iran for their fifth consecutive win in this year’s AFC Champions League.
Al Duhail forward Ismaeel Mohammed scored the only goal of the Group B clash in the 84th minute on Tuesday as the QNB Stars League champions picked up three more points
“We knew that the match would be difficult but we performed the way I expected them to perform. I congratulate the players on the victory,” Belmadi said with a smile. “It was a great victory,” the Algerian added.
Belmadi said Al Duhail, who sealed the QNB Stars League title win last month, could have scored more goals as the team had created many chances.
“We had many chances to score in the match. Zob Ahan did not have the same number of opportunities as we did. We could have scored two goals in the end. Having said that, I would say the most important thing is that we have continued our wins and have lost none so far,” Belmadi said.
When asked about the possibility of facing Al Rayyan in the second round of the AFC Champions League, Belmadi said: “We wish Al Rayyan qualify for the second round. (If we play them), it will be a difficult match. But my team is mentally ready to face any side. I guess we have to be ready to play against any team in the second round of the championship.”
Goal hero and Man-of-the-Match Mohammed was thrilled with the outcome of the match.
“Everyone performed really well. Al Duhail presented a good level in the match. I think we have a decent experience of playing away from our own home venue. We have become used to it and we assert ourselves quickly,” Mohammed said.
“We are done and dusted with this game and we have closed the Zob Ahan page. We move on to our next game. That’s how we play. Now we are thinking of our last league game against Al Sailiya,” Mohammed added.
“We want to end the league without a loss. We want to remain undefeated,” he said.
Khalifa Al Sulaiti, Vice-President of Al Duhail, applauded the team’s performance on Tuesday.
“We thank God for the victory. Our five wins in a row confirms that Al Duhail is on the right track,” Al Sulaiti said in a post on the club’s website.
“I thank the players, the technical staff and the management of the team for their greats effort they have made throughout the season. We have put in the hard work and we have seen the results. We hope to go deep into this year’s AFC Champions League.
“The team managed to overcome the tough conditions in this game. To get three points and remain undefeated feels good,” he added.
Al Sulaiti said the young players in the squad ‘have shown great responsibility, exhibiting great set of skills.’
“The journey is still long and we hope that the team will maintain the level that it has exhibited so far and continue to achieve positive results in the coming period,” Al Sulaiti said.
