Al Rayyan players celebrate after beating Eljaish on penalties in the Emir Cup semi-final match at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, yesterday (PICTURE BY: ABDUL BASIT)
DOHA: A goal late in the second half by striker Hassan Al Haydos yesterday helped Al Sadd reach the final of the Emir Cup, the country’s most popular football tournament.
Al Haydos converted a direct free kick to score the match-winner in the 89th minute as Al Sadd edged Heir Apparent Cup champions Lekhwiya 3-2 at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
In the final, Al Sadd - the Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions will take on Al Rayyan, coached by Diego Aguirre, who beat Eljaish in the second semi-final in a sudden-death penalty shoot-out.
The second semi-final was tied 1-1 in regulation time forcing the last-four clash into penalties.
After both sides were tied at 4-all in the penalty shootout, Al Rayyan’s experienced midfielder Fabio Cesar gave his side the lead with a well-placed spot kick.
Faced with mounting pressure, Eljaish’s Adbulgader Baker missed the fifth spot kick to hand victory to Al Rayyan, last season’s Heir Apparent Cup champions.
In regulation time, Alvaro Fernadez had given Al Rayyan the lead in the 19th minute. Eljaish’s Mohammed Abdullah had equalised in the 48th minute.
Next Saturday (May 18), Al Sadd will be attempting to win their 14th Emir Cup title whereas Al Rayyan have the opportunity to bag their sixth trophy.
Earlier in the first semi-final, Lekhwiya grabbed the lead in the 27th minute when Youssef Msakni broke the deadlock after an interesting battle between the two sides.
However, Iraqi striker Younis Mahmoud headed from close range in the 31st minute for Al Sadd’s equaliser.
Defender Mohammed Kasola gave Al Sadd the lead in the 59th minute. His goal was quickly nullified by Lekhwiya who equalised later through French-born Senegalese winger Issiar Dia seven minutes later.
With the match seemingly heading towards extra-time, Al Haydos curled in a spectacular free-kick that crashed into the top of Lekhwiya net a minute from the end.
Al Sadd coach Hussain Amute said: “We expected this match to be a tough one because all our previous matches against Lekhwiya were tough. We were well organised especially in defence with compact lines and we concentrated on the offensive line. We played today against a very strong team even if Sebastian Soria and Nam Tai-Hee were not playing. Adel Lami and Dia did a good job but they couldn’t score in the match.”
He added: “Today, we gave Mohammed Kasola and Abdulkarim Hassan the opportunity to play because they didn’t play Umm Salal in the quarter-finals last week. They were fit and covered their area of play very well.”
Eric Gerets, head coach of Lekhwiya, said: “It wasn’t a revenge match. This was such a great game and is influenced by small details. What happened today is that the winning goal for Al Sadd was scored in the last minute and it was a free kick.”
He added: “We know how dangerous Al Sadd can be when they have the opportunity of using a free kick. We asked the players to be cautious of Al Sadd free kicks but unfortunately that’s what happened.”
While responding to a question in the press conference, Gerets said: “I don’t agree that my players were tired because the players were fighting throughout the match but it’s normal if they experience some tiredness in parts of the match.”
He added: “The players will be sad today and tomorrow, after that, they will forget it and get over it because in three days we will travel to Saudi Arabia and face Al Hilal in a different competition.” THE PENINSULA
