Al Gharafa players and officials celebrate after receiving the QSL Cup Trophy at Qatar SC Stadium yesterday. Pictures: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
Goalkeeper Qassim Burhan yesterday stopped a second-half penalty kick by feared striker Rodrigo Tabata to guide Al Gharafa to a deserving QSL Cup final victory over Al Rayyan.
In the tense title clash, experienced ‘keeper Burhan punched away Tabata’s weak penalty kick in the 82nd minute to help Al Gharafa retain his team’s 3-2 lead at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Earlier, Al Gharafa opened the scoring through captain Luiz Jimenez in the 3rd minute of the match. Al Rayyan’s high-scoring striker Abderazzaq Hamadallah produced the equaliser in the 12th minute with a neat clip from close range.
Amro Seraj, the Qatar U-23 star, gave Al Gharafa the lead for the second time in the match in the 36th minute.
Ahmed Allaeldin (64) helped Al Gharafa jump to a 3-1 cushion. However, Al Rayyan hit back when Mohammed Kasola produced a snap-header off a corner kick in the 70th minute.
It was dramatic stuff when Tabata misfired with his spot kick smartly punched by Burhan just when Al Rayyan fans thought the match could go into extra time. Al Gharafa players repeatedly quarrelled with the referee over his decision to award the penalty kick.
Al Gharafa, coached by Jean Fernandez, managed to defend doggedly for the remainder of the time to bag their second QSL Cup glory.
Former Al Gharafa star Saad Al Shammari said: “We are thrilled with this win. It was a great team effort. This win will boost the confidence of the players. The fans will be very happy.”
QSL CEO Hani Ballan handed over the medals to the players of the two sides. QFA Vice President Saud Al Mohannadi gave the winner’s trophy to Al Gharafa captain Jimenez.
The players go into a break as Qatar team eyes their next assignment - the 23rd Gulf Cup - to be held in Kuwait from Dec 22 to Jan. 5.
